SOME INFORMATION ABOUT "NEW HOBO NICKEL CARVER" - GARY JACOBS

When I was in my early teens (50 years ago) I recall my grandfather, who was a coin collecter, having a double handful of hobo nickels in his collection. They always facinated me, and I would ask to look at them every chance I had.
Sometime in January of 2003 I got to thinking about the memories of them and did a search on eBay to see if someone might have one on there. Little did I know what was in store for me. After watching what was going on there on eBay for a couple of weeks I decided to try my hand at carving one. It didn't turn out too bad and now a new hobby?? has set in.

I have worked off and on as a silversmith for the past 25 years and have done considerable engraving in the process, so I am familiar with the tools to work metal on a small scale, but this is a real habit forming challange.
I also raise a few Emu's that make me get out and tend them every day, good weather or bad, and It keeps me from sitting around and getting fat and lazy, so I keep them. I have been carving pictures on their eggs for the last 6 years, and have been told that I am good at it, but this carving on a nickel is a whole new challange! Now I have to get good at this too or I won't be able to live with myself.

I am pleasently amazed at how friendly and helpful some of the other carvers have been. This caused me to accept the invitations to join the Original Hobo Nickel Society and be part of an organized group. I am very much looking forward to the future of this new endevor.

This is me sitting at the carving table

I guess I must be pleased with a new piece of work

Here is an example of one of the Emu eggs that I have carved.

This is the first nickel I ever carved. I will keep it to show myself how far I have come from the begaining. It was carved with the same rotory tool that I carve the eggs with. I was not pleased with the results from that tool and knew right then that was not the way it should be done. I now use the hand held engraving tools that I use in my silversmithing work. It takes a lot more time but the results are worth it.

Here is one of my early carvings that taught me that a "punched" background is not the way it should be done, and ended that practice.

This set, known as Casey Jones - Wallace Sanders, sold on eBay in Feburary 2003 for $71.00 and also earned me a listing on the Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad Museum website.
At this point I am still learning how to get a good picture of my work.

Now I'm getting my technique down a lot better, but I am still fighting wth the camera.

Now I have got my picture taking figured out and have hit upon the idea to do a series. I call it "Outlaws and Lawmen". The first one is William Quantrill--of Quantrell's Raiders fame from Civil War times.

As you will see I have learned another lesson. "Quit carving on the dateless, junk, nickels".

The second in the series is "Jesse James"

This one has a deep cut semi-smooth background. A "full cameo".

The third one in the series is the Lawman, "Wyatt Earp".

Deep cut, semi-smooth background but I left a portion of the word "liberty" on this one.
Today's date is 2-26-2003. I will continue to update this page as the work progresses.