| PASS IN REVIEW by Bill Reis |
Some things you just never
forget. Fifteen years ago Dot
and I sold our tire and auto
shop to K-Mart. We were the
owners/operators of Reis Tire
Service for eighteen years. It
was a cold November
morning, and since the shop
was sold, we went across the
street from the shop to
Country Kitchen for coffee.
Loads of plans had to be
made regarding removal of all
equipment inventories and all
else because the building was
to be razed. We chose a
booth where we could see the
shop and relax, reflect, and do
some thinking. Relax we did.
That was easy to do with
eighteen years of "busting"
tires ranging from small
wheel- barrow tires to rather
large farm, eathmoving, and
large airplane tires.
After about a half hour of
silence and two cups later, I
said to Dot, "I haven't the
slightest idea of what I mean,
but prepare for an adventure."
She said, "I'm ready to pack
the moment you give the
word." Well, a few weeks
went by and I was cleaning
out under my home
workbench when I re-
discovered a little metal
treasure chest about 4 inches
by 7 inches. In it were things
of mine that probably have no
meaning for anyone else -
things like a couple old
pictures, my battalion crests,
insignias, and stripes from the
army. There was a broken ID
bracelet and my star scout
badge - also merit badges and
my yellow tank commander's
scarf.
One of the merit badges said,
"Leathercraft 1950." I
would have been 13 years old
then. I cannot remember
what leathercraft projects I
had done, try as I might, they
escaped my memory. Then,
lying in the bottom were
forget. Fifteen years ago Dot
and I sold our tire and auto
shop to K-Mart. We were the
owners/operators of Reis Tire
Service for eighteen years. It
was a cold November
morning, and since the shop
was sold, we went across the
street from the shop to
Country Kitchen for coffee.
Loads of plans had to be
made regarding removal of all
equipment inventories and all
else because the building was
to be razed. We chose a
booth where we could see the
shop and relax, reflect, and do
some thinking. Relax we did.
That was easy to do with
eighteen years of "busting"
tires ranging from small
wheel- barrow tires to rather
large farm, eathmoving, and
large airplane tires.
After about a half hour of
silence and two cups later, I
said to Dot, "I haven't the
slightest idea of what I mean,
but prepare for an adventure."
She said, "I'm ready to pack
the moment you give the
word." Well, a few weeks
went by and I was cleaning
out under my home
workbench when I re-
discovered a little metal
treasure chest about 4 inches
by 7 inches. In it were things
of mine that probably have no
meaning for anyone else -
things like a couple old
pictures, my battalion crests,
insignias, and stripes from the
army. There was a broken ID
bracelet and my star scout
badge - also merit badges and
my yellow tank commander's
scarf.
One of the merit badges said,
"Leathercraft 1950." I
would have been 13 years old
then. I cannot remember
what leathercraft projects I
had done, try as I might, they
escaped my memory. Then,
lying in the bottom were
seven "strange" looking tools.
I knew they were for leather,
but how they're used, I didn't
recall. I brought the seven
tools upstairs and said to Dot,
"I want to learn about these."
The local library could
only supplyold articles about
saddles. The Thomas
Register listed Tandy Leather
and their stores. Therefore,
one day we drove 135 miles
to Green Bay and met Henry
Mitchell, the Tandy Leather
Store manager. I queried, "I
have these seven tools and
want to work with leather."
Well, $601.00 later, I walked
out with tools, brushes, dyes,
craft-aids, books, leather,
marble, enough material to fill
three boxes. Once home, I
started stamping. Many an
evening I would stamp until
dawn - just couldn't get
enough of it.
Then in March of '90, we
attended the Mid-States
Jamboree in North Chicago.
Four or five guilds put it on
and it was so exciting. I met
Paul Burnett, Bob Beard,
Robb Barr, Kat Kuszak, Bill
Gomer, George Hurst, and so
many others. I also met a man
about 80 years of age, Mr. Al
Beck. Al was quite interested
in the old Leather Crafter
magazine, no longer being
printed, and suggested since I
wasn't doing anything, I
should start up the magazine!
That's what planted the seed.
One evening while calculating
all possible expenses
concerned with making a
magazine, Dot came and sat
down across from me. She
looked over everything for the
fourth or fifth time and
remarked, "The magazine
seems to bring together so
many things we have done.
You are excellent in sales, and
my forte is secretarial. I did
the bookkeeping at the tire
shop, so this seems to be a
I knew they were for leather,
but how they're used, I didn't
recall. I brought the seven
tools upstairs and said to Dot,
"I want to learn about these."
The local library could
only supplyold articles about
saddles. The Thomas
Register listed Tandy Leather
and their stores. Therefore,
one day we drove 135 miles
to Green Bay and met Henry
Mitchell, the Tandy Leather
Store manager. I queried, "I
have these seven tools and
want to work with leather."
Well, $601.00 later, I walked
out with tools, brushes, dyes,
craft-aids, books, leather,
marble, enough material to fill
three boxes. Once home, I
started stamping. Many an
evening I would stamp until
dawn - just couldn't get
enough of it.
Then in March of '90, we
attended the Mid-States
Jamboree in North Chicago.
Four or five guilds put it on
and it was so exciting. I met
Paul Burnett, Bob Beard,
Robb Barr, Kat Kuszak, Bill
Gomer, George Hurst, and so
many others. I also met a man
about 80 years of age, Mr. Al
Beck. Al was quite interested
in the old Leather Crafter
magazine, no longer being
printed, and suggested since I
wasn't doing anything, I
should start up the magazine!
That's what planted the seed.
One evening while calculating
all possible expenses
concerned with making a
magazine, Dot came and sat
down across from me. She
looked over everything for the
fourth or fifth time and
remarked, "The magazine
seems to bring together so
many things we have done.
You are excellent in sales, and
my forte is secretarial. I did
the bookkeeping at the tire
shop, so this seems to be a
collection of all the things we
have done in the past. I'm all
for it!" And with the
knowledge of her complete
support, we began our
"adventure." In October of
'90, we purchased the
copyrights to the old
magazines and went full steam
ahead. We put the first issue
with the expertise and guidance
of our good friend, Dave
Mathieu of Key Markets
Publishing in Rockford,
Illinois. It was ready to go by
December, but I held back.
We made our first
request-to-subscribe mail-
ing on December 26, 1990,
and waited, holding our breath.
We decided not to begin unless
there were 1,500 subscribers.
The mail started to return.
The printer rep called in mid-
January and asked, "Are we
going to print or not?" I
inquired of Dot the
subscription count we were
holding. She tallied 1,483 - I
said, "Print!" And that's how
The Journal began its now
first fifteen years of
publication. Our team has
grown, our acquaintances
have enjoyably multiplied a
thousand fold. We have
visited leatherworkers in all
the lower 48 states, most of
the Canadian provinces and a
few trips into Mexico. We
have driven over half a million
miles and plan to do that
much again because we
sincerely love to meet as
many of you as possible.
Who knows, perhaps we'll be
visiting your shop real soon!
I'm a bit nostalgic to think
upon all those wonderful
writers and advertisers who
made it happen. I thank
everyone from the bottom of
my heart. You have my
pledge to redouble my efforts
to ensure another great fifteen
years.
have done in the past. I'm all
for it!" And with the
knowledge of her complete
support, we began our
"adventure." In October of
'90, we purchased the
copyrights to the old
magazines and went full steam
ahead. We put the first issue
with the expertise and guidance
of our good friend, Dave
Mathieu of Key Markets
Publishing in Rockford,
Illinois. It was ready to go by
December, but I held back.
We made our first
request-to-subscribe mail-
ing on December 26, 1990,
and waited, holding our breath.
We decided not to begin unless
there were 1,500 subscribers.
The mail started to return.
The printer rep called in mid-
January and asked, "Are we
going to print or not?" I
inquired of Dot the
subscription count we were
holding. She tallied 1,483 - I
said, "Print!" And that's how
The Journal began its now
first fifteen years of
publication. Our team has
grown, our acquaintances
have enjoyably multiplied a
thousand fold. We have
visited leatherworkers in all
the lower 48 states, most of
the Canadian provinces and a
few trips into Mexico. We
have driven over half a million
miles and plan to do that
much again because we
sincerely love to meet as
many of you as possible.
Who knows, perhaps we'll be
visiting your shop real soon!
I'm a bit nostalgic to think
upon all those wonderful
writers and advertisers who
made it happen. I thank
everyone from the bottom of
my heart. You have my
pledge to redouble my efforts
to ensure another great fifteen
years.
| Lots of Good Things come from The Journal!! |