Village Squire, 1979-12, Page 7farther by adding lead to the pewter. The resulting combination
would darken in time giving the dull appearance most people
associated with antique pewter.
As the research on the part of the Holms continued they
became aware of the large concentration of pewter makers in
Fredericton, New Brunswick. That Maritime city has more
pewterworkers than all of Ontario and, George estimates,
probably sees more money change hands in the purchase of
pewterware than all of Ontario. There are eight family -operated
pewter shops in Fredericton.
They met Philip Aitken of Aitken ,Pewter in Fredericton and
talked to him about his craft. "We became friends," George
says, "and our family visited his workshop every year. His
family's lifestyle opened our eyes to emulating them."
It was the association with the Aitkens that finally made up the
Holms' minds about getting into pewter as a business. For a time
they considered buying a shop that was for sale in Fredericton
and joining the other craftsmen there. They didn't make that
move because it was the design end of the pewter business that
most fascinated George and buying someone else's shop would
have meant buying someone else's designs. He wanted to stand
or fall on his own designs.
There was another incentive to set up shop in St. Marys
instead of Fredericton. Elva had come from the stonetown and
the family had been back at various times over the years and had
gradually seen it change and become an ever more interesting
town. The building where the pewter shop is now located has
been in Elva's family for more than a century. So the decision to
move to St. Marys was made even though for a while they looked
at Stratford as a possible site for a retail shop for their product.
In the long run they decided to operate everything out of the old
building on Water Street across from the famous St. Marys opera
house.
Ever since then the opening of their shop has been delayed.
They had hoped to have it open last summer but the extensive
renovations needed to the building prevented that. Then George
who was working slowly away on various designs showed them to
buyers and the hectic pace of filling orders has meant that their
hope of opening the shop for Christmas has also been
abandoned.
The making of pewter fulfills all the creative urges George has
accumulated over the years. First of all there is the design aspect
of the business. George spends a good deal of time researching
into old designs of pewterware. In working up his designs Ile
often melds past basic designs with design ideas of his own and a
more modern theme to make something entirely new and yet
traditional.
Transferring the design from paper to metal brings George's
background and skills in tool and die work into play. The design
must be made into a brass master copy. For such jobs he has a
metal working plant as part of the pewter shop. Using a metal
lathe and other tools he can make a brass master of the design.
The brass master is then used in the making of the mold which is
used to reproduce the design.
In ancient pewter -making, molds had to be made of some kind
of metal which required the help of a skilled foundary, Modern
technology has come to the rescue of the pewter maker. Today,
using a vulcanizing press, craftsmen like the Holms can make
their own molds once they have created the masters from metal.
The masters are laid between two discs of rubber about the size
of large pizzas. The discs are put in the press and heat applied
until the rubber softens and the form of the master is imbedded
in the rubber.
There are advantages and disadvantages to the use of rubber
molds, George says. Rubber molds can deliver far greater detail
to the eventual pewter castings made from them but they can
also show up any faults in the reproduction. For that reason the
original brass master must be very carefully prepared to make
sure no imperfections are in it that can be transferred to every
copy of the design.
Come in and experience the difference in buying
carpet with the friendly salespeople in our store.
They will help you choose the colour and design
"just right" for your home. Our "Armstrong
Carpet Studio" offers:
'Full selection of Armstrong carpet.
•Special showcase displays for shopping conven-
ience.
•Home like lighting to make carpet selection
easier.
•Trained salespeople who will "truly" take the
confusion out of buying carpet.
•Experienced factory trained craftsmen to insure
outstanding appearance and performance of your
new Armstrong carpet.
BE TTRIDGE'S
154 Downie St., STRATFORD Dial 271-9830
December 1979, Village Squire 5