May 2012 Message from the Guildmaster

Hello to All:

With the coming of the summer months, we are all now deeply involved with our various gatherings and events. Fort Frederick has just ended, and although I was not able to attend this year, I have heard that it was a grand event. The Tennessee / Kentucky Longrifle show was held several weeks back in Norris, Tennessee. This show was an incredible showcase for anyone interested in  Southern mountain rifle culture, particularly specimens of the “iron-mounted” variety. Several HCH members were in attendance and showcasing their wares.

The West Coast Horn Fair was held last weekend at Morro Bay, California. From the reports I have seen, it seems to have attracted a very good attendance. The photos of the work displayed there looked great! Even though it is often difficult for our members to sometimes travel between the coasts, it is good to see groups of HCH members holding workshops and get-togethers in other areas.

Our own little “Southern” workshop has been a real inspiration for those who have been able to attend. I know that I have learned much from participating the past two years, and eagerly look forward to next year.

With everything in full swing for the season, I want to take this opportunity to remind some of our members that without your annual dues payment, the HCH (and other valuable historical organizations) run the risk of slowly slipping into oblivion.  This year marks the first time in recent memory that we are seeing a large number of members failing to remit their annual dues to our treasurer.

We are not a large organization, but we have been fortunate to experience a large amount of growth over the past several years.  With this growth comes higher operating costs as the services provided to our members have  dramatically expanded. Take a look at our wonderful website, the quality of our publication, “The Horn Book”, The Hartley Book, free entrance to our annual meeting, and the many learning opportunities we have tried to incorporate at the meetings. All of this, and more, takes dedicated time and effort from our Executive Committee, our Committee Chairmen, and all of the folks who step up to volunteer their help.

We have more plans for the future to make our organization even better than it is today, but without the financial support of our membership, this may change. If you value the guild, and what it means to you, please take the time to continue your membership by sending a check to our treasurer, Art DeCamp.

As usual, the door is always open. Write, call, email, or shout loudly to let us know your thoughts about the guild.

Thank you,

Jeff Bibb
Guildmaster, HCH

April 2012 Message from the Guildmaster

Greetings to all:

We are shocked and very saddened to learn about the  sudden passing of our good friend, and guild secretary, Phil Cravener. I know that Phil touched many of our lives with his constant smile, his un-ending warmth and humor, and his immense talent as an artisan. Our sympathies extend to all of his family and friends. He will be missed at our gatherings.

With an early spring well upon us, it is once again time to contemplate our annual treks, rendezvous, re-enactments, shows and shoots. Last weekend, I saw several guild members at the Southern Long Rifle Show in Williamsburg, Virginia. While not a large show, many collectors, and fans of early American crafts and art were in attendance. Many outstanding  original (and modern) guns, horns and accoutrements were on display for viewing and for purchase.

In addition to his fine display table of banded, ringed, and screw tip horns, Tim Crosby brought along a portable workbench, a number of hand tools, and capably demonstrated the traditional horn maker’s craft for the entire show. His bench attracted a lot of attention from the attendees.

A large part of the mission of our guild is education. Each year I participate in two local historical events in the central Virginia area. At each, I make it a point to have as many representative pieces of early colonial life as possible on my table. I usually spend the better part of both events talking with folks (and their children) about early American life and the articles that were used in daily life. The level of interest is truly astounding. Since so little is currently taught in our schools about this topic, both children and adults are very interested in “how folks used to live”. They often express a desire to learn more and  explore making something of their own as a future project.

I would like to encourage ALL of our members to make an effort this year, and in the future, to make this type of education a goal for your own participation in the events you attend. Maybe you can demonstrate a horn working skill at a show or event. Perhaps you can demonstrate something for a local school. At your next long rifle show, ask if you can demonstrate at your table. It isn’t hard to do, and the results are usually fantastic. Keep a few HCH membership cards on hand and give them out to interested participants.

Every year at Dixon’s, part of a table-holder’s responsibility is to offer a demonstration of some type of historical craft or art. Chuck Dixon has incorporated this theme every year, and I think the results speak for themselves.  Education should be a goal for all of us. Without it, our art and craft will completely disappear at some point in the future.

As always, I look forward to hearing from you  with your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and feedback.

Y.M.O.S.,

Jeff Bibb
Guildmaster, HCH

PHILIP W. CRAVENER May 8, 1937 – March 24, 2012

PHILIP W. CRAVENER, Secretary
May 8, 1937 – March 24, 2012

Philip W. Cravener, 74, of Latrobe, died Saturday, March 24, 2012, in Excela Health Latrobe Hospital. He was born May 8, 1937, in Indiana, Pa., the son of the late Merle E. and Phyllis (Moorhead) Cravener. Philip was retired from Carborundum, and was a member of  many black powder related organizations.

He is survived by his wife, Joanne L. (Lunk) Cravener, of Latrobe; two sons, Jeffrey M. Cravener, at home, and Christopher A. Cravener and his wife, Carolyn, of Blairsville; two sisters, Cora Lee Tarr and her husband, Maurice, of Latrobe, and Diana Webb and her husband, Richard, of Jeannette; and a grandson, Cody A. Cravener. He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

He served the Penna Gun Collectors Association as treasurer for many years. He was the secretary of the Lantrobe Sportsmen. Phillip Cravener also belonged to the Old Westmoreland Rifles and served as Commander, Adjutant and the Treasurer.

He had 40 years experience building, repairing and restoring muzzleloaders and accouterments. When Roland Cadle was elected Guildmaster of the Honourable Company of Horners, he asked Phil if he would offer to serve as secretary. Phil Cravener served loyally as the HCH secretary up to his passing. He was a busy man, dedicated to his craft as a gunmaker and horner. He was a member of the CLA, HCH, NMLRA and the NRA.

If you would like to share a few words about Phil, you may do so below by leaving a comment.

Jeff Bibb, Guildmaster

March 2012 Message from the Guildmaster

In my first message  as your newly appointed Guildmaster, I would first like to say thank you  to everyone  in our organization who has worked so hard in the past to bring the guild to its current position.  I appreciate your confidence in me, and I hope that I will be able to adequately “follow in the footsteps” of Ed’s great leadership during the past two years. Thanks also to our  executive committee, committee chairmen, and all of our members, who have worked diligently to make our guild what it is today.

Our 2012 meeting in Carlisle, PA is now history, and I must say that from the response I received, “a good time was had by all”. Many thanks to Dick Toone, and everyone who spent many  hours organizing our gathering.  Plans are already in place for 2013, so stay tuned!

In my opinion, our conference reached a new peak this year. Recorded attendance was 96 members, a new record for our meeting. The tables and displays were fantastic, as usual. Jim Leach did a superb job of organizing a blowing horn display that was truly mind boggling. In addition, Jim cataloged and photographed all of the horns that were present with the goal of publishing these important artifacts at a future date. The throaty bellows and whoops from many of these horns could be heard throughout the show!

The workshops were outstanding, and I believe that we have arrived at a very successful method of communicating our art to those who attend the meeting. Every time I went out to the hall, folks were gathered around the tables, taking in the skills and techniques that were being demonstrated. Thanks to all who manned and worked these tables. I hope that we can continue, and expand these programs in the future.

Congratulations to our new Journeymen, Mike Burke, and Rich Hujsa. It is always rewarding to see members advance through our ranks as artisans. Congratulations are also in order for our drinking vessel and strap contest winners, Mike Burke, and Ginny Hawker. Beautiful work!  Congrats. also to our contest winners, who entered some outstanding pieces. A special congratulation to Mr. John DeWald, who hit a three 1st. place home run, with the addition of Best of Show! Great work John!

After this year’s show, I thought back to the first annual conference I attended in Williamsburg, VA. I joined the guild at that show, and had no idea of what to expect. The members attending that show made me really feel welcome, and openly shared their considerable knowledge of horns, history, and techniques. Five years later, I see more of this than ever at our meetings, and through our membership in the guild. I believe it is this open sharing of knowledge and skills that makes our organization unique, and I feel that through this process, we offer our members an invaluable resource.

I look forward to serving as your Guildmaster. Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions to keep our organization moving ahead for the future. Thank you.

Y.M.O.S.,
Jeff Bibb

September 2011 Message from The Guildmaster

This month’s Message from The Guildmaster is provided by Jeff Bibb, our Guildmaster Elect. My thanks to Jeff for providing it.
Ed Long
Guildmaster

 

Happy Labor Day to everyone! I hope that all of you will be able to take the day off and enjoy a rest after this whirlwind summer.

Well, Dixon’s and CLA have come and gone for another year. With only three weeks separating these two events, it is a busy time for many of our members. The HCH had a strong presence at both events, and we are all pleased with the success of the guild and its members.

Once again, HCH members made a strong showing in the judging at Dixon’s fair. Several first place awards went to members for accoutrements and guns, including another win by a guild member of the Madison Grant Award! [Mr. Bibb is being shy. It was his Southern banded blowing horn that took this honor. Editor]
Congratulations to everyone. Look for details in a coming issue of The Horn Book.

Guild members were busy all weekend at their own tables, staffing the HCH table (thanks to everyone who generously helped out), selling books and memberships, teaching seminars, judging competition entries, and trying to find time to take in some of the fair for themselves.

The HCH summer reception was once again, a very well-attended event. The food was excellent, the museum was open for viewing, and the folks at Jacobsburg did an excellent job of hosting the event. The great north / south banded horn competition was voted to a tie. Both sets of entries were beautifully made, and even Tom Ames, the head of Dixon’s accoutrements judging, could not truly pick one over the other. Congratulations to Billy and Roland for their work!

CLA was also an outstanding show for the guild. Thanks to John Proud, Frank Willis, and Jim Pease for staffing the guild table, selling books and representing the guild. Many guild members attend and exhibit at CLA. The show is truly so large, that it is hard to take it all in if you have your own table. There were many outstanding displays of contemporary and original pieces to admire over the two days in Lexington.

As we move in the fall season, plans are already well underway for next year’s HCH conference and events. I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming months.

Y.M.H.S.,
Jeff Bibb
Guildmaster Elect