by Ottar Schiøtz

A blacksmith and his forge could be found on just about every farm - and in the fishing villages, too. The forge was frequently used by both farmers and fishermen, not least by the latter during the Lofoten Winter Fishery, when there was always something that needed repairing or new things that needed to be made - both fishing tackle and fittings for the boats.

The blacksmiths made just about anything from iron - nails, fish hooks, knitting needles. Indeed, the most skilful among them could even forge sewing needles.

The forge in Å was built in the 1920's, replacing the two forges that were to be found in Smidalen ("forge valley"), where the main car park is now situated.
Our blacksmith's have now given new life to the forge - by manufacturing items like the cod-liver oil lamps, knives and a variety of other artefacts.

COD-LIVER OIL LAMPS

Cod-liver oil lamps are manufactured in the old museum forge, along the lines of the old Nordic cod-liver oil lamps and those found in Nordland from the mid 1800's. The Nordic lamps hang from a wire (or a long hook) attached to the hook on the lamp itself. The Nordland lamps have three wick grooves and require more cod-liver oil than the other type. They can be either be hung up on the wall, or placed on the table.
The cod-liver oil is poured into the upper tray. The slope of the tray can be adjusted by moving the hook along the rail or by placing a suitable object between the table and the lamp. The wick is placed in the tray with the one end in the groove at the front, and can now be lit.

At which point we have "ignited a flame for our ancestors". They did their daily chores in the faint light of these lamps, during the long autumn and winter evenings, for thousands of years.

The flame can be adjusted by pushing or pulling the end of the wick with a stick. If the end of the wick is kept short, the lamp will not smoke or smell. Any cod-liver oil that drips down into the lower tray can be poured back by unhooking the tray.