The Wimble Brace by Hank Allen
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
NUMBER 154 December 2008 • • • A Journal of Tool Collecting published by CRAFTS of New Jersey • • • The Wimble Brace by Hank Allen Last winter I was looking at one of my wimble braces. sometime after the merger as it is identical to the Figure 1 “How,” I wondered, “did that name come about?” The tool Stanley brace. North’s No. 2101W wimble can be seen in literature provided no answer. I asked everyone I knew Joe Ward’s book North Brothers Manufacturing at the spring auctions; still no answer. Company Product Guide. Joe does not believe it ever I e-mailed some of the knowledgeable brace collec- appeared in a North catalog. Goodell-Pratt had a wim- tors; still no answer. So, if you want the answer ble sometime after 1907, which contin- to the question, you won’t find ued to appear in the combined cat- it here. I will, however, con- alog after the merger with Millers tinue with some information Figure 1 Figure 2 Falls. This wimble and the North about wimble braces and wimble had the standard brace provide some pictures. head, unlike the upright heads in Salaman provides the Figures 1 & 2. best definition I found of a John Fray’s 1869 patent (#89265) was wimble brace. “An iron brace with that for a removable attachment to an ordinary part of the frame which carries the head extended laterally brace to convert it back and forth between a “single-crank” to a distance about equal to the throw, so that leverage can brace and a “double-crank” brace. Fray’s use of double- be exerted on both handles.” Salaman says that the wimble crank suggests that the word wimble had not yet been brace is uniquely American. And, notes that the frame is applied to offset braces. A brace with Fray’s attachment in iron as a wooden-framed brace would probably break. place would look very much like the Figure 1 & 2 wimbles, Stanley, Millers Falls, Fray, Goodell-Pratt, and North except that the standard head used in the single-crank Brothers all made wimble braces. A Stanley No. 12W wim- mode remains on the brace. Earlier, John Gourlay patented ble with a Spofford chuck, which was sold from 1929 to an adjustable-crank brace with the same objective, but the 1943, is shown in Figure 1. A Millers Falls wimble is shown mechanism for this was not removable. So the wimble con- in Figure 2, but I have not found this brace in any Millers cept goes back to at least 1855, the year of Gourlay’s Falls catalog, and the chuck is not one common to Millers patent. Even after the term wimble came into use the term Falls braces. Both photos are courtesy of Martin Donnelly. double-crank continued to be used. A wimble with a Spofford chuck appears in the 1911 Fray Wimble braces in dealer catalogs are rare. The only one catalog; it was described as a “double-crank or whimble” I could find was in the 1897 Strelinger catalog. It was called brace. This brace was probably added to the Stanley line Continued on page 3 Contents The Wimble Brace by Hank Allen 1 NEXT MEETING President’s Corner 2 CRAFTS 2008 Picnic by Dave Nowicki 4 February 8, 2009 –1PM The Disston D-8 Thumb Hole Rip Saw by Bob Garay 6 HOST Masonic Lodge Highbridge,NJ An Afternoon With Saws by Dave Nowicki 8 This is your last chance to deliver tools to the auction manager for the Kean Kuttins by Herb Kean 10 April auction. During the tailgating Bob Garay will again be cooking The Tool Wizard by The Wizard 11 up some beef stew for all the brave souls tailgating in February. Tool Events 12 Please mark your calendar Want Ads 12 Collectors of Rare and President’s Corner Familiar Tools Society of New Jersey s winter is fast approaching I am making preparations for the colder times to come. Fire wood is split and stacked, leaves are President BOB GARAY, Hopatcong, NJ Araked, and the boats and other lake toys are winterized until the e-mail, [email protected] spring. I do enjoy the fall and working outside in the cooler tempera- Vice President DON KAHN, Hackensack, NJ tures is a pleasure to me. Heading out to the flea markets when the Secretary ANNETTE VLIET, Danielsville, PA sun is just creeping over the horizon is a beautiful scene. When the Treasurer HANK ALLEN, Glen Rock, NJ frost is sparkling on the lawn and the air is brisk it puts a little giddy- The purpose of CRAFTS of New Jersey is to encourage up in one’s step. There almost seems to be a bond between the seller interest in early trades and industries, and in the iden- and buyer as we are both out and about in this chilly morning waiting tification, study, preservation and exhibition of tools for the sun to creep up and put a little warmth into our old bones. and implements used and made in New Jersey as an I fondly look back to our recent CRAFTS’ annual picnic as we were integral part of our heritage. blessed with just about the finest weather one could ever hope for. Membership in CRAFTS is open to anyone who shares After tailgating for tools and socializing with members we were fortu- the above interests. Annual dues per person or couple nate to have a presentation on timber framing techniques by Jim are fifteen dollars for the membership year of July 1 Bode and Ed Mudgno. The catered lunch was spectacular as usual. A through June 30. Membership fees may be sent to: hearty thanks goes out to Ken and Annette Vliet for all their efforts in Jim Bode, P.O. Box 372, Claverack, N.Y. 12513 (write making this an annual success. check payable to CRAFTS of New Jersey). Greg Welsh and Steve Zluky are already planning our spring CRAFTS of NJ meetings are held at the HOST Masonic CRAFTS’ auction. We have a new location this year as we will be mov- Lodge in High Bridge, N.J. ing to Oldwick Volunteer Fire Co. in Oldwick, NJ. It is a fine new facili- Take 1-78 to Route 31 exit at Clinton. Go north on ty with ample space for our auction and outside room for our tailgate Route 31, two miles to second traffic light at the High sales. Members are encouraged to enter tools into the auction as this Bridge exit. Turn right and go about half a mile to is our only fund raiser to support all of CRAFTS’ fine activities Dennis Avenue. Turn left, then straight to the Masonic throughout the year. You will get a fine price realized for your tools as Lodge (on the left). CRAFTS’ auctions are well attended by members from across New Tailgate sales in the parking lot begin at 10 A.M., Jersey, as well as collectors and dealers from around the country. I meeting starts at 1 P.M. know some people who come from as far away as Maine and Florida. THE TOOL SHED Our percentage charged for selling your tools are the lowest of any Published four times a year for members of CRAFTS other tool auction of this magnitude. Also, quality tools that fit the of New Jersey. Editor: Jim Bode, P.O. Box 372, sparkler category can have a reserve applied to them. Thus it only Claverack, N.Y. 12513 makes sense to trust CRAFTS’ Auction with handling your antique e-mail- [email protected] tools sales. Articles, especially about early tools and trades, are I am very grateful to Jack Whelan for his assistance in making a encouraged and may be sent to the Editor. smooth transition in handing over the treasurer’s job to Hank Allen. Hanks enthusiasm and technical expertise will benefit the club CRAFTS WEBSITE tremendously. Also you will recognize a new look to the current Tool www.craftsofnj.org Shed. This is due to the talents of Don Kahn as our new Tool Shed Containing general information about CRAFTS layout editor. His background in graphic arts will bring the Tool Shed and its activities including: meeting schedules, to new heights as a professional publication. Tool Shed articles, etc. CRAFTS would like to recognize some of the original CRAFTS’ members who joined during the first six months of CRAFTS’ existence New Members (January thru June of 1978) and who are still members: Eric & Elizabeth Bolen Wilmington, NC Edward and Ruth Bragg Carl Bopp Frank W. Brickhouse Anniston, AL Bob and Patricia Whitacre Fred Diette Michael Isabelle Rochester, NH Bob and Joan Fridlington Paul Weidenschilling Tippy Larkin Rockaway, NJ Herb and Doris Kean Alex and Barbara Farnham Bill Ruppel Dover, NJ Steve and Markay Zluky Bud and Vera Steere Chatham Printers Chatham, NJ Jake and Ruth Lutz Larry and Laura Fuhro Bill Fagnant Chatham, NJ Jim and Regina Aber Barret and Ann Dalrymple Rick Winkel West Bountiful, UT John Muldowney Chuck and Pamela Granick Elton Etheridge Elm City, NC Lou and Ann Cooper Bob Cameron Raymond Gravatt, Sr. Cream Ridge, NJ Carl and Janet Peterson Bill and Suzanne Gustafson Elliot Matlin Jackson, NJ John Dempsey The Tool Shed December 2008 2 The Wimble Brace bicycles. That’s where it belongs! Figure 7 is a rare, crude- Continued from page 1 ly-hand-forged, double-crank brace. Figure 8 is an elegant and unique version of the Beadle 1879 patent double- a whimble and was obviously a Fray with a Spofford chuck, crank brace.