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We are a family owned business which dates back to the mid 1950s. Our operation is located in a remote canyon near the heart of the Trinity Alps Wilderness area in the western reaches of far Northern California, there is no official designated address due to this remoteness. Outside materials must be packed in to our small, riparian flat one and one-half miles and 1,200 feet below the trailhead. Each family member brings his/her own special area of interest/expertise to the operation, be it jewelry design, maintenance of trail and equipment, bookkeeping, etc. See Marcella's book, We Walked the Tall Grass, about our life in this wilderness.
Due to the remoteness of our location and the rugged terrain, public utilities are not available. We have installed a radio-link phone and hydro-electric system to supply our needs. Our radio-link phone makes communication possible, even with a 23-mile signal path which bounces off a mountain peak. It is from the winter snows upon this peak that the melt-water cascades down to power the hydro-electric system that allows us to achieve state-of-the-art jewelry design. Below are a few pictures of it for you browse.
The history and pictures of our hydroelectric plant. |
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 One of the first pelton turbines we built - the pelton cups are cast in sand molds using old aluminum; the tubes around the nozzle area are connected to a hydraulic cylinder actuated valve built by Kelly; and, the small electric valves on the tubes are washing machine valves that had been rewound to 12 volt. Also, you might recognize the face plate on the generator as an old aluminum griddle. |
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 Our current powerhouse. |
Senior partner:
Marcella Horn, Founder/Jewelry Designer and Author
Partners:
Gaines K. Horn, Director of Casting and Production
Kelly S. Horn, Chief of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
Joel L. Horn, Director of Artistic Design
Crystal Marie-Horn, Director of Marketing/Fiber Artist
