Smith Journal – Volume Twenty Nine

Well, if it isn’t a brand spanking new issue of smith journal, ready for the reading. Inside volume 29 you’ll find a collection of car doors that positively reek of history (as well as booze and petrol fumes). It’s a high-octane story that begins with moonshine runners during prohibition and ends with steve mcqueen and a cat wearing sunglasses. Needless to say, it takes a few twists and turns.

There’s a profile on an ‘antiquarian horologist’, which is one of the most unusual (and envy-inducing) trades we’ve ever encountered. This particular antiquarian horologist doesn’t just fix old clocks – she also tinkers with very early versions of robots. Excuse us while we quit our day jobs.

We meet a spanish chicken farmer who became one of history’s greatest spies, learn why pirate radio is so big in Argentina, and investigate the mysterious disappearance of half the world’s supply of moon rocks. We also chat with a Melbourne scientist who’s worked out how to survive the zombie apocalypse, sip kentucky bourbon in a very out-of-place castle, try to fathom what bees know that we don’t, and read some poetry written by computers.

Smith Journal is a quarterly publication from Australia for discerning gents (and ladies who like reading about discerning gents). It’s heads-up and hands-on. A friendly guide to all things creative, intriguing, genuine and funny – full of stories, people, adventures, interesting conversations and gentlemanly style. The people behind Smith wanted to create something they’d be happy to read themselves. That smart, creative guys could peruse without shame, slap down on the coffee table, whack in their favourite old satchel or display proudly on the toilet reading rack. Something that looked good, but had substance, wit and inspiration. At a time when everything seems like it’s speeding up, Smith Journal is a call to slow down.It’s about remembering, reviving and revamping forgotten traditions, skills and technologies. And backpedalling just enough to appreciate the good stuff in life. Like our readers, we’re not particularly obsessed with being the coolest, the biggest or the first in line. But we are interested in making things that last.