President's Space: EAIA Teams up with Woodcraft June 19

Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., The, May/Jun 2004 by Parke, David

The EAIA has explored the opportunity with a new event to expand our presence in Central Pennsylvania and to build a marketing initiative for the Woodcraft's Harrisburg Store. Woodcraft is a national retailer who supplies tools, accessories, and plans for woodworkers.

On Saturday June 19 Woodcraft will host a Day of Early American Industries for EAIA members to provide antique tool sales tailgating in its parking lot in the morning and displays of valuable antique tool collections within the store in the afternoon. Woodcraft will promote the event together with its onsite class's calendar and tool sales offerings through its extensive promotional mailings to customers. EAIA will promote it with press releases to regional media.

By teaming up with Woodcraft, EAIA is incorporating the value of heritage through objects and passion of its members to an audience focused on working with tools to build both new and traditional projects.

I have gained some better understanding of early trades by attempting to work with antique, reproduction, and modern hand tools in a small shop environment as the photo indicates. Efforts to try making hand tools work better has given me some insight to the challenges faced by early workers. As an EAIA member, I have been directed to new projects by thoughts from fellow members, articles in the Chronicle, meeting programs, purchase of antique tools, and publications.

The Day of Early American Industries at Woodcraft is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Their store is located at 777 Eisenhower Blvd., in Harrisburg and can be reached at (717) 939-6770. We hope the event will give Woodcraft additional sales and provide the EAIA with many new members.

By David Parke

EAIA President