Stuck in Norfolk

[Cody Kemble]

So I'm down in Norfolk,VA for the next month for work. I figure since I can't be in the shop I'll go rust hunting. Does anyone know any decently sized flea markets or swap meets down this way? I don't really know what else to search for. The garage sale search came up dismal.

[Mike Baker 2]

Sorry, not in Norfolk. But I did a search.
https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=flea+markets+in+norfolk+va&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

[Karl Andersson]

My father has an antique shop inNorfolk- doesn’t have many tools but one of his neighbor’s shops does, andtheir prices aren’t bad: look at shops in the 2400 block of Granby street. The thriftshop in that block occasionally has really good cheap finds as well. When hisshop was going strong, he would go up to some big outdoor flea market inRichmond – apparently it’s open Fridays through Saturdays, but I don’t knowexactly where it is- should have a website these days.

[lowell holmes]

I you get bored, there is a lot of history around Norfolk. Take a tour.

[Jason Dean]

Bubba's seafood is quite good (crab cakes) and casual if you get hungry, 3323 Shore Dr.

[Bill Houghton]

I can't help on your question, but I did chuckle about your post title. It reminded me of some songs...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WS-TTNaLyg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA7iGxV6rt4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA7iGxV6rt4)

[Mel Fulks]

Karl ,I think that flea market in Richmond is the "Bellwood"

[george wilson]

You could visit Colonial Williamsburg.

[lowell holmes]

I was referring to Colonial Williamsburg in my post. It is worth the effort.

I just went online and viewed pictures of Colonial Williamsburg. I remember the scenes shown in the pictures.

[Keith Outten]

Cody,

Try the local Craigslist for yard sales, it covers all of Hampton Roads.
You might also consider visiting the Mariners Museum in Newport News, obviously lots of ships but there are plenty of wooden ships so its not far off the area of interest. The new Monitor Merrimac section is very interesting mostly because of the conversion of the wooden class Virginia to the Ironclad Merrimac. There are lots of tools from the period on display as well. One of the most significant donors of models to the museum was a local craftsman from Newport News.

George suggested Colonial Williamsburg, he would know better then anyone I know concerning what is of interest there. I have visited Williamsburg many times but as a tourist so I have no information that compares with George's lifetime of work there.

Hampton Roads is the oldest area in the country, it all started in Jamestown so you can expect to see and experience lots of colonial areas and events. The Blackbeard festival in Hampton is just around the corner I think, he lived here for awhile.

[Cody Kemble]

I was planning on a trip up to colonial Williamsburg a couple weeks from now. A friend of mine works up at the Yorktown weapons facility near there and we were going to make a weekend of it. George is there anything specific I should go do or anyone I should go talk to while I'm up in Williamsburg? Thank you all for your help and suggestions; a month away from home with no family and no shop left me a little confused. The traffic here is crazy. This is much bigger base that I'm used to up in Groton.

[Frank Drew]

Many years ago I drove down to Norfolk a few times to buy Mahogany from Yukon Lumber (520 W. 22nd St.). The selection and price made the 3+ hour drive worth the effort, especially since this was at a time when Mahogany was extremely difficulty to find anywhere.

[David Turner]

There's a great Woodcraft store in Norfolk. They provide a lot of classes and there is also a really great woodworkers club that meets monthly at the store.

David Turner
North Raleigh

[Jim Koepke]

It reminded me of some songs...

Funny before clicking on the link the same song came to mind.

I have stopped to buy gas in Lodi. Thankfully didn't get stuck their.

jtk

[Bill Houghton]

Funny before clicking on the link the same song came to mind.

I have stopped to buy gas in Lodi. Thankfully didn't get stuck their.

jtk

There are worse places to get stuck. When we go up to the mountains, we most often do it by a route that passes through Lodi. We'll generally hit Lodi about noon, and stop at a restaurant on the west edge of the city that offers very good food.

[george wilson]

I made a nice,long reply. Somehow it got lost. Anyway,there is the Anthony Hay cabinet shop in Williamsburg. One of my old journeymen is still here making spinet harpsichords. Very nice ones,too. His name is Ed Wright. The rest of the building is furniture making.

The Anderson Blacksmith Shop is an interesting place. I made their anvils (the casting patterns!). The treadle lathe is there now,way in the back end of the room. I copied it from one in the Science Museum in London. It works very well as the flywheel is quite heavy.

The Gunsmith's Shop is a good place to visit also. They are down near the Capital Building. I also recommend the shoe maker's shop. Very small,though. We practically made their whole shop. Their shoe maker's benches,their counter up front( no biggie!),and most of their tool handles and other things I can't recall.

If you can get close enough,you will see Jon's and my names on many of the tools.

The Housewrights use mostly tools we made for them,except for their pit saw. They move about quite a bit to different job sites. The very large guy is their Master. He is quite friendly. Ask to see the 6" wide blade crown molding plane,and the somewhat smaller bed molding plane we made for them,plus their well worn (by now) planes and saws that we made, They are pretty hard on their tools,being out of doors.

The Mariner's Museum in Hampton is WELL recommended. They have a huge amount of nautical equipment and hundreds of models. Their most special collection is in a special room to itself. Amazing craftsmanship. I am having a senior moment,and can't recall the maker's name right now,though I knew the man perfectly well. He started out in an old gas station and over the years built the models. I must say,he truly dedicated his life to what he wanted to do,as did I. But,he was really on his own. I had the museum.

[lowell holmes]

I've been in the Hay Workshop many years ago. It is worth the trip by itself.

[Ted Phillips]

You might think about calling Jim over at Australian Burls (http://www.australianburls.com/) - 757-816-5622. He has an amazing selection of burls and turning stock. He is over in Chesapeake VA.