!!! Well, that's what I wrote in 2010. But now I actually have one! Jonathan Nedbor, who lives about half way between New
York City and Albany (New York State) had one and graciously sold and shipped it to me during October of 2012.
Boy, what a small world we live in. As we were exchanging emails about the transaction, I commented that we had seen this
style of firepot while on a couple of ABANA European tours that were led by Leonard and Lilo Masters. Turns out that
Jonathan has been friends with them for a long time. Wow! What fun to be able to connect like this.
Anyway, I don't need one anymore. I got mine!!!
The firepot came with 3 sets of the "cheeks" that I describe above. Apparently, the manufacturer offered cheeks of three
different heights. Leonard probably ordered one of each size, A, B, and C, with "C" being the highest. But what he actually got
was two sets of the "A" (lowest) cheek and one set of the "C" highest cheek.
No matter, I have 'em now and I will show the firepot off whenever I get the chance!!!
Here's a newspaper article where the reporter took a picture of the chest I am (slowly) making. I didn't find out that this
had been taken or published until about a year after it occurred. When I heard about it, we went to the newspaper's office and were able to buy a
copy of that issue of the newspaper for $1.50.
A few images of me as seen by others
Randy Purchase, a Guild of Metalsmiths member drew this and gave it to me about 10 years ago. I put in on my calling card.
Some years ago, my wife and I demonstrated old time crafts to the 3rd graders of the Northfield MN schools. We used a couple of
buildings at the Bauer "Little Log House" threshing show grounds for the demonstrations. This drawing was sent to me by one of
the teachers.
Luckily for us blacksmiths, the local newspapers like to do "human interest" stories about threshing shows. The noisy activity
of the blacksmith shop often "brings 'em in". This is a typical shot. ---me, again.
Artist David Winter did this ink and watercolor impression of me in my blacksmith stand during the 2017 Laura Ingles Wilder Days Celebration in September
of 2017.
I retired from 32 years with 3M company in 1996. The guys I worked with had this poster made for my retirement party. I must
have mentioned something about my future plans when they commissioned the drawing.
Above are two pictures of an 11 foot tall Tyranosaurus Rex that My son Rock Stanaitis built.
I just went out into the snow and took some more pictures so you can see the ribs better:
Boy, it sure is hard to get a good picture of them!
Here is one that is about 18 inches long.
He has made them as small as 18" long and as large as 39 feet high.
Here is a short video about his 39 foot high Dinosaur:
Rock's 39 Foot High T-Rex Dinosaur
