Looking For Makers

[Randy Hedden]

This post was prompted by a recent post by Bart, but this happens all the time.  Someone makes a post asking for recommendations for a maker of a certain accoutrement.  There will be some responses recommending makers who are members of this board and there is aways recommendations for makers who are not members of this board.  I believe many makers who are members of the ALR refrain from "tooting their own horn" even if no other member recommends them.

Many times a maker/member freely gives others the experience and knowledge they have gained over a period of years and then when someone is looking for a maker, people outside the ALR who have never participated  and freely given knowledge are recommended.   

I believe if the query for a maker is posted on the ALR then makers who are members of this board should be considered before others who are not members of this board, unless it is a specialty item that no one on this board makes.  If the person doesn't care for the work of our members they can surely look for a maker outside this board.

To promote this idea I would ask the administrators of this board to establish an ALR maker directory so people looking for accoutrements or rifles and smoothbores can possibly find an appropriate maker right here on the ALR.  I know I like to deal with people I know right here on the ALR.

Randy Hedden  

[Bill of the 45th]

Randy, I whole heartedly agree.  We do have a short list on the first page of the site but it needs to be added to as well as those that don't have web sites, or email addresses.  I've started a list of those, but got side tracked, but will get back on it.

Bill

[T*O*F]

Randy,
Rather than recommending a specific person, I would tell the inquirer to start working backwards in the threads.  Practically every one displays some makers current work.  When he sees something he likes, it is a simple matter to then PM or email that maker with an inquiry.

Most respondents will recommmend their favorite, but not necessarily the best maker.  Looking at everyone's work allows the inquirer to make his own decision.  Most inquirers are attempting to get you to invest your time rather than his own.  The answer is almost always in the archives.

[Dennis Glazener]

Randy,
Good suggestion but putting together something like that requires time and software that we don't have, sure we probably could cobble together something that might work but there is the time that it takes to do this and then to keep it current.
One of the reasons I added the ALR Members only Forum. Was to give ALR members a place for free advertisement. It can be for anything a member wishes to sell, product or services (ongoing) as long as its related to traditional muzzle loading and accouterments.

Since its read only forum, a member can not place the ad himself. The member needs to contact me or one of the Mods/Admins to have it posted there. I prefer not to have my name on the ad so I usually have the member put the ad in the For Sale Forum then I will move it to the Members only Forum.

Since very few have taken advantage of it I must not have made clear how it was meant to be used.
Dennis
ALR Admin

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

I think you could make a nice addvert for your services with example images and post them in the Members Only forum ( or have dennis move them.)

Perhaps the Forum Name could be changed to "ALR Member's Services and Products for Sale"  or "Look Here for Someone to build you a rifle, Horn or Hawk, etc"

[Collector]

It may appear a bit brusk, to some, but on many other forums the member with such a question, is almost immediately directed to use the 'search' feature, by other members.   Short, sweet and to the point.  It might not help the situation, but it sure couldn't hurt it, as the old expression goes.  In fact, a good time to broach this topic would present itself when moderators and members welcome a new member.   We could (should) direct (encourage) them to avail themselves of that resource, before seeking further answers and/or recommendations.

Just throwing my rock in the pond.