Robert 'Mousey' Thompson - Craftsmen of Kilburn, North Yorkshire (mouseman)

This video has no sound.
Documentary video from 1948, shows the many wonderful stages of producing furniture from timber to completed pieces in the workshop in beautiful Kilburn in the North Yorkshire countryside.
Show's the workshop and people woodcarving, adzing, making furniture, wood machining, wood finishing, all in beautiful English Oak.
Fun fact - I actually worked here around 10 years ago, and the workshop and processes are almost identical to this video from 1948, some people who were there at this time had been there since the mid/late 60s, so around 20 years after this video was made.

[@williamwoo1437]

Yes, indeed, many thanks for posting this. Made me wondering about the justification of woodpeckers,festool or a highly polished workbench that many KZbinrs were raving about when compared to the humble setups these craftsmen were using to turn out excellent work

[@Dovetailtim]

Love this thought, thank you

[@studiohost]

I agree with you. As a studio furniture maker I think discipline and “skill” are what’s missing inmost shops today.

[@theofarmmanager267]

I would have to partly agree. Just a lovely film about how hard life was and, perhaps, how narrow were our expectations. There is now a huge industry aimed at selling us all tools that we don’t really need and a fortune spent on marketing to establish “brands” for which we pay more. However, the whole reason for a mouse and a mouseman is that they couldn’t make money making these items and so, were as poor as a church mouse. Many tools now help us make something quicker but just as accurately and, with labour costs, quicker means the potential for profit. Plus the “new steels” mean that edges may take longer to initially sharpen (I use a machine, a Tormek) but keep their edge for longer. Whatever are merits for “progress”, the one certainty is we always look back at the past with tinted eyes. You can’t pick and choose which parts of progress you like and so, I’ll take what we have.

[@alanwilliamson2259]

Thankyou so much. Brilliant to watch.

[@jerryallsman9007]

Those craftsmen are so good they make it look easy. I loved the book ends.

[@Screen511]

What an incredible video. Thank you for sharing this!

[@Dovetailtim]

You’re welcome! I worked here but over 50 years after this video was made!

[@Screen511]

​@@DovetailtimThat's fascinating! May I ask what kind of work you did there?

[@Dovetailtim]

Very similar to what is done in this video, lots of chairs and tables etc

[@MadEagleUSA]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@Dovetailtim]

Thank you for watching!

[@andregiroux5199]

I have recently discovered and become obsessed with Mouseman furniture. Thanks for posting this! :)

[@Dovetailtim]

You're so welcome!

[@1deerndingo]

Thank you.

[@Dovetailtim]

Welcome!

[@joiainmclachlan6598]

Loved that. Do you have a date for it ?

[@Dovetailtim]

This was recorded in 1948..!

[@christophereverett8385]

No sound?

[@Dovetailtim]

Sorry, no sound in this video

[@user-bv8on7hu4x]

Hola tim viendo este video me doy cuenta que los ebanistas somos una raza rara😂 como lo dijo el maestro de l canal (hagamos viruta) y es verdad nos complace el trabajo bien hecho ! Aun en este tiempo donde todo es descatable

[@Dovetailtim]

Gracias mi amigo!

[@bakerzermatt]

There's no sound, it's that normal?

[@Dovetailtim]

Sorry, yes the video has no audio