John Boyd Smith Metal Studios

08/30/2026

| get asked about-and every now and then I'll even hear people talking about-my mailbox at the shop when I'm out at restaurants or around town.
It's pretty cool and honestly kind of funny to hear people recognize it and talk about it. But to me, it's more than just a mailbox. It's a little piece of history that I enjoy having around the shop.
And since we're talking about mailboxes, here's a little history on Air Mail.
Air mail is simply mail that is transported by aircraft instead of being carried entirely by ground or ship. The idea really took off in the early 1900s, when airplanes were becoming a new way to move people, packages, and—of course—mail much faster over long distances.
Early airmail routes were a big deal. They helped connect cities and communities much faster than traditional transportation, and they played an important part in the development of modern aviation and the postal system.
So next time you see that old mailbox out at the shop, remember—it's not just something to stick a letter in.
Around here, it's another little piece of history. And y'all know I like keeping a little history around!
And remember yall stay hydrated out there

08/27/2026

08/25/2026

🔥 BACK IN THE ARCHIVES! 🔥

This is a pretty cool piece of history. As some of y'all may know, I like to collect old shop stuff, tools, and anything that tells a story. I've got several Buffalo Forge blowers in the collection, and recently got my hands on something pretty special—an original Buffalo Forge Company stock certificate from around 1900.
Buffalo Forge Company got its start in 1878 in Buffalo, New York, making portable blacksmith forges. One of the things that helped set them apart was their gear-driven blowers, which improved on the old-fashioned bellows and helped bring a more consistent blast of air to the fire. From there, the company grew into a major manufacturer of blowers, fans, heating and ventilation equipment, pumps, and machine tools.
And here's another amazing piece of the story: in 1902, engineer Willis Carrier was working at Buffalo Forge when he developed the system that became recognized as the first modern air-conditioning system. So a company that started by helping blacksmiths get more heat into their fires ended up playing a role in changing the way we heat and cool buildings.
Buffalo Forge was officially incorporated in 1900, the same era as this certificate.
I just think it's pretty cool to have these old blowers around the shop and now have a piece of the company's history on paper too. Tools tell stories, and I sure like keeping some of those stories alive.

Anybody else out there collect old blacksmith or industrial equipmen?

Remember yall stay hydrated

08/22/2026

One of our favorite fire screens and customers. Also for my costal people looking to build a new home check them out.

Rich pecky cypress, a timeless stone fireplace, and layers of natural texture come together to create a space that feels both warm and refined.

Every room in your home should reflect your personal style and the way you live. Thoughtful materials and intentional details are what transform a beautiful space into one that truly feels like your own.

We build it as if it were our own.

08/20/2026

Back in the archives again!
Did y'all know the lanterns out front of the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. were built by us back in 1996, when the museum moved into the historic William Scarbrough House?
That's another little piece of Savannah history we're proud to have been a part of. The Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum is housed in the beautiful 1819 William Scarbrough House, built for William Scarbrough, a prominent shipping merchant and the first president of the Savannah Steamship Company.
The museum is filled with incredible ship models, paintings and maritime antiques, and those gardens are something special too. It's pretty cool knowing that a little bit of our ironwork has been there all these years.
30 years of history, one piece of ironwork at a time.
And remember y'all... STAY HYDRATED!

08/19/2026

🔥 It's getting HOT in the shop! I'm up on the table getting after it, shaping some railing pieces for a pretty cool and historic cemetery/grave.
There's something special about knowing the iron I'm working on today will become part of a place with so much history.
Back to the forge, hammer, and heat—one piece at a time.
Y'all stay cool and hydrated out there!

08/14/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcBtrQExzUO/?igsh=ZGgzeWdkcXgyMXJl

08/12/2026

Back in the archives again!!!
Did you know these sign holders were built by us? Over the last 50 years, we've made many for businesses, homes, and landmarks all over Savannah and beyond.
Recently, I came across some of the original drawings for these pieces, and I thought I'd share them. There's something pretty special about holding a drawing in your hands and knowing that it eventually became something that's still out there today.
I'm sure glad Johnny never threw anything away!
Those old drawings, patterns, photographs, and scraps of history are becoming more valuable to me every day.
You just never know what you'll find when you start digging through the old shop history. Like and share lets see if we can make it 1000 followers!!!!!!!