Full Chisel Blog

Full Chisel   Web Log

It is my interest here to discuss the technology in America of the nineteenth century and of course the earlier and foreign influences and contributions to the state of the Trades.  Events and advancements after roughly the unpleasantness between the States are well documented other places.  My concentration here will be mainly the first three score decades of the nineteenth century.

Expanding to the West in search of new lands and resources, explorers, pioneers, settlers and military all moved into new areas and brought with them the technology to ‘tame’ the wilderness.  By studying life among the early settlers, their technology and material culture one can examine more common and everyday life, as opposed to studies mainly of urban and coastal areas.  Museums tend to show the best of what was available; not necessarily reflecting what was available to the common folk.

Other sites deal with the fine fancy furnishings available to the wealthy.  This is of course important to save those skills and document the high end culture.  As for the rest of our ancestors and the vast majority of wooden objects produced were meant to be used.