James and Amber Patrick (Fores) are the children of Russ and Darlene Patrick. James was educated by Colonel Crawford and then transferred to the Pioneer Career and Technology Center, studying industrial diesel and a year in welding. From there, he worked at the landfill as a heavy equipment mechanic for several years, but wanted to move on. He joined Transco in the repair of railcars, but continued to be fired.
James’ friend offered a job in underwater welding. He read online the nearest diving academy in New Jersey. After a five-month course, he left for Louisiana and found a job diving. They offered him a job in Trinidad, so he also worked there for six months. He was in this industry for seven years, but the oil fields began to slow down and he returned home.
James started working at Timken as a steam engineer and in his spare time started a blacksmith shop on his father-in-law’s farm. He started making welding and forging projects for local farmers. One of the farmers who started his own smithy had bought an electric hammer from Bucyrus Cooper Kettle Works and told him that there was another one for sale.
At that moment, James met with Steve Schiffer in Cooper Kettle about an electric hammer for sale, but there was none. Instead, Steve and James started talking about welding, firewood, and woodworking.
When he first walked into Cooper Kettle, he was in awe of the store in the past. Of course, everyone in the area knows about the Picking family’s legacy and this business. Helen died in 2015 at the age of 99; then her son-in-law, Steve Schiffer, took over.
Learning the copper craft and starting work
James Patrick began helping Steve with welding and blacksmithing and learned the coppersmith’s trade from him. He was there for about seven months when COVID happened, and Steve closed the store for a few months. When they got back to work, Steve was making a teapot when he said, “Hey, would you be interested in buying the business?”
James was very humble and said, “Let’s think about it.” Then he waited for Steve to raise the subject again in about a week. They talked about it and James made a deal to take over the business.
One of the first things James did was to meet and learn from longtime 34-year-old employee Rex Bitner. He confided in Rex what he wanted to do for the company’s next steps. He really needed to know the logistics from someone with all these years of talent and experience.
When James is out to work out future plans for the company, he is relieved to know that Rex and his wife, Jenny, are there and taking care of everything.
Fearing a shortage of honey, the business focused on repairing teapots
James and Rex were expecting a shortage of honey, so they launched a Facebook page and focused on repairing teapots as a high priority. Facebook gave them the opportunity the Amish had used for 80 years; they repaired teapots and sent them back. In addition, companies that felt they had not been operating since Helen’s death began contacting them for repairs and new business.
They still have a shortage of honey, but expect their regular deliveries to return and soon continue their tradition. They also repaired timpani shells from 1700 for a company in France.
James has a vision to be financially self-sustaining and to continue the tradition of past history and the production of copper teapots. He hopes to upgrade the rear as it was before it was demolished in the 1930s. The aim is to train others in blacksmithing, coppersmithing and welding. There will also be room for a gift shop after the tours and going out the back door.
There is a lot of volunteering involved in owning a store
James also volunteered blacksmithing services at blacksmithing events. The other thing about owning a business, Steve explained, is that it requires a lot of volunteer work, such as the Bucyrus Conservation Society. Steve told him that “it takes a lot of faith to run a company,” and James lives up to that very concept, especially in the difficult times we live in today.
James wants to pay tribute to his wife Amanda and how they have always supported each other to improve each other. She works at Whirlpool in Clyde.
James is humble to be the owner and pressured to do the right thing by representing a company and setting a good example and taking responsibility for continuing it.
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