Fine Woodworking Magazine

After about three years. other than some ads, the new owner has left Woodsmith alone, as far as I can tell.

Yes, Ian Kirby phoned me with this news last week. All I can say is:  Sic transit gloria mundi.

Weren't we talking about the long arc of fine woodworking a few weeks ago? Fine Woodworking magazine was a pioneer back in '75 when they inspired a new generation of woodworkers with an appreciation of beautiful wood, artful design, fine tools and fantastic craftsmanship. Their name is one of the best titles imaginable. They almost singlehandedly elevated woodworking from the pedestrian to the sublime, and helped elevate consciousness and appreciation of fine woodworking everywhere. I know they almost singlehandedly inspired me and opened the doors to my career in woodworking and woodworking journalism, not to mention introduced me to so many of the finest craftsmen and woodworking authors of our era, and all the many companies and entrepreneurs who feasted at their table. Their editorial staff and contributors were simply the best, and somehow they managed to sustain their eminence in the field for almost fifty years, even as I wondered how they could possibly publish another hand-tool or furniture making article.

What do I think of this transition? I have to assume that Fine Woodworking's circulation and profitability had waned in tandem with the aging of our generation and the decline of woodworking in the 21st Century. I think it was inevitable. Woodworking is an expensive hobby, and not that much of it is still new, evolving or affordable in today's changing world, at least not for as many practitioners. The new generation of woodworkers may not have the time or patience for the elegance and nostalgia of Fine Woodworking's style.

As for the new owners, F&W Publications will be a respectable resting place for Fine Woodworking, and will keep their body of work and amazing backlist of publications available for the foreseeable future, as they did with American Woodworker magazine after it headed south 25 years ago. I don't know if or for how long they will keep publishing the magazine.

This forum -- and the majority of those who visit here -- owes a huge debt of gratitude to the journalistic excellence of Fine Woodworking. I know I do.

Ellis

Ellis,  I knew you would have some wise thoughts about this.  I subscribed to FWW when I saw the fourth issue on the newsstand.  I got the three earlier issues and maintained a subscription until recently.....when I thought it had changed.  It was my textbook as I learned my new hobby. Truly miss the old FWW.  Stick around long enough and things will change.Thanks for your great post..

I got my subscription with the 3rd issue and later got the first two.  As I always worked alone it was a great help for me.  The wooden clock from issue 10 is probably my greatest effort directly from the magazine.

I was late to the FWW scene starting with issue 73. I did find all of the back issues from 1-72 for sale locally and bought them many years ago.  I wish the staff and new owners well. I do consider myself a better craftsman for being a subscriber.

I was pretty early through the door with FWW, I think I missed the first year.  I know it was worth it to me to buy the first collection in hard cover, of the best articles.  I thought the early issues were fantastic, and some of the people they gave a podium to are still leading names today.  I think the only competition they really had was from books of which there were some marvelous titles produced that are still in circulation today Kodansha, Van Nostrand Reinhold, etc...

FWW got a lot worse, and I think it was the competition that killed them.  They made the space, but others were also thriving in it by dumbing down and pursuing a wider audience, and FWW seemed to follow suit into the dark days of sidebars. and lot of diagrams.  Staff writers, and so forth.

They always had a lot of integrity.  Along with Lee Valley, they were the only business that offered unsolicited refunds to all their customers when they changed their pricing.  This happened when their videos went from maybe 39.95 to 19.95, and all of a sudden I got a check in the mail.

I remember when they went to an all color cover, and there were predictions of doom for the quality of the magazine.  Seemed a little silly at the time.  But I wonder if it didn't turn out to be true.  They probably had to do it, and that is the point.  It also didn't help those who were offended that the first color cover, I think, was a piece of painted furniture.  Better to go all in, probably.

It is true, Tom.  FW's black and white days were never equaled by the later FW or by any other magazine other than maybe Home Furniture, another Taunton publication that unfortunately didn't make it.