Signpost is a free ezine from Bob Dillon Windsor Chairs. It is the mission of this monthly ezine to explore the history and contruction of Windsor chairs as well as other aspects of life in early America. For more information please go to Signpost Info. To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE, see below.

***Signpost***

An Ezine from Bob Dillon Windsor Chairs
Issue No. Six -- July 4, 2000

Contents:

  • News
  • The Continuous-arm Windsor Chair
  • July 4, 1776
  • Tweak Your Mind by Dean F. Mapa

NEWS:

I'm just back (last weekend) from the Park Point Art Fair in Duluth, Minnesota. It was a beautifully run show, as always. Sunday was cloudy, but the rain held off until 3:00. That pretty much put an end to the show, but it was about time for it to start winding down anyway. It may be just me, but it seems these shows are becoming less and less productive. It's a good thing there's the internet. I launched the website not quite a year ago and it has already just about taken over my marketing efforts.

My next show is in Bemidji, Minnesota, July 15 and 16. Historically it's one of my best shows. I hope to see some of you there.

My series describing the individual chair styles continues this month with the continuous-arm. This is the chair which beginning chairmakers fear the most. First, there is the elaborate bending jig to figure out and make. Then the arm itself; it requires more work prior to the bend than any other chair. And then that hard work is put to the test. I still have the first one I bent -- too sharp a bend at the "elbow." It's a sinking feeling to hear that steam-softened wood part like a green stick and watch a layer peel away.

Next is a little reminder of what the Fourth of July is all about -- the Declaration of Independence. I borrowed this short article from our Uncle Sam. I hope he doesn't mind.

Lastly, a few thoughts to help get your brain working productively again after the long weekend (or week, or two). I'm sure many of you will be reading this after being away from home a few days, and maybe this will help get you ready to get back to work.

I'm waiting for some photos to come back from the developer so I can start my next auction. It's a fan-back side-chair this time, and it should get going in a few days. I'll send out a quick email to update you.

I hope you all have (or had) a great Fourth of July.

Until next time,
Bob

The Continuous-arm Windsor Chair

Around 1789 Philadelphia's dominance in the Windsor chairmaking field was challenged by the creation of a bold new design called the continuous-arm. Though the actual creator is not known, it has been narrowed down to a handful of chairmakers in New York whose names appear on the earliest examples. The continuous-arm was the only 18th century Windsor design to originate outside of Philadelphia. In fact it was uniquely American, never appearing in Europe.

The design became to New York what the sack-back was to Philadelphia -- a standard pattern produced in great numbers. Many branded examples are known, especially from New York City chairmakers. In fact the style was almost never found south of New York. On the other hand, New England chairmakers soon adopted the style and many chairs are known from Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The earliest continuous-arms were made with oval seats (like the sack-back), but this was soon replaced with the shield seat that we are familiar with today. Both paddle and knuckle arms were made, and more rarely the "rolled" or "ram's horn" arm. Rhode Island chairs often had decoratively turned spindles.

Though produced in great numbers, there are relatively few of the old ones around today. The explanation lies in the bend of the arm. Shaved thin at this point to accept the sharp bend, and then pierced by one of the short spindles, it represents a weakness in the design. Many antique chairs are found broken there, and it can be assumed that many more were discarded long ago for that reason. (Due to this weakness I only offer my continuous-arm with bracing spindles. I have had no reports of failure.)

July 4, 1776

The following is reprinted from www.nara.gov/, the website of the National Archives and Records Administration.

Click image for larger (437K) version

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument. Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases, Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental philosophers. What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country. Click here to read a transcription of the complete text of the Declaration.

Important note: This image of the Declaration is taken from the engraving made by printer William J. Stone in 1823 and is the most frequently reproduced version of the document. The original Declaration, now exhibited in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, has faded badly--largely because of poor preservation techniques during the 19th century. Today, this priceless document is maintained under the most exacting archival conditions possible.

(To read a short history of the Declaration, see this site)

The following is reprinted with permission from Be Inspired.

Tweak Your Mind

by Dean F. Mapa

Every endeavor begins with a thought. Every success is a thought developed. The mind is one of our best resources. So we need to tweak it for maximum potential. Here are a few thoughts:

1. Rest it. The best way to do this is to get enough sleep. The sharpest ideas come when our minds are refreshed. Another way to rest our minds is through meditation. If you don't know how to do this, a good exercise is to look at something that appeals to you and causes your body to respond in relaxation. I have, for example, a small plant beside my PC. Every now and then I look away from my work and stare at the plant, looking for texture, shape, etc., for about 15 minutes. I then close my eyes and breathe deeply 10 times or so. You'll be surprised how new thoughts can pour in with a few minutes of resting your mind.

2. Raise your consciousness. No, I'm not endorsing a New Age technique, but rather be conscious of what happens around you, whether you're in a vehicle or walking. No idea is original. Ideas are triggered by a conversation, a word in a billboard, a child in a crib, a lady's battered umbrella, a Web site, anything. Don't let the world just pass you by. Observe it and be aware what your thoughts form.

3. Write them down. I always have a small pad with me. When an idea pops up, I write it down. It's impossible to remember everything at the end of the day. And an idea might just slip away. The things you write down may be random and diverse, but they just might lead to something. Remember, success is an idea developed.

4. Feed your mind. Don't stop learning. Read or listen. When was the last time you visited your local library? Establish a learning schedule: 1 chapter or book a week or month; decide but stick with it. I promise you'll be richer for it.

5. Sharpen your mind through short exercises such as solving a puzzle, playing chess, writing a letter. If it's a game, don't play so much to win, but play for the enjoyment. You want to sharpen not burden your mind.

6. Lay off the negatives. I can't, I'm not, Impossible, and such words are idea crushers. You open doors of opportunities when your mind is trained to think positively and optimistically. Always begin your day by looking at what's beautiful: the sunrise, morning dew, a glistening cob web, a new budding flower; look and you'll find it. Then tell yourself the rest of the day will just be as beautiful.

There's no magic here or some newly-found esoteric practice. It's just clearing the way for your mind to do what it does best: think. Who knows? That thought might just be the idea whose time has come!

Dean F. Mapa is a writer, motivational speaker and success coach. Visit his site at Be Inspired and subscribe to his weekly inspirational e-zine, "Inspired!"

Sources

  1. American Windsor Chairs, Nancy Goyne Evans, Hudson Hills Press, 1996
  2. The Windsor Style in America, Charles Santore, Courage Books, 1997
  3. National Archives and Records Administration
  4. Be Inspired
Further Links:

Comments? Questions? Send email. I will
publish your letters in the next Signpost, as space allows.

To UNSUBSCRIBE please email with "unsubscribe" in the
subject box.

To SUBSCRIBE I need only your email address. A name would
also be nice but is not required.