See some of Doc's work Doc's Stuff

Some photos of Barn activity Memories of Doc Bryant's

 

Some of Doc's friends comments:

Steve Brinkman

Though I didn’t encounter Doc Bryant in my short time as a member of OVWG my memories and friendship go back to about this time of year in 1978. My wife and I were involved in a serious car wreck and when I arrived at the emergency room Doc Bryant was already there with an assembled team to address my injures. Fortunately my wife was not injured as bad as I was and she was being treated elsewhere in the hospital. Over the next several hours Doc’s humanity and humor were on full display. When they took a break to wait for test results he had the bright lights turned off and leaned down and ”whispered” in a stage whisper “don’t worry these nurses do their best work in the dark I hand picked them”. Later he opened a tool bag and brought out a brace and bit to rig me up for traction. “ These are just my framing tools I’ll use my trim tools when we work on you later” . Knowing that I was a carpenter he brought his personal copies of Fine Woodworking for me to read and also prescribed a chocolate malt every day at 3 pm. I know this is getting long but it’s just a tip of the iceberg as they say. I thought I would be back to work in a few months but of course Doc new better. Over a nearly three year recovery I developed a valued relationship with him and his staff. I only wish I could have known him in these later years . 

Dave Kratzer

ARE YOU GOING TO DOC’S THIS THURSDAY?

 

“Are you going to Doc’s this Thursday?” was a very common question among OVWG’ers 5 or 10 years ago. So for the newcomers to OVWG and those that never experienced the Doc phenomenon let me try to give you a taste of what was so special about Doc’s.

 

Other OVWG members are more qualified than me to write this and I’m happy to make corrections, additions, and/or publish what they write. I just want to mark the passing of a very important member of the club with more than a short obit. He touched many lives and deserves and recognition I can add.

 

I was new to SW Ohio in 2005, near retirement, and an avid DIYer. In a Loveland craft shop, I saw some beautiful hand-made wooden bowls and learned that they were made by a local craftsman, John Lannom. I looked him up and he introduced me to woodturning and Doc’s.

 

What was Doc’s? Doc’s was a gathering place for like-minded people. It was a place where you could swap lies, see incredible craftsmanship, learn new techniques, saw logs into planks or bowl blanks, take all the wood you needed, eat popcorn and other goodies that appeared courtesy of generous attendees. Doc’s was a big 3 story barn and several outbuildings in Fairfield OH. There was a Woodmiser sawmill outside and a plethora of tools in the lower floor shop. Two band saws, 3 lathes, table saw, a large planer, grinders, buffer a wall full of turning tools, another wall full of every other kind of hand tool, a well-stocked refrigerator, and many cabinets and drawers full of other hand tools and supplies. Outside among other equipment was a John Deere tractor with a bucket & hook for moving big logs around. On the upper floors, there were 1000s of board feet of drying and dried native hardwood lumber.

 

Every Thursday morning around 9:00 am anywhere from 6 to 30 people would arrive at the barn for a morning of fun and fellowship. Usually, all 3 lathes, a Powermatic 35-20, and 2 One Ways (full size and a midi) would be in use. The turners were usually the more experienced among us like John Lannom, Lowel Converse, Dale Miner, and sometimes a visiting pro like Chris Ramsey. Three woodturners and 25 kibitzers made for a good time for all. The experienced folks were more than happy to tutor those of us that needed help.

 

Outside the Woodmiser would be in operation making hardwood lumber which was strapped into bundles and dried in the upper floors of the barn to be later given away or sold for a pittance by Doc when it was dry. Others may be outside cutting blanks for bowls or hats with Docs many chainsaws. There was a seemingly endless supply of Ambrosia Maple and other beautiful logs that magically appeared in the wood lot. If you weren’t cutting, turning, or kibitzing you probably were in a small huddle critiquing the many turnings that usually appeared for show-n-tell.

 

During my early trips there I hugged the walls, stayed out of the way, watched in awe, and tried to absorb as much as I could about wood and woodturning. Everyone was friendly and answered my many questions without complaint. Later as my skills improved I would turn something and get my fair share of kibitzing. It was great fun for all and we all learned in the process.

 

Doc would sometimes take his Woodmiser to Rockler or Woodcraft parking lot along with a trailer load of logs and give a demonstration for the general public. He never asked for a donation or payment for the use and abuse of the thousands of dollars of saws, lathes, and other equipment that was freely used by any of the attendees.

 

If the woodlot got too much wood Doc would have us turn the logs into a trailer load of blanks to be given away at the next OVWG monthly meeting. He would arrive at our monthly meetings with a trailer load of freshly cut blanks that anyone could take home free of charge. First come first serve at the trailer. Doc & the Thursday guys also prepared and provided wood for may an OVWG class or professional demonstration.

 

A highlight of the year was when Jim Burrowes would bring a load of sweet corn from his farm and we would all pig out on corn. I think John Lannom could eat more corn than anyone else. 😊

 

Doc never seemed to worry about the danger and liability of a bunch of guys playing with very dangerous, expensive machinery. Maybe because if there was a mishap he was quick with his sutures to sew us back together again or maybe give a cortisone shot for a sore back or arthritis.

 

If it was a cold winter day Doc would be up early and get the woodstove going so the shop was nice and warm when we all arrived. Doc never asked for payment or reimbursement for any of the equipment, supplies, or wear & tear. He was generous to a fault. As a small token of our appreciation, everyone would pitch in to buy him a Christmas present. Usually, a new tool or piece of equipment that we all could use while there.

 

There were few rules at the barn but two I remember well. “Don’t take someone else's roughout from the drying rack without permission.” and “Clean up after yourself.” We always tried to leave the barn in better shape than we found it. Everyone pitched in whether feeding the Woodmiser, banding lumber, building a shelter for the Woodmiser, making tool racks, or end-of-day cleaning. It was great camaraderie. Many lasting friendships were built.

 

There is much more that could be said about Doc’s and the Thursday group but hopefully, this gives a little flavor of why those of us that were privileged to be part of it have such fond memories of Doc and those times.

 

I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I had to spend many happy hours at Doc’s barn hanging out with a great bunch of like-minded woodturners. I learned a lot and made some lasting friendships.

 

You will be missed Doc. RIP

 

Larry Merkel

Thursdays at Doc's were special times for the few days that I was able to attend.  Events I remember were sawing logs on his big Wood Mizer big band saw lumber saw, camaraderie among our attendees, the great snack food everyone brought, banding up lumber that was cut, various woodturning projects happening.  Doc even gave some medical injections.  One summer, I purchased several old maple gym flooring from Dave which I used to make workbenches for my shop.  Dave's father-in-law was there a lot and again one summer, I purchased from his father-in-law an old Atlas wood lathe and even older joiner which I still use.

 

I had good times at Dave's Thursday shop.  He will certainly be missed.

Brandon James

It will be hard to ever forget Doc Bryant.

After all he’s responsible for getting me started in wood turning.

After I had torn my achilles, he patched me back together. I knew sports would no longer be an option, I would need a new livelihood.

I mentioned to Doc that I was thinking of taking up woodworking like my grandfather. Without hesitation he invited me to his place on Thursday mornings. I asked what for? He wouldn’t tell me why, he said just show up and you’ll see. When I arrived the first morning everyone was friendly, handing me free wood, and helping me turn. I was hooked.

When Doc would start bragging on how well his star patient had healed. I would commence to limping along, then enjoy his reaction. There are many more memories I’ll carry through life. Doc will be sorely missed and I am not sure anyone will surpass his generosity.

 

Your fellow turner

Brandon James 

Steve Carter

I remember the first time I met Doc up at the Woodcraft store.  He gave me advice on tools and invited me to his "barn" the next Thursday.  He graciously welcomed me into your "club" and many of you bent over backwards to help me learn woodturning.  Those were wonderful Thursdays!

I ate my share of popcorn and enjoyed swappin' surgical stories with Doc. 

I was especially moved one Thursday when he asked me to give him an injection of a steroid in his neck for the back pain he was having.  Yes, the shot worked!
 

We will be moving Nov. 5th to Indianapolis, Indiana, and can only hope to find another friend and mentor like Doc.

 

Mike Jenior  

Leonard Cribbs