Much of our national pride in anchored to technology, but just a few years ago only one in 10 homes in this country had a telephone. These wooden boxes with gleaming brass bells mounted prominently above the mouthpiece were considered a luxury. They were mounted permanently on the wall, connected to the world with small copper wires.

Politicians like to take credit for the fact that our nation put a man on the moon, but I can remember standing outside in our front yard, looking up in the dark sky, as the Russian Sputnik passed overhead. Sunlight reflecting off of its metal surfaces glowed brightly as neighbors remarked that people have lost touch with reality.

Sadly, they were right, but not for the reasons they were considering. In our rush to adapt new technologies, we have lost the connection to and awareness of things that were common knowledge for elementary students only a generation past.

For example, on a really cold winter’s day, people often say, “It’s cold enough to freeze the balls off of a brass monkey,” snickering at the visual image and sexual connotation that remark conjures up. But, historically, the term had nothing to do with the animal, nor its anatomy. In the early history of the world’s navies, power was projected with a fleet of wooden warships bristling with cannons and the will to use them. In battle, it was critical to have a ready supply of cannon balls placed in strategic positions on the gun deck. To keep them in place, they were stacked on a metal plate with indentations to keep them from rolling away. Starting with a base of sixteen, these square-based pyramids could hold a supply of 30 cannonballs in a small area next to each cannon. These monkeys were made of brass, so they wouldn’t rust in the harsh environment of salt and sea. Unfortunately, one thing the navy didn’t consider is brass contracts faster than steel. When it was really cold, the brass contracted so much it would literally squeeze the steel cannon balls out of the rack and they would roll about on the deck, while sailors scampered about to gather them.

And what about the term, right-hand man? We use it often, and although there is a general understanding of the meaning, the origin and importance of the term has been lost to a population with a disdain for history. During this same period in time, a gentleman defended himself with a blade of cold steal that he carried on his left side. If an enemy wanted to do you harm, all they had to do was win your confidence to the point that you allowed them to walk on your right side. When an assailant approached, the deceiver only had to do keep you from drawing your sword by restricting the motion of your right hand, and in the flash of a blade of steel you were done in. Therefore, only your most trusted friend was allowed to walk on your right side, and he became known as a right-hand man. Unfortunately, as Caesar found out the hard way, right-hand men could be bought for a price or the promise of power.

Only a few years back, every community had a blacksmith. Although scarce today, there are still many men practicing this time-honored craft. The term “smith” means they make things, or are craftsmen, and the “black” part of “blacksmith,” means that he is someone who works in “black” metal — iron — as opposed to the “white” metals such as tin or silver. While Hollywood has popularized the image of a man pounding out horseshoes in the old west, these craftsmen were important because they created many things that were necessary for our daily existence. From plowshare to wagon wheel, hinge and hearth as well as the cooking vessels than hung on the hearth, if it was made of iron, it came from the village blacksmith’s forge.

While we may have lost the awareness of these men and their skilled craftsmanship, we have not lost our affection for things of metal. In our homes and offices, we surround ourselves with metal décor and accent our rooms with stainless steel, copper and brass. Sure, it’s serviceable, durable and beautiful, but I think the reason we love metal around us runs deeper than we might imagine. There is a sense of strength and permanence in the touch of metal that connects us back to a simpler time when things were made to last.

In the coming weeks, I’m going to share an occasional “metalic moment” with you, and take a look at the techniques used to work with metal. Who knows, you might have the heart of a blacksmith waiting to be discovered.

In the meantime, if you’re considering a purchase of metal for a project, please evaluate the wide variety of metals offered at quickshipMetals.com

If you’re impressed with size, take a look at TacomaCopper.com’s “Monster-The 15 Kilogram Polished” bar.

While precious metals like gold and silver have always been used as a hedge against bets, excuse me, investments in the stock market, the latest marketing ploy has to have some of the promoters of this concept making their sales pitch with tongue in cheek. Clever metal marketers are now pushing Copper Bullion as the next bullish metal for rich returns. Copper bullion bars, ingots, coins, and even vintage pennies are emerging as a brand new niche with precious metals investors and collectors.

Over the years, as the investment metals’ market broadened, platinum and palladium found their way into the mix. Interestingly enough, today platinum (in the range of $1,500) commands a higher price than gold, which has fallen slightly from its recent record price of $1,200 per ounce. Notice in that last sentence I said “today”, for one thing that is always a certainty in any market is change. Depending on which expert you choose to listen to, the big four are headed to double, triple or even quadruple in the coming months.

If you don’t have that kind of money to sink into metal investments, but you still want to play the game, take a look at copper. You can buy a troy ounce of copper for around a dollar, and considering the value of our dollar that’s probably a better use for it. The following information is not an endorsement of any web site, their services, or the financial viability of investing in copper. It is simply a survey of what is happening in this emerging metal market concept.

BullionCopper.com is selling copper in one pound bars, with the same type of artwork that makes other metals so appealing. You can even custom design your own bar, or buy one of the traditional looks such as the Morgan Incuse 3D Pressed Image, the American eagle or the Liberty Bell.

If you’re impressed with size, take a look at TacomaCopper.com’s “Monster-The 15 Kilogram Polished” bar. This company declares their site to be “Home to the Finest Copper Bullion Products.” And perhaps there is something that claim, since all of the product photos feature people holding highly polished bars with white gloves. Presumably you will need your own pair of white gloves once the product arrives, so you can so it off these sanded and highly polished bars to your friends in the appropriate method.

Unadorned bullion bars are another way to invest in copper. Jetco Minting, a U. S. mining company, is selling a variety of copper bullion bars on Ebay, the popular online auction site. If you’re looking for one-stop shopping, check out The Copper Cave. It’s one of the newest copper ingot stores on the WWW. They offer copper bullion bars from all of the major copper bullion mints, so you can comparison shop without all the clicking from one site to another. Certainly there are others, for this is not meant to be an exhaustive presentation on every copper investment available, just a lighthearted look at the curious world of investing, speculation and gambling.

Speaking of gambling or sporting speculation in its purist form, if you bet on the Colts in this weekend’s Superbowl, perhaps a bet on copper would have moved you closer to an investment trophy of your own! Copper, it’s an amazing metal in so many ways. Think about it!