Village Squire, 1979-12, Page 5You won't be able to buy any pewter at The Touchmark in St.
Marys for Christmas gifts this year. The shop's owners George
and Elva Holm have been so successful they haven't been able to
get the shop open yet.
It's an unlikely success story. Usually craftsmen open a shop,
struggle for a couple of years then either fade into oblivion or
find gradual success. The Holms have had just the opposite
problem. How enviable their problem is to many a struggling
artisan.
The idea of opening a pewter business grew out of a long
interest in pewter by George Holm. Looking back he can't really
remember how this interest started but he began collecting
pewter about 15 years ago. The germ of interest grew as he
became interested in how pewter was made and the long history
of this almost forgotten metal. Eventually he began to think
about making pewterware himself and began to research it.
Finally last year the couple moved to Elva's hometown of St.
Marys to set up their own pewter shop and retail outlet.
But the retail outlet still isn't open because along the way
George began to need some reinforcement for his opinion of his
own work. He showed some examples of his work to some
retailers and although he was not trying to sell his work at the
time was soon presented with more orders than he could fill. And
so today the couple work in their pewter shop 14 hours a day,
seven days a week trying to fill the orders they have while
moving slowly toward setting up the retail store and getting the
shop organized to peak efficiency. Needless to say the Holms
don't have to spend too much time anymore worrying about
whether their work is really good enough.
And despite the heavy workload the couple is obviously very
happy at their work as they go about the many tasks involved in
the making of pewter ware and excitedly show a visitor what
pewter making is all about. For George it's been a case of
discovering a line of work he was always cut out for and finding a
new way of life as well.
A native of Toronto he was tired of going to school when a
friend quit and went to work as an apprentice tool -and -die
maker. It looked better than school to him so he did too, working
up from an apprentice to an journeyman tool -and -die maker with
companies such as the Ford Motor Company. But he wanted
more than that so he quit work to go to the Ryerson Institute of
Technology (now Ryerson Polytechnical Institute) in Toronto
where he studied designed and graduated in the first class from
the new school in 1950.
His interest both in design and metal working was put to the
service of big business in the years ahead as he worked for
I.B.M. as chief tool designer, Stelco ad supervisor of tool design
and various other companies in industrial sales or as a factory
manager. Yet something was always missing. He needed to be
his own boss and make use of all his talents, though he didn't
even recognize it himself at the time, he now recalls.
His interest in crafts was developed as a hobby in his spare
time over many years. He tried his hand at cabinet-making,
stained glass and metal working. He took courses in metal
working at George Brown and Mohawk colleges.
Elva too had a long interest in crafts. She tried her hand at
weaving, quilting, machine embroidery and stained glass. But it
was in pewter that all the interests of the family came together.
The research into the making of pewter only seemed to deepen
the mystery of the old craft for the Holms. Despite the fact that
he has nearly every book available on pewter George can find
only one illustration of a North American pewter shop. Much of
the old technology of pewtermaking was lost when the craft
virtually disappeared about 100 to 125 years ago with the arrival
of inexpensive glassware.
Until then pewter had served as the poor man's silver. While
the rich used silver cups, bowls or plates, the less wealthy used
pewter. It was heavier, softer but much cheaper. When new it
had an appearance as shiny as silver. Unlike silver however, it
didn't tarnish, at least in its pure form. Because tin, the major
element in the pewter alloy was expensive and lead was
relatively inexpensive pewterniakers often stretched their tin
"I personally invite you to come
to Clinton to shop -and -compare
on your next furniture
purc
Compare selection,
quality, price and service
You can buy the best for
less at Ball & Mutch.
Come browse through
our vast selection of fine
home furnishings. I feel
you'll be pleasantly
surprised -- we offer
big -city selection at
small-town prices you
can afford.
99
Clarence Denomme
00111 BALL & MUTCH
I 1
HOME FURNISHINGS
FLOOR COVERING -- CARPETING
CLINTON
PHONE 482-9505
For your convenience, we are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
and Friday night till 9 p.m.
Frame -a -Gift
for
Christmas.
Discuss it with a
Professional
Picture Framer.
A framed work of art will be the most cherished
gift you give. See us for all your framing needs.
GIFT SUGGESTIONS:
Picture lights, ready made frames,
oil or water color sets.
C14SS/C ART
CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMING
AND ARTISTS' SUPPLIES
Tuesday - Saturday 9:30-5:30
master charge
26 ERIE STREET
STRATFORD
271-951E1
December 1979, Village Squire 3