Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | People Photography | Join Upload & Sell

  

Archive 2021 · Max

  
 
James Markus
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Max


Congratulations to James Markus for winning Feature Thread of the Week with 6 votes - View Previous Winners


This series was shot with a Nikon FM, and the 35-105mm f3.5 ais. It isn't up to today's standards, but I just came across the Fuji 400 slide film and thought you all have met people like Max in your lives.

When I was a boy in northern Michigan's woods in the 1960s I met this amazing veterinarian named Max. Max had more cats and dogs than anyone I knew. He loved to build things, and problem solve. His hands were all balled up and crooked from arthritis, and Max smoked pipes constantly. Max loved his wife Beryl, and out of his massive workshop she requested he make something practical like plates. Instead of more things for the shop or other people.

http://www.photomatter.com/2021/MaxHammerPortrait.jpg
http://www.photomatter.com/2021/BerylHammerPortrait.jpg


Max's tool shop was two stories high measuring 30' x 60', and he had built solid cherry cabinets to hold his tools. It smelled of smoke and wood as did Max.

http://www.photomatter.com/2021/MaxToolCabinet-03.jpg
http://www.photomatter.com/2021/MaxToolCabinet-06.jpg


So Max made Beryl some plates, and she said..."I was thinking of something oval".

http://www.photomatter.com/2021/MaxHammerProducts-3.jpg


I wasn't there for his reaction, but I am sure he had a twinkle in his eye. A challenge, and a problem to be solved. "How could I make identical oval plates?" His quest began.

http://www.photomatter.com/2021/MaxLayingOutPlateBlank.jpg
http://www.photomatter.com/2021/MaxGluingPlateBlank-1.jpg


Max went to work building a machine that would create identical oval wood plates using a router, and an acme screw hand crank.

http://www.photomatter.com/2021/MaxOnMetalLathe-01.jpg

Here is that machine as I shot it in 1992. I imagine it ended up in the dump, and no one knows what it made, or the wonderful mind that conceived it.

http://www.photomatter.com/2021/PlateMachine.jpg

...And here is one of Beryl's oval plates. We had lunch that day on the plates Max made, and my engineer father and I were once again amazed by Max.

http://www.photomatter.com/2021/MaxHammerProducts-4.jpg



May 20, 2021 at 02:06 PM
story_teller
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Max


I'm voting for this not because of the photography, but because of the storytelling! What a visual display showing how we got to where we are as a nation. Max and Beryl were my mom and dad, my uncle and his wife and our neighbors down the block. Amazon didn't ship, we made it at home! Thanks for the photos.


May 20, 2021 at 06:21 PM
LarryBeemer
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Max


Thanks you for the fabulous story and illustrations of an all but forgotten part of American history.

From your description, I can almost smell the shop, feel the emotion of creativity, and hear the sounds of creation.

I certainly hope "the machine" was saved, but I fear you are correct regarding it's demise.

©¿©
LB



May 20, 2021 at 09:52 PM
sifpandor
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Max


Great story. Thanks so much for sharing.


May 21, 2021 at 08:06 AM
Danpbphoto
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Max


Great images, great man, vet, husband and woodworker James! Well done. YGMV also!!
Dan



May 21, 2021 at 09:33 AM
James Markus
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Max


Thanks for all the comments. When I shot this in 1992 it was the first time I found him not surrounded by cats and dogs - even in his workshop. He always had a half a dozen of each - some healthy - some missing limbs, eyes etc. However, they always watched every move he made, and talked to him, and stayed very close.


May 21, 2021 at 07:46 PM
Danpbphoto
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Max


James Markus wrote:
Thanks for all the comments. When I shot this in 1992 it was the first time I found him not surrounded by cats and dogs - even in his workshop. He always had a half a dozen of each - some healthy - some missing limbs, eyes etc. However, they always watched every move he made, and talked to him, and stayed very close.


They are "eyes into the human soul" James! God Bless him!!!
Dan



May 22, 2021 at 08:28 AM
kmunroe
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Max


Danpbphoto wrote:
Great images, great man, vet, husband and woodworker James! Well done. YGMV also!!
Dan



+1



May 24, 2021 at 07:51 PM
Oscarsmadness
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Max


I have a Max in my life too. I love the storytelling. This is such a good series!


May 27, 2021 at 04:34 PM
Karl Witt
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Max


And I just hope someone in the family carries his ingenuity! Having done a few years of woodworking I can surely appreciate all the jigs and handmade tools and clamping devices.

Just a wonderful pictorial of someone pursuing their passion, what a great couple
The images are a great representation of the time period, nice work and glad you posted them, they made me smile

Karl



May 28, 2021 at 12:50 PM
J. Pow
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Max


This is a great story. I was around my father who was similar with his ingenuity and talent with his hands. He always was telling us kids, "if it doesn't exist, make it". This story and shop brought back some cool memories for me. Thanks for sharing!

Joel



May 30, 2021 at 10:49 AM
James Markus
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Max


Thanks for the additional comments and votes. It confirms to me that all of us meet and remember the creative, selfless, and wonderful people in life. I hope that in some small way I honored Max.


May 30, 2021 at 10:28 PM
Hodie
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Max


I am late to the party, but I wanted to say thanks for sharing. Wonderful set of images that really drive the story. Great job and congrats on being the featured thread!


Jun 02, 2021 at 12:52 PM





FM Forums | People Photography | Join Upload & Sell

    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.