Horseshoe Museum

Bob Anderson Collection

Presented By The "Horseshoe Museum"

Words by Mr. Mark Gough

The collection is owned by Mr. Bob Armstrong. Bob is currently 82 years young and has lived in Bethel, Ohio all of his life. He is neither a Farrier nor a blacksmith. He just likes collecting blacksmithing and related tools. He's been doing so since 1964.

Mr. Armstrong did share that he's had many visitors over the years. One of the more interesting is a gentleman that many of you know as Mr. Billy Cook. Yep... the famed saddle maker from Sulphur Springs.

Mr. Armstrong said that he is now selling off his entire collection, so nearly everything you'll see in the photos that follow are for sale.

I picked up a few pieces myself today and will probably buy a few more over the next few weeks.

"The Ultimate Blacksmith Shop", courtesy of Mr. Bob Armstrong.

All Photos © by and Courtesy of Mr. Mark Gough

As you pull into the drive, you'll see this small cabin. This is Bob's "museum" but includes only a small part of his total collection. He has much more in the larger, white barn beyond this cabin.
Notice the weathervane/lightening-rod.

Bob shared that he was never a Farrier or a blacksmith. This sign was one he bought when someone called him saying that they had "the perfect sign" for him. I'd have to agree.

The 'cabin museum' has two rooms. The main entrance is straight across the front porch. Off to the side is a 'barn door' type entrance with a side room. Bob had sold the long hinges for this barn door to a collector in Atlanta Georgia. Afterward, he built the doors and decided he needed the hinges back, so.... off he went to Georgia and bought the same hinges! Let's go inside for a peek.

Things get interesting before Bob even opens the door to his shop. You could spend some time just looking at the stuff on the front porch!

Here's a wagon wheel 'sizer' that was used to close or tighten the steel rims. It was made around 1880. Yes, it still works!

Makers mark is as clear as it was when the machine was new.

Not everyone could afford the $125 wheel sizer/shaper. For $100 you could buy this smaller model.

Behind the wheel sizer is this shoers bench. This oak bench includes an early Farriers anvil and a hand cranked drill press. There's a cut-off mounted in the hardie hole. Under the bench are a collection of old, mostly broken anvil pieces. Those wrenches would turn the nuts on wagon wheels.