 |
 |
|
|
||
|
||
|
| Recent Archives |
Established in 1947, Lapidary Journal has been the authority on what's current in the gem and jewelry world for over half a century. The vast library of issues that have been created over the years is like a diary -- a record to what was going on in the industry at any given moment. Just as it's fun to read old entries in your personal journal, we at Lapidary Journal thought it would be a good time to begin reminiscing on topics past, to see what has changed over time and what has remained the same. Starting with the June 1954 issue, each month we will take a look back to an issue 50 years old. If readers are interested in receiving photocopies of these or any past articles, please send us an e-mail with the subject line of "reprints." The May/June 1955 issue was 6-1/2" x 9-3/4", unlike today's dimensions of 8-1/4" x 10-3/4". It was not until 1960 that the size changed for the first time. It was a bi-monthly magazine and the newsstand price was $0.50 per copy. Rockhounds Are Human In Rockhounds Are Human, Ken Snyder introduces us to a host of characters he has reputedly met while wandering around the country. Snyder has replaced the rockhounds' names with nicknames such as "Iva Gotrocks." It is unclear whether the rockhounds in question are actual people whose names have been changed or if they are fabricated characters that roughly describe some of the common personalities found among rockhounds in the 1950s. Despite their different (and sometimes unusual) ways of collecting their treasures, they are all united by their common love of gathering and examining rocks. There is Dandy Dan, a rock hunter who could make a treasure out of almost anything you find. You could nonchalantly grab something that at one time resembled a rock, and suddenly Dandy Dan would appear at your elbow and say, "What a catch!" Of course, with such an expert rockhound at your side you will end up taking home a huge pile of treasures (or "jimdandies" as Dandy Dan would say). Better clear some space in the yard. If you're looking for rocks, you can always turn to Iva Gotrocks. Fully equipped with a mountainous pile stashed behind her garage, Iva has no objections interrupting her day to help you find the perfect rock right out of her own ample supply. And there's no fear that the pile will dwindle. Iva can often be seen digging around for rocks or carting large bucketfuls back to her car. It doesn't matter if the rock isn't perfect on the outside -- all it needs is to have a little glimmer of hope hinting that there is something worthwhile inside, and into the bucket it goes. After all, she has to stock up for her pile. There's the ambitious Hikein Mike -- the man who comes with plenty of gear and equipment for rock hunting. He always goes off on his own to search, but the other explorers know that he will gladly share any discovery of a particularly good stash or a spot laden with treasures. Mike is also known to bring back little gifts of flowers or leaves for the ladies, and he can always be found at the end of a hunt stretched out in the shade, surrounded by eager children asking question after question about his travels. Let's not forget Technical Tom, the one with all the rock knowledge in the group. At least, that's what he'd like you to think. Every rock he finds must go through a painful process of being examined, poked and prodded before it goes into the bag of other rocks, carefully chosen, clearly labeled with numbers, and recorded in a notebook. But then there's always the problem of understanding exactly what Tom is saying. Ask him what you just picked up, and you'll get about 30 syllables of a name you couldn't pronounce if you tried. He'll walk away and you're left standing there not knowing whether to pitch or hoard your new discovery. In every group, there's a Miss None. While everyone else spreads out preparing to cover a lot of ground in the hunt, Miss None hunkers down in one specific place and doesn't move. Meticulously, she combs through her little area, paying attention to more than just the rocks. After lifting up every log, rock, and leaf, she can tell you the goings on of every ant, spider, grasshopper, and cricket, to name a few. She can tell you which ants are workers, how many bugs the spiders eat, which way a grasshopper will jump, and where all the crickets live. Miss None also comes back from the hunt with some of the most enviable finds. Some of the rocks she pulls out of her sack, regardless of size, may have you rethinking your hunting method. For a quiet hunt, Silent Sam is an essential part of the group. He is good-natured and has perfect attendance to meetings and field days, but he rarely draws attention to himself or speaks more than abrupt answers. He also has talent at moving through woods, across dried leaves, and over shifting rock without making a sound. You'll be strolling along in complete solitude, and suddenly Sam will appear beside you with a big grin across his face, making you jump and scatter your entire collection of rocks on the ground. But don't bother asking him if he's collected anything. Even if his pockets are obviously bulging, Sam will always smile and say he has "nothing much." Of course, later he will emerge with the nicest rocks, all polished and perfect. Not bad for "nothing much." Just when you got used to all that silence, you meet Efen Wee, the chattiest guy in the group. Always thinking about what they should have done, he can most often be found saying "efen we could find the perfect spot," "efen we had someone to dig for us," or "efen we'd followed that trail." Rather annoying, but sometimes Efen has a good idea hidden among all his "efens." And despite all his grumblings, the others in the group use his complaints to see that there are different kinds of personalities, and everybody needs an Efen Wee to balance the group. Most essential to every group is Don Duitt, the member who makes sure that everything on the hunting ground is left exactly the way it was before the group arrived. If you don't have a Don Duitt, you can be assured that your hunting grounds will begin to dwindle and soon become non-existent. Generous farm and ranch owners will allow rockhounds onto their property to hunt, provided the group promises to close all the gates, put out any fires they kindle and pick up all trash or other materials they drop. Without a Don Duitt, it is inevitable that an open gate will be forgotten, a fire will blaze away and all sorts of equipment will be strewn on the ground. All it takes it for a few cattle to roam out through the fence and cause a car accident or for a fire to destroy crops and fence line. Then you can be assured you will no longer be welcome. The next time you try to enter your hunting ground, scores of signs will block your entrance, saying things like "Rock hunters keep out," "Rock hunting banned" or "Rockhounds prohibited." The only way to prevent such an atrocity is for everyone in the group to become a Don or Dotty Duitt, or at least choose a name that involves getting work done, like B. A. Goodworker or Ioe de Clubmour. It's the only way to ensure that rock hunting survives. That is, of course, unless you prefer to hunt for rocks through a shop window. More highlights from our archives coming next month from the May/June 1955 Lapidary Journal. |
Index of Past Issues | Buy Back Issues Online
|
________________________________________________________________ Feature Stories & Artist Profiles | Step-by-Step Projects & Workshops | Technique Articles | Business Articles | New Products | News, Conferences, & Deadlines | Take our Reader Survey
Articles & Workshops | Bead Fest | Jewelry Classes | Show Calendar | Search for Products & Suppliers | Classified Ad Deals | Advertising Rates & Information | Media Reviews | Store - Books & Back Issues | Contact Us | Links | Site Map
About Us | Subscribe to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist | Subscription Customer Service/Account Lookup Contact
us. |
