The New Yankee Workshop
| The New Yankee Workshop | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Created by | Russell Morash |
| Presented by | Norm Abram |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 21 |
| No. of episodes | 284 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
WGBH-TV Morash Associates |
| Release | |
| Original network | PBS |
| Original release | January 7, 1989 – June 27, 2009 |
The New Yankee Workshop was an American half-hour woodworking program produced by WGBH Boston, which aired on PBS. Created in 1989 by Russell Morash, the program was hosted by Norm Abram, a regular fixture on Morash's This Old House. The series aired for 21 seasons before broadcasting its final episode on June 27, 2009.
The New Yankee Workshop featured the construction of woodworking projects, including workshop accessories, architectural details and furniture projects ranging from simple pieces to complex, high-quality reproductions of antique classic furniture. In the course of 21 seasons, approximately 235 projects were produced. In addition to furniture and cabinets, the show also focused on outdoor projects such as the building of a gazebo, shed, greenhouse, sailing boat, flag pole, mail box, cupola, and fences. He also goes to different places that is related to woodworking.
The New Yankee Workshop theme song consists of a fast-paced guitar tune with a harmonica sound.
The shop where the show was produced is owned by Morash and is located on his property even though the viewer was given the impression that it was in Abram's backyard.
The shop is 936 square feet (87.0 m2) in size. The famous sliding barn door faces west. Along the west wall is the "back bench" and drill press. Along the south wall is the miter bench and storage unit, radial arm saw, and (not seen in episodes) a computer, a TV, and a small office area. The east wall of the shop has a staircase leading to a loft area, jig storage, horizontal edge sander, and dust collector. The north wall houses sheet goods, router table, bar clamps, Timesaver wide belt sander, planer, jointer, band saw, and various mobile tools. The center area of the shop consists of the table saw and associated outfeed tables as well as a large assembly table. In the northeast section of the building is a separate finishing room.
The show has elicited many requests for plans for the shop layout, and those interested in such plans can purchase the Doll House (episode #602) plans. The Doll House is a scale replica of the shop, and its plans can be scaled up to build a full size shop.
The location of the shop is detailed here: http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/the-new-yankee-workshop/
As with all shows broadcast on PBS, The New Yankee Workshop depended upon corporate sponsors to partially fund production. Over the years, major sponsors of the show included: Porter-Cable power tools in 1994, Vermont American saw blades and drill bits in 1992, Delta Machinery in 1993, Columbia Flooring, the Thompson-Minwax Company, Parks Corporation, makers of Carver Tripp wood stains, Titebond, and Formby's. For the first two seasons in 1989, and 1990, the show was underwritten by Parks Corporation, and Square D. Although Delta Machinery became a sponsor in 1993, the original Unisaw that formed the principal power tool in the New Yankee Workshop was a used model which came from Morash. Only later was this Unisaw replaced with a more modern new one, first with a Unifence and later with a Biesemeyer fence, and finally with an outfeed table.
...
Wikipedia