This was certainly one interesting, talented, gifted individual. Interesting to read these posts about his lack of interest in all the special, expensive tools we see everywhere. There are hundreds of quite costly contraptions that purport to make the woodworkers job faster and easier, and, of course, more perfect.
But the thing that I really felt about Sam Maloof, after reading the FW article — and I am simply your average woodworker — was the freedom he enjoyed doing his work. I believe that in order to create beautiful things you need to have a certain unrestricted freedom to do what your instincts dictate.
That freedom comes in part from having limited external issues pulling at you in all directions which only distracts you from your goals. In other words he was able to let his imagination work freely. Looking at the photos taken of his living quarters I certainly got the sense that he was able to do as he saw fit … a wonderful assist for anyone who is in the business of creating.
–Louis
Replies
Besides a serious bandsaw, his shop is pretty basic. About the only concession to mass production I remember seeing was about 10 routers on a shelf all set up so he didn't have to waste time changing bits. To hear him tell it, it was Frieda, his first wife, that ran the business, kept him on the practical track and shielded him from the distractions. One "freedom" he enjoyed was moving cradle orders to the top of the list because "babies won't wait".
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
Nice to see that woodworkers can also be espousers of practical philosophy! Great quote from Petronious. Got to remember that every time I think it's time to reorganize my shop .....
Milford,
"Nice to see that woodworkers can also be espousers of practical philosophy!"Actually there are a lot of woodworkers on Knots with practical philosophies. I would say that all of the professionals are quite practical. They have to be. THere are also a lot of us hobbyists who are overtly practical. As you have noticed, there are a lot of folks around here who are far more enthralled with the tools themselves than the woodworking. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, but to me, it ain't woodworking. A practical woodworker,
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
A friend of mine had one of Maloof's rockers and he paid $25,000 for it. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
He was one of a kind. But also remember, $58K per rocking chair buys a fair amount of freedom.
You have to be kidding , $58,000 per rocking chair? I definitely have to read that book!
And that was a few years ago. His older stuff was already increasing in value, now it should really climb.
The first pieces I saw we a dining table and chairs with his trademark integral hinged drop leafs and an all wood rocker supposedly from the Irvine family's downsizing. It was back in the early to mid nineties. Could have snatched them up for a mere $120k.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
Maloof was a very rare confluence of talent, timing, location, and persona.
The stars really got lined up for him.
He could not have pulled off what he did if he'd set up shop in Nebraska.
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