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<useum Village held its annual Harvest Jubilee. Once again CRAFTS members were invited t o demo nstrate their tools and trades, vend their crafts, and generally entertain the visitors. Ken Vliet displayed some finely crafted pieces while demonstrating how to cut exquisite dovetails by hand. Frank Kingsbury never had fewer than half-a-dozen people thoroughly ahsorbed, listening and asking questions at the table where he displayed a fas­ cinating assortment of wrenches. I am sure that if Harry O'Neill's pedal jig saw had not been firmly an­ chored; he would have been in Trenton by the end of the day. He still found time to demonstrate bowl turning on his "newes t'' lathe (circa 1890). Thanks, J arry, f or the use of the machines. Yo urs truly intended to turn a few r olling pins on a pre-Civil War lathe. I actually finished one. Thanks to you all. You made the THIS IS A RARE SET OF CHELOR day a great one . This affair is held MATCH PLANES. ONE IS GENUINE. the first weekend in October every year. THE OTHER IS A GENUINE FAKE. We would like very much to share the I DON'T KNOW WHICH IS WHICH! fun , and a little work, with more CRAFTS members . This includes the ladies, too, 2 HARRY J. O'NEILL RECEIVES CRAFTS PRESIDENT'S AWARD 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.