Here's a brand new shop tour, with all the machines running! Most everything in the shop is over 100 years old, and I use it all to make tools for glassblowers #vintage #antique #machinery #museum #history
I recently rescued this 1952 O'Keefe and Merrit stove from my neighbor who was throwing it out, she didn't want to bother selling it but was sad to throw it away. I showed her pictures of my shop filled with 150 year old machines working away and she was very happy it was going to the right home! Love all the functions it has, like two stage burners (changes from the outer ring to an inner flame to simmer), a height adjustable broiler, enamel on steel construction, and everything built solid and meant to be repaired. Keeping it stored safely for now, but excited to use it in a future live / workspace!!
sometimes, dreams do come true! today I'm blowing historic streetlight molds from Ray-Lite, the company who made my molds and most of the glass street lights in LA - including the streetlights that make up the Chris Burden piece "Urban Light" in front of LACMA. I reached out to them to see if I could get more info on my molds - next thing I know I'm blowing a huge cast iron mold from the 1930s! Really great help from my friends @guerreroglass , @kajakira and @crost_hype making things look way easier than they actually are! and wouldn't ya know, this mold was made by the AFGWU. #streetlight #glassblowing #bestofglass #streetlights #madeinla #urbanlights #glass #craft #lighting #heavy #vintage #lacmalights #chrisburden #urbanlight #glassofig #veniceoriginals #handmade #howitsmade #factorytechniques
Been working on another forgotten 100 year old tool - tools to form the lips of bottles in glass! These were once used in glass factories to finish the lips of bottles, but were forgotten when automation was introduced in 1905. Can see how nice they work!! I'll have a new batch for sale soon!
Forged jacks out of one piece of spring steel, they way they were made 100 years ago! The last person to make them in this style was Ivan Smith in the UK. Excited to keep this technique alive! Can see a bunch of century old examples in the last slide, plus the first jacks I ever made in 2014 were in this style - come a long way!
If you are fascinated by early mechanizations then this is the tour for you. Los Angeles artist and toolmaker Max Grossman has a passion to collect, restore and put to use these wondrous old machines, most of which are 100+ years old!
As part of our current exhibition, Tools of the Trades, he is partnering with Craft in America to offer a tour of his mind-bending vintage machinery and tool collection that he actually does use to fabricate steel tools for glass working.
Happening Saturday November 15, 3:00-5:00pm • $20
Learn more and sign up through the link in our bio.
@handwork2026 #contemporarycraft #americancraft #craftinamerica #craftinamericapbs #blacksmithing #handmadetools #toolmaker @mgrossm
Using my antique glass press and molds to make glass prism tiles, including one designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1880s! These glass tiles were used to illuminate storefronts, and can still be seen on historic buildings. The manganese used to decolor the glass by removing the green tint (from iron in the sand) turns the tiles purple when exposed to sunlight over time. #franklloydwright #glass #glassblowing #architecture #tiles #windows
The discipline of a soldier, the heart of a cholo, and now the hands of a glass artist.
Making my own tools with @mgrossm at @prattfinearts felt like arming my true self. These Cholo Katana Jacks feels like my rifle: an extension of my will. The focus is the same. The respect is the same.
The Military gave me focus, my culture gave me strength, and Pratt gave me the tools to create my future.
This wasn’t just learning a skill; it was arming my creative spirit.
#CholoWarrior #VeteranArtist #GlassArt #ToolMaking #CultureAndCraft #GlassBlowing Special thanks to the Homie @redwoodforge
Made some damascus for @mgrossm to use for these jacks for his class this week at @prattfinearts .
#blacksmith #damascussteel #handforged #powerhammer #fabracadabra #glasstools #glassart #glassblowing
