Like many craftsman skills, coopering is being done by fewer and fewer people, but those still in this trade are really artisans. John Cox is one of these guys. Originally from Philadelphia, he was slated to become a doctor and not follow his father’s footsteps of being a tool and die manufacturer. He studied music and it’s the fortune of realizing his peers were better at it than himself that pushed him towards making and producing things out of wood. After trying several different areas of woodworking, it is only by chance that he got involved in coopering in 2015. The crisis and diminished supply of barrels convinced him to give it a try. Eventually, the basic skills were learned through reverse engineering different barrels.
Key Takeaways:
- John Cox originally thought he might be a Doctor. After studying in school he ended up taking a different path towards fixing and making barrels.
- Coopering is something not a lot have heard of. John has made it his art as he was trained by the very best in the business.
- Eventually John found himself working with chefs in making culinary trays. Chefs have sought out John via Instagram because they know he’s one of the best.
“John was the ideal person to enlighten me; a polymath with the personality of a showman and boundless enthusiasm for his work, he’s a natural teacher.”
Read more: https://blog.lostartpress.com/2020/07/19/john-cox-and-the-lost-art-of-traditional-coopering/
