Committee Reports page 4 Area Meets page 5 Quimby S. Backus: Part 1 page 10 The Challenge Plane page 15 Collection Spotlight page 24 M-WTCA Auxiliary page 28 Rarest of the Rare, Brown's 30th page 32 A Publication of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association What's It page 37
M-WTCA.ORG The Challenge Plane story begins on page 15
June 2007 No. 127 Chaff From The President
It is early April, and I am looking forward are languishing. In this collecting environment knowledge to the June meeting in Milwaukee. These and a good reference library are essential. meetings don't just happen. They are the culmination of a lot of planning, the most One other point, it looks like user tools and collectable tools difficult being to find a suitable meeting are beginning to take two clearly different paths. The price facility and a Host. It is the willingness of Lie-Nielsen and Veritas tools are setting the maximum of members to take on the chores of hosting price for many vintage tools in user grade condition by Stanley Semi-annual and Area meetings, putting and other makers. Collectors used to be satisfied with Good+ on demonstrations or presentations at to near/Fine condition with 90% or better finish, now it has to meetings, serving as officers and directors, be Fine to Fine+ with 97% or better finish to sell well. and doing some of the other time intensive jobs like treasur er and Gristmill Editor that keep us running smoothly and David Stanley's spring auction was on the same day as the make M-WTCA what it is. Member participation is by far Brown auction this year. David now has his full catalogue on the most important element in securing our future. line three weeks before the auction and you can bid live on line simultaneously with bidders at the auction. I didn't try We always need more meeting hosts, authors to write for it this spring because I was at the Brown, but it is very tempt the Gristmill, directors and officers to fill vacancies, and so ing. The superb photographs in David's on line catalogue forth. If you would like to get involved, we offer plenty of are much easier to see than the smaller copies in the printed opportunities. Just contact one of the officers or directors catalogue, and simultaneous on line bidding is a more attrac and tell them what your interests are. We need your help, tive proposition than submitting absentee bids. If on line and it can be a lot of fun. bidding catches on in our high end tool auctions, it will prob ably increase the number of bidders and may heighten the On another subject, I just returned from Brown's 30th interest in antique tool collecting. I hope the influx of off site auction, held March 31, 2007. It was a great show. It also bidders will encourage the best auction houses to improve made it clear that tool collecting is changing. The very best their condition descriptions. It would greatly increase the bring ever increasing, surprisingly high prices, while items confidence of bidders who cannot inspect the lots firsthand. that are not as scarce and may be in slightly tired condition --John Wells
The Gristmill Directors
No. 127 June,2007 Area A Matt Borders, 2008 AreaM Copyright 2007 by Mid-West Tool Collectors Association, Inc. Hollis Feeser, 2007 Carl Bilderback, 2009 Gene Epting, 2007 Lee Osterbauer, 2008 Bill Marlow, 2009 Ronnie Glover, 2009 All rights reserved. www.mwtca.org Eric Mattson, 2009 AreaG AreaN Editor & Advertising Manager AreaB Ray Myers, 2007 William Morgan, 2007 David E. Heckel Pete Hartmann, 2007 John Kesterson, 2008 Phil Baker, 2008 1800 McComb St. Charleston, IL 61920-3137 Bob Kloes, 2008 Dennis Eckstein, 2009 Vincent Soukup, 2009 Gary Kane, 2009 Graphic Design Karen Hammond AreaH AreaO AreaC John DeLay, 2007 Bob Valich, 2007 The Gristmill is the official publication of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association, Del Galofaro, 2007 Mark Hughes, 2008 Allan Foster, 2008 Inc. Published quarterly in March, June, September and December. Michael Slasinski, 2008 Bob Weaver, 2009 The purpose of the association is to promote the preservation, study and under Jim Crammond, 2009 Areal standing of ancient tools, implements and devices of farm, home, industry and shop Emery Goad, 2007 AreaP of the pioneers; also, to study the crafts in which these objects were used and the AreaD David McDonald, 2008 Jack Zimmerman, 2007 craftsmen who used them; and to share knowledge and understanding with others, Jim Escher, 2007 Vaughn Simmons, 2008 especially where it may benefit restoration, museums and like institutions. Larry Bolhuis, 2008 AreaJ Donald Stark, 2008 Fred Leu, 2009 Rick Kerns, 2008 Richard Weymer II, 2009 President John Wells Joel Hodapp, 2009 1162 Grizzly Peak Blvd., Berkeley, CA 94708-1741 AreaE Lloyd Henley, 2009 AreaQ (510) 848-3651 Robert Green, 2007 Pat Medley, 2007 Robert Olesen, 2008 AreaK David Friday, 2008 Vice-President of Elections M-WTCA.ORGGeorge Wanamaker Slav Jelesijevich, 2009 Bill Youart, 2007 Robert Oehman, 2009 321 S. Lafayette, Macomb, IL 61455-2233 Gary Johnson, 2009 Monte Harold, 2008 (309) 836-6872 AreaR Vice-President of Meeting Planning Doug Cox Area F AreaL Martin Donnelly, 2007 2938 Cynthiana Rd., Georgetown, KY 40324-9272 Chris Berger, 2007 Dave Fessler, 2008 Walter Karsten, 2009 (502) 863-1407 Vice-President of Membership Ed Hobbs 4417 Inwood Road, Raleigh, NC 27603-3315 (919) 828-2754 Vice· President of Scholarship George Elsass Committee Chairman 1315 Lakeside Place, Worthington, OH 43085-2893 Elections George Wanamaker Directory John Walkowiak (614) 888-0591 Meeting Planning Doug Cox Preservation & Ed,,cabon Phil Baker Treasurer LeRoy Witzel Membership Ed Hobbs Marion Henfov Award Ron Pearson P.O. Box 355, Humboldt, Iowa 50548-0355 Scholarship George Elsass Displays & Awards Bob Valich Don Riley (515) 332-3649 Gristmill Editor Dave Heckel Family Assistance Special Publications Jim Conover Internet Don Bosse Secretary John Walkowiak By-Laws and Policy Ray Nissen Address Labels Kerry McCalla 3452 Humboldt Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55408-3332 What's It Ron White Scrapbook Barb & Mike (612) 824-0785 Slasinski
2 The Gristmill Coming Up M-WTCA National Meetings Where to Send What
Spring, 2007 June 14-16, 2007 Milwaukee, WI Larry Thorson (608) 779-0966 Please note where to send what so it will Fall, 2007 October 11-13, 2007 Springfield, MO Paul Reichert (417) 831-1425 reach the right person. Send changes in your address, phone number 2007 M-WTCA Area Meetings or E-Mail to: KLM Computer Services, c/o Kerry Mc Calla, 104 Engle Ct., Franklin, TN Area C Meet June 9/10, Edwardsburg, MI John Sindelar (269) 663-8841 37069, phone (615) 791-6198, Area C Meet July 14, Kalamazoo, MI Jim Crammond (734) 241-0549 E-Mail [email protected] Request The Gristmill copies from: Bill Area Q Meet July 28, Raleigh, NC Ed Hobbs (919) 828-2754 Baader,4183 Hominy Ridge Rd. , Springfield, Area E Meet Aug. 5, LaFox, IL Dick Chapman (815) 492-2124 OH 45502-9510, phone (937) 969-8530. Area F Meet Aug. 26, South Whitley, IN Chris Berger (765) 497-7139 Pay membership dues for current year: Send AreaL Meet Sept. 1/2, Albuquerque, NM Dave Fessler (505) 243-4905 your check made out to M-WTCA to LeRoy AreaA+B Meet Sept. 8, Genoa, WI Larry Thorson (608) 779-0966 Witzel, Treasurer, P.O. Box 355 Humboldt, IA AreaD Meet Sept. 16, Cosgrove, IA Jim Escher (319) 656-3931 50548-0535 phone (515) 332-3649 E-Mail Area C Meet Sept. 22, Dearborn, MI Del Galofaro (734) 676-0997 [email protected] Please write RENEW and Area E Meet Sept. 30, Summit, IL Ashley Kennedy (847) 475-2481 your name and address on your check. Do not AreaD MEet Oct. 28, Omaha, NE Fred Leu (402) 592-1907 use a new member application to renew an existing membership. Area Q Meet Nov. 3, Waxhaw, NC David Fridy (704) 843-5024 Submit materials to The Gristmill: Send to Area E Meet Nov. 4, Carlinville, IL Bob Terry (618) 377-3421 Dave Heckel, 1800 McComb St., Charleston, IL 61920-3137, phone (217) 345-9112 after 2008 M-WTCA Area Meetings 6 p.m., E-Mail [email protected] Obtain The Gristmill advertising or informa - tion: Dave Heckel (see above) Area F Meet Mar. 1/2, Spencer, IN Matt Borders (812) 824-9318 Obtain scholarship information: Contact George Elsass 1315 Lakeside Place, Dates must be cleared with Jim Bramel (502) 863-1226 Worthington, OH 43085-2893, Phone (614) E-Mail: [email protected] 888-0591, E-Mail [email protected] COME TO SPRINGFIELD IN OCTOBER by Lloyd Henley There will be no better place to be this October 11, 12 Some outstanding programs are anticipated. Ralph and 13 than the Missouri Ozarks, and the University Brendler and Russ Allen will present a program on Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield, tool patent research with emphasis on the DATAMP Missouri, located on Historic Route 66. This will be one project. We are expecting to feature a program on of the finest venues yet for a Fall Semi-annual Meeting important historic restoration projects presented by of M-WTCA. The spacious facilities of the hotel, plus Missouri's own Bill Robertson. Something further will handy access to Branson attractions, the flagship store be of special interest to 18th Century enthusiasts. A of Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, the Wonders of tour has been arranged with the National Park Service Wildlife Museum, and abundant local history promise to the nearby Wilson's Creek National Battlefield to make this a must attend meet. Check out which has been very nicely developed into a premier www.upspringfield.com/home.aspx for a closer look attraction with a fine museum that highlights the at the hotel. By the way, two well-known outlets for Civil War west of the Mississippi. For some more modern shop tools areM-WTCA.ORG located in Springfield, one just information, see www.nps.gov/wicr. around the corner from University Plaza. A great Auxiliary meeting is also in the works. The With a nod to the famed theme is the simply stated "Show Me" from our State's Springfield Wagon Company nickname. More on this part of our meet is in the of old, as well as Missouri's Auxiliary section of this issue. special role in Western migra - tion, the men's display theme Paul Reichert, Host, and Jan Dills, Hostess, and all of will be "Tools That Took Us Area J, will welcome you to Springfield. Every effort is West - Wagon and Carriage Making." That should being made to make this a memorable event. Look for cover everything from the tools of the wheelwright to your mailed materials and get on The Old Reliable wagon wrenches and even carriage upholstery tools, so Springfield Wagon "The Only Wagon With Second there should be plenty of in-theme displays, plus the Growth Spokes." For more information, Paul can be usual assortment of other engaging displays. reached at (417) 831-1425, and Jan at (417) 887-1513.
June 2007 3 Committee Reports Elections 2007 by George Wanamaker
It is time to think for a few minutes about the Mid M-WTCA. A term is three years long, and you may West Tool Collector's election for 2007. The first step serve only two successive terms. At our Semi-annual is NOMINATION. This is your chance to nominate a National meetings we have a meeting Saturday morn person you want to be a Director for your organization. ing for about one and one half to two hours where busi You can nominate anyone from your Area, including ness is conducted. It is usually over with by s:oo to s:30 yourself. These Directors are the people who run the a.m. It will not affect your Saturday trading, dealing, M-WTCA, they make the decisions that affect you and or antiquing to any large degree. Do you have to attend everyone else in the organization. Be sure and extend every National meeting? Of course not! Hopefully, you the courtesy of asking your nominee if he will accept can make it to one of the meetings each year. the position if elected. If you are interested, nominate yourself, and encourage others to nominate you, also. Secondly, we would like for you to help sell the The two candidates with the most nominations will be Mid- West Tool Collectors Association to your friends on the election ballot. back home, encourage membership. If possible hold a local meeting in your Area and invite fellow collectors What are the qualifications? Simple, you must be a to join in. That is about all you have to do. member and be willing to help the Mid West Tool Collectors Association conduct business and grow. So please, as a member, nominate a candidate for Nobody is too young, nobody is too old. You can't live Director from your Area, and please, as a nominee, too far away; there are members in your area. It only accept the nomination. You can not fail in this job! If takes a few hours a year to do a good job. you love tools and enjoy your time with M-WTCA members help your organization, nominate someone The question that I am asked the most is, "What do I right now. The form to nominate is on the wrap of do as a Director?" The answer is, have fun. Besides this issue. Then, accept the nomination if someone that, you will discuss and vote on issues that affect the nominates you. Membership by Ed Hobbs
Just got an E-mail from LeRoy Witzel, our Treasurer, in to a room full of people you don't know can be a bringing me up to date on our membership numbers. little scary. Another idea is to contact any new We have almost 3,400 members but are down about 46 members that live near you. The back page of The when compared to last year at this time. Renewals are Gristmill lists are new members, call and introduce up a little but new members are down some. This is yourself. You can also invite them over to see your not bad at all when we compare ourseives to other collection and to share a few stories over a cup of coffee. organizations and it is because of your efforts that we are able to be where we are. Contributing to meetings in the form of bringing a display, putting on a demonstration or possibly a pro A more disappointing M-WTCA.ORGnumber is that 4 7 4 members gram will make things more interesting for everyone had not renewed as of mid March. In this there are including you. Also, don't forget about contributing some members that have passed away and some article to The Gristmill. In many cases, The Gristmill that just might be too sick or old to feel they can is the only link a member has to M-WTCA. continue but that does leave a large number that just lost interest for some reason or another. It is not These suggestions are not hard to do at all. Demos, surprising that many of these are our newer members. displays, articles, etc., don't have to be elaborate or long. We all love to talk about and show what we have Helping to address this is something we can all do. so why wait. And finally, don't forget about our need Here are some ideas to consider. Be friendly and to find good, new members. Just to stay even means welcome new members to our Area and semi-annual we need to get almost 500 new members in 2007. But national meetings. Take time to introduce yourself to think about this, if each person got just 1 new member those new to M-WTCA, introduce them to others and every 3 years, this would be about 1100 new members generally "show them the ropes." Remember, walking per year. Why not make this your year?
4 The Gristmill Area Meets 13th Annual Peach Meet by Phil Baker
Madison, Georgia Wednesday January 3. The Bakers annual or local meet persuade these two young men have pulled the Airstream into the Lions Club parking to do their thing. It will be a huge success and no lot about 11 AM. We were early, as usual, in order to one will sleep. make the necessary preparations for the Peach Meet. The meeting had been cut back one day. The idea was There were fine displays, 11 in all. John Simmons to have working tool collectors only take one day off won first place of $50.00 with his shoe advertisement rather than two. Also a saving of a room night at the which included a hatchet. Ron Pearson took 2nd motel. This was a good idea, RIGHT?? place of $25.00 for his display of exotic dividers. Some had been, I have heard, in Playboy. 3rd place of $15.00 The trailer hadn't been unhooked when Ed Hobbs was awarded to Don Rosebrook for his patented and Ray Hoke drove up. This trend continued for the lumber measuring rule. It should be noted that rest of a pretty nice sunny day. My impression was we Carolyn List (she also keeps George Elsass in line), had more Wednesday arrivals than we would have had a fine display of cast iron pot lifters. Ladies before the meet was shortened. Tool collectors are don't be afraid to do your thing at the Peach Meet. wonderful. Early Thursday they came pulling in (the day tables would arrive about noon). Weather Lunch, or should I say dinner arrived at noon. No presented a problem. It was cold freezing rain, down complaints. Before I forget Jane Lockin is the lady right miserable. Inside the table location was laid who provides endless coffee and goodies throughout out. The program was changed. Rather than open up the day. We couldn't get along without her. Eat and at 1 PM to put tools under the tables they were placed back to business. In the afternoon Dave Heckel gave where tables were to be. What we ended up with was an overview of that period in our history known as the most marvelous homecoming at a meet that I the "Arts and Crafts Movement" at the turn of the could remember. Tools were the subject of course. 20th century. Design of furniture and buildings experienced a unique change that would not last for Friday and it's still miserable weather. Doors were to long. Dave then invited those interested to stay for open at 7 AM but those who hadn't brought in their a program on the Metallic Plane Company. The tools could get in at 6 AM. That was the plan. Shortly audience seemed to think it would be worthwhile and after 6 AM they started to arrive. Motors were using Dave ran with it. Good program. gas to provide heat or other brave souls were shivering. It didn't look like much fun so I took an At 5 PM the hall was quiet. Just a tired bunch of tool extension cord placed it on the floor as a barrier and collectors. Saturday morning arrived and doors opened the door. Being how it was warm inside "old opened at 7 AM. Nice activity in the hall for two hours home day" took place all over again and no one crossed and then everyone decided it was time to go home. the line until the 7 AM bell. Despite the fowl weather Next year for the 14th annual Peach Meet I am attendance was good, another great show. At 10 AM promising fair skies and moderate temperature. I the first program took place. "Tiny Tim" and Wayne hope. Doug Fowler will take over as host next year. Thompson gave a program on the American axe that I will be right there with him. Mostly to act as covered their design, manufacture and restoration. an interpreter because some folks have difficulty For someone that is lookingM-WTCA.ORG for a program at a semi- understanding the Georgia language. Selling on eBay or have an online presence? Please consider placing an M-WTCA membership the Members Selling Online bar on the lower left promotion in your listing or on your web site. This will side of the homepage. Then simply copy and paste the be good for M-WTCA by providing the thousands of promotion and add it to your listing where it best eBayer's and online collectors who are looking at old fits. It's simple and easy and will be a great help in tools and don't know about us an easy means to make exposing our great organization to the world. Also, contact with our organization. This will also improve don't forget to include a brochure that includes a your credibility by showing your affiliation with Membership Form in all the tools you send out. And M-WTCA. It will be a Win-Win situation for everyone! if you don't have any extra brochures, contact Ed Hobbs and he will send some to you or you can print Just go to our webpage: http://mwtca.org and click on them yourself off the M-WTCA website. Thank You!
June 2007 5 Area Meets Area A Medina, MN by Hollis Feeser
The gathering at the Medina Cabin Fever Area A "B" and "D" contributed with their attendance and meet began with a fine winter day and record tools. Trading was brisk with smiling happy faces attendance and enthusiastic expectations of finding lighting up the room. There were 16 outstanding that special tool. Area "A" was celebrating the 20th displays which challenged the judges to select the year at Medina by rewarded all attendees with a winners. The What's It session turned up some very "free" meet. Over 230 persons attended consuming unusual items and the auction capped off the day dozens of rolls and gallons of coffee. 10 new members with lively bidding and a number of good tools going were greeted and a number of members from areas under the hammer.
Tom Latane and Wayne Gustafson Medina Tool Meet, 2007
Al Renier Doughnuts are just as important as tools
Tom Dengler Bruce and Darren Westerlund demonstrating spoon carving two generations of collectors
Area D Omaha, NE by Lee Kallstrom M-WTCA.ORG Our Spring meeting brought together nearly seventy The program con tool people, members and guests from Nebraska, Iowa tinued with our and South Dakota. Nearly two dozen tables offered an own sawman, Jim outstanding variety of tools for buying, selling and Shald, who, this discussing. Thanks to Fred and Sally Leu and Al and year made a cool Rose Fetty for hosting the morning and putting presentation on together as good an educational group of displays and anvils, with the presentations as I've been privileged to enjoy. excuse that he needed to develop After a couple hours of conversations, coffee, and rolls his understanding a What's It session began the program and brought out of forge welding the best of our memories, inspirations, and guesses. for his saw addiction and thus needed to collect anvils.
6 The Gristmill Area Meets
More than a hundred unique anvils included a he discussed portable dental anvil and a one-of-a-kind customer with the audi appreciation item seen here. Jim nearly overloaded ence examples his display with the little anvils. I wonder what would of some of the have happened if he'd brought in his big ones. It more than fifty was a great display and opened our eyes to the many different block varieties and uses of this important device. planes in his display. He Not to be outdone, Forrest Johnson, from Fort Dodge, also made clear Iowa brought in a collection of relics found buried in what 1s and Japan in 1945. They were found within two miles of isn't included in one of the atomic bomb blasts. Photos and descriptions this category of were by Forrest during his tour in Japan. hand tool. Cecil has so much knowledge and experi ence with all types of hand tools; it's a most enjoyable Bill Kolm made time just listening to him. an outstanding presentation on Peggy McBride from LaPorte City, Iowa presented the L. S. Starrett a most interesting discussion about Singer sewing Company show machines used for work and play. She brought with ing many of the her one of the miniature sewing machines made by precision tools he the company. It was fully functional and used for used while work many years by young people as they grew toward the mg at Vickers full-sized machines. Corporation. His extensive experi The last presentation, and perhaps the most fun ence with preci focused on corn, a product, commodity, and staple sion instruments let him touch on his passion for these dear to the hearts of Nebraskans. Beverly Egbers classics. Bill included a discussion on a number of from Hooper talked about implements, mementos, Starrett advertisements and explained the philosophy school books, and puppets all related to the production of the company's marketing campaigns. This was a of corn. most insightful overview of the company, its tools, and its communications with the public. With the presentations completed it was time for a delicious lunch and final chats for the day. Hope to see The next presentation was one of many by Cecil you all at the Fall meeting and once again thanks to all Holmes. Describing block planes from beginning to end who attended and participated.
Area F Spring Meet by Matt Borders
Well, the smoke has cleared and the dust has settled, discover I'd have no trouble finding willing occupants. and another sprmg meeting of area F fades into The proof, though, is in the responses of the history. M-WTCA.ORGparticipants and judging by the number of positive comments I'd say the two room format worked out very Celena and I always try to keep the meetings well and we'll continue to use it again next year. I interesting and this was a year of several firsts. am thinking of either having myself cloned or asking After many thought things were getting a bit crowded the inn to install a fire pole between the two rooms last year, we decided to expand and rented a second since no matter which room I was in I seemed to be room at the Canyon Inn at McCormick's Creek State urgently need in the other one. park. Frankly, I wasn't sure how well this would work since the new room was in the basement and our One of the other "firsts" which turned out to be a regular venue was on the second floor, and I was rousing success was moving the meeting from Friday / concerned that those downstairs might feel left out. Saturday to Saturday/ Sunday. Several people, many I spent a great deal · of time on the phone, asking of whom had never attended our meeting before, told for volunteers to fill the new space and was pleased to me that this change made it possible for them to
June 2007 7 Area Meets
attend for the first time this year since it meant they information about anything that Bill's wife Vicki might didn't have to miss a day of work on Friday. Next years collect, and the more expensive the better. meeting will be held the same way. On a more educational note, our speakers this year Thanks to Slav were some of the most popular we've ever had. Tim Jelesijevich we also Puro of Monroe Furniture Restoration spoke on repair added an auction to and conservation of old tools. I loaned him some the proceedings planes that were in need of attention and Tim used this year. Through them to demonstrate various was to restore finish and Slav's efforts repair damage. Funny thing though, the shows been several folks got over for a month and I haven't seen my planes yet. some real bargains, had a bunch of fun Alan Dunbar and and the proceeds actually put us in the black this year Eric Bulakowski (we have $9.00 left over for next year, another "first"). from the violin shop at Indiana Speaking of money, I've come to the conclusion that University spoke most families can't afford more than one tool collector; on several subjects mine apparently now has three. Most of you know that related to the my wife Celena had taken up level collecting, which building and repair was bad enough since it puts her in direct competition of musical instru with yours truly for scarce tool dollars. I mean, who ments. Everyone knew that a piece of wood or cast iron with a glass vial was truly fascinat in it could cost as much as a set of Addis carving tools ed to discover just what goes in . to making such a or an infill plane? Now, though, thanks to folks like the delicate yet durable piece of functional art, and late and sorely missed Mo Arnold, my son Lane has I've already invited them back again next year by been bitten by the bug and everything he "needs" is popular demand. just as expensive as the objects of his mothers desires. Thanks to all the Frankly, I suspect a folks that attended conspiracy. You see, and helped out Bill Marlowe has been this year. Thanks contributing tools to especially to Art Lane's collection for a Redinger for bring couple of years now, mg and demon - and I'm convinced it strating his Barnes must have been Bill scroll saw and that pointed out the for keeping Lane diminutive Yankee entertained while hand crank drill press not letting him get close enough to break anything. to Lane. From the moment he laid eyes on it, Lane was Thanks also to Slav for all the great ideas and all convinced that no self respecting boy of six would be the hard work he put in. I'm going to have to caught dead without one,M-WTCA.ORG and I knew I was in serious remember to be nice to both these guys. trouble. He dragged me to Bob Wilson's table and began extolling the virtues of this little machine, Finally, let me end this article with a request. I real pointing out the ratcheting mechanism that raised ly could use some help in figuring out to make next and lowered the quill when the crank was turned. years meeting even better, and I'd love to hear from as many people as possible about how to improve Well, you can all guess what happened next. When my things. I'm particularly interested in coming up with mother in law picked Lane up so we could all have a and implementing activities for the ladies next year. respite from repeating the words "don't touch that!", I I apologize for not being more attentive to their enjoy emptied my wallet and procured Lane's treasure. It is ment of the meeting and I hope with your help I can obvious to me therefore that Bill's plan worked; he's make amends next year. I also need help in attracting trying to bankrupt me thereby keeping me from more displays and whatsits, so please send me your buying any more infill planes from under his nose. ideas on these and any other subject you feel needs Turn about is fair play though and I'm actively seeking addressing. See you all March first and second, 2008.
8 The Gristmill Area Meets PAST/Area O - San Diego, CA by John G. Wells© January 2007
The PAST/Area O 2007 Winter Old Tool Show, a three a beautifully smooth, hand planed surface, with the day event held in January each year at the San Diego figured curly grain shimmering, which has a lot more Four Points Sheraton Hotel, was enjoyed by over 200 character and is far superior to anything that can be attendees. Thursday, from well before dawn until mid produced by sanding. afternoon, members set up their trade tables loaded with tools, rare and unusual, in the tree lined parking Phil Stivers was busily creating beautiful personal area. In the late afternoon and evening, tool trading, writing pens that have attractive rare wood bodies on swapping stories, and partying continued in member's a small Jet lathe. It is an interesting and easily hotel rooms. learned craft that you can share with your spouse or children and make attractive, one of a kind, gifts for Early Friday morning serious indoor trading began in family and friends. one of the hotels three atriums that had 80 trade tables set up. Most members had a trade table right Displays outside of their hotel The Best of Show award went to Larry Hass for his dis room door. Clearly the play: "Shadows of the Past" which was a reproduction most interesting and of a well known shadow box filled with Stanley tools attractive tool offered and memorabilia. A photo in the show was the of the original shadow box stunning Stanley appeared on the cover of Miller's patent No. 43 John Walter's best seller: Type 1 Plow plane Antique and Collectable with the elusive hump Stanley Tools. The award back casting and hook, for the "Most Unusual" on Steve Habitz table. display went to Bill Perin for "Some Really Old Tools". Demonstrations Judges Choice a wards Three people were putting on demonstrations that went to Cecil Holmes, who attracted a lot of attention most of the day in the had another of his big center of the atrium. displays, this time featur ing "Block Planes", and to Russ Filbeck, makes beautiful Graham Stubbs, for his Appalachian ladder back chairs, display of "Witchets and riving the wood from solid stock Rounding Tools". and hand shaping the parts on a shaving horse using shaves Auction of his own design. Russ teaches A listed auction of 316 lots of quality tools followed wood working at Pomona College, by an auction of tools con every year a few of his chairs are signed at the show by mem auctionedM-WTCA.ORG off by the President bers, would up the festivities Jimmy Carter foundation to sup on Saturday afternoon. port their work. At this show Russ demonstrated chair making, shave making, The PAST/Area 0 , 2008 sharpening tools, and sharpening and using a scraper. Winter Old Tool Show will be held in the same place Konrad Sauer, of Sauer & at about the same time Steiner, maker of some of the next year. Flee the cold, finest traditional infill planes rain, and snow; mark your you will ever lay your eyes on, calendar now to come to was busily using one of his sunny San Diego, CA, on planes to take gossamer thin January 17th through the shavings from curly grain hard 19th, 2008, to enjoy tooling Don Rosebrook maple boards. He was leaving in the sun. explains a fine point.
June 2007 9 Quimby S. Backus: Part 1 by Randy Roeder© 2007
Quimby S. Backus, the first scale to pass through the doors of the Brandon newly elected senator plant, Quimby Backus remained with the Howe Scale from Rutland County, Company for just four years.2 must have been disap pointed. On the heels of a The Windsor Armory successful campaign for The four years were long enough, however, for Backus elective office, the pub to marry and start a family. In 1858, he married a lisher of the state's 1902 local girl, Lavinia Lawrence; their son Frederick biographical register Ellsworth was born in 1861 the year that Quimby left mangled his first name Howe Scale to become a toolmaker in the armory at on the identification Windsor, Vermont. Although the significance of his beneath his handsome new workplace likely escaped him, Backus was going and stylish portrait.1 to work in the factory where gun makers Samuel Backus was sixty-four Robbins and Richard Lawrence had developed a years old, semi-retired groundbreaking method of mass production where and had brought his QUINCY S. BACK US, products were assembled from interchangeable parts. manufacturing business R1d la1td Co1t11ty. The methodology, which required highly accurate back to his home state a Fig. 1 CourtesyVermont precision machinery, eventually became known as the year or two earlier earli State Archives "American System" and was adopted by manufactur er. His entry into politics ers worldwide. As visionary as their system was, it did was not unusual for a man of his experience, as at the not prevent an overextended Robbins & Lawrence time, it was commonplace for a successful business from going bankrupt in 1857 when the British man who had achieved a certain level of financial government abruptly cancelled a large order of mus security to turn to politics in his later years. (Fig. 1) kets following the end of the Crimean War.
Backus was born to in 1838 to a middle class home at Lamson, Goodnow & Yale purchased the failed Bridgewater in Windham County, Vermont. His armory, and it was with this firm that Quimby Backus father, Gurdon Backus, was a Methodist minister; his found employment. His new bosses had contracted mother, the former Wealthy Ann Hoisington, had with Samuel Colt to produce the Special Model 1861, come from one of the long established Bridgewater a .54 caliber rifled musket, and Backus was part of families. When Quimby was a boy, Gurdon Backus the production effort. The Windsor armory would turn moved the family to Brandon, Vermont, and there the out 50,000 of the firearms between 1861 and 1865. younger Backus received an education typical for a Some of the finest mechanics in New England, men middle class youth an elementary education in the like Quimby Backus; Henry D. Stone, popularizer of public schools followed by graduation at age sixteen the vertical turret lathe; and William H. Barber, from the local academy. Having received his diploma, inventor of the famous bit brace were to pass through Quimby Silas Backus moved on t~ Woodstock, the doors of the Windsor armory. Their influence on Vermont, where he began work as a machinist. the Connecticut Valley and its hardware industry would be felt for decades. In 1857, John Howe formed the Howe Scale Company to manufacture weighing devic~s in Brandon, and First Patents Backus returned to his hometown to become one of the As the war effort wound down, employment at the first men to take a positionM-WTCA.ORG with the new firm. Howe armory dwindled. Quimby Backus moved to Rutland, had purchased the rights to a scale equipped with a Vermont, where he secured employment in the car shop ball bearing pivot support that had been designed and of the Rutland & Burlington Railroad. The patented by Frank M. Strong and Thomas Ross for the railroad had just acquired the Brandon Car Company Sampson Scale Company of Vergennes, Vermont. The from William M. Field and David Warren and had Strong and Ross scale was superior to its competitors moved its equipment to a new facility designed for in that its unique support system reduced stress on the production and maintenance of rolling stock. the scale's pivot-decreasing wear and increasing its The work must not have suited Backus for he did sensitivity. Howe Scale prospered and became a not remain long at the car shop. By 1868, he had leader in its field, establishing an international relocated to Winchendon, Massachusetts, where he reputation and continuing to manufacture high became involved in the design and patenting of tools quality weighing devices into the twentieth century. and machinery. Between the summer of 1868 and Although he was an early hire who worked on the the spring of 1870, the United States Patent Office l O The Gristmill issued six patents to Quimby Backus three for vises, one that he had designed and patented. The short-lived for a stationary drill bit, one for a wooden spool labeler Backus Vise Company had an interesting history, the and one for a valve facing process for steam engines. details of which have been reported elsewhere.3
The stationary drill bit belonged to that class of tools Backus & Company in which the work piece, rather than the bit itself, is In fall of 1872, Backus and his partner, Charles N. rotated during the drilling process. The wooden spool Decker, established Q.S. Backus & Company and labeler was a complex, multigeared device that opened a sales office in the New York City hardware remains interesting not so much for its design as for its district at 82 Chambers Street. The company's first disposition. Backus assigned interests in the patent to price list, dated November 15, included just three himself and to two men active in Winchendon's wood products-a bit brace, an adjustable angular bit stock en ware industry Sidney Fairbanks and Orlando and a wrench-all designed by Quimby Backus and all Mason. Mason owned a sawmill and factory that pro covered by patents published just ten days earlier.4 duced three hooped pails and wooden boxes, and when The price list made no mention of the location of the Quimby Backus left the area to set up a manufactur firm's factory, but noted that "we are now entering ing business, the men remained in contact. Several orders for delivery in January and February." It is years later, Backus would return to Winchendon to likely that the firm's first tools were manufactured establish a bit brace factory, and in 1889, Orlando at Winchendon as Backus listed the city as his resi Mason and Homer N. Parker would set up a partner dence on an 1874 application for a gage patent. In ship there to produce his braces for him. The firm, 1876, the Q.S. Backus Company was making tools in a Mason & Parker, eventually became a well-known three and one-half story building in Holyoke at the manufacturer of children's toys. intersection of Appleton Street and the city's Second Level Canal. Production moved back to Winchendon in The three vise patents formed the basis for a new the early 1880s; the New York sales office moved to 102 enterprise, the Backus Vise Company. The most Chambers Street at about the same time. (Fig. 3) important, United States Letters Patent No. 78,565, was issued for a vise with its screw enclosed in a tele scoping tube that protected it from dirt and shavings. Eager to secure as much protection for his idea as pos Q. S. BACKUS & CO. sible, Backus applied for and received design patent June 2007 11 The 1872 price list proudly noted that the new string, was held captive between a bolster and, at top, adjustable Backus patent wrench did not incorporate a washer peened into place. The company later added a standard screw-type adjustment and emphasized a bolster made of a brass washer to its lignam vitae the speed at which its sliding mechanism could be models, a change that reduced drag on the rotation of set. Since the wrench's sliding jaw was not lockable, the head. (Fig. 4) it relied on friction created during the tool's use to hold the jaw in place, and the strength of its grip increased as greater force was applied to it. Backus and Company initially offered the wrench in eight, ten and twelve-inch sizes. Although its adjustment mechanism was identical to that in the original patent drawings, the wrench depicted in the price list was fitted with a wooden handle and differed in the squared-off profile of its jaws. An English version of the wrench, lacking a wooden handle and with jaws similar to that in the patent, has been reported. It is stamped "R. Timmons & Sons," the name of a Fig. 4 Heads: metallic, early premium, economy & brass-washer prominent Birmingham tool supplier. 5 The 1872 brace patent also covered the sweep handle. At the time of its introduction, the Backus adjustable The Backus handle had more in common with the angular bit stock was far more sophisticated than 1868 Clemens Rose design than just its shape. Both similar devices on the market. Its single universal incorporated cup-like metallic retainers that were joint and bifurcated design, however, were not soldered to the frame to hold in place a wooden patentable features, and as a result, protection was handle whose tapering curves fit inside them. The limited to its locking adjustment mechanism. Similar Rose patent assumed that the wooden handle would be tools were soon offered, most notably the angular bit manufactured in two pieces, then added to the brace stock developed by James Anthoine and marketed by and joined together; the one-piece Backus handle was the Millers Falls Company. Anthoine substituted a designed to slip over the frame before the rod was bent. sheet metal adjustment for Backus' cast design and rotated it 90 degrees. Apparently, the change was The text of Rose patent anticipates most of the changes enough to convince the Patent Office that the design Backus made to the design. Although the sweep han was worthy of pro.tection, for Anthoine was awarded dles of the very first Backus braces were fabricated U.S Letters Patent No. 171,255 just three years later. from domestic hardwood, rosewood became the norm for premium braces when the company introduced Early Bit Braces lignam vitae heads. The rounded, tapering profile of Q.S. Backus & Company's first bit brace featured a the sweep handles gave way to a standard cylindrical cast iron head painted red on the inside and a rotat shape sometime between 1880 and 1884. (Fig. 5) ing sweep handle similar in appearance to that patented by Clemens Rose in 1868. The frame was manufactured of wrought iron and was available with a 6, 8, 10, 12, or 14 inch sweep. The patented chuck was equipped with two short jaws that pivoted on pins that pierced the chuck shell. As the chuck was tight ened, a conical taper at the end of the brace's socket caused the jaws to rotate forward onto the shaft of a bit, firmly seating it in the square, tapered hole of the socket. The arrangementM-WTCA.ORG was simple, but effective. Backus & Company soon moved away from the use of cast iron heads on its premium braces, replacing them with lignam vitae. A second category of economy-grade models with wooden parts of domestic hardwood was introduced as well. The lignam heads were simply threaded onto a brace's quill; the econo Fig. 5 Handles: economy, tapering & cylindrical my-grade heads were held in place via a friction fit. Neither attachment mechanism was innovative. At some point prior to 1880, Quimby Backus acquired Domestic hardwood heads were forced down over a the rights to a brace patented by William W. Draper on hollow wooden cylinder in the manner of a number of July 11, 1865.6 Draper, a resident of Greenfield, other vendors. The cylinder, sometimes wrapped with Massachusetts, had originally assigned one-half of the 12 The Gristmill patent to himself and the other half to Alonzo Parker, wedges, engaging the shoulders of a square-tang bit to one of the principals of the Greenfield Tool Company. prevent its being pulled out. Judge John Lowell of the Backus reworked the Draper design and came up with U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts a brace that bore little resemblance to that depicted in found otherwise. The case was decided for the Millers the original patent drawings. The brace featured a Falls Company, and the chuck described in the 1872 bizarre-looking chuck that consisted of two massively Backus patent was invalidated.7 (Fig. 7) oversized jaws pinned to a nut that traveled up and down the threads of its socket. As the nut traveled up Although the Draper patent itself remained valid, the the socket, the rear edges of the jaws encountered a loss of the Q.S. Backus Company's flagship chuck was cone which spread them apart. Since the jaws pivoted a major setback for the firm. The non-infringing at mid-point, their front parts moved inward, closing Backus adaptation of Draper's design, with its huge over the shoulders of a square-tang bit. Backus Draper oversized jaws, did not function particularly well with type braces were offered with and without ratchets in small-sized auger bits but served for a time as the both the economy and premium grades. (Fig. 6) stopgap standard for the company's bit braces. An ad in the August, 1880, issue of Carpentry and Building depicts the Draper type design and notes, "This socket is used on all of my patent braces, comprising every grade of quality and finish ... " Backus responded to his courtroom misfortune by developing and patent ing two chucks during the next ten months. On the basis of the new patents, the Q.S. Backus Company began manufacturing braces that featured a shell-type chuck with two opposing grooves cut into the exterior of its threaded socket. Within each groove, a strap-type spring engaged a notch in the rear of the jaw. As the shell was loosened on threaded socket, pressure from the springs forced the jaws Fig. 6 Chucks: 1872, 1880, & Draper-type apart. The 1880 self-opening chuck, stamped with October 19th and November 16th patent dates, A Law Suit became the operation's new standard.8 (Fig. 8) Unfortunately for Quimby Backus, his former associ ates at the Millers Falls Company took a dim view of the chuck described in his 1872 patent. The company was moving aggressively to protect its leadership role in the manufacture of bit braces by working to have its patents re-issued and buying related designs in an attempt to control the manufacture of what it defined as "grip-type" braces. One of its acquisitions was a patent for a bit brace developed in 1867 by Charles H. Fig. 8 Backus 1880 chuck socket, jaw & spring Stockbridge of Whately, Massachusetts. Millers Falls succeeded in getting the patent re-issued in 1875, and (To be continued in The Gristmill, September 2007) it became the basis for a lawsuit against Backus. L Jeffrey, William H. Vermont: a Souvenir of it's When the issue came to a final hearing in December Government, 1902-1903. 8.1., s.n., 1902. [Montpelier, 12, 1879, the Backus attor Vermont: Watchman Co., printer] neys chose not to defend 2- "Quimby S. Backus." Genealogical and Family History of the 1872 patent on its own the State of Vermont: a Record of the Achievements of Her M-WTCA.ORGmerits, but rather on its People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding similarity to the Draper of a Nation. New York & Chicago: Lewis, 1903. p. 536-537. patent, believing, perhaps, 3- Roeder, Randy. "Gunn, Amidon, and Millers Falls that a design pre-dating Manufacturing." The Gristmill. No. 113, Dec. 2003. p. 23-24. 4 Stockbridge would have · United States Patent Office. Letters Patents. 132,789 (the wrench), 132,790 (the angular bitstock), 132,791 (the the advantage. At issue bit brace). was the extent to which 5. Oldwrench, Mr. "An International Wrench?" Fine Tool the Backus shell-type Journal. V 53, no. 4, (spring 2004) p.16-18. design allowed the jaws to 6- United States Patent Office. Letters Patent. 48,763. grip the rounded shank of 7· United States Patent Office. Official Gazette. April 13, a bit. In his defense, 1880. p. 130-131. Fig. 7 Disputed Stockbridge Backus maintained that S. United States Patent Office. Letters Patents. 233,464 & Backus chucks the jaws served merely as and 234,517. June 2007 13 Book Review COLLECTORS GUIDE FOR FENCING COLLECTORS GUIDE TOOLS FOR FENCING TOOLS Richard Smith & Richard Smith, Jr. First Edition, 118 pages, 8 3/8" X 11 3/8", 2006. Available from the authors, 14558 West State Hwy U Walnut Grove, MO 65770 $22.00 plus $2.50 shipping. This book groups fencing tools into seven sections categorized as to their intended useage. The sections are Plier Type Tools; Hammers & Staple Pullers; Stretchers, Strainers & Slack Takers; Tighteners & Twisters; Wire Wrappers & Wire Grabs; Miscellaneous Tools; and Post Hole Diggers. There are 880 tools each represented with its own B&W photograph. Those tools that are patented have the date of the patent listed with the tool. Eight tools are represented on each page, large enough to show detail. Also, included is a three-page value guide insert. The values are retail and are for complete workable tools. Both of the authors are Charter Members of the Antique Barbed Wire Society and serve as Directors. See the advertisement in this issue for ordering information. --Dave Heckel Murlands Antique Tool Value Guide Tony Murland First Edition, 232 pages, 5 3/4" X 8 1/4", 2007. Available from the author, email [email protected] $29.95 plus $7.00 shipping. Tony Murland's new book "The ultimate guide to the identification & valuation of the world's finest antique tools," covers a broad range of antique tools from both the United States as well as the United Kingdom. The book is divided up into _various chapters starting with Stanley and then other American and British manufacturers. There are chapters on braces, wooden planes, patented planes, and a beautiful selection of tools in a section entitled "Tools Are Art." Pricing seems to follow existingM-WTCA.ORG price guides, with increases for the very rare and valuable. Values for the British tools are very helpful and they are surely obtained from the four International Tool Auction results that Tony holds each year. Certain tools are placed in a shaded box that highlights the fact that they are "rare and valuable." There also is a star rating that gives a clue to the rarity of a specific tool rather than the tool's value. Tony states, "The rule of thumb is to look for anything slightly different to the average tool." Good advice indeed. Guest authors have contributed articles for inclusion in the rear of the book. Illustrations and engravings of the tools are in Black & White. This is a handy sized book that is Perfect-Bound. A must have, for both the advanced collector, as well as the beginning collector. See the advertisement in this issue for ordering information. -- Dave Heckel 14 The Gristmill The Challenge Plane r A. T. GOLDSBOROUGH . BEll'Oll PLA.ll'll. by Jim Preusser No . 28'4,732. Patented Sept. 11 , 1883 . Each tool col lector has that special area of interest that drives them to search for the tools they col lect, whether F 4'.2. that be primi tives, early wooden planes, Stanley planes, Sargent planes or whatever they seek. My area of focus, as of late, has been patented planes. In this issue of The Gristmill I will share some information about what I believe to be a rather unique patented plane called the Challenge plane. The Challenge plane, circa 1889, was patented by Arthur T. Goldsborough, of the Washington, D.C. area. The basic design of this plane was outlined in three patents, granted to Arthur T. Goldsborough. These were patent numbers 284, 732 on September 11, 1883, and 293,863 and 293,864 both granted February 18, 1884. A. T. GOLDS BOROUGH . (lf o Hodel.) r A. T. GOLDSBOROUGH. BEN'OH l'L UE JIEKOH PLA.ll'll , No. 293,863. 19, Paten te d Feb. 1884. No. 298 ,864. . Pe. tent ed Feb. 19, 1884, ~ . ,e. M-WTCA.ORG Ff:/·"· .Fl:J-.1. J , ll!: INVENTOR WITNESSES INVENTOR I -4.rlluu T. CJdsww":J'A. ./.lrtitu.r T 6ol.dsliorr;":fh ~(L~ L ~JU~ ;;;~;;~~ _J June 2007 15 The advertising, as found in the Carpentry and The horseshoe shaped blade holder is one piece that is Building magazine of 1889, indicates that the planes designed to slide into a lug on each side of the main were manufactured by Tower & Lyon of New York. casting and then secured with a screw on each side. Maybe this was done to facilitate the replacement of a broken frog which seemed to be a common problem CHALLENGE with this plane. IRON PLANES. The patent information is cast into the top of the toe of the plane as shown below. The rear tote sits on a receiv er, which is different from the other three examples. Wt oiler la rht ( HAl.f.}~SUE PL.\ 'iES lbt- otmot.t '\lmplidt_,. of cc:nulrt1ctinn Jn 11 ,.,.,,,.~,., ,N>rli1t9 IMI. lt. wi11 bt_>\tl~ mitttd that no,b1.og funl:f:r ~" 111: ho1>td for in the l'Mnclion o( th<.- n1m1hfr o( 1l FOR SAL E BY THE HARDWARE TRADE. TOWER &. LYON, Manufrs, 95 Chambers St., New York. Here is the description of the four different sized planes, starting with the largest the jointer size (#8), it is 23-5/8" in length, 3-1/4" in width, with a 2-5/8" cutter. This example is different from the other three sizes in the fact it is of a two piece construction, The cutter is also unmarked and no other further identification is present on the plane. The side profile has cheeks that run from the front of the plane all the way to the rear, supposedly for strength and to maintain flatness. The second largest size is the fore plane size (#6), it is 18" in length, 2-7/8" in width, with a 2-3/8" cutter. This fore size plane is also unique in that the name and patent information is cast into the side rail, whether it was designed this way for extra strength contained in an ovoloid shape near the bottom on the or ease of manufacturing (casting) and assembly I do left side only, with no markings on the cutter and no not know. other markings on the plane. M-WTCA.ORG 16 The Gristmill This plane is cast similarly to the number five size in that the side rails on the front of the plane are grace fully swept upward into the frog part of the plane, and the rear of the plane is void of any side rails. There is a center rail cast behind the rear tote that goes almost to the rear of the plane that obviously adds to the strength and helps to maintain flatness to the plane. The third plane is the jack plane size (#5), this plane is 15" in length, 2-5/8" in width, with a 2-1/8" cutter. This size being the most common, yet still rare, is familiar to most tool collectors with the patent information and name cast into the left side of the integral frog. This plane is perhaps one of the more unique looking patented planes of all times. screw has vertical knurling and is nickel plated. All four sizes also have cast bosses in the beds to receive the front knobs. Another similarity between the four models is that they all have hardwood handles and knobs which are japanned black. It has taken me many years to assemble this set as they are not readily available on the antique tool mar ket. However, that is what I see as being important in collecting, the "Challenge" of finding these rare planes, no pun intended. In Roger K. Smith's book, Patented Transitional & Metallic Planes in America 1827-1927, he talks about the difficulty of assembling a set of four different sized planes as manufactured by the Davis Level and Tool Co. This set of the four sizes of Challenge planes is at least as difficult in my estimation. I would like to thank Roger K. Smith for allowing me to quote his outstanding books on patented planes. And, I would like to dedicate this article to Dave Paling, a well known tool dealer, who recently passed away. I was fortunate to have Dave as a friend and mentor. For those of us who were lucky enough to know Dave, you know that he had the Challenge plane M-WTCA.ORGpictured on his business card. Anyone with more information about sizes or The fourth and final plane of the set, the smooth size variations about these Challenge planes please (#4), is 9-1/8" in length, 2-7/16" in width, with a 2" contact, Jim Preusser, [email protected] cutter. One of the rarest planes it is completely unmarked with no patent information, no company Photos by Chuck Norwood, St. Cloud, MN all rights reserved. name, and no markings on the cutter. The similarities in all four of the sizes of the Jim Preusser of Avon, MN has collected American Challenge planes, is that the thread sizing on the patented planes for many years. This is his first adjustment screws that control the cutter depth are published tool article. the same size on all four models. Also the thumb --Editor June 2007 17 M-WTCA ADVANCED LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP AND ADDITIONAL GIFTS FOR 2007 Benefactors Dorothy Alexander Roy Harmon Phil Cannon Robert P. Angle John Hartman Andrew D'Elia Dale Ashdown Ernie Hilbert James F. Earnhardt Bill Bair Atlee J. Hochstetler Maurice Gambrel Thomas A. Ballintine Bill Holden Jr. Ronald W. Pearson John Bellon John F. Holmes Glenn Perrin Carl Bilderback Lyle Hoofnagle Willie Royal Edward Blatnick T. Glenn Horst Richard S. Schmechel Paul Boldt Ronald Howard W.L. (Bill) Stover Les Bornhorst James Humphrey Gary Studebaker Hoyt Bowen Duane Johnson Frank Talford Robert Brackett Jan Johnson Robert Valich Roger Braun Glen P. Jourdan John G. Wells Robert A. Brown Patrick Joy Ray Bunnell Gary R. Kane Sustaining Members Richard Byrne Ron Kaplan Laurent Adamowicz Richard P. Cadieux Walter H. Karsten Eric Bernard Glenn A. Campbell Ashley Kennedy Roger Bourgeois James Cascarano Roger D. King William S. Brooks Ellsworth P. Christmas John W. Kinnemeyer Thomas R. Bruce Pete Cohan Jim Kirby Keith Cheveralls Nelson Coressel Jr. Elroy A. Klug Tim Clarke James Courter David Kollmeyer Bill Collins David Crosser Joe Kunz Alton Cronk Jim Davis Mike Lamarre Henry Kirke Cushing Don DeCook Walter T. Lane David Dell Mark A. DeVito Robert W. Learoyd Nelson Denny Jack Devitt David T. Leary Sr. David Elliott Howard W. Diamond Ernest E. Leavitt Bob Fields Steven F. Dice Herman Leonhardt John Fitzgerald Richard D. Dickerson Harold J. Liberty Jr. Chalmers Gordon Roy Ebersole Craig Lind Karl Gurlicke George Elsass Robert R. Llewellyn Peter J. Hathaway Greg Ericson Bryan C. Lloyd Terry Haver Barbara Esterly Howard Loomis Jr. Thomas A. Henry Carlton K. Fahler Kenneth E. Lukavsky Ed Hobbs Alan L. Fetty George F. Luteri Alan Hochhalter Lee Fisher Leo Maack Jared Isaacs Michael Fitterling Bobby Martin Tom Jordens Otto LeRoy Fletcher Rush McAllister Thomas C. & Lorraine Lamond David Foster Michael E. McGee Marty Martin Jason Fowler Gregory McKay James Mau Dennis Fuller John McKiernan Joel Moskowitz M-WTCA.ORGThomas L. Gallerani Philip McKinney Allen Roderick C. Barnes Gardiner II William McMillen Clifford Sapienza Martin Gardner Frederick D. Mears Michael Sepsey Michael Garlich Kieth Monnier Mark Snyder Charles Garrett Jr. Ross R. Morcomb Peter J. Strasser Ronald D. Goenner William J. Morgan Frederic S. Thompson Dr. Paul E. Gorham Edward Mueller MarshaVander Heyden Jeff Gray David L. Murdoch Ladislaus M. Walen Jr. Steven Gretter Robert W. Mustain Jr. Ron Walter John W. Hager Steven W. Neale Bill Youart Brent Hall Suzanne Nelson Harvey Hanenburg Elmer Newman Contributing Members Jonathan Hanke Pete Niederberger Paul Aken Harold E. Harden David Nordstrom 18 The Gristmill Timothy Nus tad Mount Vernon Intern Raymond Higgins Jim O'Brien Philip W. Baker David Hochstetler John Olech Robert Gilmore Karl Horn Wayne R. Olson Don Riley David Jeffers Norman P. Otto Michael Johns Herb Page Endowment Fund Paul R. Johnson Robert L. Petrovic Bill Adsit Patrick Kelly Tom H. Pointer Calvin Anthony Dick Kinder Michael Power EilaArnold Bryan A. Konsler Charles Prine Jr. James Barbieur James P. Kullmer Russell Regnery Jim Barry Patrick A. Leach Ashton T. Reynolds Jeff Baum Owen Maddux Garland D. Richardson Eric Bernard Bobby Martin Robert C. Riese Paul Bewley Paul S. Matis III Mel Ring Lewis McDonald Jr. Joel Blasius Robert Rups Roselyn V. McKittrick Edward Blatnick William H. Rypka Galen McLaughlin Paul Bond Ed Saling Bert Melnick Richard Bradshaw L. Samuel Scheiderer Mike Muench William S. Brooks Gary Settje Robert W. Mustain Jr. Larry E. Brown George Shackleton Sr. HarIan J. Oestmann Marvin B. Bunn John D. Shaw Glenn Perrin Virginia Callis Henry C. Sheard Charles L. Pettett Henry L. Caudle Greg Simpson Paul G. Pomeroy Jerry Clark Siegfried Snyder Frank E. Postle Walter Clement Vincent L. Soukup Linda M. Prahl George Covert Steven Staley Herb Proffit Leo Stambaugh Alton Cronk Angel Ranon Kenneth Sterling Joseph Curran A. David Rawls Michael Stich Henry Kirke Cushing James A. Reppke Robert Stidfole Andrew D'Elia Garland D. Richardson Harold Stiffler Brad des Lauriers John Scanlon Mary Lou Stover Donald W. Devine Stanley Seevers Robert Stoxen Larry DeWolf Bruce Shaughnessy Douglas Stuart Gail Dieleman R. Judd Sherman Robert Terry Alfred Dobberfuhl Richard H. Sherman Doug Thompson Thomas Dugan Greg Simpson Richard B. Tobin James Durochia Siegfried Snyder Patrick Udell Philip Eberhard Richard Sprague Roy Underhill Dell Edwards Robert Stoxen Gordon Vader Anthony L. Engels Thomas Strader Pete Vaughan David W. Estes David C. Swanson Jack Wagoner Timothy A. Everette Frederic S. Thompson Gene Walbridge William Eviston Irene Thompson Arthur B. White Jr. John Fite Ernest Urban Jon Whitney Doug Fowler Paul Van Pernis Ed Williams Bob Francis Sr. Verne E. Vollrath Larry D. Williams M-WTCA.ORGRobert A. Freed J. Kurt Von Achen Brian J. Willie Scotty D. Fulton Richard Wade Tom Witte Alvin Furrer Ladislaus M. Walen Jr. Gary L. Wright Fred Gardner John Walkowiak Jr. James F. Zboyovsky Chalmers Gordon Charles N. Williams Jim Gray Scott Wilson Additional Gifts Jeff Grothaus Ken Winter Tom Bramschreiber Werner H. Gumpertz Thomas Wyman Larry Davenport Judy H. Harden Alan J. Zeringue Ray McDonald Wayne H. Hatz Robert Zimmerman Burke Prevratil Terry Havlik Bob Zoni John A. Reed Bill Headley Jr. Donald Wing Ann Henley Scholarships Larry H. Hicks Eric G. Bolen June 2007 19 Let's Talk About Marketing Your Antique Tool Collection ... Shipping and Receiving Facilities Free Pickup and Tr11cking Live Free or Die Antique Tool Auctions State of the Art Auction Technology Call Today: (800) 869-0695 Modern Climate-Controlled Wflreliouse and Proce.r;sing Facility We are Committed to Expanding the Market for Antique Tools n the past eight years we have sold nearly four hundred thousand antique tools at auction. Our extensive advertising, Internet marketing and commitment to using technology to achieve Ithe best results for our consignors are the reasons we are the biggest and the best. If you are planning the sale of some or all of your antique tool collection, please call for a confidential con- sultation Today. Martin J. Donnelly, President Live Free or Die Antique Tool Auctions a Division of Martin J. Donnelly Antique Tools (800) 869-0695/( 607) 566-2617 · www.mjdtools.com o9%e o/~t/d:; ~f/,e(j,t ~~- :id Q -·uclt#JU!~ o/ cPtntu;4«3 CYt dTod6 Please Plan to Join Us at Our Auctions Six Great AuctionsM-WTCA.ORG Remaining in 2007 Listed Auction: Holiday Inn Everett Turnpike \ Friday, September 21 Nashua, New Hampshire Antique Tool Fair Withington Auction Estate Auctioneer: Paul Wilmott I & Catalogue Auction: Hillsboro Center, NH Catalogue Auction: Holiday Inn Everett Turnpike Friday & Saturday Total of 1201 Lots for Two Days! Saturday, September 22 Nashua, New Hampshire June 29 & 30 Tool Fair at Dawn Saturday Auctioneer: Paul Wilmott Auctioneer: Richard Withington Listed Auction: Ramada Inn Hotel Open House Auction Martin J. Donnelly Friday, October 19 Indianapolis, Indiana & Joint Tool Meeting: Avoca, New York Auctioneer: Bill Baxter Fri. & Sat., Aug. 3 & 4 (1601 Lots Sold in One Day!) Catalogue Auction: Ramada Inn Hotel Auctioneers Bill Baxter & Paul Wilmott Saturday, October 20 Indianapolis, Indiana Auctioneer: Bill Baxter Annual Antique Tool Fair and Antique Tool Auction June 29 & 30, 2007 · 600 Lots Sold Each Day Withington Auction Estate· Hillsboro Center, New Hampshire Auctioneer Richard Withington, New Hampshire License No. 1 Plan Now to Join Us for High Summer in New Hampshire! ~ More than 200 Dealer Spaces ~ Spaces Just $10. 00 Each ~ Friday Auction 600 Lots 2:01 p.m. ~ Overnight Camping On Site ~ Saturday Auction 601 Lots 9:31 a.m. ~ Tool Fair Opens at Dawn Saturday ~ For Details Call: (800) 869-0695 ~ Plan Today to Make the Trip! The New Hampshire Summer Tool Harvest in Progress ~ All Items in All Auctions Photographed ~ Available for Secure Online Absentee Bidding: www.mjdtools.com/auction Call for Details: ~ Full Color, 80 Page Auction Catalogue for the July Sale: $17.95 (800) 869-0695 ~ Subscribe & Save at www.mjdtools.com Fifth Annual Open House & Antique Tool Auction Friday and Saturday, August 3 & 4, 2007 Martin J. Donnelly Antique Tools · 5223 County Route 8 · Avoca, New York Special Note: Please plan to join us for a Quadruple Joint Invitational Meeting Tool Trading· Pig Roast· Open House· Auction of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association, Early American Industries Association, the Western New York Tool Collectors and the Tool Group of Canada at our World Headquarters Complex in Avoca, New York. Plans call for tool trading on Friday and Saturday, demonstrations, presentations and more, followed by an auction of 1601 lots called by Live Free or Die Auctioneers Paul Wilmott and Bill Baxter. Registration Details for the meet ing are being handled by Western New York Tool Collector's Association President Chuck Wirtenson. To register, please send $5.00 payable to Chuck Wirtenson and indicate whether or not you will be selling. There is an addi tional fee of $5.00 fee for each dealer space and an additional $5.00 for the Pig Roast Dinner on Friday night.M-WTCA.ORG Chuck Wirtenson Registration Fee of $5.00 President, WNYTCA Includes Donuts & Coffee PO Box 109 there is an additional fee of Our 2006 Auction - 1601 Lots in 6 1/4 Hours! Verona NY 13478 $5.00 for each dealer space. (315) 363-7682 All Proceeds to Tool Clubs Our auction of 1601 Lots will begin at 9:01 a.m. and will feature a huge col lection of antique tools from Pittsford, Vermont. Also included in the sale will be, many other scarce STANLEY items, chisels, edge tools, blacksmith's tools and more. Nearly 10,000 tools will be included in the sale. Auction Preview tJ-nd Open House All Day Friday. Please plan to join us for an enjoyable Summer weekend in the Finger Lakes Region! Please check our web site for lodging information or give us a call at (800) 869-0695. Live Free or Die Antique Tool Auctions - A Division of Martin J. Donnelly Antique Tools - (800) 869-0695 Favorite Tool by Jeff Nelson Through the years, Moving on to the present, I had many favorite tools, am an active period furni but there is only one that ture maker, my hobby. I will always be special and put to use all the proper my Favorite Tool. It first ways of treating hand came to me when I was a tools and power tools as product of the education sys was taught to us by Mr. tem of a small South Dakota Campbell. Every time I start a town during the early and mid '60s, hand saw steadied against my a time when Industrial Arts was still a thumb and lay the plane down on its four-year program including woodworking, metalwork cheek, I can see him looking over my shoulder to make ing, and four years of drafting. sure it is done right. My real job is Education Manager for a local Soft Drink Company "The Real Thing". I call Our shop teacher Mr. Campbell was a very knowledge on thirty-two high schools and three colleges. Most of able man with years of woodworking experience the schools know I am always looking for tools. teaching the old methods. Mr. Campbell had a way of creating excitement amongst all the new future One day, the janitor from my old school called and said woodworkers, taking us through a tour of the huge there was going to be a surplus sale, "better come and shop the first day of class. take a look." There was a lathe I was interested in and five well-used 605 Bedrocks that were scrapped after I Our freshman year we were only permitted to use graduated. All the Bedrocks had newer plane irons hand tools: eggbeater drills, Yankee drills, brace-and with the exception of one correct plane iron. I went to bit, saws, hand planes, and other miscellaneous hand the sale, didn't get the lathe, but did buy the Bedrocks. tools. We were all issued a plane iron with its match Once home, I took the planes apart to see what could ing cap iron and taught to sharpen it. After that was be salvaged. I got to the one with the correct plane iron, done to satisfaction, your name was proudly painted laid it on the bench, and noticed there was red paint on on the back of the plane iron in bright red, marking it it. I looked closer and, much to my surprise, my name yours for the years you were in shop, to be kept in your was still in bold red paint on the back with the number workbench drawer. All of the plane irons were num still matching the number on the plane. This plane will bered to match a corresponding numbered plane that proudly be in a glass case in the shop to always remind had to be checked out of the tool cage as other students me of Mr. Campbell, who instilled in me the apprecia were also using the same plane in other classes. tion of tools, hand and powered, and woodworking. Planning an Auction or Sale? Favorite Tool or Tool Anecdote For best results, place your advertisement or auction Everyone has a favorite tool or an anecdote about listing in The Gristmill, where you will find fellow a tool in his or her collection. What's yours? Share tool collectors who are anxious to buy your tools. If a story with other tool collectors. Maybe it is a you are looking to buy or sell tools, or looking for one-of-a-kind tool that you have been hunting for information or research, check out the Marketplace, a long time, and finally found at a price that you our advertising page. M-WTCA.ORGcould, or couldn't really afford. Information and deadlines are listed in the back of Perhaps it belonged to your grandfather and has this issue, and in every issue of The Gristmill. a special meaning for you. Or was it just an oddball tool that you wouldn't think of giving up. Maybe the There is a new policy regarding advertising. The tool has a story behind it that would interest other tool Gristmill will no longer accept advertising for a date collectors, as well. sensitive event that will occur during the month of The Gristmill's publication. For example, an ad for an Just send a short story and a picture of the tool to Dave auction on March 25th that is to be placed in the Heckel, Editor, The Gristmill, 1800 McComb Street, March issue. Charleston, II 61920 - 3137. The deadlines for copy to reach the Editor are January 10 for the March issue, April 10 for the June issue, July 10 for the September issue, and October 10 for the December issue. 22 The Gristmill Molding Plane for the Gunsmith's Shop by Kerry Mccalla About ten years ago at one of our M-WTCA Semi-annu gunsmith for 30 years and the master of the shop, I al meetings, I picked up a neat little molding plane handed him the plane and asked him what he with a label clearly identifying its use, "This plane was thought. First he said "18th century" (which I had ·used to cut the groove for the ram rod in a wooden rifle already figured out) because of the rounded wedge stock". I thought that was interesting and the price and the nice chamfered edges. Tµen he said, "probably was reasonable so I bought it. A year or so later I was English." I asked why and he · pointed to the little in the gunsmith's shop at Colonial Williamsburg worm holes along the sides, saying that they looking at the indicated a damp climate, like England. The next tools they were thing he said really astonished me: "I have read using to make articles about these planes, but I've never even seen their 18th century a picture of one!" What a thrill to see how excited he firearms. I asked got about this plane. He called all of his assistants about cutting the in from the back of the shop. They asked permission groove for a ram to photograph the plane and to make a measured rod and the gun- drawing. Their plan was to send the drawing off smith showed me to Clark and Williams and have them make a small plane he reproductions for use in Colonial Williamsburg. had made to do George asked if I wanted to double my money on the job. When I the plane, but I decided for right now, if the master told him about gunsmith at Colonial Williamsburg had never seen the one I had recently purchased, he expressed one, I ought to hold on to it for a little while longer. interest in seeing it. This past December, we returned for another visit to Colonial Williamsburg and The plane has outlived at least three owner/users. miraculously I actually did remember to slip that Stamps by "T Marrison", "W Turner" and "W plane in my luggage before leaving. Wilkinson" can be found. In fact, it is this last stamp that was put on top of the maker's stamp that made So, while making our rounds of the favorite shops and it difficult to read. But we have finally deciphered trade sites, of course we ended up in the gunsmith's the maker as John Green, which of course does confirm shop. After introducing ourselves to George Suiter, a both English and 18th Century. M-WTCA.ORG June 2007 23 COLLECTION SPOTLIGHT by Dave Heckel The second collection They made the method of collecting and displaying that is featured in this these tools very easy as they took up little space, but ongoing series is that of yet were readily available to show to other collectors. Mike Urness. Mike is The drawers also lent themselves to miniature bicycle well known by the nick wrenches and that started yet another collecting name "Rat," a name he avenue. "The small size of the miniature tools made acquired while working my collection more diverse," related Mike. on Mississippi river boats. (River-Rat). Mike Fellow M-WTCA member, Jeff Nelson, made the has been a Director of cherry display cabinet for Mike and delivered it to him M-WTCA and a Semi at the Omaha Semi-annual Meeting in 2000. Mike had Annual Meeting host, as well as the regular bartender just got the cabinet loaded into his truck when the at our Semi-Annual Meetings. tornado and hailstorm hit. He began collecting in 1993 when a friend introduced Mike is holding in his left hand two Wayne Anderson him to estate sales and his first M-WTCA meeting in planes. In his right hand is his favorite tool, a Billy Higbee, MO. Mike first started collecting breast drills, Carter English miter plane that was a gift from Hans boring tools, and Archimedean drills. As Mike collected Brunner, a M-WTCA member from Australia. Hans more items his interest turned from boring tools to gave it to Mike on the occasion of their first in person miniature or very small sized planes, screwdrivers meeting. They had known each other previously via and other tools. These tools fit easily into the drawers E-mail and long distance dealings. "The plane means of quarter-sawn oak Gerstner machinist tool chests. a lot to me," said Mike. The other plane is an unknown The chests are 26 inches wide so that shows the sizes maker mini plane with a sole that's curved from front of the tools that are pictured in the drawers. to back and has orange japanning. ------ -. , .. - .., ,; 4 • ' • I r • i / ----. . . M-WTCA.ORG 24 The Gristmill M-WTCA.ORG June 2007 25 Jackson Back Saws - American by Phil Baker Henry Disston produced the Jackson brand back saw The Stamping on the which was a cut below their regular production model Monroe saws is usually back saws. This type is very common. It should more pronounced photo be noted that this saw will have an open handle most #4. of the time whereas the regular Disston models having open handles are not common. Now for some history on the Monroe saws. This Schaffer's book "Hand Saw Makers of North America" stems from the limited lists a Wm. Jackson in Monroe, New York. Ca 1820. numbers at my disposal (12). The earliest one #5 ca This little known maker did not leave much of a trail behind him. At this point I find it interesting that I know of no other type of saw other than the back saw marked with the Jackson stamp. The twelve saws in the collection have no mark indicating the location of manufacture. Erv Schaffer and Don McConnell have recently published a book "Hand-Saw Makers of Britain" in 1835 has a beech handle with early saw screws and it are listed two Jackson & Co manufactures. One steel back. Next, is #6 ca 1840. The earliest raised saw dated 1855, the other 1865. There is a brass back in the collection that looks earlier, ca 1848-1850, that has the look of an American product. It is marked Jackson & Co., cast steel and warranted no location. The wood looks like American beech with no figuring usually found on British saws. See photo #1. For now I will consider it a possible USA product. screws have a larger flat top which is also true for the Disston brand. The double eagles on brass indicate a high quality tool. The handle is a replacement. Photos #7 and #8 ca 1844 are probably For starters I'd like to give a definite clue to look for in Monroe's very best. identifying a Disston or Monroe tool. The J in The two Mahogany handles, Jacksons are quite different. The Disston J has a brass backs, and raised nicely curved base to it. The Monroe J base is quite abrupt. The differences in the J's is consistent on all screws (the screw head flat is smaller). I wonder - was #8 the first 3 cove handle made in the US? M-WTCA.ORGBefore Disston? As time passed and this company continued into the 1850's the quality of the tools diminished. They were saws I have seen so far. Photos #2, a 6" saw ca 1862 still very well made but beech was used on steel backs. and #3 brass back ca 1845 show this. Photo #9 has the Jackson stamp on its back, with 26 The Gristmill beech wood. The label screw has the Eagle Saw Co. In Schaffer's book under Wm. Jackson he notes the saws were made of US Steel-Sterling Eagle Steel. Looking for a connection between the two. Now for the real wild guess - I think Wm. Jackson stopped manufacturing saws around 1860. Shortly, Henry Disston began production of their Jackson line. This is real departure from the time frame given up to now. With just H. Disston on the label screw of three Jackson's in the collection it seems reasonable to assume they were made prior to 1865 when the Disston & Son period began. I will be looking forward to some feedback on this article. There must be someone out there that can further this study or give me a clue as to where more The Diss ton and Sons Co. continued their Jackson info is available. I have contacted people in the line on into the 1930's. Photo #10 is an example of the Middletown, NY area while also seeking information last production. To sum it up photos #11 & #12 show on Sears, Bakewell & Co. and Wheeler, Madden & the difference between the two manufactures. Clemson. Haven't had much luck. Obituaries Jeanie Bjur and served on the Peoria Journal Star Credit Union by Charles Wirtenson board for several years. He enjoyed model railroading, coin collecting and antique wood working. He was a Michael Bjur, a member from member of the Mid- West Tool Collectors Association Ridgefield, Washington, lost his wife, and was a past DireGtor. He also was a member of Jeanie, on February 3, 2007 after a Christian Union Church in Metamora. 4 ½ year battle with cancer. Jeanie was a retired elementary teacher and librarian, a career which she Edward J. Mills loved. Jeanie will be missed by all who knew her. by Charles Wirtenson Edward J. Mills 67 from Brookfield, Rondell "Ron" Farley Ohio died Wednesday evening, Feb. 21, 2007 at Sharon Regional Health Rondell M. Farley, 80, of Metamora System. He was born Aug. 17, 1939, passed away at 12:55M-WTCA.ORG a.m. Tuesday, in Sharon, Pa., the son of Woodrow October 17, 2006, at Snyder Village in Wilson and Mary Kathleen O'Brien Metamora. He was born on June 28, Mills. Ed is survived by his wife Nancy, his daughter 1926, in Norton, VA., to Bernard and Tracey and three brothers. He was preceded in death Lina Dillon Farley. He married by his parents, two sons, Scott E. and Todd E. and twin Margaret Ann Denny on August 7, sisters. Ed was founder of Brookfield Gardens, Belly 1948, in Bristol, TN. She died on January 4, 2001, in Buster Subs and Tent Inc. Ed was an avid Stanley Peoria. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Mae (Glenn) collector who always enjoyed talking tools. I was fortu Smith of Grayslake, IL; and one son, Greg ( Cherie) nate enough to have had the opportunity over the years Farley of Metamora. Also surviving are four of spending many hours talking with Ed about our grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and three recent finds. I later had a chance to meet Ed and Nancy step-great-grandchildren. He was a printer at the at the National M-WTCA meet that was held in Akron, Peoria Journal Star for 30 years, retiring in 1991. He Ohio in 2004. This will always be a very memorable was a member of the Peoria Typographical Union 29 occasion for me. Ed will be missed by all that knew him. June 2007 27 M-WTCA Auxiliary Between Friends ... Hospitality and Generosity From The President From the very beginning of our "Oh, ____ would really like this." It is amazing association with the M-WTCA organi how my "sharing stash" grows between meetings and zation I have noticed something very how much I look forward to seeing my friends at the special about the membership. They next meeting so I can "gift" them with something I've are generous people and are willing found just for them. Sharing can be such fun. to share with other members. It can be knowledge, friendship, books to This past winter LeRoy and I were able to visit in the read, duplicate items from collections, homes of several members. Not only did we get better something they just think you would acquainted, but we were able to view some very enjoy, handiwork, "hands-on" how to instructions, impressive collections. We heard stories of how collec plants from their gardens, fabrics or food. They might tions began and of places visited that are now on our even share their homes. I've been blessed by the "to see" lists for future adventures. Our world contin goodness and generosity of fellow members from the ues to expand with new friends and explorations along first time we attended a national meeting. The book the way. I saw a basement workshop dug out after the for the book review was given to me so I could read it house was finished and a collection of musical tools of before the discussion time. That certainly made going an auxiliary member, a brand new foal by flashlight, to the book review session much more enjoyable had a personal guided tour of the Quilt Museum in because I knew the story line and could follow the Paducah, and visited with a charming Southern host discussion. I have seen books shared among members ess while LeRoy took in the tool collections at each many times since then. It certainly seems to be a great stop. Now we are both looking forward to our first ever way to make new friends among the ladies. adventure at the Corridor garage sale in August. It's supposed to be the longest yard sale ever. Do you think The New Members Show and Tell time and the there will be some treasures waiting for me there? I Auxiliary Displays are a good way to learn about old hope so. It would be great to add something to one of and new collections and the interests of other mem my own collections and I'd like to do more "gifting" too. bers. It has been a good way to get acquainted with other auxiliary ladies. All of us want to get to know Thanks to all of you who made our world a nicer place the newer members and this is one place where we to be by letting us spend some time with you. We can take the time to visit. Sometimes we are surprised enjoyed it and we're glad we got to know you a little to find out that another person has one of the same better this year. The members of M-WTCA are the interests or collections that we might have. During greatest treasure of our organization. Get acquainted! the year, I find myself looking at items and thinking, --Susan Witzel Please Come to Springfield by Janet Dills writer of novels, music and poetry and creator of the beloved Kewpie doll. Bonniebrook is a National Historic As many of you may know, Missouri is called the "Show Site. Rose O'Neill created the Kewpies here at her Me" state. For the semi-annual meeting in Springfield, family homestead in 1909. It remained her favorite we have chosen "Show Me" as the theme that will retreat for fifty years. The museum contains many encompass your interests,M-WTCA.ORG hobby or passion, anything original works of art, artifacts, documents and hundreds you would like to "show." of Kewpies and other dolls. Following the trip to Bonniebrook, we will return to Springfield for a buffet On October 11th , we will be taking a scenic trip through luncheon at the ·famous Bass Pro Shop Hemmingway's the Ozark Mountains to Bonniebrook, the museum and Restaurant. Come join us in Springfield, Missouri for all home of Rose O'Neill artist, illustrator, painter, sculptor, the Auxiliary events. All materials for The Women's Auxiliary Auxiliary Officers Pages should be sent to: President Susan Witzel Dave Heckel, Editor, The Gristmill Vice President Jean Royal 1800 McComb Secretary Helen Devitt Charleston, IL 61920-3137 Treasurer Barb Slasinski E-Mail [email protected] 28 The Gristmill A Southern Belle by Lorene Cunningham While at the Peach Meet in Georgia, Susan Witzel asked Amish man carrying it away. I learned if you wanted me if I would be interested in writing a story for The something at a Midwest meet buy it when you see it. Gristmill. I hesitated a while and after thinking about Now I knew why all the flashlights were being used. I my menagerie of different things and thinking about came across Steve Brewer's tailgate. He had brass all the special people that I have met in Mid-West Tool scales, which I have always liked. By the end of the meets, I said okay. day the scales were mine. First of all I'll tell you how we found out about Midwest One of my favorite persons, who would correct you if you Tool Collectors. Doug and I did shows for 13 years all were wrong about something, was Ron Mossing. I miss over the eastern parts of the country selling articles we Ron. He taught me a lot about tools. He gave me a made of cherry, oak and walnut. At one of our favorite lesson on the difference between concrete and cement at shows in Wheeling, WV in Oglebay Park a little girl and George Kyle's sale in Pennsylvania. Ron gave me a her mother came into our booth. Whenever children miniature traveler with a walnut handle that I will came by, either Doug or I would make them something always cherish for my 60th birthday. Ron always looked out of aromatic cedar. This not only kept the child busy, out for Doug and me. At the Charleston, WV meet we but let the mother look around. I made her a little heart met him in the hotel hallway. He told us that Ed and ran yarn through a hole in it which gave her a Richards had a picture we needed to see. Off we went necklace. We got busy in the booth, heard a noise, and to find Ed's room. The picture was of a Barnes 4&5 looked around to find the little girl running away. Our combination treadle saw. It was beautiful and rare. How Barnes scroll saw was lying on the ground. Since it was I wanted it! I whispered in Doug's ear, "I'm not leaving our last show of the year, we decided to go north and this room until you tell Ed we want it." Off to Maine we east looking for parts or another saw. We spent three went after the show. Thanks to Ed this wasn't our only weeks crisscrossing the northern states all the way to trip that direction. While we were doing the Maine. Someone in an antique shop would tell us that Appalachian Festival in Cincinnati, my picture was they'd seen one in a place but most of the time we had taken using the Barnes scroll saw. The picture became no luck. While returning home we stopped in an antique front page news. The next day a man came into the shop and asked about treadle saws. They didn't have booth and said he wanted to see the woman who used any, but told us about Mid-West Tool Collectors and the scroll saw. That was the beginning of a great friend gave us a copy of The Gristmill. We found Ivan Risley's ship. Visiting Jim Brown at his home and seeing his col name as an officer. We gave him a phone call, told him lection of tools was a treat too. You can always tell our about the broken saw and that we needed parts and had booth at the Midwest meets. It's the junky one. Usually nowhere to find them. What luck! He said someone had with something of mine that can go, to be replaced by a an ad in The Gristmill wanting to sell saw parts. He new treasure. Sometimes, I even sell a piece to Jim or looked it up and called back with a man's name, Alvin Phyllis Moffet. To visit and see their spectacular collec Sellens, from Kansas who had parts for sale. tions is a privilige. Anytime you can visit a Midwest members home to see their collections, GO! We called Alvin and made arrangements to meet him at his home. We knocked on his front door, told him who we Our last meet was the Peach Meet in Madison, were, that we were tool collectors and wanted to see the Georgia. As usual I had my junk on the table. We saw parts. Immediately he said, "Do you have my book, really collect Barnes Woodworking Machines which Dictionary of American Hand Tools?" We said no. He are too big for the tables. I had a three pronged hook immediately replied with, "Well you're not tool collectors on display. Along came Stanley Seevers, he's quite a then." We bought the book,M-WTCA.ORG and the saw parts. Thanks character, he loves and has really nice primitives. He to reading the book I have learned a lot while traveling picked up the hook and said, "Oh, you have a cinch." I with Doug hunting anything that had engraved WF & J tried to tell him what I thought it was. However, he Barnes on it. explained to me it was a "cinch" that a bull would never get away if it were properly used. My first Midwest Meet was in St. Louis. What an awakening that was with flashlights glowing in and We have a stacked stone fireplace in our living room around all the vehicles like fireflies. It turned out to be which you can walk all the way around. I discovered my favorite thing, tailgating! I like pedal things too. As that by using square nails I could hang my collection I walked around, I found an auxiliary kick wheel, between some of the stones. Some of the things hanging which I wanted. I found Doug and told him about it. He are: the scales from Steve Brewer, an iron bog shoe from said to wait because the price would go lower. Well, Wisconsin, a miners' candle light that I acquired from this was my first lesson! In a few minutes I saw an Ron Pearson, brass Conestoga Wagon bells, a round June 2007 29 brass barrel stencil with a wooden knob, two buggy Richards, a Wiley & Russell traveler, a snow knocker, drag shoes, cow kickers, horse hobbles, a jail cell lock a beautiful brass bed warmer from Doug's mother, a from Harpers Ferry, WV given to us many years ago by brass snow bowl used to make snow cream, and a brass Doug's father, a brass & ebony brace from England, ship's compass with the name Starr given to us by a two beautiful iron plaques made in Germany that was great neighbor, Frances Starr. Maybe you can think of used to hang on the door outside ones' home showing me as a southern belle since I have a beautiful cobalt visitors your craft, thanks to Vincent Soukup, a huge blue background with aquamarine leaves majolica lantern purchased in the Amish Country which we plaque with three life size quail, given to us by Doug's used at Yankee Peddler for light in our booth, horse mother and some Flow Blue pieces, but then who else hames hung on each side of an inspector's lantern, a has three lightning rods with a horse weather vane on brass and wooden handled ships wheel from Ed their living room mantel? Childhood Memories engine. Other paintings included the walk bridge used by Karen Fulton by the railroad workers, the Ravenna depot, and the passenger train reflecting her own trips to Louisville. Karen Fulton's display of Childhood Memories" Her parents owned a paint and wallpaper store near centered around growing up in the railroad town of the railroad. The album was bound with wallpaper. Ravenna, Kentucky. Her grandfather was an engineer Bicycling with a friend between the store and the depot with the L & N railroad. He hauled loads of coal from was depicted in pictures. The front porch of her grand Whitsburg/Hazard to Ravenna. Karen's display includ parents painting included the lunchbox, mailbox and ed a quilt made from her grandfather's coats, railroad wooden rockers. The last painting was of a railroad spikes, a lunch box and metal milk bottle, and a woven hat, watch and time book she remembered her grand mailbox. The eight page watercolor/ink album she father keeping. "My goal for this exhibit was two-fold. created told her story of her experiences as a child. On One was to tell my own story and the other was for the the cover was a picture of her grandfather and his viewers to reflect on similar memories of their own." Memories by Helen Devitt and ball reminded many of this fun activity. Helen was a ten year member of 4-H and had pot holders, tea "There was a little girl, that had a little curl; right in towel and bean bag plus a chartreuse cover-up apron the middle of her forehead." The central photograph that featured white hand embroidery. The apron was with caption "This Is My Childhood" was the center of certainly a project with lots of hours of work for a interest for a display created by Helen Devitt. Her col twelve year old. Helen's tap dancing was remembered ored baby picture, the dress she was wearing, her baby by a scrapbook and her much used tap shoes. And high shoes, comb and brush set and baby book represented school home economics was illustrated by some home her early toddler years. Her early childhood featured a project booklets as well as a wool tweed dress. In front doll on its original chair with clothing her Mother had of the table draped with pink and aqua table covers was sewed in the "30's. Grade school was depicted by her Helen's original Cyclone wagon with an enlarged snap First Holy Communion dress, veil and prayer book as shot of her in the wagon. Yes, this display was a ride well as her Confirmation tam. A bag containing jacks through Helen's Childhood Memories. Auxiliary BookM-WTCA.ORG Discussion by Kathleen Holmes The book chosen for the Milwaukee meeting this coming spring will be Water the Elephants by Sara Some sixty women gathered on Friday morning in Gruen. This adult novel set in the 30's follows a small Chattanooga to discuss the book Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. privately owned circus as it struggles to survive, This is the first juvenile novel written by Hiaasen. He finally merging with a larger one. The characters are usually writes adult thrillers. The book was chosen to vivid, the narrative exhilarating, and the journey introduce juvenile literature to an older audience that compelling as the troupe travels. A particular book might be buying books for children or grandchildren. has not as yet been selected for the Springfield, MO The story line follows Roy Eberhardt who had recently meeting in the fall of 2007. Missouri is the birthplace of moved to Florida from Montana and is very unhappy Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of many young adult with his school situation. A bully on the bus, a young favorites; one of her books will be choice for discussion. environment activist, and diverse family circumstances Reader s might begin reading books by Wilder to intertwine to make a fascinating read for young or old. experience her story lines and philosophy of writing. 30 The Gristmill On the Other Side of the Bed by Kathleen Holmes In the May-June edition of Successful Farming, an This side of the bed gets rather uncomfortable, uneasy, article Theft on the farm, page 44, relates the experience disturbed, as I question "What would I do?" I would of Brian Altenderfer of Trenton, MO as he discovered appreciate some input as to how others have faced the that his shop had been robbed of some $20,000 worth of future of theft, destruction, death, or whatever other tools and equipment. The article goes on to cover the catastrophe might suddenly cause me to make decisions steps he took to prevent another such happenstance. without any documentation on which to base decisions. I always learn from the mistakes or situations others How many of us who collect tools, and some very have faced and try to become more pro-active so that I valuable ones at that, have an inventory of the antiques am not left with circumstances that will devastate me or collected, the amount paid originally, and the replace my family. I thump my pillow and ... hoping he will hear ment or assessed value of them. It makes no difference and do! whether they are levels, teapots, planes, or ivory carvings. Some record of the items should be main SEVERAL MONTHS LATER ... Evidently this challenge tained. A detailed video carefully scanning the collection to Cecil's thinking caused him to take some action. A or inventory sheets detailing each item are a must. few weeks ago while Mike Urness of St. Louis was up in this area for a tool show, he and Cecil met in our I have been suggesting to Cecil, maybe the correct basement, evaluated, and selected 450 lots of tools to word is NAGGING, to do something so that if we should be sold prior to the Area D tool show that was held in be robbed while off to a tool show or on vacation, we May. Cecil was thrilled to have seen all of you in would have documents to show to the insurance people. Humboldt at the show and auction. Another rather difficult possibility is "what would I do" if Cecil were no longer here or a ble to handle the My pillow thumping paid off with some action of this circumstances of theft or collection disposal. wife's hubby. Think about it. .M1L1rla:nd§ -:) over 220 pages, thousands of black & white illustrations and photographs with chapters on ... If Stanley. Braces. Holtzapffel. Henley Optical. Hobbies. ~ Mathieson. :\Hllers Falls. :\orris. Ohio Tool Co .. Preston. ti Record. Sargent. Spiers. Tools :\re Art. Type 2•s. U.K. Metal & Infill Planes. L.K. Patented Planes. LS.:\ ti M-WTCA.ORGPatented Planes, 18c American, Wooden Planes. 18c British Wooden Planes. General Wooden Planes, t:nion Tool Co. ~ plus man~ Tool Articles of interest. ~ , $29.95 plus $7.00 postage U .S.A edition priced in dollars To Order Call 011-44-1449-722992 or email [email protected]. uk June 2007 31 The Rarest of the Rare at Brown's 30th by John G. Wells© April, 2007 The Brown's 30th auction featured two outstanding An E. W. Carpenter Lot 341 lots: the Falconer plow, one of the five stars of tool Boxwood Plow Plane collecting and the epitome of the circle on circle plow, (Lot 341), scarce with and the 0. R. Chaplin No.l plane, an elusive patented handle, with Rosewood plane with an enchanting profile. In addition, the nuts, washers, and auction was loaded with scarce to rare patented wedge, and having metallic planes, a good selection of scarce Stanley, as Carpenter's patented well as loads of other fascinating tools. This article arm adjustment. describes a few of the auction highlights, but space Turning the knobs at the precludes covering all of the interesting items. end of the arms moves the fence, in Good+ condition with only a few minor chips, brought $11,550 [9000-14000). Prices quoted in this article include the 10% buyer's premium. Auction estimates, in square brackets and A Steers and Long Lot 304 italics, follow each item. Photos are courtesy of Brown 1880 patent smooth Auction Services. plane (Lot 304) with an adjustable mouth, The Rarest of the Rare side rails having a A coachmaker's circular plow semi-circle and notch plane by Thomas Falconer profile similar to the (Lot 588), the quintessential patent drawing, a collectable tool, with a Rosewood handle, and an unusual adjustment Rosewood body and brass patented by William Steers May 11, 1880 in the US hardware, a spring steel and June 8, 1880 in Canada, in Good+ condition fence-adjustable to fit the opened and closed on an absentee bid of $6,490 [2, 750- curvature of the surface 3, 750). A similar Steers and Long 1880 patent plane being followed, skewed (marked on the cutter) with a curved steel heel plate cutter, double nicker, as shown in the patent drawing, without a tote, from adjustable depth stop, in the Paul Kebabian collection, shown in P-TAMPIA Vol. Fine unblemished condition II, p. 140, fig. 210a, sold in the Brown 16th Auction brought $31,900 [22,000-26,000]. It was purchased in Oct. '99, Lot 589. the room by a bidding agent for an anonymous bidder, but I understand it will remain in this country. In Patented and Important Metallic Planes. 1846 Thomas Falconer was awarded the Silver Medal A Chardoillet's jointer (Lot 667), patented in France for the design of his circular plow plane by the Royal ca. 1852, with separately adjustable cutter, cap iron, Society of Arts at the recommendation of Charles and a tilting Holtzapffel who at that time was president of the Lot 667 frog to Society. This is the same plane that sold in the Brown change the 15th Auction in October of 1998. pitch of the cutter, found An 0. R. Chaplin No.1 in a small Lot 4 72 Low Angle Plane (Lot shop about 472), patented May 50 miles east M-WTCA.ORG17, 1872, and July 4, of Paris, from the Dave Paling collection, in Fine 1876, with nickel plat condition opened and closed on an absentee bid of ed cast iron handle, $5060 [6,000-9,000]. front knob, and lever cap, manufactured by A No. 3 Vertical the Iver Johnson Arms Co. for Tower and Lyon and Post Smooth plane Lot 630 described in the sales literature as a "No.1 Block plane (Lot 630) by with Nickel Plated Handle, 7 x 1 ½ inch cutter ... Leonard Bailey, $2.75", in Good+ condition with 35% of the nickel with a thin parallel remaining sold in the room for $21,450 [12,000-15,000]. iron stamped with Due to its small size and low angle the plane has an an image of the unusually interesting and attractive profile. See vertical post plane, Smith, P-TAMPIA Vol. II, p. 162-163. Only three exam a narrow mouth for the thin iron, and in Good condi ples known, one of which is not in collectable condition? tion with 75% japanning, sold for $5060 [5,000-8,000]. 32 The Gristmill A Foster Turn Table Stanley, from the Plane (Lot 664), No. 101, Schoellhamer col patented Jan 20, 1907, lection, in nice from the Schoellhamer clean Good-t con collection, with 96% dition with 90% japanning and in Fine japanning sold for condition, went for $462 [300-500]. $3,960 [2500-3500]. A special version of the Standard Rule No. 9½ block A Challenge jack plane (Lot 299), with plane (Lot 4 75), Lot 475 adjustable cutter and Lot 299 patented Sept. 11, mouth, the special 1883, also from feature being a hood the Schoellhamer ed palm rest on the collection, with top of the lever cap 90% japanning above the brass lever and in Good condition brought $2,915 [2250-2750]. cap locking screw, which is on the upper (Lot 294), a Longval Oiler Plane, an after market surface of the lever modification of a cap rather than the Stanley No.4 smooth more typical location under the lever cap, from the Lot 294 plane made by adding Schoellhamer collection, with 75% japanning and in an oiler mechanism Good condition, went for $1,870 [250-4501. Only three and drilling holes examples have been identified, see T-TAMPIA Vol. II p. in the sole, marked 148, fig. 219. "Pat. Apld. For", from the Schoellhamer A rare non-adjustable collection, with 99% Lot 300 Foss block plane (Lot 300) japanning and in exceptionally Fine condition sold from the Schoellhamer for $2,200 [2200-28001. collection, in Good+ con dition noting a ¼ inch An iron chip in the front left spill plane sideboard, sold for of very $7 42.50 [1200-2200]. See attractive P-TAMPIA Vol. II, p.35, fig. 54. form (Lot 230), this A Bailey Tool Co. Defiance "B" non-adjustable block example plane (Lot 454) with "BAILEY TOOL COMP" cast in shown in color plate 29 in P-TAMPIA Vol. 1, from the Schoellhamer collection, in Good+ condition, sold to an absentee bidder for $2530 [800-1200]. An identical plane sold in Martin Donnelly's March 27, 2004 auc tion, Lot 350. A difficult to find Lot 456 M-WTCA.ORGearly Bailey Tool Co Defiance No. 4 the sole, from the Schoellhamer collection, in Good smooth plane (Lot condition noting chips in the two rear corners of the 456) with the lever mouth, brought $962.50 [1600-22001. cap locking lever on the right side of the A very rare plane, patented Standard Rule Co. March 14, 1871 by Joseph R. Bailey, from the No.103 adjustable Schoellhamer collection, in Good condition with 60% block plane (Lot japanning brought $1,100 [1200-1800]. This is the 466), which uses plane shown in P-TAMPIA Vol. II, p.31, fig 47. notches cut into the edges of the A Leonard Bailey Victor No.4 size smooth plane cutter to link the (Lot 629), made in Hartford Conn., after Bailey left adjustment mechanism to the cutter, from the June 2007 33 Schoellhamer collection, with worn japanning and Tollner, 209 Bowery, N.Y, in Good condition went for minor pitting in Good condition slipped through at $1980 [1500-25001. Charles Tollner was a hardware $154 [250-450]. See P-TAMPIA Vol. II p.148, fig. 220. dealer 1851 - 1861 located at 209 Bowery, N.Y, later listed as 221 Bowery N.Y, who sold planes marked Metal Miter Planes with his stores name. In 1862-1863 he was a partner An 18th century central European dovetailed miter in Tollner and Hammacher, which became plane (Lot 581) Hammacher and Co. at 209 Bowery from 1864 to Lot 581 with an early cut- 1884; in 1885 it became the well known Hammacher ter and wedge, and Schlemmer Co. the sides bent around the front Stanley Planes Lot 622 of the plane A seldom seen Type rather that being 4 No. 9 Cabinet dovetailed to a straight across front piece, and the Makers Miter Plane, molded keeper mounted so it can pivot to accommodate the first vers10n different cutters and wedges, in Good + condition went made by Stanley in New Britain, (Lot 622) with the for $1,430 [4500-6500]. early style horizontal adjuster, Good + except for loss Lot 582 of some of the japanning inside the body, sold for $990 An early dovetailed infill [2000-3000]. See Wells, "Leonard Bailey's No.9 Plane", miter plane by Robert Towell The Gristmill, March 2000, p. 12-15. (Lot 582), London, ca. 1830, 8 inches long with a 1 ¾ inch A very proper cutter, in Good + condition No.12¾ Scraper realized $1,760 [1500-2500]. (Lot 694) with the extra thick A great cast iron Rosewood sole, miter plane (Lot in Fine condi 585), with lovely tion with 95% . . Rosewood infill, Japanmng or front roll, and pil better, sold for low wedge, 10½ $2310 [2000- inches long with a 2-3/8 inch iron, in Good+ condition, was an excellent 2600]. A No.85 value at $632.50 Scraper Plane (Lot [1500-2200]. Lot 642 252) with rabbet mouth and tilting (Lot 642) was a handles in Fine con - very nice cast dition with 98% bronze miter japanning brought plane with a low cutting angle, $632.50 [500-800]. A and a very No.87 scraper (Lot unusual overstuffed front bun and cushion wedge. It 696), made for only is not stamped but both it and the W. C. Scott, 12 years from 1905 Cincinnati, OH, ca. 1886, shown in P-TAMPIA Vol. II, to 1917, and one of p. 112 are cast bronze, and have a similar molded the scarcest Stanley edge on the front infill. M-WTCA.ORGThe W. C. Scott has a scooped scrapers, in Good+ out recess in the face of the wedge to ease knocking condition with 90% out the wedge, lot 642 has a more attractive cushion japanning was a wedge for the same purpose. It was in Good+ condition good value at $1,100 and sold for $742.50 [500-800]. [1200-1500]. A No. 212 Lot 641 A tiny 3-3/8 inch Veneer Scraper (Lot 706), miter plane with a script trademark, in 7/8 inch cutter (Lot Good++ condition, with 96% 641), with charac japanning, brought $1045 teristics of the New [1000-1400]. York City miter planes, marked C. A stunning No. 62 Low Angle 34 The Gristmill jack Plane A No.27 Transitional (Lot 705) in plane (Lot 702) with better than Lot 702 Traut's patented Oct. Good++ condi 7, 02 cast iron frame tion with 95% around the mouth or better opening, cleverly designed so it could be adjusted to com pensate for reduction japanning sold for $440 in the thickness of the wood body due to wear, from [200-300]. A hard to find the Stanley Model Shop, in Fine condition, with 97% No.164 Low Angle Block japanning, went for $1,045 [1000-15001. plane (Lot 692), the holy grail of Stanley planes, A Stanley No.S5 m Good+ condition with plane-modified Lot 502 with stiffening side 92% japanning was plates (Lot 502) an excellent buy that extend the at $1,760 [2500- sideboards up high 35001. (Lot 618) a enough to contain a super clean Type 1 graduated quad No. 340 Furring rant to support the frog allowing it to be tilted through Plane marked "Pat a range of angles from 30 to 65 degrees to test out App'd For" on the different cutting angles, possibly made by the Stanley cutter in Fine condition with 97% japanning went Model shop in Fine condition with 97% japanning for $2,200 [1200-18001. sold for $1,210 [2200-32001. An early Type 2 Bronze Millers patent No.42 A Stanley jack Lot 621 Plow Plane plane (Lot 621) (Lot 610) in with the side cut the original away to illustrate wood box the frog seat design with a set of and having the nine original patent reference "AW. Stanley, Dec. 13, 1902. Model cutters and Shop Tool" stamped on the frog, in Fine condition the optional with 93% of the japanning slipped by for $660 because cast iron one of the intended bidders missed the lot number. sleeves to protect the Miscellaneous arms when An exceptional the plane is and rare Stanley stored in the Lot 610 Triangle Square box fully assembled, in Fine condition with 98% (Lot 267), early japanning on the filletster bed and as background for and made for only the decorative floral design cast in the body, brought a very short peri - $6160 [9000-12000]. od, in outstanding condition, Good+ brought $2,750 M-WTCA.ORGon a live phone bid [1000-15001. An experimental Lot 624 No.120 block plane A set of six, (Lot 624) with a little used, folded steel body, Stanley No.120 cylindrical receiver Everlasting for the front knob, Chisels (Lot 84) and a unique ver in the original sion of the knuckle canvas roll, in joint lever cap, with the Liberty Bell adjustment Good++ condi patented by Traut and Richards April 18, 1876, tion brought from the Stanley Model Shop, and in Fine unused $1430 [1200- condition was a good value at $7 42.50 [2200-2700]. 18001. June 2007 35 A St. Johnsbury 6 A Panther Saw by inch double bladed Woodrough & McParlin bevel (Lot 116), (Lot 538), Applewood Rosewood infill in handle, in Good condi a brass frame, tion, went for $1,100 locking screw at [800-1200]. the end of the handle, in Good+ Auction Recap condition sold for $935 [1750-2250]. Once again it was demonstrated that condition followed by rarity are everything. In this collecting An experimental double bevel from the Stanley Model environment, knowledge and a good reference library Shop (Lot are the primary tools for success. Quantities of tired 490), marked old tools with mis-matched parts, just don't make it. "A. F. Shade Lot 490 12-22-1911" The auction contained 789 lots; the gross was with two 6 $397,226.50 for an average price of $503.46 per lot. inch blades, The next Brown International Antique Tool Auction one on each will be held October 26-27, 2007 at the Sheraton Inn, end of a wood stock with a brass plate in the center, Harrisburg, PA. It is bound to be a great show with in Fine unused condition brought $1,540 [400-600]. lots of wonderful Tools. I hope to see you there. Ebony Cotton Staple Rule by Charles G. Wirtenson © April 2007 Cotton Staple Rules were used to measure threads The example, shown in the photographs, is made of per inch and thread size. Known examples have been ebony and graduated in 16th inches and 8th inches seen in boxwood and ivory. They are three inches on the other edge. The back is marked "SPECIAL". I long and one inch in width with beveled edges have shown this rule to numerous rule collectors over graduated in millimeters and inches. Graduations the past year and to date this is the only known were 16th inch on one edge and 8th inch on the example that was made of ebony. An example of an other edge. The back of the rule was marked "SPE ivory cotton staple rule graduated in 8th of an inch on CIAL". Boxwood examples were shown in the 1929 one edge and 16th of an inch on the other edge can be Stanley catalog on page 16. The Stanley No. 299 was seen in Scott Lynk book Stanley "Special" and graduated in 16th inches on one edge and Custom Rules on page 302. millimeters on the other edge. Philip E. Stanley in his book, A Source Book For Rule Collectors, stated I would like to thank John Wells, Scott Lynk, that Stanley only offered this rule in the 1929 Walter Jacob, Bill Youart. Don Wing, and many other catalog, but goes on to say it must have been part collectors for their help in evaluating this ruler. I of the product line before that because both boxwood would appreciate any information you might have and ivory examples are known with trademarks that concerning this variation. You can contact me at were used before 1900. [email protected] or 315-363-7682. Correction A correction on the Edward Stanley #164 type study, in The Gristmill, March 2007, p. 26. The introduction date for the production of the# 164 should read: The Stanley No. 164 Low Angle Block Plane was introduced in 1925 and manufactured until 1943. Sorry for the mistake. Chuck Wirtenson 36 The Gristmill What's It I want to thank everyone for the great response I've Previous Items Identified: gotten, particularly in the suggestions of an item's 126-1 - replies from James Mayne, Dick Sherer, & Carl identity. Not all were exactly correct, but they were Bilderback suggested hides, leather & bookbinding. enough to point me in the right direction. This column Item listed in Manufacturers Supplies Co. Catalog as couldn't be written without your help. 'Toe Spreader' used to smooth out the wrinkles in toe of shoes. The items and their pictures will be identified by the issue number of the Gristmill it first appeared in and 126-2 - James Moffet and Marjorie Bradley identified their order listed in that issue. this as a candle shade holder. Marjorie even sent in a picture of her's with a pierced tin shade. We also, Fig. 127-1: This request for found design patents for paper & cloth shades meant identification comes from the for these "candle lamps". Pacific Northwest. It's a set of round items contained in its 126-5 - This L. T. WEISS. own case. A faint, triangle item brought REWI NDIIIG IUCl!lllE fOR FISHING LINES APPL ICATIO~ llttO O(C. Ii, 1911, shaped logo (?) is noted inside the most 1,310,816, Pat.enfod 1uly 22, 1919. the lid. The disks are all responses, all slightly different sizes; etched leaning heavi markings noted are 16.002B, ly toward yarn 15.999B, and 15.896. The winders of disks themselves are approx. I some sort. The inch in diameter. owner found a Fig. 127-1 date on the item and I was Fig. 127-2: then able to These two run a patent items from search. Trevor N.Y., were Robinson's found in an memory of his auction box father using it lot. The to dry wet fish one with ing line was the broom correct. Its Fig. 126-5 Pat. (cropped) design was patented pur- patented in pose was to dry fishing lines. Aug-6-95, cast iron, & 125-5 - (Dec. 06). Carl Bilderback reported he had Fig. 127-2 (view of both sides) hole on found this skewback saw in a Roger Smith Jan '76 large end of the round one seems to be slightly tapered. reprint of Disston Saws, p. 34, being sold as a One Man Cross-cut Saw. There is still some question on Fig. 127-3: This that because the teeth on the saw pictured as item tool's longest length 125-5 were small and fine. Does anyone else have is approx. 11 inches any input? with the handles M-WTCA.ORG japanned. Parts of the head appear to Please keep sending your ideas be made of steel and and answers or future "What's Its" to: the cylindrical head shows some rust. The handles control Virginia White the plier type jaws P.O. Box 1418 and the steel item Angels Camp, CA with notches can be 95222-1418 manually pushed up and then releas Fig. 127 -3 (view of both sides) (209) 728-2142 es by pulling a lever. vwhite 155 [email protected] June 2007 37 Position Desired Would like to find work in some type of historic preser vation or curator ship. I am very well acquainted with and have put into practice the "old ways" of wood and metal joinery. As I am an accomplished woodworker (in several fields) and metalworker. Of course I'm very well familiar with all phases of modern construction methods. With a background in engineering I have a great deal of knowledge and experience to contribute. I can travel, preferably in the South East. And am based in the Atlanta area. I would like some flexibility as I'm a teacher of the crafts at some of the area schools and would like to continue to do so. [email protected] 706.646.424 7 - 404.243.6154 A-1 LEVEL REPAIR Most brands repaired and restored Bob and Diane Skogman 18639 - 327th Ave. Isle, MN 56342-4784 Phone: 1-320-684-2078 E-mail: [email protected] .r in:formatfon. tr, .find a dealer in Website: www.a 1levelrepair .com rea, or t.o pla.ce an or-der. contact: "WE'RE ON THE LEVEL!" JOHN T. KRAMER P. 0. Box 8715/Sugar Creek, MO 64054 Custorn NAKERS STANPS {816} 252-9512 Plane Makers Floats kn1mer:'t1,kramerize.eom Chisels - Irons -1- more www.kramerbe.com Send for brochures 16-J"AGI<;; BOOK 011' 1NSTJWC'110NS &. USES FREE wmr PTJRCIIASE. MAZZAGLIA TOOI..S 12 Palmer St Salem, NH 03079 IT'S H£R£f Collector's Guide WANTED for Fencing Tools A STANLEY No. 85 Type 1 Scraper to photograph for a Type Study Contact Chuck Wirtenson 880 ToolM-WTCA.ORG Pictures [email protected] 315-363-7682 or Order your copy now! John G.Wells [email protected] 510-848-3651 $22 plus $2.50 S&H Price Guide Included Richard Smith 14558 West State Hwy U Walnut Grove, MO 65770 417.788.1111 - [email protected] 38 The Gristmill Marketplace Wanted Wanted For Sale Wanted: Winchester items, tools, Wanted: Wooden Bottom Planes in For Sale: The one and only Farm sporting goods or advertising. No restorable condition and/or for Wrench Book 520 pgs, history of over firearms. Collections or pieces OK. parts. My interest is repair and 500 companies incl 176 pg supplement Please advise price and condition. cleanup of these for appearance listing 3300 part #'s & price guide. David McDonald, 14211 Kellywood not value. Also need source for Price incl shipping $55 US and $65 Lane, Houston, TX 77079 (281) 558- handles (tote) and knobs, original elsewhere. Vol II, 320 pgs adds 183 5236 [email protected] or reproductions. James Hansen, companies, 1700 more wrenches + a 2378 W. Hansen Rd Willcox, AZ supplement matching 5000 part #'s and a price guide. $50 US $60 elsewhere. Wanted: Antique Metal Working 85643, phone 520.384.3725 fax Combo $105 & $125. P.T. Rathbone, Measuring Tools, especially Micro 520.384.334 7 6767 Pershall Road, Marsing, ID 83639 meters. State Brand and Patent Date, Photo or Sketch. Dawson, 3524 SE Wanted: 1800's to Pre WWII har For Sale: From Crafts Museum: 22nd Ave. Ocala, FL 344 71 ness and saddlemakers tools and catalogs, Dick Sherer, P.O. Box 385, Woodenshoe carver's spoon auger (mine) AND a pair of hand carved Wanted: Information from anyone Franktown, CO 80116; baby shoes AND or wooden shoe with wooden planes marked N*P [email protected] booklet - $130, "Ice tools and how to looking mid-late 1700's in harvest" $3, wooden shovel hand appearance. Contact Mike Hanley Wanted: Reaping Hook or any other tool carved and signed by Harvey Ward 262-742-3360 or write W5570 marked I. CHRIST. L. J. Torno, Jr., 7111 (born 1892), AND shovel booklet Plantation Rd Elkhorn, WI 53121. Waterman Ave., St. Louis, MO 63130 h (314) 726-0407, w (314) 721-3911. $90. 11458 N. Laguna Dr., Mequon, WI 53092 (262) 242-1571. Wanted: Tools of any sort made by Wanted: Turpentine Related Tools the Sandusky Tool Co. I don't have (chippers, axes, scribes, chip them all yet! Also, catalogs, adver Alway• buying Alway, Selling paddles,scraping tools,herty cup, buck Pete Niederberger tising and related material. John et and others) to use to develop an Walkowiak, 3452 Humboldt Ave., UHd ud Antique Toob a■d active reenactment and display for edu Parts for Same Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 824- catiional purposes. Please call Gordon Mail Order Call Me and 0785. [email protected] Drummond at 352.560.7591 or email at Come to tlae Shop 415-9U-8403 [email protected] [email protected] CASTICO Advertising Information ISSUE COPY DEADLINE DISPLAY ADS - RATES March January 10 Size Cost Word Limit TL June April 10 Full page, 4-color, G September July 10 (when available) $275 900 December October 10 Full page $180 900 Cast Iron Repairs Half page $105 450 David Belusko CLASSIFIED ADS - RATES Quarter page* $60 225 by $ .18 per word - ALL words. Other sizes $9.50 per column inch Twenty years of experience providing the $3.50 minimum per ad. (1 column approx. 2-1/4" wide.) finest in repairs to cast iron 25 word limit. tools, especially planes NEW POLICY: The Gristmill will no longer accept advertising for a date sensitive event, Color matching of weldM-WTCA.ORG to cast iron that will occur during the month of The Gristmill's publication. For example, an ad for an undetectable in most repairs. auction on March 25th that is to be placed in the March issue. Pricing information available from * For layout purposes, all quarter page ads must be the following size. 3 1/2" wide X 4 7/8" tall. USA shipping agent: Typesetting and borders are not included in the page rates. Special artwork will be Gale Garrett charged at cost. We must have a sketch or rough drawing indicating how you want your ad laid out. Camera Ready ads are accepted at no additional charge. For your 1718 Hampton Street protection and complete satisfaction, ALL ads should be typewritten and double-spaced. Columbia, SC 29201 If this is not possible, please PRINT legibly. (803) 256-1718 [email protected] Payment must accompany ad. Make checks payable to M-WTCA. At this time, advertising will be accepted only from M-WTCA members in good standing. For information and No items lost in transit in 20 years in membership application, contact Paul Gorham at the address below or one of the officers business including six years of whose address is shown on the inside front cover of this publication. Send all ads to: Dave Heckel, 1800 McComb St., Charleston, IL 61920-3137, phone shipping to and from the Philippines. (217) 345-9112 after 6 p.m., E-Mail [email protected] June 2007 39 Two All New 2007 Price Guides Warman-'s Tools Field Guide The Stanley Little Big Book Clarence Blanchard Clarence Blanchard 'lnmnam The Stanley Little Comprehensive Pocket Price Guide Big Book Comprehensive Pocket Guide Tools For Stanley Planes for Tools of all Trades and Makers The complete guide to Stanley plane values with type information that A guide you can really can help identify many of the more carry along to flea markets valuable types. The information is and auctions that contains up-to-date and reflects the current thousands of listings and trends in collecting. A three- Clarence Blanchard hundreds of color photographs Clarence Blonchord category pricing system gives a L------' §Mttf:UMttti#i:i- I to make on-the-spot appraisals range of values that reflects the importance of condition when easy. pricing Stanley planes--all in a small book that fits in your pocket and will be there when you need it. • 2,000 price listings covering planes, levels, saws, braces, drills, gauges, edged tools, and more. All listings -Hundreds of actual plane photos. Most models shown and are from actual sales made within the past few years. many photos showing the early-type planes. • Information on trends and values, and advice on -Dozens of the more important types described with the building a collection. important features for quick on-the-spot identification. • Hundreds of color photos. -Realistic three-price system establishes an actual price range based on condition. 4-by-5-inch format 512 pages -Information up to date and based on recent sales and 30 years of experience in the antique tool world. $12.99 US shipping $4.05 Priority Mail 3 ½. by 4 ½. inch format 230 pages $14.99 US shipping $1.50 First Class Mail Or back by popular demand purchase both Warman's Tools and the Stanley Planes Big Little Book for: Just $25.00 for both US shipping $4.05 Priority Mail Other Books Available Patented American Planes Vol. 1, 2, or 3 .... $26.95 each or all 3 for $75.00 Antique Trader Tools Price Guide...... $18.50 Sargent Planes Price Guide ...... $21.95 M-WTCA.ORGArt of Fine Tools. Softcover...... $17.95 Tools Rare and Ingenious ...... $29.95 Cleaning Tools ...... $6.00 (shipping $0.63) US Shipping $4.05 Priority Mail for first book plus $1.00 for each additional title. Fine Tool Journal 1 (800) 248-8114 27 Fickett Road Fax 1 (207) 688-4831 Pownal, ME 04069 Or order online at www.finetoolj.com