Over 300 metalworking projects exhibiting outstanding craftsmanship at the small end of the size scale.
Location: 3235 Executive Ridge • Vista • CA 92081 • Phone: (760) 727-9492
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 AM–4 PM (Closed Holidays)
The museum will open on any non-holiday Saturday by appointment for groups of 8 or more. Call at least 1 week in advance to schedule a visit.
Admission: Free • Electric stair lift access to 2nd floor for handicapped
Children under 12 must be supervised at all times by an adult. The displays are oriented more toward what would be of interest to an adult and the display cases are raised so adult viewers don't have to bend over too far. Although supervised children are welcome, exposed machine tools in the working shop can be dangerous and the glass-enclosed displays are not generally of a nature that would appeal to kids unless they have an interest in metalworking and model making. The museum, however, can be an inspiring place for young people with a desire to learn how tools are used and how things are made. Keep in mind the purpose of the foundation is to acknowledge and reward craftsmanship, which is not something generally appreciated until you get a little older.
Exterior of the new office, shop and museum facility.
(Click photo to view larger image.)
The on-line version of our museum offers us the chance to honor the work of many craftsmen world-wide without having to possess any more than photographs of their work. We do, however, also maintain a growing collection of actual examples of excellent craftsmanship at our new facility in Vista, California. The Facility includes a museum housing examples of the work of a number of the world's best craftsmen. We also maintain a growing collection of the most significant small machine tools of the past and present. The new facility includes a well-equipped shop manned by craftsman Tom Boyer who is on hand to help us run the shop and make it possible for visitors to watch a craftsman at work. This office will also become a gathering place where the best craftsmen can share problems and solutions with others at their high skill level in hopes of advancing the level of work for all. Our book collection covers books on and by some of the best craftsmen and also includes books covering the use, care and history of tools. Both are now open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM and the first Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 3 PM (Except holidays). Driving directions and a phone number can be found on our contact page.
Click on the above YouTube.com link to view a 7-1/2 minute video walk-around tour of the Vista museum.
(Left) A group from a local senior community center takes a tour of the museum. Young Park's aluminum 1/16 scale P-51 Mustang is one of the most popular displays. (Right) Members of a Fallbrook hotrod club made the museum a club stop in December, 2008. (Click on photo to view larger image.)
Items on display in the museum have been donated by some of the world's finest craftsmen or their families. Young Park's 1/16 scale Corsair was sought by both the San Diego Aerospace Museum and the Smithsonian, but we were fortunate to have Mr. Park donate it to us along with his newly completed P-51 Mustang. Barry Jordan's 1/14 Bridgeport mill is the only example of his world famous work on display in the United States. A recent donation by the niece of the late Rudy Kouhoupt brought a very large engine collection by one of the most significant model engineers of our time to our facility.World reknowned clock maker William R. Smith has donated his gold medal winning Strutt epicyclic train clock. More exhibits are being added all the time. We solicit the donation of any significant items by craftsmen who either have no family to leave their life's work to or simply desire that it go somewhere where it will be properly maintained, displayed and appreciated by others in their field. Now that we have been approved by the IRS as a 509(c)(3) organization, all contributions are tax deductible at full appraised value, which might offer a sizeable tax advantage to a retired craftsman or to his family.
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1. Vintage model airplane engines from some of the pioneer manufacturers. 2. Rudy Kouhoupt's steam tractors and steam roller. 3. A wide variety of steam engines by Rudy Kouhoupt. 4. One of three live steam #1 scale trains by Rudy Kouhoupt. 5. Projects by Michael Dunlap, Jerry Kieffer, Roger Ronnie and others. 6. Small engines by Rudy Kouhoupt, Bill Smith's Strutt Epicyclic Train Clock, Manitowoc construction crane by larry Simon and, in the foreground, Young Park's two aluminum Corsair models. 8. Young Park's P-51 and two Corsairs in aluminum. (Click on any photo to view a larger image.)
The first photo shows Paul Knapp and Joe Martin upon the delivery of the engine collection to the museum. The new display now includes these additional 51 engines housed in glass display cases, each with their own information card telling about the engine. (Click any photo to view a larger image.)
In April, 2008 the museum received on loan a selection of 51 miniature engines from the collection of Paul and Paula Knapp. The Knapps host the site www.engine-museum.com and have displayed portions of their large collection at the Denver Airport, Deer Valley Airport, Champlin Air Museum and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in the past. Although Paul Knapp is a skilled craftsman himself, and several of the engines in the collection are ones he built himself, he has an abiding interest in unique and well made small engines that inspired the collection. We are very fortunate to be able to share some of these fine examples with the public in our own museum. The varied collection includes radials and rotary aircraft engines, V-4, V-8 and V-12 engines, horizontally opposed engines, in-line engines, hit-n-miss engines, outboard motors and even a Dooling "Tadpole" tether car.
Another addition to the museum displays as of April, 2008 is the 1854 Smith & Wesson "Volcanic" lever action pistol in 1/3 scale. The miniature was built by Master Miniature Gunsmith David Kucer of Canada and engraved by a specialist in miniature arms, Roger Samson.
2003 Craftsman of the Year Barry Jordan from England donated this award winning 1/14 scale Bridgeport mill model, which is one of the most popular exhibits with the machinists who have spent many hours working on the full-size version. Even the scaled-down rotary table works.
On-site craftsman Tom Boyer (turquoise shirt) explains the function of an optical comparitor to visitors to the museum shop. More recent shots show Tom at work on the Howell V4 project. In the 2nd photo the finished Seal engine can be seen ready to run on its stand. The Sherline lathe and mill are used for smaller precision parts and can be seen on the bench at the right side of the second photo. The last photo shows Tom talking about the parts completed so far for the Howell V4 project to a group of visitors from the Ocean Hills Retirement Community woodworking club on a visit July 10, 2008. (Click on photo to view larger image.)
In 2006 the Foundation hired tool maker Tom Boyer of Escondido, CA to be the shop craftsman. Tom works each week building an engine project so visitors can see quality machining in progress. He also helps out by hosting tours through the shop and museum. Tom's hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9-3 PM. On Mondays volunteer Larry Simon helps out and director Craig Libuse is always available when Tom or Larry aren't here.
The first project Tom completed was a Seal 4-cylinder internal combustion engine. He is now working on a second engine—a V4 designed by Jerry Howell. You can see parts being made in person or follow the build by going to the links above.
The front room and rear entry hall currently house a
collection of significant small machine tools from the past and present. The
smaller machines are in the entry lobby (left photo) while the larger lathes are
displayed on shelves (right) in the entry. (Click any photo to enlarge.)
A new ShopFox lathe, a Bridgeport mill, optical comparitor,
grinder and small Cygnet mill were the first machine tools to be added to the
shop facility. We now also have a Deckel pantograph mill on hand and a complete
setup of Sherline miniature machine tools. Also included are a large ground
granite height table for measuring and a drafting board. We are still in the
process of outfitting the shop and have many more hand and measuring tools that
will be included in the near future. These photos were taken when the facility
was first built and the shop was yet to be used.
On Saturday, March 9, 2009 we were visited by the Poway Cruisers car club (Left) and the Airheads BMW motorcycle club. In addition to our regular local visitors, this made for a busy day for the museum staff. Tom, Larry, Craig and Joe Martin himself were on hand to talk with the many visitors.
If you have a group that would like to tour the museum on a Saturday, please give us a call at (760) 727-9492 for an appointment. For groups of eight people or more we will be glad to open the museum on any non-holiday Saturday. So far we have hosted a chapter of the NAWCC, several local senior living groups, car and motorcycle clubs and a home shop machining club. We will be happy to schedule your group too.
What happens to your work when you're gone?
If you have spent a lifetime developing your skills and making models, engines, knives, guns, clocks or other items exhibiting fine miniature metalworking craftsmanship, you can assure they will be preserved in your name in the future by donating them to the museum. Often the alternative is to leave them to a family member who may or may not value them as highly as you do. Many of the finest items left behind by craftsmen end up sadly at swap meets or on eBay as the family members or friends seek to turn your work into cash, not recognizing the true value of the craftsmanship involved. Our goal is to see that not only is the craftsmanship put on display to educate and inspire others, the craftsman's name will forever be attached to the work. How often have you seen fine steam engines listed on eBay without a mention of who built it? This is a tragedy we hope to correct by showing others that fine work by metalworking craftsmen is every bit as valued as a painting or sculpture by a fine artist.
How to make a tax deductible contribution that benefits you now
The Joe Martin Foundation for Exceptional Craftsmanship is a 501(c)(3) organization under US Tax Code. This means anyone paying taxes in the United States and making a contribution to the Foundation or the museum can deduct the full value of the donation from their income as it relates to their US income taxes. Consult your accountant for full details, but please keep this advantage in mind if contemplating what to do with your collection or if you would like some of your money to go to support craftsmanship.
Almost every item we have on display in the museum has been donated by concerned craftsmen and family members wishing to honor their work. By donating your work while you are still alive you can take advantage of this tax break, plus you can also enjoy seeing your work displayed in a fine museum setting for others to enjoy. This does not mean your kids will have nothing to remember you by. In fact, we suggest for most craftsmen who have built multiple items to select their very best work for donation to the museum, so that is how they are remembered by their fellow craftsmen, and divide their remaining work among their family. The rest of the family will value their own gift even more highly when they can send their friends to the museum web site to see how the family craftsman who made it has been honored among his peers.
Appraisals
In general, items valued under $5000 do not need a formal appraisal in order to be eligible for a deduction. For more valuable items we recommend you have an appraisal done before making the contribution in order to back up your evaluation should the IRS ever question it. Even for items under $5000 it is always best to have some sort of appraisal or proof of comparable value or purchase price on record to assure there are no problems with your deduction.
Bequests
One of the easiest ways to support craftsmanship and the museum through the Foundation is through a bequest in your will. A bequest may be include in the body of a will or as an amendment or "codicil." Here is a sample of a typical bequest:
"I give and devise to the Joe martin Foundation for Exceptional Craftsmanship, or its successor, the sum of ____ dollars ($____) (or list the specific item you wish to donate) to be used for such purpose as the Board of Directors of the Joe Martin Foundation deems appropriate; provided, however, that at the time of such gift, the Joe Martin foundation or its successor remains an eligible organization under the terms of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code."
To find out more or to make a contribution, contact Foundation Director, Craig Libuse. See the CONTACT PAGE for address, phone and e-mail numbers.
Craig and Tom make a presentation about the Foundation to a local Ocean Hills retirement community "Woodchucks" woodworking club.
In order to promote the goals of the Foundation, we take our message on the road at various club events and shows. From model engineering shows to clubs for craftsmen, we hand out literature and talk about miniature metalworking craftsmanship to anyone interested. The purpose is to both raise awareness of the Foundation's goals and to increase attendance at our museum and shop facility in Vista. Some of the events that we have attended include the North American Model Engineering Society (NAMES) Expo in Toledo, OH, the Gas Engine and Antique Reproduction Show (GEARS) in Portland, OR, the Cabin Fever Expo in York, PA, the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum shows in Vista, CA and the Ocean Hills retirement community woodworking club.
Members of the Ocean Hills club returned for a visit in July, 2008 and brought the community's film maker to document the event. Ocean Hills has its own TV station and she will be producing a documentary of the visit for broadcast to the retirement community. She is also hoping to get a local TV station interested in filming a visit of their own based on her footage.
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