The Last Day

     One of the real bright spots of my leather tool business is getting to visit with leather people all over the country, and email all over the world. George Hast was a saddle maker in Illinois. He bought some tools from me and we always had a good talk when he did. I had grown up in Indiana, and from horse activities back there George and I knew quite a few people and shops in common. Our chats almost turned into old friends sitting on the porch kind of a thing. During one call George told that when the time came, his sons had my information and would contact me about buying his tools. I don’t take that trust lightly.
   . I have been in some big time good maker’s shops that the tools wouldn’t fill an apple box, and some that would almost take a semi trailer and still need a U Haul. This man’s livelihood arrived in 8 boxes. I don’t think you can distill any person’s life and passions into 8 boxes but you can learn a lot about them sometimes. Several makers were represented ranging from a nice collection of Pre-Letter Craftool stamps bought new to Beard, Jueschke, Hackbarth, Gore, McMillen, and Barry King.  Hand tools from Gomph to Horse Shoe Brand and knives from Newark Osbornes to Knipschields. These tools are a timeline predating George to being made a few years ago. Every tool was well cared for and most were sheathed or in rolls. You know he was proud of his tools. It is an honor to go through them and feel the vibe. I can’t explain it but if you know, then you know.
     George’s son sent me more information on his dad. He was an Army veteran, school teacher, and saddle maker. He built and flew his own airplane. There is always more to the story than you knew before. David sent me a few pictures of his dad – one was early in his career tooling leather at the kitchen table, another standing next to the airplane. As craftsmen we are creators, builders, repairmen - we do tangible things. We build and fix stuff with a purpose that people hold  and use. The picture that I chose for this blog post was George working in his shop for the last time. His back is turned doing something important. I hope he didn’t know that would be his last time. I share the wish of many that I won’t know it when “this is my last day in the shop”. Godspeed George.