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HED Number 13 September, 1980

-• • • A Journal of ToolCollectin g published by CRAFTS of New Jersey • • •

CRAFTS OF NEW JE RSEY HOLDS AN AUCT ION by Alexander Farnham

CRAFTS' May 17th auction was Slightly less than one-hundred lots later, well attended, and nearly all of the a s.maller £roe along with a £roe audience participated in the bidding. The brought $35. A spoon-shaped sold were of a higher quality than brought $22. 50'; a very small and crude can be found at many of today's numerous bowl , $27. 50; a double-bitted tool auctions. (continued on page 6) There was a great deal of brass, , , , and in evidence. These materials were SE P TEMBER 21st PICN IC TO incorporated for the most part in those OPEN 19 80-1981 YEAR tools of British manufacture, which as a group brought _,by far the highest prices. CRAFTS of New Jersey will open its In fact, the highest price paid was 1980-1981 year on Sunday, September 21, A450 for a Marples Ultimatum brace in with a picnic meeting at Alex and Bar­ hony and brass. Some other British bara Farnham's home in Stockton. tools sold were an 8 11 level signed Buck, Note: In case of inclement weather $3 7. 50; a 9 11 level signed Glasgow, $40; the meeting will be canceled. If you have a brass and rosewood by Sorby, any doubt about whether or not the meet­ $60; and three identical mortise gauges ing will be held, you should call either of ebony and brass; two at $50 each and Steve Zlucky, (201)534-2710, or Bill· one at $55. A small amount of b,:t',q.S-S Gustafson, (201) 464-5771, after 9:00 am seemed cause enough to double or triple on the twenty-first. If the picnic is can­ the bidio. celed, the next meeting will be held in --- As has been the case at most tool November. auctions in recent years, there were a Note: The meeting will begin with the great many tools with names such as 11Swap & Sell" at 11: 00 am. Stanley, Winchester, Keen Kutter, Sar­ Bill Gustafson, who is presiding over gent, and Miller Falls. Twenty years this affair, has asked members and their ago these would have been frowned on as wives to bring along a favorite collection collectibles; however,- today they often to display. And he also wants volunteers bring higher prices than the real an­ to demonstrate crafts. tiques. Two of the high-priced Stanley Bill's only other request is that you tools sold were an aluminum jack bring your own chair. #A5, which brought $70, and a #55 with To get to the Farnham farm take: four boxes of blades, $175. I-78 to the Clinton-Pittstown exit. But there were also many of those Rte. 513 to Frenchtown. �gged early American tools which built Rte. 29 (South) for five miles to this nation. Such tools convey a strength Timber Falls Road and turn left (look for which the others with all their beauty and sign). finish lack. The first of these to c6me up Farnham's is the second driveway on was an 11 11 £roe, which sold for $2z'. 50. the left. On another subject altogether, we took a weekend tour of the Shupps Grove­ Renningers neighborhood in Pennsylvania ofNew Jersey a couple of weeks ago. As usual, it was FTS worth the trip just to drop in at A. M. Beitler's at the Black Angus. What a dazzling selection of tools! Collectors ofRare and FamiliarTools Society ofNew Jersey We also stopped by Harry Ludwig's PRESIDENT ___ Stephen Zluky, Whitehouse shop just south of Renningers on Rte. 272 VICE PRESIDENT __ HarryJ. O'Neill, Annandale next to the Howard Johnson I s motel. SECRETARY ___ RobertFridlington, Cranford TREASURER ___ C. CarrollPalmer, Plainfield Harry, who also has an outstanding stock

Membership in CRAFTS is open to anyone interested of fine tools, now announces his CRAFTS In early trades and industries, and the identification, study, and preservation of tools and implements used membership on his shop sign. and made in New Jersey. Annual dues are five dollars Last of all, we should mention that for the membership year of July 1 to Ju11e 30. Mem­ I bership fees may be sent to the Treasurer: C. Carroll Herb Kean s article on the spurious Palmer, 725 Pemberton /we., Plainfield, N.J. 07060. The Tool Shed Stanley #1 (page 4 of this issue) has Publishedfive times peryear for members of CRAFTS created a stir even before publication. of New Jersey. Editors: Larry Fuhro, 417 Bartlett St., Roselle, N.J. 07203; Robert Fridlington, 8 Keith Jef­ John Kebabian announced in the August fries..Ave ,..Cranford, -N:-d:--07016. Contributions, espe­ issue of the EAIA "Shavings II that we cially about New Jersey tools and trades, are wel­ comed. would be running this piece, and the re­ sponse was immediate. Requests for copies are already coming in, weeks be­ fore we go to press.

S PE AKING THE LAN GU AGE: II Editors by Larry Campanell

COf'-t1t-r Inspired by Herb Kean I s list of ex­ pressions (and translations) used in the buying and selling of antiques (Tool Shed, June, 1980), Larry Campanell has sent in some more of these familiar phrases. The numbering picks up where Herb's Proof staff anybody? Ivins Smith, list stopped. the miller at the Morris County Park 11- "It's in mint condition. 11 Real I Commission s Mill in Chester. meaning: I took all the rust off yester- Township, wants desperately to obtain a - __ day�______. _ proof staff. 1f any Ca-AFTSman appens 12- 11This one is complete. 1-1 Real to have one and is willing to part with it, meaning: It has something in all the he can get in touch with Ivins at the holes. Cooper Mill, or he can let Bob Fridling­ 13- 11lt 1 s worth restoring. 11 Real ton know at the September meeting. For me aning: It ain't worth anything else. those of you not initiated into the mys­ 14- 11 This is the only one known to I teries of the miller s art, a proof staff is exist. 11 ,Real meaning: I asked three a gadget that is used in dressing mill­ people and none of them had one. 1 stones. 15- 11lt s in: fair condition. 11 Real If there are any of you who have not meaning: It's sure not in good condition! visited Cooper Mill, we recommend it. 16- 111 have one just like it. 11 Real The beautifully restored 1826 mill is meaning: Well not really, but it does thn presently both corn and wheat. same thing. Smith had hoped to begin producing buck­ 1 7 _ 111 don 1 t think it I s rare, but what wheat flour this year, but his buckwheat will you take for it? 11 Real meaning: crop failed him. Maybe next year. (fill this one in yourself) -2- GUN BROWNING AS A TRE ATMENT FO R OLD TOOL S by Lew Cooper

0 Although I have as thoroughly a is very important: eliminate all oil, , .1onastic devotion to patina as any other grease or wax by immersion in gasoline member of CRAFTS, I am sometimes or some other petroleum distilate, such faced with a situation which calls for as benzine or lacquer thinner. This is chemical treatment. especially important if remover For example, I currently have a has been used previously, becaus� many shipwright's adze which some rural of the latter formulations contain wax. bumpkin used to mix up a batch of con­ Immediately after degreasing, crete. It's been on there a long time, immerse the object to be treated in the and all efforts to remove it have so far solution described above, or apply the been unavailing. It's only on the front solution with a brush you don't value very face of the blade, so perhaps our bumpkin much (shortly thereafter, the brush will wiped off the rest, overlooking the front. probably self-destruct). For small ob-· Anyway, when I finally do get the cement jects, a Q-tip works well. Then place . . , off, it is likely that not much of the the object in a warm, dark place for patina will be left. twenty-four hours. Hanging it over a Under such circumstances, one can warm furnace or radiator is ideal. But return about a hundred years of corro­ don't put it in the kitchen stove because sion in twenty·-four hours by using a gun HgClz is poisonous and could condense 'on browning solution. The one I've used the inside of the stove and later find.. its for years has the following formula: way into food. I've even gotten good re- Soft or Distilled Water, 1 quart. sults in certain cases by warming the Blue Vitriol, 2 oz. object with a propane torch (good venti­ 0 Corrosive Sublimate, 1 oz. lation is suggested). Wash off any' resi­ Dissolve the above, then add Spirit of due and wire brush or polish to de!iired Nitre, l oz. , best kept in a dark-colored finish. A little boiled linseed oil or bottle. Watco finish will retard further corrosive To further identify the ingredients: action. blue vitriol is copper sulfate, As usual in these matters, a search CuS04- 5 Hz 0. Corrosive sublimate is of my library shelves turned up a learned_ bichloride of mercury, HgClz, which is tome on the subject: Firearm Blueing very poisonous. Spirit of nitre or and Browning by R. H. Angier, llsweet" spirit of nitre is ethyl nitrite in "Engineer-Graduate, Liege University alcohol. It is an old-time medication and Arms Technician, 11 published by the which may still be available from your Stackpole Compa-ny, Harrisburg, Penn­ local drugstore. It rapidly deteriorates sylvania, copyright 1936. when exposed to light and air, hence the Monsieur Angier runs on at great advice to keep the mixture in a dark length, or perhaps he was just being bottle. Failing that, put the bottle in a thorough. Anyway, he devotes 74 pages can or box or cupboard to keep out the to gun browning formulations, including light. some I can't believe. So I hesitate to For restoring gun parts to "mint attempt an extract. For those who wish condition, 11 the directions usually start to pursue the matter further, I believe off: "clean the iron of all scale and rust the book is still in print (my copy cost to the metal itself, either by acid or $6. 95 in 1975 ). In any event, I believe 0.olishing, depending on the piece. 11 For that the formula given above is the best, maximum retention of patina on old tools, or one of the best, for oar purposes. I think we in CRAFTS can usually skip One point this author makes which this step, but wire brushing will be useful, might be worth passing on is that spirit to remove loose particles. The next step (continued on page 7) -3- :.,..

THE STANLEY #1 FAKE chined and doesn't fit through mating by Herb Kean hole. · , Plane Iron- Stamping out-of-square If you look at a fake Stanley #1 next and letters are not all correct size. 0 to an authentic one, it is hard to believe Frog- Outline very rough and sanded that anyone would not detect the fake. fully on sides. But by itself on an auction block, or Frog Screws- Standard round-head under the excitement of a bargain, it is instead of Stanley round-head. possible that the fake could pass, which Frog Washers- Missing. is exactly what the perpetrator depended Lever Cap Screw- Standard round­ on. head instead of Stanley oval-head. The defects, errors and sloppy work­ Adjustment Knob- Heavy porosity. manship involved were allowed only to No sign of finishing except with file. the extent that they did not severely de­ Adjustment Knob Stud- Diameter and tract from the overall impreseion. To pitch wrong. this degree the duplicator kept smoothing Weight- 7 /8 lb. instead of 1 1 /8 lb. down the roughly cast parts until they Based upon the markings, the re­ were passable. The fact that they were verse key slot in the plane iron, and the mad_e considerably undersized by doing right-hand thread in the adjustment knob this did not bother him. Who would think stud, my guess is that it was copied from of measuring? Who would be carry· ing a true #1 of the 1880 vintage. I feel that Sellens I book at that precise moment it was directly cast and smoothed under­ anyway? size. The "just-get-by 11 attitude and the So today there are a goodly number "for-profit 11 motivation rules out the of these fakes floating around, and more making of patterns. Also, the direct will possibly show up as owners realize casting (and its resultant sq.rinkage). � what they have purchased. Listed below would account for part of the undersize are the incongruities that I picked up conditions. from one plane graciously loaned to me Hopefully the information given above by Lee Murray, who has been instru­ will help in preventing any further sales mental in circulating warnings about the of these fakes. spurious #l's. Body- Overall length to rear of han­ dle extension is only 5 1 /2 11 (approxi­ mately 1 /4" short). Also, the handle extension is flat with the sole instead of being up.raised approximately 1 /3Z..1 1• Knob & Handle Studs- Wrong pitch. Knob- Too small; and made of two pieces. Handle- Too short. Knob & Handle Nuts- Poorly ma­ chined, with hacksawed slots; wrong pitch, Handle nut too short (prevents tightening). Lever Cap- Too small all around, and porous. Rivet is brass instead of steel. Lever slot is far too deep. Cap Iron- Tang hole filed instead of a punched. Tension radius is too small and is non-functional. Connecting Screw- Raggedly ma-

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t \ :tR O ,V MA � '1( .AJI G-� :S T /Ja.N L..,� '/ -5- (continued from page 1) charming in its simplicity. I expect that Pennsylvania mortising , $65; a there are more than a few who wish they single-bitted mortising axe with a remar­ had not let it go for the $105 it brought. kably sharp edge, $22.50; and another The second highest price paid at the 0 one which was signed, $25. A log dog auction was $425, for a large screw box with a ram's-horn nut holding the hinged with four various size taps. The high part sold for $35, and an early reamer price was due to the rarity of that parti­ with a ram's-horn nut screwed to its cular type of screw box. It deserved a shank to hold the handle went for $22.50. place in a museum. For a private col­ A Conestoga wagon jack dated 1833 lector, however, a 1 11 tap and screw box brought $130. Signed broad went sold earlier for $70 would be more aes­ for $32.50 to $45; a coach axe for $35; thetically pleasing. a bearded axe, $80; and a small goose Two interesting clamps sold were a wing, $195. hand-forged hewing , looking like a Among the cooper I s tools auctioned piece of wired modern sculpture, which off were two at $20 and $25; ­ brought $90 and a violin-profile clamp tooth crozes, $20 to $27. 50; a V croze, which went for $40. $37.50; a howell with a brass body, $50; One of the more beautiful tools auc - a sun plane, $52.50; a buzz, $20; a ­ tioned off was a large hand-made pair of ger, $20; a �lagging iron, $20; a head adjustable·•calipers with the initials JPH setter, $2 7. 50; a 58" plane with stand, cut out of the metal next to the hinge. A $175; a 40" hoop a.river, $25; a left­ collector paid $62.50 for this tool, in handed knife, $30; a draw knife, which some craftsman must have taken $17. 50; and a curved clarrip, $45. great pride. Among the many sold was a As a collector of miniature tools, I 6 1 /2' pit saw, complete with box and couldn't resist the only true miniature in� tiller. Going for $275, it was the third the sale, a hack saw with a 3 1/2" blade most expensive item sold. Other saws and 2 1 /2" handle. It set me back $17.50 were a , $17.50; stair saw, but it is a great little piece. $17.· SO; 4 1 , $95; and a turning In one lot of four N. J. made tools, saw; $40. tied in· a plastic bag, there was a Heller Two goose-neck mortising Bros. farr-ier 1 s hammer and a Wm. went for $55 and $60. For some reason Johnson spoke shave, both from Newark, the prices paid for these chisels have and an S. C. Cook plane from New Bruns­ been going down in recent months. wick. The fourth tool I was unable to see Prices received for five corner chisels because of the plastic bag, but it and the ranged from $10 for one which -had been - -­ other three sold for $36. Another N. J. shortened through consistent sharpening tool was a combination bit brace-wrench, to $30 for one in almost mint condition. made in Newark at the turn of the century Three 3 11 slicks each brought $30; a 3 1/2 11 by Peter Lowentraut. It brought $22. 50. only $22.50; and a 4 11 slick, $37. SO. A rosewood and brass leather slitter There were several bit braces be­ by C. S. Osborn of Newark, at one time sides• the Marples Ultimatum previously the largest leather-working tool company mentioned. Two Sheffield braces sold in the world, sold for $25. A late box for $67.50 and $70; two metal coach­ scraper by Wm. Johnson went for $12. 50. maker 1 s braces for $16 and $17; and two The earliest of these N. J. tools was a Spofford braces sold as a lot for $16. plane made in Newark by The most appealing brace for many in the Mockridge and Francis sometime before� audience was an early primitive with a 1872, when the name of the firm was long wooden breast pad and an intricate changed to ·Mockridge and Son. This bit-lockin-g device. Never having seen beautiful little plane brought $32.SO. another like it, I would not hazard a For the most part the prices paid for guess as to its origin, but it was quite the more than 400 lots were comparable -6- to those I have noted at other recent auc­ tions. Du� to the efforts of the many ('""'\CRAFTS members who did all of the work, it was a very successful sale. A professional job of auctioneering was done by Herb Kean, with the assis­ tance of Steve Zluky. Herb was stung on the cheek by a wasp while he was selling, but he kept on going. Most of the preliminary work was done by Vice President Harry O'Neill, who put in a tremendous amount of time and effort. A special note of thanks should go to Jane 01 Donnell who, under rather trying conditions, did a great job of running the refreshment stand. Lots Top to bottom: Curved cooper's of food was consumed, including dozens clamp, $45; violin profile clamp, of my daughter Vivian's -shaped $40; hewing clamp, $9 0. cookies. The revenue received from the auc­ tion and food sale added substantially to the CRAFTS publication fund. This means that the Tool Shed will continue in its enlarged format and that some additional publications should be forth- (continued from page 3) 0oming during the next year. of nitre, because of its instability, may be advantageously replaced by a 15% Reprinted from Maine Antique Digest by spirit of nitrous eth�r, which is a regu­ permission. lar article in the chemical trade. When disolved in alcohol, it renders exactly the same service as the medicinal pro­ duct. Ethyl alcohol is preferable to methyl alcohol, but do not use denatured' alcohols (especially not "rubbing" alco­ hol) which are liable to contain substances which will mess up the chemistry of the process. Another point is that if yo� want a black color, add a little ferric . Marples Ultimatumo1t brace, $450. chloride, FeCl3 6 HzO. As another example of possible appli­ cations, a fellow CRAFTS member has a pair of hinges which he is try to match to an old pair in a restoration job. Although they are the same size, the older pair are cast iron, while the newer ones are brass plated. I suggested removing the plating, but he pointed out that this would also remove the patina. So I then sug­ gested the 9-pplication of gun-browning solution to rust the newly exposed sur­ face. In all such situations, it pays to practice first on something of little value before starting on the real thing. Screw box with 4 taps, $425. -7- 11 CRAFTS OF NEW JERSEY 11 WHATSIT QUIZ by Whatshisname

All of the tools on this page were 1. Tap Borer (Phila. Pattern, Ex. made in New Jersey. They are taken Heavy Shank). from the C. S. Osborne & Co. Standard 2. · Paper Hanger's Knife. Tools Catalog of 1911. 3. Ham Stringer. All you have to do is match the 4. Tacking Pincers. appropriate letters to the correct names 5. Cabbage Corer. in the column to the right. Anyone 6. French Sardine Knife. getting them all correct will be given a 7. Belt Awl. gold star for their member5hip badge 8. Cigar Maker's Knife. ·(we don't know what we will do if our 9. Tanner's Pincers. Whatsit Chairman fails this test). Oops, we forgot: one of the knives If you have a copy of the Osborne should have said "(round point). 11 catalog, do not cheat and look in it first. But it is OK if your wife helps you with some of the hard ones. Time limit: 3 minutes. Solution at bottom of page.

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