--- � 0 HED Number IO Nov.1979

• • • A Journal of Tool Collecting published by CRAFTS of New Jersey • • •

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THE BEAM COMPAS S "CUTTER" MEETI NG ON NOVEMBER 18, by Raymond R. Townsend AT FIELD HOME STEAD The next meeting of CRAFTS of New The beam "cutter" is used Jersey will be held on Sunday, November for cutting arched pieces in marquetry 18, from 2:00 to 5:00 p. m., at the Field that are later glued on a solid piece. 1 Homestead, 260 River Road (Rte. 18) in The tool can be made of wood, as in Fig­ Piscataway. ures 1 (side view), 2 (top view) and 3 The program for the afternoon will (box); or 1 1better 11 of iron as in Figures feature a talk and demon st ration of 1 1 4 (box) and 5 (side view). The latter is Basic Blacksmithing 11 by Carl Sunberg, used especially for cutting small parts. assisted by Harry O'Neill. Both consist of a rod AB, Figure 1, Bill Gustafson will preside over the with a throat constructed at one end £or 1 1 Whatsit?" identification, and the meet­ placing the iron cutter, secured by a ing will conclude with the "Swap & Sell. 11 wedge as shown in figure 1. 2 The best Members are asked to bring a favor­ means of securing the iron is by a set ite blacksmith tool and a question to the D , Figure 5, but used only when meeting. Also, do not forget to bring an the tool is of iron or brass. 3 item for the 11 Whats it?" program. c-ont 'J. o,, P5. 2 1 .Fy.6. AFTS of New Jersey

Collectors of Rare and Familiar Tools Society of New Jersey PRESIDENT ____ StephenZluky, Whitehouse VICE PRESIDENT __ Harry J. O'Neill, Annandale SECRETARY ___ Robert Fridlington,Cranford . TREASURER ___ C. CarrollPalmer, Plainfield

Membership in CRAFTS is open to anyone interested in early trades and industries, and the identification, study, and preservation of tools and implements used and made in New Jersey. Annual dues are five dollars for the membership year of July 1 to June 30. Mem­ bership fees may be sent to the Tr easurer: C. Carroll Palmer, 725 Pemberton Ave., Plainfield, N.J. 07060. The Tool Shed Published five timesper year for members of CRAFTS of New Jersey. Editors: Larry Fuhro, 417 Bartlett St., Roselle, N.J. 07203; Robert Fridlington, 8 Keith Jef­ fries Ave., Cranford, N.J. 07016. Contributions, espe­ cially about New Jersey tools and trades, are wel­ comed. cont'al. Frr,m 1'9. l ~ A rod A goes through a head or box _£, Figure 1, with the point underneath and is held by a set screw D, "much better than the wedge used by house carpenters. u Striking the wedge to se­ cure the box generally disturbs its posi­ tion "which must be avoided. " A better method is to make the mortise of the box and the rod more narrow at the bottom than at the top, causing the rod to hold more firmly when fastened by the screw, Figure 3. The box screw of the iron compass may be placed at an angle, as in Figure 4. This is more solid than placing it above or on a side. A bushing is placed in the interior of the box (this can be seen in Figure 4) that assures pres sure against all four sides. "As to the manner of using the beam compass, it is easy. u Place the point at the center of the part to be cut and leng­ then the head along the rod to the given arch, as E to F, Figures 6 and 10. Then the box is held firmly by the left hand and Also used in the compass besides the right hand is used to move the head of ordinary cutting irons, Figure 7, are the compass until the piece is cut. irons made as saws, Figure 8, and files, If it is feared that the point of the Figure 9 (note the part of the blade compass may damage the work, a piece appears as an ordinary file). of small thin wood can be glued at the The saw and file blades are used for place of entry of the point. enlarging rough and uneven parts that

2 A MORTISER? should be straight. Roubo considered these the best and most "perfect" Ray Townsend, whose article on the methods of cutting "free and clear II so beam compass appears in this issue, r--- the arched parts are exactly parallel to certainly keeps busy. each other. While attending the recent EAIA Notes meeting, he managed to find time to do 1 The source for this article is some tool research in the Winterthur lib­ Andrew-Jacob Roubo, L'Art du Menuisier rary. Among other things, he searched enMeubles (Paris, 176 9-1775), Sect. I, through the nineteenth-century editions of No. 111, Decouper les pieces cintre'es, the Newark, N. J. , city directories look­ &c., pp. 847-848. Le compas l verge, ing for the names of tool makers. Some translated as a beam compass or tram­ excerpts from these directories are re­ mel, is well known to woodworkers. I produced here. have added the word "cutter" to distin­ He also ran across an interesting guish this one as a cutting instrument craftsman. In the Directory of Newark, rather than an instr.ument for describing for 1835-6 found the name of one Wilcox circles too large for ordinary compasses. Knapp, whose occupation was listed as 2 The throat is made sloping, similar "mortiser. 11 to that of a plane. 1 3 Has anyone ever heard of a "mortiser ' Roubo uses the word "cuivre" before, or heard of mortising as a speci­ (singular), generally translated as cop­ alized craft? per.. I·fowever, I feel that this tool would certainly n0t have been made of copper, . . - ,.:- . -- but of brass. -----.,:_-�-�--. - (Ed. note: The above article is re­ -, :�:� -..�.: � .--: printed from The Petite Gazette , Vol. PLANE MANUFACTURERS. MOCKRIDGE & FRA1'CIS, r' I, No. 4 , September 1 7, 1979. The Tool Store, and Manufacturers ol Planes and Coach Gazette contains "tid-bits of useful know ... Tools, 147 1-Vashiogton street. Elias Fra ledge for tool collectors 11 and is published Abraham Mockridge, Bc:is. by CRAFTSman Raymond R. Townsend GEORGE W. ANDRUSS, Wholesale and retail Plane Manufacturer, 156 �'ashing. of Williams burg, Va. , whenever time, ton street, near Market. mood, and tid-bits allow.)

MOCKRIDGE & SON

.\ ..\RON BALDWIN, The following is reprinted from Gun Smith and Saw Filer, 59 Bank street. Industries of New Jersey, Part V, Essex County, Including City of Newark (1882): "Mockridge & Son, Manufacturers of Planes and Dealers in Builders' Hard­ SILAS G. EM�S, Saw Filer, 12 Church street. ware and Mechanics' Tools, No. 235 - Washington Street. --As long ago as the year 1835 the father of Mr. Oscar B. father died, and the business passed into M0ckridge and Charles Francis estab­ the hands of the son, as at present. The lished this business and conducted it suc­ building occupied is 16 X 50 feet in di­ cessfully until 1868, when Mr. Francis mensions, with two floors and a base­ retired from the business and the firm ment in use. Planes of all kinds are assumed the name of Mockridge & Son, manufactured and supplied to the trade at r-- as at present. Mr. Oscar B. Mockridge, the closest figures for good stock, while the son, was taken into partnership in they are fully guaranteed in every parti­ 186 6. The firm continued under the name cular. The best of material is used in of Mockridge & Son up to 1872, when the their manufacture, and the workmanship cont'ol. on b«.I<1'9· 3 NEW JERSEY TOOL MAKE RS Wm. White, before 1876•.••...... Axes, As our members are aware, Alex Hatchets, Adzes, Picks Farnham has been compiling a list of New J. and E. Meeker, before 1850 ••. Plows Jersey tool makers. Some months ago, OTHER LOCATIONS he printed the names he had at that time S. C. Cook, New Brunswick •.••.. Planes in the EAIA Chronicle (March, 1979, E. Danberry, New Brunswick••.. Planes p. 11 ). Although additions have been N. Norton, Camden ....•••••.•.• Planes slow in coming, there have been enough Gage Tool Co., Vineland .••. Self-Setting to warrant an updated list. Planes Alex is anxious to obtain additional Wm. Knott, Essex County.• Draw Knives information on those listed (addresses, A. Bunnel, Plainfield .••••••.••••• Files dates, photos, etc.) and, of course, Applegate, Salem County •• Grain Cradles would be delighted to receive new names. H. Weston, Weston's Mill, Middlesex He is particularly interested in identify­ County •... Shovels, Hoes, and Forks ing tool makers in the villages and small John Young, Rocksbury....•.....• Plows towns of New Jersey. Hiram Deats, 1831, Quakertown ••• Plows I£ you have any information, please Geo. F. Green, 1856-1914, Flemington send it to: .•••• Fish Gig and Shoe Last Jack Alexander Farnham James T. Astle, 1830-1914, Annandale BOX 36 5, R . D. 2 ..... Mill Picks Stockton, NJ 08559 G. W. Astle, 1861-1941, Annandale . .Mill Picks, Facing , and Mason's TRENTON Tools Fisher & Norris, 1847-1960••••.• Wm. McKinnon, 1845, Rockaway.•• Axes American Saw Co., before 1876•..• Saws 1 McKinnon Bros. , Rockaway •••.••. Axes John A. Roebling s Sons Co .••. Alligator McKinnon Rockaway Axe Co. , 1907 ...... Axes NEWARK J. H. Blanchard & Co., Rockaway .•Axes fleller Bros., 1836.••. Blacksmith Tools Benjamin Atha & Co. , 1875 •• Blacksmith Tools A. Mockridge and Elias Francis, before and finish are of the fir st order, giving 1836.••••••••••. Planes and Routers them a well merited popularity over many Parkhurst and Co •.••..•.•.••... Planes other make:s. Mr. Mockridge also car­ G. W. Andruss..•••••••.....•.• Planes ries a large and valuable stock of build­ S. E. Far rand•••.•.••••..••.•••• P lanes ers hardware and mechanics' tools of all Far rand & Gould •.•.•••••...•••. Planes kinds, which he sells at the lowest cash S. Jaggers••••.•••.•••••••. Ivory Rules prices. His trade in planes comes from George Williams ••.••••..•••••••• Tools all parts of the country, while the hard­ Wm. Johnson, before 1876.••.•••• Tools ware trade is chiefly local. Every atten­ P. Quigly.•••••••••...... ••.•• Tools tion is given to orders by mail or other­ P. Lowentraut, before 1876.•...•. Tools wise, and promptness and reliability L.A. Sayre...•••.••.••..••• Edge Tools characterize this house and make it a J. Garside.••••..••••••••• Sp irit Levels desirable one with which to form business C.S. Osborn & Co., 1826•••••... Saddle relations. Mr. Mockridge is a native of and Harness Tools the city of Newark, and is well and favor­ H.F. Osborn ••••••...... Harness Tools ably known in business and social circles. Richardson Bros., before 1876 ••.• Saws He is an enterprising manufacturer and Geo. Wheatcroft, before 1876 ••••.•• Bit dealer, and merits the substantial suc­ Brace, Spoke Shave cess that has already crowned his active M. Price, before 1876••••..•• Axes and 11 efforts. Edge Tools