HED Number 39 November 1985 • • • A Journal of Tool Collecting published by CRAFTS o.f New- Jersey • • •
SPOKESHAVE : A SMOOTH FACING TOOL by Frederick A. Shippey
More than a half century has gone follows the rough work done by draw by since I first saw a spokeshave . knife, chisel, and compass saw. This memorable event happened unexpec Superior skills are required in smooth tedly. One day during my apprent-ice work. Here the word "smooth" means ship, the top cabinetmaker in our shop that the artifact has reached its final asked me to examine an odd-shaped stage. Among those tools essential for gadget laying on his workbench. Un fine work is the spokeshave. fortunately, I was not able to identi [Continued on page 4] fy the two-handed device because I lacked knowledge of its proper name * * * * * * * and its primary function. Hence, Gus CHARLES AND WALTER JACOB had to rescue me from personal emba TO SPEAK AT NOVEMBER 24 MEETING rassment. "It's a spokeshave," he said simply. "It puts a smooth cut on CRAFTS of New Jersey will hold its curved edges and rounds off irregular second meeting of the 1985-1986 year on surfaces . Mechanics classify it as a November 24 at Clinton Historical smooth facing tool." Then he showed Museum Village in Clinton. me how a spokeshave works . This ex Tailgate sales will get underway perience fueled my lifelong interest at 1:00 p.m., and the formal program in tools. will begin at 2:00. Eventually, I learned that the The afternoon's program should be spokespave belongs to a huge family of of great interest. It will feature woodworking tools which are utilized Charles and Walter Jacob, the foremost for what Mercer (Ancient Carpenters' authorities on and collectors of Tools) describes as a surfacing, Stanley tools (See Speakers ' Profile on hewing and paring function. This page 2). The two will present alec amazing category encompasses the broad ture-demonstration "Using the Stanley axe, the adze, the drawknife, the fl55 Plane." Those who attended the scarper, the witchet, the plane, the Jacobs' last presentation to CRAFTS bowel, the croze, the scraper, and know that we are in for a treat. kindred tools. Years before Mercer ' s The latter part of the program comment reached print , Graham and will be devoted to the "Whatsit?" Emery (Audel Carpenters and Builders session. Guide, 4 vols.) already had urged the To reach Clinton Historical Museum importance of distinguishing between Village, take I-78 to Clinton. Turn "rough facing tools" and "smooth off at Exit 15, marked CLINTON-PITTS facing tools." TOWN. Do not turn off at Clinton Today this primary distinction is Washington exit . Turn right onto route accepted widely among cabinetmakers, 173 East (West Main Street). Proceed coopers, furniture makers , pattern about a quarter of a mile and turn at makers, and wheelwrights. , Indeed, first left (Clinton House on corner). Aldren A. Watson describes the latter The Historical Museum Village lies di (smooth) process as "shaping, smooth rectly ahead. ing and finishing," which properly * -* * * * * * 1 ... whether you are a spinner , weaver, • knitter, potter, or axe grinder. #!I There is no fee for CRAFTS members of New Jersey to participate. And it is a great ~nAFTS chance for us to demonstrate what we do, how we do it, and what we do it with. I You may sell the things you make, Collectors of Rare and Familiar Tools Society but the point really is to have fun, of New Jersey talk with people, and maybe learn some President ------STEPHEN ZLUKY. Whitehouse thing. I always do. Vice President ______HARRY J. O'NEILL. Annandale * * * * * * * Secretary ______BARBARA FARNHAM. Stockton Treasurer ______JOHN M. WHELAN. Murray Hill SPEAKERS' PROFILE:
Membership in CRAFTS is open lo anyone interested in early CHARLES AND WALTER JACOB trades and industri es. and the identification, study and preserva tion of tools and implements used and made in New Jersey. Annual No, you won't be seeing double at dues arc seven dollars for the membership year of July 1 to June 30. Membership fees may be sent to the Treasurer: John M. Whe the meeting on Noyember 24th. You will lan. 38 Colony Court. Murray Hill. NJ 07974. be seeing Charles and Walter Jacob,
The Tool Shed authorities on Stanley tools. The Published five tim<>s ;)er year for members of CRAFTS of New Jer title of there presentation will be sey. Editor:Robert Fridlir'gton. 8 Keith Jeffries Ave., Cranford, NJ "Using the Stanley #55 Plane." 07016. Contributions. especially about New Jersey tools and Host of our members already know trades. are welcomed. the Jacobs from their attendance at CRAFTS meetings. As boys in Pennsyl vania, they set out to acquire some CRAFTS l'.T HARVEST JUBILEE [Continued on page 8] by Les Beyer
On Oc tober 6 the Clinton Historical .t
Harry J. O'Neill of Annandale has perhaps a week--and he can produce al been named the recipi~pt of CRAFTS mos t anything, from a great-wheel. lathe 7 President's Award for 1985. The to a mi niature plane (though he can award, which is given annually in usually find the big items more quickly recognition of outs{anding service to than t he small). the Society, was presented at the September meeting . As a token of its esteem, the Society presented O'Neill with a small saw to add to his tool collection. One of the Founding Fathers of CRAFTS of New Jersey, O'Neill has served on the organization's Board of Directors since its beginning, and he has served as Vice President since shortly after the Society was fo ~mec . In addition, he has held numerous other offices and positiorts, officially and unofficially, including "Whatsit?" Chairman, Auction Manager, fall-picnic organizer, and chief sign painter. He has contributed articles to "The Tool Shed," and his cartoons have been a regular of this publication. In announcing the award , CRAFTS President Steve Zluky praised O'Neill's unstinting work in behalf of the Society. "~"'hatever activity we are engaged in," said Zluky, "we know that Harry will be one of the first to arrive and the last to leave--no one has worked harder to make this organization a success ." And Zluky added: "Equally important , Harry has been a great and good friend to all of our members." A native of the Garden State, Harry was born in Bayonne , and he fol Harry O'Neill, at Work with lowed in his father's footsteps to be a Child's Buck Saw. come a pattern maker. Also an entre preneur, he owned his own pattern He still attends most of the auc making business in Jersey City until tions , and has time enough to be active he "retired" to the country a few years in a number of organizations. He is a ago. Retirement didn't agree with him memb er of EAIA, Mid-West, and SWEAT, as (there were not enough tool auctions to well as CRAFTS. He is "Whatsit" Chair fill up his time) , so after a couple of man of EAIA and "V.lhatsit" Editor of the • years he returned to the labor force. EAIA " Chronicle." Harry began collecting tools about The good woman behind this good twenty years ago, and about nineteen man i s his lovely wife Virginia , who years ago he began planning to sort and a t tends to all of the details t hat catalog them. He continues to collect Ha rry misses. Despite her preference and to plan. When asked about a par for dogs and horses over old t ools, ticular type of tool, his response is Virginia is also a loyal member of -- always the same: "I know I have one , CRAFTS. but it will take me some time find it." Congratulations to both O' Neills. Give him the time--perhaps a day, 3 * * * * * * * [Spokeshave, continued from page 1] bentTup at right angles at each end of Hummel (With Hammer in Hand) places the blade. Moreover, the tangs were the spokeshave on a linear continuum tapered slightly to achieve a snug or that embraces both drawknife and tight push-fit into small, mortise-type smooth plane. Some features of these holes cut vertically through the hard tools influence the design of the wood frame. A "knock-in tightness" spokeshave utilized within particular incorporated sufficient friction to trades. Moreover, he provides a tem grasp and hold the cutter at any desig poral orientation, 1770-1850, a span nated position. Gentle hammer taps, of eighty years. Hummel's book con alternately struck on the upper ends of tains an illustration of three spoke the tangs, and/or on the bottom of the shaves with traditional wood frames cutter, enabled the artisan to adjust that \vere used by the Dominy family of the blade to make a thin shaving. craftsmen. Further, the intervening pages between drawknife an? plane pre sent a list of thirty-six templates (furniture patterns) which await fur ther use. Within the lifetime of the Dominys Ordinary Wood Spokeshave: customers could order a candlestand, Bottom View, Showing blade tea table, chair, or carriage wheel. The three-dozen curved work patterns Some spokeshaves bear the imprint required a spokeshave to "clean and of American manufacturers: e.g., ELIJAH true up" newly cut out parts of a HOLMES, WILLIAM JOHNSON, POWELL, PHILIP wooden artifact. Fortunately, Hummel QUIGLEY, and GEORGE WHEATCROFT. Sur reminds the reader that the Dominys prisingly, in an 1897 Strelinger cata were experienced carpenters, coopers, log (Detroit), superior wood spoke cabinetmakers, and wheelwrights--four shaves made in Sheffield, England, by trades truly relevant to practical life JOHN WILSON, were imported . Still, in the eighteenth and nineteenth cen many of the tools remain unmarke~. turies. A variety of spokeshaves were Further , the eight wood spokeshaves utilized within these several manual illustrated in Mercer (five) and in occupations. In summary, Hummel com Hummel (three) are unmarked probably ments: "It can be assumed that the because a local artisan made some of Dominys used these tools (spokeshaves) them. A complete roster of manufac for smoothing the curves of cabriole turers is not available. legs, chair seats, and cresting rails and for other cabinetmaking tasks." Wood Spokeshaves. According to historical records, the wood spokeshave has existed in the Western World for approximately four centuries. In its Chair Maker's Spokeshave: elementary form, this tool comprises Front View tvJO major parts: a wooden framework and a steel cutter. For several hundred As a tool, the spokeshave under years, the basic framework was made of went technological improvements across wood--apple, beech, boxwood, cherry, the ~enturies. At least four changes ebony, Lancewood, oak, or rosewood. In merit mention here. Firs~n inlay of length the tool varied from nine to bone or brass was added to the sole in twelve inches. This two-handed imple front of the cutter. Protection of ment comes with either raised or this vulnerable wear point extended the • straight handles. The former prevents useful life of the tool. Second, the injury to the artisan's hands. extremely short sole of the spokeshave Where the iron is bedded horizon called attention to a little-noticed tally, one glimpses an original wood improvement: a flat and a round fron spokeshave type. The cutter, made of tage . The former facilitates the cut cast steel and ranging from 1~ to 5 ting of outside curves; the latter inches long, usually had a square tang yields smooth work on inside curves. 4 IL.BetlJJzflzJ ;}zolre $hare. Pafe.lzfecl-Jnr.?v/J~ ltYJT,
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-- ..... ~tfOTO·UTHO Ct. . ... Y. n ~.:.P:::tES '~~!'iS., 5 Third, a screw adjustment iron was per error methods. fected, providing greater precision and Tasks For the Spokeshave. At least ease in setting the cut,er for thin ten uses can be noted: the smoothing of shavings. Fourth, the development of a chair rockers; the chamfEring of curved metal spokeshave was 1achieved by utili pieces; the truing up of elliptical zing malleable iron or brass to cast arches; the finishing off of cornice the basic frame. Fewer wood spoke scroll work; the shaping of spokes and shaves are around in the twentieth cen felloe segments; the making of a broken tury due in part to the increased pediment; the forming of chair designs- availability of the iron spokeshave. rolled arms, tusk~tenons and splats with Iron Spokeshave. Early forms of contoured edges; the making of cabriole the metal spokeshave appeared in the legs, dutch or onion feet, highboy United States during the early 1860's. skirts, and clockcase bonnets; the Th~ tool was shaped along the lines of achieveing of smooth helical surfaces on its wooden prototype. Handles were a laminated airplane propeller; and the made either straight or raised. How fabricating of an 'eyebrow" window in ever, its overall frame was cast of the roof of a Queen Anne house. To this iro.n . or occasionally of brass. The im list can be added the. spec i al tasks of plements overall length extended from the cooper, patternmaker and wainwright. 9 to 19 inches; its cutter measured The spokeshave is a versatile tool. 1~ to 5 inches. American manufacturers involved were: BAILEY, GOODELL, HARGRAVE, MILLERS FALLS, and STANLEY, to mention a few. Along with the iron spokeshave came a cast steel cutter which resem Screw-Iron Spokeshave bled a small plane iron! It yielded a definite advantage over its wooden Hints for Use. For the reader who counterpart--greater ease in sharpening wel~omes a few practical hints about the cutter (because of the latter's using a spoke shave, the following deca projecting tangs, the ironhad to be logue is provided. (1) Hold the spoke ground and whet from the inside). shave with both hands. (2) To s~arpen, Moreover, the metal tool soon demon hollow grind and then whet the iron on strated adequate effectiveness in the an oilstone. (3) Always adjust the iron smoothing of curved edges. This pro fot a fine cut, a thin shaving. (4) Al cess utilized tools with a flat sole ways go with the grain of the wood. face for convex curved work, and tools (5) Where ever possible, make the cut by with a round sole face for concave pulling the tool toward you. (6) For a curved work. Hence, at least two dif concave shape, use the round-face tool. ferent spokeshaves were required to (7) For a convex shape, use the flat smooth undulating edge shapes. It in face tool. (8) Work up carefully to the volved an encounter with the changing original curved guidelines. (9) Let directions of the wood grain. Thus a firm contact between workpiece and pro working knowledge of wood was essential. per short sole serve to guide the iron's The artisan had to know how a tool can cutting action. (10) Remember, the finish the edge without damaging the spokeshave is a smooth facing tool. stock. The first spokeshave that I ever The early type of iron spokeshave saw was made of boxwood and had raised had a single thumbscrew to adjust for handles. Its shape reminded me of a thinness of shaving. Later a more bird in graceful flight. Truly, it sophisticated metal model was manu looked too fragile and too beautiful to factured. Mechanical improvements in be a woodworking tool. Today I am cluded a pair of knurled, threaded nuts grateful that a Swedish cabinetmaker mounted on vertical bolts which regu took time out to share with this country lated the inward and outward movements boy an appreciation of this elegant hand of the cutting iron. This complex tool tool. could be adjusted with greater ease and accuracy. It eliminated trial and * * * * * * * 6 L.Boiley ~ole fJuzre. _1//P55 .f 9 !J PafeJ7ferl AJ)?!? 191866. ' '
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7 7Jop~~ Whats It? No.21 by LARRY FUHRO
ANOTHER MYSTERY FROM SHOWN ACTUAL SIZE Bob JuamolRV )1
Clkeverly51 Mda S/lG "DIAM. HOLE IN H/!1\JDL£ END (SEE ------..,. DETAIL)
PEWTER FERRULE COMPLETELY COVERS END OF HANDLE AND SEALS BLADE---
..___WOODEN HANDLE; 3 11 LONG ( wjpewter cotp)
/ / ....__ONE-PI£CE FLAT / STEEL BLADE; / 21/z" LONG / / / / /
~'{.\":l\ DETAIL BLADE IS HANDLE END SHOWING OFFSET S/1((," DIAI'1£T£R HOL£; 3/4''DEEP. ~// SHARP (Only the tip uf the ble>de e>nd the fop edges POSSIBLY 1'1£/INT TO BE crf the "wi~s" 01re shcfrp). MOUNTED ON SOME SORT OF PEGGED HANDLE £X I @ 1'85 LARRY FUHRO · Al.l. RlGHTS RESERVED TENSION. ....___ GADGETS· DOOHICKEYS· THINGAMAJIGS~ AND WHATCHAMACALLITS
[Jacobs, continued from page 2] were the acknowledged authorities in the good tools for woodworking, and they be field, and they had already acquired the gan picking up the planes that were premier collection. shown in a 1958 Stanley catalog they had The collection covers all of the sent for. It was n.ot long, however, be tools that Stanley has made: levels, ~ fore they discovered a 1926 Stanley squares, rules, tapes, mitre boxes, catalog that showed even more planes screwdrivers, spokeshaves, planes, and a that Stanley had made. The rest, as host of other items, both related and they say, is history. unrelated. ~fuen they were still young and Of course they continue to use energetic, the brothers were attending Stanley tools. Developing skill with. more than two-hundred auctions a year the Stanley #55 is not too difficult, ~ and in their spare time they covered Charles and Walter insist. "After all," ~' 1 every flea market they could find. they say, "once you have mastered the When the rage for collecting Stan 1145, you are half-way there." ley tools developed, the Jacob brothers * * * * * * * 8