Walt Henderson's New Old Tools Bio (kinda catchy Hugh?)

	I thought it was just about time to post an "updated" BIO for
the list.  A lot has happened to me since my original post of years ago,
so here goes:

	First off, in my first bio, I spoke about Tony Seo, whom I had
never met.  Well let me tell you, that has changed . . . he is a Very
Good Friend.  Since my original Old Tools Bio post, my Wife (Mary Anne)
and I have had numerous occasions to meet with Tony and his lovely wife
Annie.  We've turned into good friends, and have broken bread together
on more than a few occasions.

	A good deal of the rest of the bio still holds true:

	I am a "born again government worker"!  I ran a part time
cabinetmaking business, while working for the Navy Department in Wash.
DC (or was that the other way around?), whatever . . . one day, due to
Base Closure, I received an early retirement at age 43 and decided to
take my business full time.  

	I decided that given this chance, I needed to make it a worth
while thing
and didn't want to work in a fully contemporary shop.   Hence,  I
decided
to become very involved in the historical aspects of the trade, which
have always interested me.  Any way based on Tony's brief description, I
offer the following:

	I build furniture and wooden goods (interpretations, mind you,
not reproductions) predominately using original tools and techniques, on
a full time basis.  I am very involved in living history and interpret a
cabinetmaker from Leesburg, VA working in the mid to late 18th century.

	The furniture I build represents the type of goods that was
built in many parts of the American Colonies during the mid to late 18th
century.  Leesburg was on the way to the Western Frontier, but by no
means a hick town.   So most of what I build are cleaner versions of the
work of the popular designers of the time.  Which in my personal
opinion, is what most folks were buying.  

	Now the touchy part:  I also use power tools on a limited basis,
but generally only for the most preliminary work . . . apprentice level
work if you will.  I would say that the average amount of work done by
"period methods" on the typical customer piece averages about 80%.  I
have the rare customer who wants all work performed by period methods,
but I believe that it is a waste of their hard earned money, to pay for
what they will never see.  Now as then, most folks will not pay for what
they can't see.  The right marks are in the right places, and I do all I
can to ensure historical accuracy (but no one is perfect).  I air dry
all my lumber (except for exotic stocks).  All jointure, mouldings and
final surface preparation are done by period methods.    When
interpreting at historical events, all work, including preparation of my
"stuff" is done entirely by hand.    

	I have used both period & reproduction tools in my work.  Both
have their plus's & minus's.  My preference in the past was to use
reproduction tools for the heavy (or very specialized work), but I am
now in the process of switching over to using period tools (generally
the ones with no makers mark) for all work.  My daily working kit of
tools is of course made up of bench planes, rabets/fillisters, dados,
and a half set of hollow & rounds.  I have complex moulders, but favor
the simpler tools, as I believe many period craftsmen did, for a number
of reasons.

	I guess since going into this line of work on a full time basis,
my biggest thrill was receiving a commission from Mount Vernon to make
coffins & funerary goods for the reenactment of George Washington's
Funeral in 1999.  It was quite an experience to be able work with Mount
Vernon, and research the details of a task that many of us woodworkers
would have had to perform on a almost daily basis!  The insights I
gained were tremendous.  Maybe one day I'll take a shot at sounding
(almost) profound & scholarly, and document what I learned for the List!

	Unfortunately, shortly after receiving the GW commission, I was
diagnosed with a brain tumor!  Talk about something that will make you
keep your fingers away from sharp things!  Were it not for my Lovely
Wife's cool thinking, I'd probably either be dead, or severely brain
damaged.  To make a long story short, the tumor (which proved to be
benign) was removed after 10 hours on the operating table.  Still I had
to undergo 7 weeks of radiation therapy (5 days a week) and a bit of
physical therapy.  I recovered in time to perform the work, but
discovered that I had serious doubts about continuing to work as an
Historical Cabinetmaker.  For a long time I felt kind of "neutralized"
about everything.  Let me tell you . . . that's a terrible feeling,
rather like being dead.   

	But now (after almost 4 1/2 years) I've rediscovered my
enthusiasm for history & woodworking.  	I still earn my "daily bread"
from cabinetmaking . . . have lost a fair amount of weight, and feel
pretty good for a 51 year old man.  Guess that it kind of proves to me
that there is life after death!  I intend to become much more active on
the List in the future, and will share what I can.  I know that this is
a very fine group of people, and that I feel privileged to be a part of
it.  If I can ever be of any help to anyone, let me know!

  

                			Your Most Humble & Obed.
Servant,
                     			 Walt Henderson

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              HENDERSON & VINCI 
      Historical Cabinetmakers & Joyners
            205 Birch Street, N.E.
      Leesburg, Virginia   20176-4521
    (703)777-3923   fax (703)777-9507

          Cabinet & Traveling Goods
 "Funerals Perform'd At the Shortest Notice"
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