In the 1950's an important early medieval jewellery workshop was dis covered at Helgo in Sweden and some of the material from this workshop was published by W. Holmquist <i>et al in Excavations at Helgo, IV, Workshop, Stockholm, 1972. The interpretation of some of the evidence has since been questioned by Arrhenius (<i>AATA 14-680) and this paper represents the reply by some of the original authors. It discusses how evidence for early metal working techniques can be interpreted and the methods of aiding the interpretation. This paper is confined to the study of molds for brooches and clasp buttons. -- AATA