Another letter from Jewelery Boot Camp.
First, I agree with most of the premises of Mr. J. Morley as well as
theose of the Gentleman known as " Ringman ".
First as to filing prongs . I watched a Video by Mr. Alan Revere , In
fact I watched all of them, but in one video he showed filing prong
tips using an # 8 cut escapement file. I have purchased a set of them
and I use two files in that # 8 cut extensively. The files are a
barette file and a 3 cornered file with one edge made into a safe
edge. I was taught to sweep up on one side and down on the other side
of the prong. The safe edge has kept me from chipping stones.
Just because I am setting CZ’s does not mean that I do not have to
replace them if damaged. At Jewelery Boot Camp we are trained to work
at the same standards that J A expects for bench work. With 4 JA
certified Master Jewelers, and two more Senior Jewelers, We are made
to toe the mark.
Here are the Archives for the J A Certification
http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/jastudy/jabench.html
Second . I have medically retired from a job and skill that I could
no longer work at. I have accreditation and journeyman status in 3
differient skilled trades. I have gone through an 4 year apprentiship
and have worked my way to the point ( 29 years ) where I did not bow
my head to anyone in my trade. ( Journeyman Millwright. )
There needs to be a balance between " self grandiosing college and
workshop bull " and " Mindless repitation of old skills "
It is my experience that the training given in an apprenticship gives
the type of well rounded education which is necessary . In my former
work place, I was permitted to do some inovative work. I earned the
right to do so by delivering value to both production and engineering
departments . It was like the circus rider who rides with a foot on
the back of two diffirent horses . < I fell off on occasion, but got
back on >
A class which I had been looking foreward to attending this summer
was canceled due to it’s costing more to schedule than the regular "
Precious Metals " class which I am attending. This is a wasted
opportunity for young jewelers to expand their horizions . We need
more opportunity to expand our skills.
We can not compete with overseas production without steping out of
the sterotypical styles which are so duplicated by our our
competition . We are artists, Artisans and Craftsperson’s who live in
and interact with our culture here in the United States… If You
are a resident of another country and culture, please replace with
Your own Residence and Culture…
You Can Not Win by Playing to Your Compeditors Strong Points . You
Must Play to Your Own…
Some of us will complete either the four semester class’s ( And that
is 8 hrs, or more, a day for 4 days a week ) as well as J A testing
and Certification. Others, the Bench Technician class will go the
same number of hours and more days for just one semester ( with JA
testing and certification at the end) .
Some graduating students are going to " art and design schools " here
in the United States or abroad . They believe that a balanced
education is necessary for their goals . Others are going to become
working Bench Jewelers. I would put money on these young people.
As I am going to move to Dallas, it is unlikely that I would ever be
able to work for or with Mr. J. Morley . I consider that as a missed
opportunity. I expect that I would be able to learn a lot from him.
I hope that I would have been able to bring some thing of value to
him as well.
I do hope that I will be able to work for and with persons who share
the experience and education of this list membership . I expect to
learn and enjoy the learning.
Please excuse my misspelling, but my spelling checker has died of
neglect…
Respectfully Yours,
Robert L.Powell - ROBB - Retired Old Baby Boomer