Grandpa Victor’s Blade

A Legacy in Steel and Ink

In 1947, my grandfather, Victor Goedken, invented a reconditioning blade for plowshares. It was a simple, clever fix that let farmers replace worn blades right in the field, no trip back to the barn required. The invention was a hit.

Two years later, he tragically passed away. But thanks to that patent, my grandma had the means to raise their five children. One invention changed the trajectory of a family.

Decades later, my aunt gave me one of the original blades. I knew I couldn’t just hang it, I wanted to honor it.

So I laser-etched the original patent drawings into wood and mounted the blade using industrial magnets. No screws. No glue. Just clean tension and gravity. A little invention of my own.

This piece isn’t just an object—it’s a memory, a blueprint, a tribute to creativity that had real impact. Proof that design can carry a story across generations.