- published: 29 May 2013
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Norman L. "Norm" Abram (born October 3, 1949) is an American carpenter known for his work on the PBS television programs This Old House and The New Yankee Workshop. He is referred to on these shows as a "master carpenter".
Abram was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island and raised in Milford, Massachusetts. He attended high school in Milford. and studied mechanical engineering and business administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he became a brother of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity.
After college, Abram worked for three years as a site supervisor for a multimillion-dollar New England-based construction firm. In 1976, Abram then went into business for himself, founding the general contracting firm Integrated Structures Inc.
In 1979, Abram took a construction job building a small barn in the backyard of the television producer Russell Morash, the creator of public television's This Old House. Impressed by Abram's small scrap pile and efficient work habits, Morash invited Abram to help with the renovation of a rundown Victorian house in Boston's historic Dorchester section, with a WGBH camera crew recording the process for the first This Old House project with host Bob Vila. Morash then approached Abram with the idea of Norm the carpenter appearing as a regular on the This Old House series, and Norm has been a fixture on the show ever since.
David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American former television and radio host, comedian, writer, producer, and actor.
He hosted a late night television talk show for 33 years, beginning with the February 1, 1982, debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC, and ending with the May 20, 2015, broadcast of the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS. In total, Letterman hosted 6,028 episodes of Late Night and Late Show, surpassing friend and mentor Johnny Carson as the longest-serving late night talk show host in American television history. In 1996, David Letterman was ranked No. 45 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.
Letterman is also a television and film producer. His company, Worldwide Pants, produced his show and formerly produced The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Worldwide Pants has also produced several prime-time comedies, the most successful of which was Everybody Loves Raymond, currently in syndication.
Late-night hosts Conan O'Brien (Letterman's successor on Late Night), and Jimmy Kimmel, cite Letterman's influence.
During Festool Connect 2013, we surprised attendees with the iconic Norm Abram. Norm took some time to share his experiences and stories from his decades of involvement in sharing the craft with others. He also signed autographs for those in attendance.
The New Yankee Workshop by Norm Abram. If only I had a workshop like Norm's, I could build anything. Norm puts an end to this common viewer lament when he shows how to turn an average garage bay into a great home workshop. Using common building materials and hardware, he builds all the elements needed to make a workshop functional cabinetry, storage units, and a portable chop station. The genius of Norm's original design, however is that each element can be put away to make room for the family car when not in use or easily transported to any space a woodworker decides to set up shop. At the conclusion of this ambitious two-part project, Norm gives his list of must-have bench top power tools to ensure that every home craftsman will be able to utilize the workshop to its fullest. The New Yan...
On April 27, 1994 David Letterman invited Norm Abram on his show to build a Planter. I think this is the only time I’ve ever seen Norm not waring his flannel. Can’t get the planter done in one segment so when they come back from the commercial break they almost finish the Planter except the Nail Gun doesn’t work. I think Norm sabotaged the Nail Gun because he didn’t trust David with it.
The New Yankee Workshop by Norm Abram. For this project, Norm uses his Yankee ingenuity to convert wood recycled from a pallet to usable pieces and demonstrates planing, edging, and other preparation techniques. Though decidedly "distressed" even after it is put through a planer, these slats yield handsome pieces with lots of "character" that form the top and sides of Norm's rustic coffee table. Because each pallet is different, every coffee table is unique. 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 fur...
The New Yankee Workshop by Norm Abram. New Yankee Workshop S17E04 Bermuda Chest Bermudans call themselves "Onions" perhaps because of those succulent pungent bulbs they have grown for hundreds of years. But onions also appear as wooden buns, or feet, to keep their blanket chests off the damp floors of that seaside nation. Norm, on his trip to Bermuda, finds a historic example in the form of a well-proportioned solid mahogany chest which he is able to reproduce faithfully back at the shop. America's favorite craftsman, Norm Abram, continues to re-create timeless classics while taking on new challenges. Join Norm in TNYW for his trademark, step-by-step approach that will inspire woodworkers-from casual to expert-to roll up their sleeves, put on their safety goggles, and get building. The Ne...
The New Yankee Workshop by Norm Abram A good workshop begins with a well-equipped workbench, and master woodworker Norm uses one from his own shop as a model for the conveniently-sized and affordable workbench he builds in this episode. After a look at a workbench used 100 years ago by the craftsmen at Hancock Shaker Village in western Massachusetts, Norm builds a workbench featuring an oak-edged hardwood top, a bench vice, a recessed tool storage area on top and a shelf beneath. 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 produc...
On March 25th 1987, Norm and Bob stop by the David Letterman show to show David how to build to screen panels. Norm does most of the work while Bob and David try to help him.
A few thoughts on the end of an era. New Yankee Workshop ends its 21-year run.
The New Yankee Workshop by Norm Abram. New Yankee Workshop S17E05 Federal Style Game Table With no television and few newspapers to read, our ancestors had plenty of time for card games thus, game tables were very popular. They often featured circular tops that were hinged and could be folded, designed to be stored against the wall when not in use. When needed, the top flipped down on a hinged gate leg and was suitable for four card players. Norm discovered an example in historic Deerfield, Massachusetts, which he used as inspiration for his piece. America's favorite craftsman, Norm Abram, continues to re-create timeless classics while taking on new challenges. Join Norm in TNYW for his trademark, step-by-step approach that will inspire woodworkers-from casual to expert-to roll up their sl...