Greetings all.

I've pulled together a site that is devoted to the ephemera of tools and trades, with occasional forays into other related areas.

For the time being, I'll be placing stuff such as billheads, trade cards, catalogs, books, post cards, etc. on this site.

I've been collecting ephemera for a good number of years, usually something to do with woodworking or traditional trades. Of late, my focus has been on how to preserve the material. Catalogs that I purchased as little as ten years ago are showing signs of acidic deterioration. So I decided to go the way of digital preservation.

I'm working on scanning everything, absolutely everything that is in my possession with the exception of large trade catalogs or books. If it can fit on a scanner or if I can get a picture of it, it goes digital. So I figured that if I am doing this work, why not organize some of it and get it up on the web? Hence, The Toolemera Press web site, housed here at Wiktor's most excellent web home.

Ok, aside from that, I've been collecting, using, studying and enjoying old tools for about 30 odd years. Which means that I have forgotten more and more as I age. Or perhaps my brain will only hold just so much data.

The Porch has been my online home for a good many years, with a smattering of other email lists thrown in. I used to do a lot more woodworking, but loss of vision in one eye slowed me down. But I do plan on getting back into woodworking in the near future. Just staying far, far away from high powered tailed daemons.

By day I work at an engineering research library, by night I feed my cats, watch anime with Amy (she is the expert, I just tail along for the fun) and figure out how to keep our 1920 farmhouse in one piece.

And of course... scan.

Best,
Gary Roberts