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The Tradesmen of TJP
When I was in the military, I went to a black smith school. I found this almost imposible Having the schooling I found this great work.As for myself being a water and gold ,and oil Dowser or witcher what ever you wish to call me.Every thing is possible when you put your mind to work,I have done thing that i feel was inpossible, but it turned out to be true. good luck on your Venture, Gordon. E Wicks.
Fantastic blog Troy. Thanks for sharing. Is there any way I can tag it so I get notifications when you update?
Please let me know when you’re back in So. CA. Would love to see you and catch up.
Be well my friend.
Troy very interresting lots of luck with your project. You are right about the tradesmen are a dying breed.
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A very impressive undertaking. A wonderful celebration of those who toil and a sobering look at hard work.
The pictures of the tradesmen from Detroit were especially powerful. Thank you…and I am looking forward to following your odyssey.
Mr. Paff,
What a fantastic use of the web.
I thank you heartily for your project and I very much look forward to reading more about “real people” who do real work rather than just grinding away in an office. Manual skills seem to be a diminishing commodity these days and I like to see how other people earn their livings with their hands like I do.
I wish you the best in your travels and thanks for showing us what has become a hidden world in this land of paper pushing for profit.
Good luck and I look forward to reading about the country’s past, present and future journeymen and women…
Hi Troy,
I just ran across your website, & I love it! I love the awesome stories & amazing pics. I’m a sucker for both! Trades are a great storyline too! I look forward to reading more of these inspiring stories! Keep up the great work!
love your pics!
An absolutely fascinating place and craft. Of course, the photos were beautiful. I was unaware of this blog. Now I can’t wait to view the other entries…
Hi Troy,
Nice to hear from you yesterday. I thought I’d post a brief “hello” for now. I think you are on to something. I’m in the middle of my day right now. I will look forward to reading the stories you have written when I have a little more time and giving you some more detailed feedback. Your photos look really great! As I mentioned , I have been in somewhat of a lull workwise at the moment. Hopefully something might come up before too long which would be worth you taking a look at. Alternately I may just have to design another spec piece which might have some interest for you as far as a photo shoot. Best wishes, Peter
Hi Peter~ Let me know as soon as you have have a project to photograph. I think your craft as a furniture designer and woodworker is absolutely appropriate to the Journeyman Project, and a lot of people would find your work captivating.
You definitely captured the intensity of Carlos’ piercing blue eyes–I felt like he was looking right at me! However, I think he appears to be most pleased with photo #31. My personal favorite was #11 because it seemed to represent his “essence” in that single picture alone. Thanks, I very much enjoyed reading about him!
Hi Troy,
C. Nielnock suggetsed I contact you. I work for rolling out magazine and am doing a story on Carloe Nielbock. I would very much like to usde one or two of your photos (with photo credit of course — specifically the one with him pointing hot iron at the camera). Can I get your permission to use photo? I am a Detroiter, but magazine is based in Atlanta, where I currently live and we are published in 19 cities.
Thank you,
R. Edward
You’ve been working on the layout and design flow. Nice, Troy. Beautiful photos, by the way. What an eye. I’m keeping my own eye on this; it’s progressing nicely.
I look forward to seeing what 2011 brings your way and to us through your blog. Cheers!
No Bleeping Way! He is *still* working there?! I am incredibly impressed. Go, Scott, Go! … “signed” … The Only Girl You’ve Ever Had A Discussion With About Rush!
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Wow Troy, brilliant idea coming up with this blog. You are a talented photographer and excellent writer. Look forward to more.
Sal
MORE AWESOME PICS! Great story too!!
You’re doing an awesome job, Troy! Looking forward to seeing your next project.
Great blog on Franklin Art and Michael- thank you for supporting Art Glass. Keep up the Tradesmen blogs.
I really enjoyed this. Watched the slide show first and enjoyed the story that it told, then read the article. As a glass painter myself, I appreciate Michael’s skills. Great blog Troy!
What a great story! I felt like I was there. Who would’ve known that was going on about 30 mins from my house.
I am looking forward to you being able to catch up so I can catch up with your latest. Bob Combs is one of my favorite people, although I only know him through your lens, and Doug’s.
Hey,
I enjoy the blog! La Cumbre is my favorite brewery, it is helping me so much in my transition to Abq from Durango, CO. I have been here for a few months, and it is taking some getting used to. I love love New Mexico, but Abq……ah well it has some great aspects. Like new breweries!
I have to recommend a tradeswoman up in Durango. Jeffie Morehart is the owner/baker at Bread Bakery. She works so hard, it is a great community establishment, and she totally carries the place. I encourage you to seek out female trade workers. Thank you so much!
Jill Jones
Albuquerque
Great read. I need to find a way to try the beers from his new venture. One cool thing about Jeff is that he loves to sharing his extensive brewing knowledge with others. I have sent him messages via Ratebeer.com asking questions, and he was always happy to reply with enthusiasm. Even when he went professional. The guy loves the craft of brewing.
Smitty
Nashville Beer Geek
Beautiful description of an artist at work.
My father reminisced one time about setting type face in first and second grade in Oak Park, IL. As a student they composed a report, set in the alpha characters and punctuation, turned on the machine and produced a document.
How many different subjects were studied in that one assignment?
While I have never had calling cards, some from Joel would be worth getting.
Thanks,
Kathy
Nice one Troy, obviously near & dear to me. Lovely shots.
Really nice article/photos!
However, the press is a LETTER Press, not an offset press. That is a completely different animal. I have and use a 10×15 Chandler Press with Kluge feeder, and a 7×11 Golding treadle operated press.
I’m glad there seems to be a revival of this art/craft.
Thanks Bob. That’s an important distinction to make, and a good reason to photograph an OFFSET press in the future. In any event, I’ve made the correction in my copy! Perhaps I can see your equipment in action next time I’m in Ohio.
A great article about Jeff and OmniCorpDetroit in the Detroit press: http://detnews.com/article/20110313/METRO/103130307/1409/rss36
Troy, I realize you’re an expert photographer (so this will sound foolish to say), but I’m absolutely blown away by your ability to capture such amazing close ups of the tradesmen. I realize it’s probably due to the enormous amount of trust you instill—but, truly, I cannot detect even a hint of reserve in them. It’s refreshing to see photos that are so “unaffected” and real. I liked this story—and although I’ve never been much of a beer drinker, I could see working on my “openness to beerness” a little more now!
Your pictures make me smile Troy. I viewed them again just now as a slide show. There is always such a defined subject in them despite whatever is going on in the background. My eye is drawn right to it, and then I explore what is going on behind.
Jeff and Laura are risk takers, have done their homework, and are making a good go at their dream. I wish them much success. Thanks for showing them to us.
Kathy
Hi Troy! I just contacted a letterpress printer yesterday for a job I’m working on with a client. Does this Cowboy Printer have a website or info, or way to contact him to give him some work? And I’d love to see how your calling cards turn out. I letter pressed my own wedding invitations and it is definitely a fine art (and huge headache), however extremely addicting.
All the best –
Amy (Graham) Norton
Amy, Joel is currently building a website. In the meanwhile, here’s his email address: cowboyprinter@gmail.com.
WOW~~such incredible talent! I really enjoyed the slideshow. I learned so much about the complexity of this art. Keep them coming!!
THANK YOU!!
Beautiful! Beautiful photos, beautiful bowls, beautiful “butterflies,” and a beautiful family.
(…and that is a great spoon.)
I think this is my fav so far… I have a weakness for pasta & bread! Made my mouth water looking at those pics!! Wanna head out to buy a loaf of French Bread or pumpernickel. Awesome pics! First class!!!
Just found this project and am working through the essays from the beginning. Great stuff!
Hey Troypaff,
Maybe a little off topic, however, Though power created by fossil fuels is without the need for doubt a significant component in atmospheric air pollution, it happens only a lousy second powering motor motor vehicle exhaust gases. In the USA, CO2 emissions from autos and trucks totalled 314 million metric tons in 2002. (Emissions have ongoing to climb steadily in the 5 many years top rated up to the publication of this book).
BTW great blogpost
David sells spoons on etsy for $10, and cutting boards for $26.
Please raise your prices! As a craftsman (with 2 young girls) who makes a living selling spoons and cutting boards it is difficult when people say to you at craft shows that they can get the same stuff on etsy for 1/2 or 1/3 of what it should fairly retail for..
It is 2012! You do great work, get a fair return for your talent!
Looking forward to more stories! Love reading them & seeing your awesome pics!
Eat up those tender moments w/ the family. Before you know it…. time has flown & the babies are ready to leave home. I am speaking from experience. Just sent my babe off to college. Such a bitter/sweet moment. It’s not easy being a parent, but the rewards are priceless! Enjoy the family!
Great to hear some new portraits are coming out. Anyone who likes to create recognizes what you are describing. The hours vanish as all concentration goes into the creation. It would be so lucky to be able to do this for a living.
These are great pictures that tell a story. Thank you for posting this. I would add a quick description of what is going on for those who are not part of the trade.
Blessings,
John A.
I don’t see Christopher’s trade as a stretch for this project, now that you’ve described it so beautifully. What a fascinating man.
All of those machines sitting on the shelves wearing their little tags. How long is the wait for a repair?
Nice blog. but make it short its quite lengthy.
Love this story and all your other work, Troy. I wrote to you while you were away as our online magazine would love to feature a story or two on our website. If you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you.
Varying the fineness of the grind, the amount of pressure used to tamp the grinds, or the pressure itself can be used to vary the taste of the espresso. Some baristas pull espresso shots directly into a pre-heated demitasse cup or shot glass, to maintain a higher temperature of the espresso.*^
All the best
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Nice blog Troy! I love the La Cara article.
Bill Oblock has been an inspiration at so many levels for me for so long. I love you buddy. Diane, Dave, and Jan too. I am inspired by yall’s vision, work ethic and commitment quality. Thank you for showing me the value of process. It matters.
Loved your photos. I feel like I know the man. I found this blog because I was looking to service my Pavoni. If I lived closer I would visit his shop. Thanks for the great aricle, and virtual visit to meet an interesting person and business.
Dave is a unique person like I’ve never met before. I’ll never forget the day I met him at the farmers market. I bought a drum that day. I still have and charish it. You’ll never meet a more ethical, down to earth, caring, spiritual and genuine person. If Jesus were here he’d hang out with Dave. Dave would help anyone at any time for nothing. It’s been over ten years since I’ve seen him but I think about Dave often. We’ve kind of gone separate ways and haven’t talked lately but I know I could call and he’d drop his heavy load instantly to give me a few minutes. It’s just the kind of person he is. In my life I’ve met people that I’ve thought were “advanced souls” far beyond the norm, having lived many lives and progressed to a higher state of being. David Wolfgram is one of those people without any doubt. If I can ever get back to Utah, I’ll surely stop into Daves place and sit a spell…
What a fine project. A worthy mission, with heart. Excellent articles, from one writer and long-time professionally curious communicator to another. My father, a WWII survivor, was a true craftsman, a master woodworker and contractor whose skills with cabinets and construction I unfortunately barely inherited but have worshipped all my life. Your work reminds me of my dad—and that is high praise indeed if you knew his character. My path wound towards wordworking, not woodworking, and music-making, not miter boxes. I really appreciate your project.
I ran across this blog while researching my own La Cara espresso machine, inherited from a wonderful, deceased San Franciscan friend who purchased it from Christopher’s father. I will undoubtedly need help, via Christopher Cara, or your sage wisdom and o-ring advice as I begin restoring my beautiful chrome La Cara. Nice story. I read it out loud to my wife and as we are both theatre folks (she too had once played Broadway before landing on the West coast) she found it heartfelt and charming. Bravo. Randy, Portland OR, 2014
Lou has been a friend and client since he took over from his father. I enjoined your description of dealing with Lou. We met because I had my office across the street and Geovanni would wave at me in the afternoon to come over and have an espresso he had just made. Roasting was done on the two pound roadster that was in the window of the bagging room.
When Lou took over he wanted to expand and develop an image of quality gourmet coffee. I designed the logo, packaging and stores. The theme was to be a modern view of North Beach and old San Francisco. The window art was my vision of coffee at breakfast and dinner at a fine Italian restaurant, the objects are twice size. The morning sun has not treated them well.
Hey there,
Quite in interesting story, thank you for sharing. Also, I’m proud of you to stay committed to fixing your machine even after Christopher expressed the challenge in doing so.
Curious, how does the Thomas E Cara porta filter compare to say a La Pavoni. I’m looking to buy one that is missing its filter, so I wonder if another model could be substituted. Thoughts?
Thanks!
Scott
Hi Scott, I use Pavoni portafilters with my La Cara, and they work fine. I suspect that my Pavoni ones are of the older variety, though. I’m not sure about the dimensions of those on the new machines, but if you find yourself in need there are a variety of portafilter options available from outfits like http://www.wholelattelove.com. I encourage you to proceed if you are the resourceful type. Good luck.
About 1962 I discovered Graffeo Coffee & Signore (Don) B. Repetto who invited me for an ‘old school/ stovetop’ espresso, an event that turned into a wonderful ongoing experience, each time a lecture-story as the old roasting &/or mixing machine was always running. A few years later as a Berkeley student I met Alfred Peet who continued my coffee education & largely seconded all that I had learned from the Don. Some 40 years later in Trieste I met Alessandro Hausbrandt grandson of the founder of quality coffee in Italy under the Hapsburg empire. Alessandro basically reconfirmed everything I had learned about coffee from my two coffee gurus. Thus a half century ago my coffee journey began in Frisco’s Northbeach Little Italy & finally arrived in Italy to the source.
Loved the article, a small bit of deja’vu as I also called an spoke to Christopher years ago when my “stepped top” La Cara was bubbling from every joint. It sits in a box with all of the accesories waiting for me to have the courage to start the project. Would love to get any specs and sources you have for parts and tools.
Thanks again for the blog.
John S
Nice article, I just restored a old La Cara, rebuilt the element, water jetted the drip tray, great little lever!