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“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.” — Grouch Marx
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Finally, the book we have all been so busy working on is now done and off to the printers. I think it is really beautiful, and is a very nice and fitting tribute to Bridge City followers across the globe.
This is a coffee table sized book; the cover is 12″ square (get it?). There are 287 stunning images distributed over the 204 pages and it weighs just under five pounds. It is being published by Museum of Contemporary Craft. Jay Maisel wrote the introduction and the editor was Christopher Schwarz. The book will be printed in Korea at a plant that specializes in art books.
We will offer two versions, the one you see below will be available for $95. There is a limited collectors edition, in a cloth bound box that will available for $140, and these are all signed by your favorite tool potentate. Unfortunately, there are no discounts for either version. I am traveling to Korea at the end of May as part of the press check team and the limited edition versions will be signed while I am there. All other versions will be shrink wrapped, boxed in self-mailers and sent directly to the Museum and our allotment to our fulfillment facility outside of Portland.
One of the difficulties of a project of this magnitude is the print quantity. Too few and too many are both problems. Some time today we will open pre-orders and a print run decision will be made on May 7th – you will receive an email when our website is updated and ready to receive orders. The pre-order deposit is $1.00 and all books will be shipped the second week of August coinciding with the opening of the exhibition of the same name. Here are a couple of images for you to ponder;
I hope you like it! By the way, it is a little early to be thinking about holiday gifts, but this book should appeal to both woodworkers, photographers and anybody who believes in the value of quality.
Lastly, if you would like to donate a copy of this book to your local library, please call us for details. (800) 253 3332
-John
John,
The book looks gorgeous; already placed my order, although, after re-reading your post, I noticed the last line about donating one to a local library; that sounds like a great idea, I’ll be calling later. Now just have to decide which library.
Now, I have a question: how many of us will need to design new coffee tables to have a proper place to show the book off?
Regards,
Rutager
Thanks Rutager.
I am pretty sure this book will collapse Fred’s Entertainment Center, so he will need new furniture for sure.
The library donation program was suggested to me by a librarian, so we implemented it.
Thanks again for the kind words and continued patronage!
-John
John,
I’m not worried about Fred’s Entertainment Center holding the weight of the book as much as the effect of putting something so nice on such a piece of cr#p; I picture something along the lines of throwing holy water on a vampire.
Best,
Rutager
rutager, stay off your bike for the next couple of days. weather looks bad. placed my order as well. hopefully this will be printed and shipped before l’il kim acts up.
I’m in, but I didn’t see the option for an anodized aluminum cover…
Already got mine ordered. Is there any way to get a more personalized signature?
It sure is fun – even in the images of the book – to see my tools in there. And looking so gorgeous. Makes me want to go out to the shop to fondle them.
Yes, I’m definitely going to have to build a bigger coffee table for the book. It’ll be a fun challenge – maybe try to make it using nothing but BCTW tools.
Speaking of which, do you guys sell pencils…?
— Peter
P.S. Any plans for a BCTW calendar based on the images? Or plans to sell (signed) prints of the images for framing?
Working on a calendar. I would be happy to personalize your book in person!
There is a lot more in the book than what I have led on… I will try and be a bit more descriptive over the weekend.
Anyway, thanks!
-John
Thank goodness for David. I was waiting for this post…
You keep thinking–your comments remind me of how I spent my entire education–thinking of clever things, irreverent things, anything to make the day more fun.
-John
John: I’m glad it’s appreciated. Or understood. Or at least tolerated. As a lawyer whose entire practice is writing in an office, the day would be even longer if I didn’t get to selfishly take time to recreate (re-create) by goofing around thinking, drawing, joking, reading, daydreaming–anything but figuring out if the goofballs got their invoices in on time. Looking at pretty tools is always a highlight.
I’ve been looking forward to this book for a long time and ordered mine right away. 12″x12″… is it also 1″ thick?
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Rutager – I like your idea of a coffee table that would compliment the book!
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Peter – You get a Bridge City pencil with every CS-2. Maybe you should order a couple more…
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Chris
John –
As several of us will be out at the opening in August, is it possible to have our copies there to get you to sign them with a personal note?
Just a thought – if it arrives before the trip, I can always bring mine with me, but it sounds like they ship when the exhibit opens.
I’m always reminded of Kramer’s ‘coffee table book’ from the days of Seinfeld. I did not see an option for one with legs…
Neil
Neil,
Don’t fret. All will be well in PDX in August
-John
Well, now I have no excuses not to build my “Quality if Contagious” coffee-table book coffee table using only BCTW tools. Today I received an official BCTW pencil in the mail! Now that I’m able to both sketch and mark – in addition to measuring, sawing and planing – I have no excuses.
This could be a fun challenge…
And thanks for the pencil. Best thing I got in the mail all week!
— Peter
HEY! Did it have an eraser?
If it did, I WANT ONE TOO!
Dennis
No eraser, Dennis. With Bridge City Tools you don’t make mistakes.
— Peter
Geese Peter, that should make building a table really easy! Come to think of it we should pool our money and get one for Fred West’s new entertainment center!
You are lucky you asked for a pencil first. A pencil that doesn’t make mistakes is nearly priceless… I wonder if your first design will always be the best design using this incredible tool? I will bet so! I also bet John uses one in secret and tells all of his students to throw away 90% of their design work just to slow them down so he doesn’t have to work as hard…
Dennis
LOL! I’d never thought of that, Dennis. John is definitely that clever!
The thing that’s stumping me is that I can’t find a BCTW honing guide for the pencil anywhere on the web site. How am I supposed to sharpen this thing?!? What’s the correct honing angle? What grit should I take it up to? Can I use it on my Shaptons, or does it work better on a natural stone?
Man, this is a much bigger responsibility than I’d imagined.
— Peter
Maybe it won’t get dull! If you can use this up I would be very judicious on when (or where) you use it…
Now that I think about your dilemma a bit more Peter I’m thinking that either Rutager or I could figure out how to sharpen the new marvel pencil (the MP-1) If you would just send it to one of us…
Dennis
Gentlemen, I would gladly be the recipient of a mistake free BCTW pencil. Dennis thank you for the thought. 😮 John & Michael, I need a BCTW pencil that is not only mistake free but design capable. 😮 Given the IMMENSE brainpower exhibited by just the two of you, I shall expect the aforementioned pencil by the end of the week. However, as I have a predilection for setting down my pencil and no longer being able to see it, perhaps a gross of them would be more beneficial. 😮 Fred
Peter, I am so sorry to see that you are losing your touch. Sigh! :o( The correct honing angle or grit? A honing guide or ceramic or natural stones? Please!!! Whatever works for you is what is correct. Feel the pencil, commune with it and you will know. 😮 Fred
john said the free tool would be awesome. maybe peter is beta testing the mistake free pencil so let’s give him some space so we can all benefit. if we keep leaking details on a public forum, someone might steal the design.
Wow, nice book John!…..I gotta check that out!….the photos are spectacular!…as usual!… I just finished a new Baritone uke, made with hand tools only, including a couple you might recognise, all from old Koa, I’m in my second year of guitar design/build celebrating thirty years of guitar work, using many of my Bridge City tools of course, I built Caribean steel drums for the past twenty, it’s nice to back on wood, take care, Denny
Denny!
Post some pics on our design forum when you get a chance.
DSN: Denny was a toolmaker at BCTW in the 80’s.
– John