Knight Foundry, Sutter Creek, California

Guided group tours are also available by reservation. In addition to tours, schools are encouraged to use the site for field trips. The California History and Manufacturing Technology Tours offer several programs. A 1-1/2 hour tour covers a tour of the foundry, time with the blacksmith, and a hint of what life was like in 19th century Sutter Creek. An all-day tour includes not only the foundry but visits to the Kennedy TailingWheels and the Amador County Museum. This program gives students a better grasp of how mines in Amador County operated and why Knight Foundry was needed to supply heavy equipment.

Knight Foundry has also developed a three day "hands-on" workshop for adults. The Industrial Living History Workshop, advertised nationwide, has been well received. Students actually work in the foundry, machine shop, blacksmith shop, and pattern shop to learn the skills of the late 19th century. The class regularly has twenty-one to twenty-eight students, working in groups of seven. At each work station students receive a brief introduction to the craft and are then given an opportunity to practice these hand skil6 under the direction of experienced instructors.

Students are encouraged to bring foundry projects with them; these- may be molded and cast as part of the workshop. In the foundry, students receive instruction in the basic Aa of green-sand molding; they then mold seve -ml items. In the machine shop, students are 'introduced to water-powered machine tools and then given an opporturnty to operate the lathes, planers and radial-arm drill press. The blacksmith portion gives students the chance to do forge work while producing several items. Students learn the basics of pattern making in the pattern shop) and finally are shown how the cupola furnace is prepared and fired for a melting operation. During the final session, those students who wish to participate may also step in with the foundry staff to pour some iron castings.

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