Traditional craftsmanship is never preserved by tools alone. It survives because each generation chooses to learn, refine and pass on the knowledge entrusted to them. Every technique, every subtle movement of the hand and every lesson earned through experience becomes part of an unbroken chain that stretches across decades, sometimes centuries. The tools may remain unchanged, but the people who use them ensure the craft continues to live.

Kip's journey is a reflection of that responsibility. By seeking out knowledge from master coachbuilders around the world and bringing those skills home, he is helping preserve an increasingly rare form of metal shaping for future generations. The century-old power hammer at the heart of his workshop is more than a remarkable machine; it represents a living tradition of craftsmanship, where history is not simply admired but practised. In an age of automation and mass production, his work reminds us that true mastery is measured not only by what we create, but by the knowledge we choose to carry forward.