Hobo Nickel by Steven Adams... This auction is for the four items shown above. 1) Hobo Nickel - this is a detailed, good quality, deep relief carving, typical of Steve's work. Reverse has his OHNS nickname "Mr. Chips" on it, as well as his initials SGA and the year. 2) A flattened Buffalo Nickel with a line engraving of a hobo. We wondered what a nickel would look like if a locomotive ran over it. In this case, a 50 ton press had to suffice. All the original elements of the design are still faintly visible. 3) One of Steve's favorite engraving tools, which three generations of engravers have used. 4) A brass engraving bridge, which is used to guide the graver for material removal or for adding detail. Steven G. Adams... Tuesday, February 7, 2006 4:25PM
Here are a couple of bridges I use besides the brass ones. Any shape will do really, its just what you prefer. Typically there is no handle on a bridge, but as you see in one of the photos I did use a handle. The bottom side is polished so it doesn't mark your work, and the top side can have various grooves. If you have a bridge with a really tight curve then you don't have to have any grooves. The bridge is just for leverage in removing material or steadiness in adding detail. Steven G. Adams... Thursday, February 9, 2006 9:06AM

Nickel Carvers are notorious for carving almost anything they can lay their hands on... and Ron Landis is no exception. These “Britt Iowa” tokens are wonderful examples of Ron's work. I have a standing order for a carved set of Ron's GMM “Train Car Reverses” Hobo Tokens, 1996-2000. I will let all y'all know when Ron actually completes that set for me. ~ V-Dubya

     If the folks who do all the heavy lifting can pull off the necessary logistics we can look forward to the opportunity to increase our collections of carvings this summer in Colorado. I know from personal experience that Colorado is a lot closer to the Kansa Territories than Florida. ~ V-Dubya ...

These five candidates have been submitted for consideration in early November of 2006.

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Click here to see all OHNS tokens issued from 1992-2006

2007 OHNS Token "Casting Call"

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   To ALL Active Nickel Carvers: As we did in 2004... here is a list of parameters for nickel carvers submitting work for the 2007 OHNS token. Since many carvers do not use drawings (including myself for the most part,) I would like to again forego any design approval process but just suggest basic parameters for the theme. The design should be a hobo theme and I think traditionally based designs are best for the token. Since it is a struck piece... straying too far from traditional themes could result in something that doesn't at all resemble a hobo nickel.
   1. All interested carvers must contact Verne, our OHNS Secretary, by 10/1/2006 indicating that they will be participating in this "Casting Call." A telephone contact number must be provided to insure efficient and timely communications thus avoiding misunderstandings during this project. Verne has unlimited anytime calling [at 785-945-3800] so he will return any calls if the caller will simply leave their number.
   2. All completed candidate carvings must be received, not just mailed, by 11/1/2006 in order to be considered for the 2007 OHNS token. Mail to: OHNS, 12000 Sunset Ridge Drive, Ozawkie, KS 66070. If the carver prefers one side or the other, please state preference. The OHNS Board will then provide Ron Landis with an "order of preference" list for both the obverse and reverse candidate carvings submitted. Ron will make the final selection based upon the technical requirements necessary to produce dies from the submitted candidate carvings.
   3. Verne will be responsible to arrange for the final disposition of the non-selected candidate carvings and will correspond directly with the carving's owner/carver to insure their wishes are followed. These carvings can be returned (as the owner/carver directs and at their expense), held over for consideration the following year, sold at the following year's FUN auction (with the quality designation fee waived), donated to OHNS (without any charges) ...or... whatever else the owner/carver directs.
   4. The selected obverse carving will have the date removed and the 2007 date will be added to the die. The selected reverse carving will have "United States of America" and "Five Cents" removed. "Original Hobo Nickel Society" will replace the USA legend, and "Hobo Token" will replace the denomination. Ron Landis will engrave lettering in the dies, or this can be done by the original carver if they prefer.
   5. It is not necessary for the fields to be dressed absolutely clean, since this can be done very easily in the die. Try not to use extreme relief, as it may not translate well in the die making process, and make striking difficult.
   6. As part of the die making process, the opposite side of the carving will be lathe turned smooth. Gallery Mint will do this, but just be forewarned this is a part of the process. With all this in mind... it's not necessary to start with high grade nickels.
   7. Selected carvings will be returned to their carver/owner. The carver will receive five sets of OHNS tokens and the spotlight in BoTales. ~ Ron Landis
   To All Concerned: I request that anyone reading this announcement please be certain that those carvers they know have seen this opportunity. I further suggest that any interested carver look at all the OHNS tokens that have been previously produced to get a feel for the sort of carvings that Ron is looking for and to avoid duplicating previously created themes. Everyone needs to understand that Ron will make the final choice between the carvings guided by the Board's preferences but allowing for technical die making considerations. This means that our favorite carving may not get used if Ron has reasons that it shouldn't be used. Keep in mind that... should your nickel carving not be selected ...a high quality host nickel and a smoothly finished field have a substantial impact upon the potential sale price of your carving. ~ V-Dubya ...

Click here to see all OHNS tokens issued from 1992-2006