OLd Magazine Australian Woodworker April 2005.

[Penpal]

This turned up in the throw away yesterday at my mates demo day.

THis page caught my eye and was responsible for me phoning Harry who lived a few hours away and I made an appointment to go see him. I first met him when he was the main demo king for Dremel in Australia he used to carve elaborate boots in Aussie timbers he passed away a yr or so back now and his display hanging in Bungendore Woodworks worth thousands of dollars on a huge panel had 420 plus different boots with another 150 in private collections.

Harry spent twentyfive years running his own rubber plantation in New Guinea as a Dremel guy he also visited Japan and USA demonstrating for the World or IWCS (International Wood Collectors Society.) he had the best eye for the very best timber.I have never seen better pens the commanded great prices in galleries.

He made a docking saw from an angle grinder with a saw blade. He fitted a small motor with an aluminium disk made a jig to hold blanks to square the ends. He used a skew chisel 400 grit paper and steel wool to finish then CA. The 40,000 count waqs for the previous tewn yrs he turned for many years after that. In between he built his own light aircraft.

His making time pen pen was about ten minutes he was so organised. I will get in touch with the owner of this magazine and ask for permission to copy the pics inside the owner used to be my old Australian Service Manager at Rank Xerox when I was the ACT Service Manager for 11 yrs.

I will never forget meeting him at his place Harry impressed me with his timbers the like of I have just scratched the surface of and his skill I have never seen bettered.

Peter.

 

[Jim]

It would be interesting to see the other images Peter ..

 

[wm460]

40,000 plus pens that is a impressive amount, thanks for showing, I too would like to see the rest of the artical.

 

[Penpal]

Heck they may be smallish but simplicity was his modus opporandi? the motor in front of him on the bench was an open type I think I will take a punt and scan it the article later today. I had pics of my visit with him they dissapeared but in his large kitchen he had a parquetry floor with decent sized precious Pen timbers in 50 to 80 mm squared that would be called unbelievable almost unreal his house was a showpiece of timbers the like of I have never seen before or since. He sat me down and talked me through his situation making pens easily at warp speed. One thing of note was he made a device to take the corners off difficult timbers to avoid chipping. OH&S out the window no mask either.His wife passed the main part of his existance with her they were utterly devoted a few years later. When he called it quits with the pens he followed his great love of flying fully for a time.He was in my opinion a genius a true craftsman in so many fields and a beaut bloke. He invited me to come and stay anytime I was in awe.

Peter.