Metalwork For Craftsmen

"The constructive use of leisure time is a necessary balance for a life of work, and planning for leisure hours is fast becoming a fundamental factor in our educational practices. To contrive a quiet place in heart and mind, to widen a life until it spreads beyond all human fear and fever, that is to touch the source of eternal peace." 

 

- Excerpt from the Preface to "Metalwork for Craftsmen"

The first jewelry or metalsmithing book I ever purchased was a 1972 Dover Publications reprint of Emil F Kronquist's book "Art Metalwork" originally published in 1942. I was probably in 4th or 5th grade, and found it in the clearance section of Barnes and Noble. While some of the information, in particular the sections on soldering and brazing, were outdated and relied on tools and technology no longer in use, it was still a solid introduction to basic metalworking processes. I particularly enjoy the simplicity of the illustrated panels, as they convey the processes beautifully without text or extraneous details.