HAD ITS DAY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20741, 27 February 1939, Page 9

HAD ITS DAY

BLACKSMITH TRADE OLD FORGE CHANGES HANDS “The day of the blacksmith has gone. With the increased use of mechanical transport the trade is becoming less and less a necessity. No man I know has made money at it, yet it is one of the hardest tasks he" can tackle and the most thankless. Indeed one has to have the strength of a horse to stand up to the strain.” With these words a blacksmith who had been in the trade for the past 45 years described his Ring. He explained that it was • latter of keeping the furnace bir* until he was eligible for the old pension. Last \v r 'ie of the oldest forges in Hamilton changed hands. Situated in Hamilton East on the corner of 'Grey and Bridge Streets, the building has stood for almost half a century. It was once the scene of continual activity but in later years the work of the smiths has declined to such an extent that it has hardly been a profitable undertaking. Originally the Hamilton East forge was owned by Mr T. Slade, who after many years, sold out to Messrs. Cussen and Atkin. Mr G. Tisch was the next occupier and he disposed of it to Mr J. Jenks, who auctioned his plant last week and is retiring. One who remembers the forge when it was a thriving business is Mr J. H. Monkman, of 38 Brookfield Street. He was in Hamilton East when the building was erected and for many years worked with Mr .Slade and Messrs. Cussen and Atkin. In those days coaches and horses were the only means of transport and in the forge it was necessary to employ over a dozen men to cope with the work. To-day it was rarely that more than two people were engaged in one business.