Thursday, January 3, 2008

John Wellman, Flintknapper



John Wellman, Ray Harwood and the late Robert Rexroth cutting up antler tools
and making one of John's "twist flakers".




Here John Wellman demonstrates his "twist flaker" I saw john make many very nice points with this tool. He wrote an article about it in the Mound Builder books publication :20thCentury Lithics", edited by D.C. Waldorf.



John Wellman here demonstrates his fluting board. He and I spend many an hour fluting points with this in the 1980s.

I met John Wellman in 1988, over the phone and later met him at the 1989 Wrightwood knap-in. John was a teacher in the bay area and knapped a lot of Clear Lake and Borax Lake obsidian he had collected. John was from the old school and was friends with many of the old "Flintknapper's Exchange" . J.B Sollberger, Crabtree and Callahan. John was turned off by the knapping communities' politics and dropped out in 1978, but when he say some new knappers out there...ie me and "da boys" he resurfaced and became active again. He published the book and tape "Sequential Flaking" with was a giant book of hundreds of pages. John was one of the most knowledgeable knappers I ever met. He pioneered the "twist flaker" and "fluting board" but he was an expert at everything: fluting, pattern flaking and percussion. John wrote for"Flintknapper'Exchange", "Flintknapping Digest" "20th Century Lithics" and "Chips". John came by my house last about 15 years ago.

5 comments:

Rob J. said...

Hi Ray,

John Wellman was my step-father. Unfortunately he passed away last Sunday, October 4th. He was still living with my mom, Genie (aka 'B') in Lake County, and was a great, fun, interesting guy his whole life long. He had been battling throat cancer for the past year.

I had pointed him to your blog entry several months ago, and he appreciated being recognized for his contributions to the flintknapping world.

Thanks,
Rob

Stretcher said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stretcher said...

Rob,

Not sure if you will get this post. But my father Maurice Faucher was great friends with John, Unfortunately Maurice passed away in 1989. I remember him as well as B and I had been to Clear Lake years ago..I do seem to remember you too.
Perhaps if you get this you can contact me via this blog and we can touch base..
I have a picture that John Painted in my basement. :)

Hope this finds you
Dan

Rob J. said...

Hi Dan,

Coincidently, I'm here in clear lake with my mom now. She remembers you and your sister very well. Your father was a very good friend she says. We'd love to see a picture of john's painting.

Thanks,
Rob

Stretcher said...

Rob,

Kewl My Mother and I both knew it was John and soon as we saw the pics.
Listen I certainly will take a picture of the painting. I think I saw you on Facebook can you friend me might be easier to chat. Just noticed this post
Tell B I said Hi!

Dan