What is in a Name Indeed
August, 1589
Dear Billy,
In your last letter you asked what I was reading. I just finished an Italian tale by Arthur Brooke, I think you have read it. I enjoyed it, except for the ending, of course. Still doing a lot of gardening. I know you don’t like it when I use the Latin names for my plants, which is silly in my estimation, as is shouldn’t matter.
I don’t mean to go on and on about the whole Latin thing, but truly, a Rosa by any other name would taste just as sweet to the dear who wonder out of the forest and nibble off their buds. I am sorry my dear boy, it just has your mother and I so upset that we seem to be unable to stop them.
Well I need to go for now. I will write you a longer letter tomorrow.
Sincerely,
John Shakespeare
What is in a Name Indeed
If we learn nothing from John, it is that names don’t matter, unless you are old school, then they are very important. John tried to get his son to see his point, though it seems he was never quite convinced. I write this overly dramatic blog piece tonight, because, well I wanted to.
For weeks now I have had a massive list of things I wanted to blog about. Some days I am able to pick from the list and others I think of something that I want to write, right now, and just go for it. Several weeks ago, if you can believe it, I received my first purchase from Lie-Nielsen. Yes, I bought something from LN and it has taken me weeks before I mentioned it in the blog.
I purchased a 3/4 inch and a fish tale chisel. I have been wanting to try one of their chisels for some time, but couldn’t decide between the two, so I did the sensible thing and bought them both. They are lovely and have hornbeam handles. I love how they feel in my hand.
I still haven’t given them their first whack with Archie the mallet yet. The come with a little piece of paper which has the instructions for proper care and maintenance of my lovely new tools. The tiny boxes, which hold each one, are pretty cool too.
I have not named either of them yet. I thought it might be fun to let the readers who suffer through my blog each day, pick the names, or at the very least make suggestions. A panel of judges, Archie, Marey, Teri and Tracy and I will decide the winner. There will be no prizes.
So if you want to enter this no prize, naming contest. Simply head on down to the comments section and give us the names you think would be best for each chisel, and if you are feeling particularly frisky, you could even write a little bit of a story about each one. Though the winner will receive zilch for prizes, their name will be sung in praise by the all hand plane coral group. So there is that.
Myself and the committee look forward to your suggestions.
The fishtail: Billie - In deference to the beautiful silent screen star Billie Dove(tail).
The bench chisel: Johnny - Johnny symbolizes hard work and teamwork as Archie will soon discover, I am sure.
Berg
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LikeDid I need to point out the Johnny Bench connection? ;)
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LikeNAMES MATTER! Shakespeare was DEAD wrong. hehe :)
simple. no analysis. hands down. fishtale = guppy. and the other one should be named mr. T. or for mr. texture.
done and done, sir.
*dusts off cape...and zooms back to earth*
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LikeI normally like to respond to most people's comments individually...but I am going to just sit back and let everyone submit their ideas. The committee is really enjoying the entries thus far. Thanks.
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LikeI love the fact that you are able to bring out the personality of each tool in a different way and express that in something so simple as a name. It got me really looking at this pair and thinking about what personalities their form exhibits and the stories behind those personalities.
I agree they look like a couple. They make me think of my grandparents. Manfred and Donna, Manfred is a stout and thick Norweigan man. Not over tall or big, but strong and steady - oak-ish, able to work hard from sunup to sundown to take care of his family. Endurance would be the definition of him. And he's married to the only woman he's ever loved Donna, who looks thin and propper though she's not overly comfortable around the "polite society" of church ladies. What people don't realize at first is how strong the steel in her spine is. You can't break or bend her even through months of oppression and pain, she endures. Manfred knows that she really is stronger than he is, but he feels better when she can use him for support and she is just as aware of this too.
My oh my . . . The only question left is do I push the publish button or the back button. . .
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LikeThe fishtail: Billie - In deference to the beautiful silent screen star Billie Dove(tail).
The bench chisel: Johnny - Johnny symbolizes hard work and teamwork as Archie will soon discover, I am sure.
Berg
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LikeDid I need to point out the Johnny Bench connection? ;)
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LikeIt really pains me to say it (especially if there is not going to be a prize), but it has to be Stan and Oliver.
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LikeI think it would be a mistake to name either after other famous non-chisels. They need to be named and measured by things much more ethereal. I look at them, and knowing nothing about the specifics of chisels, I think they look hard working, smart, their shape indicates finesse over brute strength but they exude power. I go to my roots and draw from my Norweigan ancestery, two names that are unique and exude all the same qualities previously listed - a male and female, a team...
I give you:
Inga and Otto
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Likethe captain and tennille
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LikeI like Linus and Lucy.
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LikeThere is only one answer !
As you continue woodworking you will eventually ADD to these chisels. Possible seven or even eight chisels will want to be helping out in the workshop. Hmmmmm. maybe eight chisels, OKAY Snow White and Doc. to start with, Grumpy,Sneezy,Dopey, Bashful, Happy and Sleepy.
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LikeI'm thinking Wanda for the fishtail....from the movie.
Herb for the other and have no idea where that came from :)
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LikeReggie and Veronica from the Archie comics series.
Archie the mallet, Veronica the fishtail, and Reggie the flat chisel.
Lisa (aka dustbunny)
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LikeNAMES MATTER! Shakespeare was DEAD wrong. hehe :)
simple. no analysis. hands down. fishtale = guppy. and the other one should be named mr. T. or for mr. texture.
done and done, sir.
*dusts off cape...and zooms back to earth*
- spam
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- disagree
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LikeI normally like to respond to most people's comments individually...but I am going to just sit back and let everyone submit their ideas. The committee is really enjoying the entries thus far. Thanks.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
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LikeI love the fact that you are able to bring out the personality of each tool in a different way and express that in something so simple as a name. It got me really looking at this pair and thinking about what personalities their form exhibits and the stories behind those personalities.
I agree they look like a couple. They make me think of my grandparents. Manfred and Donna, Manfred is a stout and thick Norweigan man. Not over tall or big, but strong and steady - oak-ish, able to work hard from sunup to sundown to take care of his family. Endurance would be the definition of him. And he's married to the only woman he's ever loved Donna, who looks thin and propper though she's not overly comfortable around the "polite society" of church ladies. What people don't realize at first is how strong the steel in her spine is. You can't break or bend her even through months of oppression and pain, she endures. Manfred knows that she really is stronger than he is, but he feels better when she can use him for support and she is just as aware of this too.
My oh my . . . The only question left is do I push the publish button or the back button. . .
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LikeI say Jack and Diane. It's a mid-west feeling tonight, what can I say. Besides they look like a couple.
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LikeI would name the 3/4 'Chip' and the fishtale chisel either 'Nemo' or 'Benson' 2 of the most famous fish in the world one fictitious, the other a Carp claimed to be the biggest in Britain and very well loved until she died in 2009
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LikeI think the fish-tale chisel should be Clarice. She just looks like she won't take no for an answer, and will ensure that she gets exactly what she wants. ;) And of course with sweet curves like that, the chisel is definitely a lady.
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LikeWell, I don't read every day, but I still want to give it a whirl. The scary looking fat one should be HunkaHank and the little bulby lady one should be Priss. Please inform your committee that I know nothing about chisels. To me, and fish tale is a story you make up after a long day getting bit by bugs and catching nothing but a bad mood.
smooches
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