Have Broadax-Will Time Travel

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UNDERHILL: It'll tell you everything you need to know. It's a classic.

PLOWBOY: Are there any other books that you value?

UNDERHILL: I think many of the best original sources came from Britain. They're older books, and sometimes you have to look hard to find them. The Wheelwright's Shop—the name of which obviously inspired me a lot—was written by George Sturt. Young George was off at college, and his father—who ran a wheelwright shop in a village—became sick, so George had to go home and take care of the business. Later on, George, who was a very well educated man, wrote a wonderful recollection of his days in the shop.

And while we're on this subject, I should tell you that woodwright is a completely made-up term. There's no such thing as a woodwright. I was trying to name the TV show, and so I invented the word woodwright, but I thought, "I can't name the show that." Well, I did, and the name seems to have caught on.

PLOWBOY: So you coined a new word.

UNDERHILL: Now I've even seen woodwright in print. I saw it in Smithsonian magazine the other day.

But let's get back to books. The Village Carpenter, by Walter Rose, is excellent. Another one that I admired just for its plain-spoken language is the first edition of Audel's Carpenter's and Builder's Guide.

Then there are the COSIRA books, which are put out by Britain's Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas. (I know it sounds unhelpful recommending these hard-to-find books, but they're the ones that have done the most for me.) Britain is way ahead of us in documenting these skills, and they do a good job with this series of books. The volume on blacksmithing is great; it's very clear and explains the whole process step-by-step.

One scholarly book that is commonly available—it's been out for a while-is With Hammer in Hand, by Charles Hummel. It's very good.

PLOWBOY: How about people who are interested in hand tools? Where can they get more information on obtaining and using them?

UNDERHILL: You know, tool collecting is a big business. Lots of people make a living buying old tools at flea markets and swap meets and reselling them.

There are two tool-related groups I can recommend. One—the Early American Industries Association—is quite scholarly in focus; it was founded here in Williamsburg in the 1920s to preserve the terminology, the knowledge, the tools, and, in general, every aspect of the industries of early America. The other group is the Midwest Tool Collectors' Association (MWTCA). Both are nonprofit organizations that provide helpful services. The journals they publish are great . . . and, through these publications, you can get in touch with fellow collectors and dealers who can usually help you find the tools you want. Also, these groups have book-search services, which help folks locate some of the references I've mentioned.

PLOWBOY: It seems as if, through your work, you've created a career where none existed before. How do you advise individuals who ask how they, too, can create a career around things that they love?

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