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Alan Peters, 1933-2009

Stephen Scott, associate editor

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In America, woodworkers have been mourning the passing this year of giants Sam Maloof and James Krenov. Overseas, the woodworking world has lost another important figure, Alan Peters.

Peters died Oct. 11 and his obituary appeared in newspapers in England this past weekend. Here is a link to the notice in the Telegraph. The video above is part of a documentary made earlier this year by a student of Peters to pay homage to his teacher.

Peters also had an influence on this side of the Atlantic, through his writings and through followers like Rob Cosman, who advocated many of Peters' techniques.

Produced by: Rob Cosman
Time: 2:04

On Monday, Cosman said Peters’ early training with hand tools as an apprentice for Edward Barnsley (in a shop with no power tools) shaped his entire career. Peters’ work provided a great example of meticulous but efficient craftsmanship, he said.

“He probably did the best job of combining hand tools, power tools, design and business,” Cosman said, adding that Peters worked “with a precision and speed that nobody else could.”

Cosman produced a DVD with Peters’ at his shop in England several years ago. The video segment below is a snippet from that work.  

Peters wrote for Fine Woodworking several times, most memorably about his technique for piston-fit drawers, in issue 125.

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Comments (5)

TwoHerbs writes: I took a class with Peters about 12 years ago. His work was meticulous, but straight forward. What I'll never forget, and you can see it in the DVD that Cosman made, is how he touched the wood constantly, feeling for anything that was out of place, but it was obviously a very sensual thing.

Although I thought that he was a good teacher, he could also be overly demanding and "do it my way" kind of person. Two folks left the class early because they could not work with him; however, I think even then, some aspects of his dementia, that contributed to his death, was evident, along with hard to control diabetes.

I'll never forget his piston fit drawers, how one would move when you pushed in the other one. He was fun just to sit and talk at lunch with him during the two week class.

I actually like his designs better than Krenov's, but they were in a different style.

We have people coming after them (Peters, Krenov, Maloof) but there will never be folks like them again, which is probably good; we always need new ideas while remembering the previous ones that made the new ones possible.
Posted: 10:39 am on November 4th

RJMcC writes: What a sad time. While he was perhaps less well known on this side of the Atlantic, the passing of Alan Peters ranks with those of Sam Maloof James Krenov, true craftsmen all among the very best and most influential the world had to offer.

A story about Alan Peters is incomplete without mention of what a wonderful man he was and how he inspired people.

A great teacher, Alan Peters agreed to our invitation (the Atlantic Woodworkers' Association, based in Nova Scotia) to cross the Atlantic for a weekend, now 15+ years ago. He juried a show and gave a workshop. The effort did not make him a rich man.

Seldom does one find such a combination of pleasant demeanour and world-class competence. As I sit here with one of the pieces he juried, I can still remember things he said and how his gentle manner reached through my nervousness to have such a great craftsman scrutinize my humble and amateur effort. I will cherish that weekend and continue to be influenced by him. May his warm soul live on through those he has touched.
Posted: 10:28 am on November 4th

fidgen writes: They say things come in threes- well they have this year in the woodworking community haven't they?
Sad news indeed, I've been a fan of his work since watching Rob Cosmans video about three years ago. It's worth checking out.
An inspiration on design and hand tool use he'll be missed.
Thanks for the video link.
Tom
Posted: 2:31 pm on November 2nd

sscott writes: Thanks very much for the note about Rob Cosman. I fixed the language in the blog post to reflect Peters' broader influence.
Posted: 1:05 pm on November 2nd

RocklerWoodworking writes: Thanks for the notice about Alan Peters - we hadn't heard.
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware

P.S. I believe Rob Cosman is Canadian :-)
Posted: 12:54 pm on November 2nd

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