The price of real black powder is gonna take off in the coming years, no question. 

Probably be harder to find, too. 

I don't worry about that much any more. 

On this day in 1841, the Republic of Texas Congress authorized the firm of McKinney, Williams and Company to issue notes for circulation as money, using for security mortgages on real estate, slaves, and a sawmill.

This desperate measure reflected the history of money in the republic, where the various issues of currency--including "exchequer bills," "interest notes," and "red backs"--all were textbook examples of "fiat money," or paper money not redeemable in specie. The republic issued a total of $4,095,990 in paper money. Until the approach of annexation, government-issued currency was typified by Sam Houston's promissory notes of 1837, called "Star Money" because they were decorated with a star. Houston printed this money "to avoid the absolute dissolution of the Government." Measured against United States dollars, red backs (issued by the Lamar administration in 1839) started with a value of 37.5 cents and fell to two cents before expiring completely. Other currencies underwent a similar, if less dire, inflation, and citizens--especially government employees, who were paid in these currencies--suffered accordingly. Rich in natural resources, poor in manufactured goods, and chronically depleted of silver and gold (which had to be paid for imports), the Republic of Texas sorely needed the economic blessings that came with annexation to the United States.

Currently there is one TMA person to webmaster admin the TMA website and forum - me.

The TMA requires at least two persons to maintain website and forum software.

The only requirement is having at least a very minimum basic understanding of HTML. 

Our forum software is SMF (Simple Machines Forums) which is relatively easy to understand, make changes, maintain. 

For the extreme most part, the forum software pretty much runs itself.  Making changes to the forum is on an as-need-be basis, which isn't very often, if at all for months at a time.

But IF software changes/issues arise with the website software (HTML) or forum (SMF) someone has to pick up the ball and tend to issues resolutions.

The TMA is a non-profit organization.  Any and all help is strictly on a volunteer basis.

Please PM or email me directly if you are interested or just want to know more about the TMA Webmaster Admin position.

Rob@TradMLA.org

Thank you!

 

I appreciate it guys. I'm hoping I can get a few projects completed I have on the workbench too..
.. Yeah John it would've been faster than a dozer for sure! I really had this urgency to get a new job, and my buddy worked at the county said it had great benefits. So I figured it was the "right thing to do".. I ended up having to train with a guy that nobody really likes or trusts but the boss lady. Hes good at his job, but was an arrogant snake. He didn't like that I picked up on the machine so quickly either.. After the training they cut me loose in a territory out west bordering another newer guy who was actually really great to be around. We started teaming up and we were really getting some roads put back together in short order. So they didn't like that and broke us up. I tried being excited about watching wildlife from the cab and such after that. But it was just too much butt time watching pebbles under the blade so I escaped before I felt obligated to stay forever. Everyone has always told me time goes faster as we age, and I'm finally realizing that right at 40. I'm hoping to catch up on more of what I've missed out on after 14 years of sacrificing time with the family and my health for the RR!

Kit box arrived yesterday and so the fun begins.

The box.
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Pulled the lock and it needs a good cleaning.
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The ramrod was wedged in SUPER TIGHT (this is Very common) and required using some 80 grit  abrasive paper on a short piece of dowel to deepen the stock channel, plus reaming out all 4 brass pipe holes.  Normal for offshore trad ML guns, iron finishing nails (.096" diameter) are used for stock pins.  Once pulled I threw them all away and use new nails, heads cut off, set in a hand drill and filed to about .094" diameter for ease of getting the pipes in and out during the setup work to get the ramrod to better function.
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The pipes - they'll get filed and wire wheel cleaned up later on.
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LOTS of rasping and sanding and scraping required!
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The edge of the stock wood needs to be tapered in toward the bbl.
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