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Older News & Events ScrapBook . . . Page 4
Chapter 4
from
The OHNS Hobo Nickel Guidebook
By Stephen P. Alpert
For The Original Hobo Nickel Society
2001
Photographs by Bill Fivaz, Stephen P. Alpert, and Coin World
( Not included on this webpage. )
Published by the
Original Hobo Nickel Society
www.hobonickels.org
We know the actual names of very few of the artists who made the old original hobo nickels. Bo and Bert are by far the best known of the original hobo nickel makers, and their lives are chronicled in detail in the two books by Del Romines. Other early makers of hobo nickels, who were prolific carvers and made pieces of a distinctive style, have been nicknamed (with their nickname put in quotes.) There are other early makers who signed their hobo nickels with their name or initials, but only one or two specimens are known by these artists.
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1913 Type1 San Francisco
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1913 Type1 Denver
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1917 Philadelphia
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1916 Philadelphia
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Undated Type2 Philadelphia
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Undated Type2 Denver
~ J.A.Romines-Page45
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Digging In My Personal Midden Heap
Some folks think V-Dubya only collects carvings by currently active carvers, what was originally called "neo-bos" or even... GASP! ..."modern junk" so I'm sharing six of my classic carvings with you here to prove that this isn't true. -vrw
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Finding Nemo John Dorusa −by Ralph "BaZoo" Winter, OHNS-LM37
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W
hen our Webmaster added the Nickel's Carver's Showcase to the OHNS website, I thought it was very informative service to the hobo nickel collector and carver community. I immediately volunteered to help begin to "fill up the page." I was able to assist by furnishing photos of a couple of hobo nickel carvers and/or examples of their work. When Verne posted a photocopy picture of John Dorusa, I took it on as a challenge to see if I might be able to obtain an actual photograph of John.
M
y first thought was to go to the Internet and search and see if there were any Dorusas or Dorushas... original family name ...in the Somerset, Pennsylvania or in the surrounding areas. I came up with none!
I
then turned to the photocopy photograph that Verne used initially. I had received a similar photocopy of this photo taken at a coin club meeting in Somerset, Pennsylvania sometime in 1981. Ed Luksik from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania had sent me this when I purchased a John Dorusa hobo nickel from him. I was told it appeared in the Somerset Daily American. I looked up the paper's phone number on the Internet and gave them a call to inquire about possible archives. I then got my first dose of bad news. Three years ago, the Daily American moved into a new building. Rather than move their archives, they destroyed all their archives so they didn't have to move them.
A
s I stared at the photocopy of the picture in front of me, I saw that the photo was taken by Keith Boyer. I asked the person at the paper if Keith still worked for the paper. She said no. I then asked if there were some "old timers" at the paper who might have known Keith. She thought for a moment and connected me to just such a person... I never did get this person's name. She told me Keith had moved on to another paper and also that Keith had published or contributed photographs for several books. A quick search of Amazon.com brought Keith up immediately. By reading some information I found there, I learned that Keith was currently a professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, IUP. I called IUP and got Keith's number. Keith and I had a nice conversation, but the bottom line was that when he worked for the Daily American, he turned over all photographs and negatives to the paper... Remember, destroyed 3 years ago. He did check his personal archives, but was unable to come up with anything. I had come so close yet so far away.
Makes you wonder if somewhere, in some attic or basement, there might be a photo of
George Washington "Bo" Hughes?
I
then emailed Ed Luksik for further information. We had a series of emails back and forth. In one, he mentioned that Nancy Dorusa, John's widow, had severe Alzheimer's and was in a nursing home. OHNS Board member Don Haley had visited her a year or two earlier and passed this information on to Ed. I did a quick check on the Internet and found there were only two nursing homes in the Jennerstown/Somerset, Pennsylvania area that were equipped to deal with Alzheimer's. With medical privacy laws in effect, I knew the homes would not tell me if Nancy was a resident. I quickly eliminated one... I won't say how ...and decided to write Nancy at the other one. I wrote my letter such that if a relative received it, they would understand what and why I was asking for a photo of John Dorusa.
A
day or two later, I received from Ed Luksik a photocopy of an article on John Dorusa that had appeared in the Daily American in 1981. Be looking in a future BoTales for the reprint of this article along with comments obtained from Del Romines. There were two great leads contained in that article. The first thing I saw was that John had been a member of the Jenner Rod and Gun Club since 1948. I found the club's phone number on the Internet and gave them a call. The person I talked to knew that John had been a member but said that most of John's friends had passed away. But he told me he'd ask around and told me to call back in a couple of days. I did, but again, no one had a photo of John.
T
here was another lead in the article Ed sent me. Nancy's maiden name was Marple. I again did an Internet search and came up with two different Marples in the Somerset Pennsylvania area. I decided to call the first one. Georgia Marple answered. I told her who I was and what I was looking for. She then told me she had the letter I had written to Nancy in front of her at that very moment. Finally... success! We had a pleasant conversation and she sent me a photograph of John which you can now see on the OHNS website.
I
had a lot of fun playing P.I. and coming up with the photo of John Dorusa. Makes you wonder if somewhere, in some attic or basement, there might be a photo of George Washington "Bo" Hughes?
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10 February 2005
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If You Keep All Three ...please send a check for $60.
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Click on this clipping to read
complete Del Romines note.
2005 price... $5,600.50
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$60 Aye? ...that really grabs your attention! Truth be told... when one carefully reads Del's note it becomes obvious that the
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buyer already had a $30 credit balance so the actual cost of these three Classic nickel carvings in 1983 was a whopping $90. Smile big now!
Here is what the seller had to say about these three carvings...
Hobo Nickels by “Bert and Bo”:
This could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire (3) three original hobo nickels, two by Bertrand “Bert” Wiegand, and one by George “Bo” Hughes, the masters of Hobo Nickels.
These were originally purchased by my father from Del Romines, the foremost authority on Hobo Nickels. Included with this lot is a handwritten letter from Mr. Romines to my father telling about the coins, as well as a second letter from Mr. Romines.
Also included are clippings from “Coin World” magazine with articles about Hobo Nickels, and the “HOBO NICKELS” book by Del Romines.
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OHNS Auction 13 Donations Report
−by Steve Alpert, Auction Manager ...
Lot113 ......... $350 Robert Shamey ...... bracelet*
Lot130......... $ 65 Owen Covert ........ hobo nickel*
Lot131......... $160 Michael Cirelli .... hobo nickel*
Lot134......... $100 Bill Jameson ....... hobo nickel*
Lot138......... $130 Jon Stock .......... 3 Brazzell nickels
Lot139......... $ 35 Jon Stock .......... Dorusa and horse love token
Lot143......... $300 Joe Paonessa ....... hobo nickel*
Lot145......... $425 Dick Sheehan ....... hobo nickel* (half to GMM)
Lots156-7.... $100 Wayne Stafford ..... Elmer Villarin hobo nickels $50@
Lot161........... $150 John&Nancy Wilson .. hobo postcard
Lots162-3........ $110 Terri Barbera ...... hobo nickels* $55@
Lot164........... $ 35 Candace DeMarco .... hobo nickel
Lot165........... $ 50 Colt Rowden ........ hobo nickel*
Lot166........... $ 50 Kimzie Cowart ...... his hobo gift creations
Lots167-71....... $200 Ray Flanigan ....... 5 cans of Hobo Soup $40@
* - donated coin was carved by the consignor.
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The OHNS Board and the Gallery Mint Museum both appreciate your generous support!
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Catching
The Next Outbound...
I started this NEWSitem to inform everyone that the Landis/Wiseman OHNS membership medals were being shipped to the membership. I am pleased to inform you that I just received reports that folks are starting to receive their medals. I'm told that these medals are really top-drawer creations... just what one always expects when Ron Landis is the artist.
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It saddens me to report I learned today that Joe Rust... Ron Landis' lifelong friend, business partner and the other half of the "Doe Brothers" musical combo ...is deceased. His train came in and he was called to the Lord. His memory will live on forever in his music, his unequaled minting equipment restorations, his contribution to all the numismatic creations made by the Gallery Mint Museum and by those whose lives he touched here on earth.
We will all miss you greatly Joe!
~ V-Dubya
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Joseph Felton Rust ~ Nov. 6, 1956 - Feb. 7, 2005
The world has lost a great visionary with a big heart with the recent passing of Joe Rust. A friend and inspiration to many, Joe brought many smiles and good feelings through his sincere approach to music, and was much admired in the numismatic field for the mechanical genius he was.
Born in Germany, he grew up in the Colorado Springs area where he learned to be a machinist at a local trade college. He also provided rock solid bass lines and heart felt vocals to several rock and blues bands including Phantom, Monty Montana Band, and the Lazy Alien Blues Band.
He later traveled on the Renaissance Festival circuit selling ceramics and building booths for a Colorado based pottery. In 1989, he met mandolinist-engraver Ron Landis through a casual jam session. Joe and Ron later teamed up as a musical duo called "The Doe Brothers" and moved to Eureka Springs, Arkansas with the dream of building a museum of coin making technology called the Gallery Mint Museum. Together with Ron Landis and bassist Chuck Onofrio, he has played many benefit concerts, weddings and music venues in the Eureka Springs area and has opened for many big name performers over the many years he played.
Joe Rust had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and could build or fix just about anything. He shared his many skills with any and all who asked, and did so on an ongoing basis. His last project was a campground and RV park he had built over the past year which he planned to open this spring.
His accomplishments are too numerous to mention, but Joe was a legend amongst coin collectors for the fine work he did building and restoring antique style minting equipment, most notably the recent restoration of the first U.S. steam powered coining press that was put into operation in 1836 at the Philadelphia Mint. He has also received the President's Award from the American Numismatic Association for his outstanding achievements.
Joe loved his family dearly and organized an annual family reunion and jam session he dubbed the "Lobster Fest". Joe is survived by his mother, Mary Jane Rust, father, Carl Rust, daughter, Jennifer Alexander, and brothers Carl, Mike, Paul and Marty as well as his sister, Annie Crandall.
Joe Rust was the victim of severe depression that plagued his life off and on for many years. His final wish was that his dream of building the mint museum be brought to fruition. His body was cremated, and some of his ashes will be spread on the land he loved so well.
Farewell, friend. - Ron Landis
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OHNS Website
Visits...
undergo a ten fold increase over the
past year ~
It is personally very satisfying to me to be able to report to our readers that the popularity of the OHNS Website has experienced a dramatic increase in folks taking advantage of the resources provided there-in.
One realistically should not expect this rate of increase to continue unabated. I will be well pleased... even if we basically level off at this point ...as long you folks continue to find our efforts of value. Enjoy- Verne, OHNS Webmaster.
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"Billy Boy" ~ #37
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"The Greek" ~ #36
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"Brian B." ~ #35
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"Circus Clown" ~ #24
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Deep
in the Ozark Mountains ~
The Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas... "2005 Ozark Folk School, March 20-25, 2005 at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. Learn traditional Ozark crafts, music and gardening in the beautiful and relaxed atmosphere of the Arkansas Ozarks.
The Ozark Folk School offers an experience of a lifetime at a very affordable cost. Sonny Carpenter was trained as a commercial artist and worked as a professional illustrator for 25 years. During that time, he began to transfer his artwork from the 2-dimensions of illustrations to the 3-dimensions of stone carving. He has received numerous awards for his sculpture, and he enjoys teaching others to recreate the natural world through the medium of stone."
W.Fox Fine Arts and Crafts in Eureka Springs, Arkansas... "The fine arts and crafts we represent are hand made by skilled artists and craftspeople, most who live in and near Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Deep in the Ozark Mountains, surrounded by ancient healing springs, Eureka Springs has been known for over a century as a special place with its own distinctive style. Bring a bit of this into your life."
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"End of Summer"
bronze
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"Hard Rock Cafe"
bronze
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"Out on a Limb"
bronze
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"Angel Within"
Ozark limestone
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"Confrontation"
alabaster
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"Coral Reef"
Colorado alabaster
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"Box Turtle"
Virginia soapstone
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I first heard of Sonny Carpenter when I was told that he had learned the art of nickel carving from Ron Landis but Sonny had only produced a limited number of carvings. I never found a specimen for my collection and the only examples I ever found were in the Pope Collection in Eureka Springs... those were not available for acquisition however.
Then... I got THE PHONE CALL! Sonny contacted me as a result of several previous EMail querys I had sent him. He informed me that he had a couple previously done carvings that he would consider an offer on. At first I thought I would get just the two carvings sight unseen... then Sonny sent the four scans shown above so I expected four carvings. When Sonny's package arrived out tumbled five carvings... one (the "Circus Clown") carved in 1997 and the other four (including a female bust "Iris") carved in 2003. The five carvings make a superb set of what I would describe as "Classic" subjects done in that selfsame style... an expected outcome considering when Sonny's training and experience occurred.
We can only hope that Sonny will be inspired to "get back into" the world of nickel carving and that we can look forward to benefiting from his talent and imagination. Sonny is a tremendous asset to our mutually shared area of interest/obsession.
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Big Nose
George −by Gary Jacobs
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A Really Hard Life! ~
You know you have led a hard life when they hang you three times before they manage to successfully lynch you from a telephone pole (the rope kept breaking,) skin you (have it tanned and made into shoes,) cut the top of your skull off (make it into a bowl/doorstop,) stuff you in a barrel and finally bury you in the basement where you aren't found until some 70 years later. Tough death!
Oh yeah... after all that they stick the rest of your skull and your skin shoes in a Rawlins, Wyoming museum's glass case to impress hick tourists and small children. Then they don't even charge folks for the privilege of viewing your remains.
Life just ain't fair! • For the whole story read Gary's cool article...
Big Nose
George. •
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Stephen Alpert Receives Recognition For Siberian Hobo Nickel Article ~
I knew when I first saw Steve's superlative article that he had a real winner! ...so I'm certain none of us are surprised that he received the recognition he so richly deserved.
I don't remember which of us first saw this Siberian carved nickel being offered on eBay but both Steve and I bid strongly on it. It didn't take much hiding in the bushes to recognize that Steve wasn't going to take "No!" for an answer so I backed off and didn't push him any further. I'm glad he ended up with this fantastic carving because he did a much better job researching it than I would have found the time to do.
As my friend Cliffy's Dad would say..."Ya done good Denny!" If you are so young that you need this explained to you then either Cliffy or I qualify to help you. ~ V-Dubya
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Dick Sheehan
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Ron Landis
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"J.A.Romines...page45"
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Mike Cirelli
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Bob Shamey
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Lee Griffiths
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Booty
From Florida ~
Last Saturday in Florida, at OHNS's Auction #13, my friend Ralph Winter bid on my behalf and he couldn't have done me prouder! The six carved nickels shown above are my booty... superb examples from five different modern master carvers and my absolute favorite classic carving from all those shown in the Joyce Ann Romines book The Hobo Nickel.
I couldn't have planned a better result if I had been given the chance to pick the pieces I wanted the night before from all the lots being offered. Thanks Ralph!
In the early 1950's, while I was in Junior High School, I lost the only wrist watch I had ever owned. My parents were typical conservative midwestern Americans, having been raised during the Great Depression, and boy did I ever "get it" for being irresponsible enough to loose such a valuable possession. To make a long story short... months later, toward the end of the school year, I found my watch in the "Lost and Found" in the Athletic Office. I remember it well... it was Friday the 13th. Every since then I've always considered the number 13 my personal Lucky Number!
At the end of the auction there were five cans of "Hobo Soup" auctioned off to the crowd as an OHNS fund raiser. As usual folks stepped up to the plate and helped us continue to achieve our goals as an organization.
Thanks also to all the volunteer workers who made the OHNS auction possible... they cut-n-hauled for no personal gain beyond the gratitude of V-Dubya and all the other OHNS members who appreciate having an annual Hobo Nickel Auction.
~ V-Dubya
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Dick Sheehan
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Lee Griffiths
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It's a
Jungle Out There! ~
At this moment I can't decide what I might say that would be of general interest to you folks. I just know that I am so proud of these two "Big Cat" carvings that I had to figure out some way to show them to you. They just blow me away! I can only hope you will appreciate them half as much as I do.
~ Verne Walrafen
It's a Jungle Out There
-Grandpa Tucker
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"It's a jungle out there," I've heard folks say,
"Why, it's getting tougher everyday."
They just go on fussin' and cryin',
But I kinda like it cause I'm a lion.
Lions, as you know are of medium size,
And can't run as fast as some other guys.
We'd look real silly swinging branch to branch,
So we just hang around till we find a chance.
Here in the jungle there's a simple rule,
"Just keep your eyes open and play it cool."
If you think complaining will make you a winner,
A lion will enjoy you as a very nice dinner.
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"It's a jungle out there and it's exciting.
But you can't enjoy it by kicking and fighting.
Life's never easy but just keep on tryin.'
I know, for that is how I became a lion.
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Jungle opportunity is running wild
So jump aboard and be a Jungle Child!
Then smile as you say, "Yes, here's the thing:
It's a jungle out there and I'm gonna be king."
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Copyright ©2001 by Bob Tucker, Grandpa Tucker's Rhymes and Tales
produced by Bob Tucker
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Auction information provided here as a courtesy only.
The "official" auction catalog is the printed version and
has all the final editing shown in it.
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ORIGINAL HOBO NICKEL SOCIETY, INC.
A
Florida Not-For-Profit Corporation
FUN2005
Mail and Floor Bid Auction
to be held at the
Original Hobo Nickel Society Meeting
Saturday, January 15, 2005 at 10 a.m.
Florida United Numismatists, Inc.
~ January 13-16, 2005
Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center
1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Prices Realized
are also posted with
the LOT descriptions on each individual page.
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$38,417.60 Auction Total
Click on photo for enlargement!
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This item will remain at the top of NEWS
webpage until the Auction is held.
Posted: 5 November 2004
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A
Simple Nickel...
Who Would Have Thought? ~
For most of my adult life, I have been a goldsmith and jewelry designer, happy and contented working, with gems and precious metals. Over the years... for 'Self-Therapy' ...I have done some small wood carvings but that all changed in 2004.
In December 2003, an old friend of mine inquired if I had ever heard of 'Hobo Nickels'. Well, like most people, this was a piece of American history I knew nothing about. But with curiosity running high I started investigating, and was I amazed.
I went online and searched for information about Hobo Nickels and found a whole new world, populated by some incredibly talented and interesting people from both of our country's past and present.
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First carving.
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Second carving.
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Of course, all this information only brought on my need to try to carve one myself... and I was hooked. Over this past year (2004), I have carved more than seventy Hobo Nickels and enjoyed each and every one of these challenges, and I must admit, they have become a lot more fun than gold and gems.
A simple nickel... who would have thought?
Bob Shamey...
Thursday, 1/13/2005 12:40PM
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OHNS webpages often have too many graphics/pictures to display swiftly. Be patient while this page loads.
OHNS Auction #13 
