[Jewelry making - Article 00591] - Re: [Orchid] Definition of jeweler? - Modelmaker

[JETT Research]

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>       What they are Jeweler: Someone who sells jewelry.  Even at Kmart.
>     Goldsmith:  Someone who has declared themselves such.  Skill is
>     not required. Artist::  Someone who thinks that what they make is
>     Art Craftsperson: Someone who is not sure if what they make is Art
>     or not. 

    Mr. Don Rogers, Your definitions were the funniest thing I have read
    in a long time and I couldn't agree with you more.  Thanks so much
    for that much needed belly laugh. 

    Now I have another thing that I would like to have defined by some
    of you Orchidians that are in the production side of the jewelry
    world or just have an opinion. 

    The term (Modelmaker).  In my opinion, like other things that we all
    have, is a very mis-used term in the world of production jewelry.  It
    has been my experience that most people that carve a wax or
    fabricates in some metal with the intent of making duplicates for
    resale calls themselves a "modelmaker". 

    My definition of a "modelmaker" is first, one that can carve a wax
    or fabricate in some metal a part that matches the look of the
    original artwork and matches the weight parameters of the sales part
    of the organization. They can also do a constructive critique of the
    artwork in technical sense in order to enhance the function, not the
    look, of a piece and to match the issues of look and weight.  They
    know, understand and apply the laws of physics with regard to
    directional solidification and proper metal flow, if casting.  They
    apply proper geometry with regard to production stone setting and
    polishing.  In some cases they are also prepared to consider
    chemistry where the alloy or some other production processes demands
    chemical consideration.  Most of what I would call a true
    "modelmaker" came up through the ranks and have actually experienced
    the production of jewelry firsthand.  While it is possible, I would
    consider it rare and not likely cost effective to be able to train
    someone to be a modelmaker unless they came from a previous
    production manufacturing environment.  According to my definition, I
    have only experienced a handful of true modelmakers.  Most of the
    folks that I have come into contact with have been very creative,
    highly skilled, fabricators with varying degrees of production
    consideration. 

    The reason that I ask is because I have spent the past several years
    teaching "technical model-making".  Very little time is actually
    spent teaching metal fabrication techniques.  Normally I am called to
    companies because they are experiencing recurring defects that they
    just can't seem to run down.  Normally there are the typical issues
    that are related to their process engineering, routings, maintenance,
    and equipment that are "relatively" easy to fix with a little time. 
    The real work tends to migrate towards working with the "experienced
    modelmakers".  The concepts and considerations of applied physics,
    geometry, and chemistry are not particularly difficult to explain or
    understand.  It is the term "experienced" that so often seems to get
    in the way.  Many experienced people seem to forget the paradigm
    that, "if you always do what you have always done, you will always
    get what you have always had."  If production facilities have
    dedicated repair departments for their own production, then they may
    want to rethink some of their "comfortable" things.  So, I am asking
    for your opinions and thought concerning the term "modelmaker". 

    Best Intentions, J. Tyler Teague JETT Research 
    (Jewelry Engineering, Training, & Technology)



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