My apologies for the delay between posts. It has been a very busy summer, with very little time to rust hunt. Today, I got a chance to hit an antique show, and boy I'm glad I did. The Utica Antique Show, in Utica, Michigan, was my destination.
I've never been to this show and I had no idea what to expect. I saw a few common tools, but nothing to write home about. After walking around for about 30 minutes, I found a fairly clean corner brace that was worth buying. I also found a "Musical Saw", a specially tempered sawblade that has some sort of brass plating. It is designed to be played with a violin bow to make music. I'd never heard of this before but had to buy it. I walked around the corner of the row and into the next tent, with no idea of what I was about to find...
You may remember an earlier post about a carriage makers tool box that I purchased in Mason, Michigan. Well, I found another carriage makers box, only this one had some even nicer "goodies" inside...
The outside of the box
The inside of the box
The planes
Unfortunately, it looks like a fair number of the tools have been lost. There were no chisels in the box and only one small Henry Disston and Sons backsaw with a round handle. There are the usual marking tools, including a pair of really nice bevel gauges. The metal planes are all in really great shape, with only very minor surface rust on the castings. They include a Stanley 5 1/2C, a Ohio Tool No 06 corrugated fore plane, a Stanley 10 rabbet bench plane and a Tower and Lyon 9" smoothing plane. The smoothing plane on the left is lignum vitae, unfortunately the mouth is a little too wide to use as a fine smoother. The wooden horned planes do have the wedges and irons, they are stored in the lower right side drawer. There is a nice 9" I and IJ White draw knife, which goes with my 12" White knife. In addition, there is a carriage makers router draw knife.
There was also a very small plane blade that has Japanese characters on it. Does anyone have any idea how to identify the maker of the blade? I understand that some Japanese blades are quite old and potentially valuable. Any insights would be much appreciated.
There was also a very small plane blade that has Japanese characters on it. Does anyone have any idea how to identify the maker of the blade? I understand that some Japanese blades are quite old and potentially valuable. Any insights would be much appreciated.
I couldn't be happier with my new find. Given that so many of the original tools are gone, I will probably sell a few of the items to make my money back, so if you see anything you have to have, shoot me an email at zacharydillinger@gmail.com.
Zach
Is that a threadbox on its end on the far left of the tool chest?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it isn't a threadbox. It is a wooden auger bit handle that adjusts to accept square shank auger bits of different sizes. Still pretty cool though.
ReplyDeleteZack,
ReplyDeleteTry Chris Hall regarding the Japanese iron.
http://thecarpentryway.blogspot.ca/
John
In referring to your musical saw: the late Marlene Dietrich, besides her singing and acting talents, also played the musical saw...which apparently was quite a hoot when she did USO tours.
ReplyDeleteThe tone and timbre of a musical saw can be quite eerie and entertaining at the same time.
It is usually used with the handle under one leg and over the other, with the blade flexed down-and-up in a 'ess' shape, the small end of the saw held and flexed by the off hand. The idea was to install a bit of tension in the blade. A well-rosined bow was used to elicit the tones...perhaps a few views on YouTube can show you a bit of how it's done. It is a fairly easy skill, and once very popular in the 1920's and 30's.
Thanks! That saw is now in the collection of Mike Stemple, but it is fascinating to know a little more of the history!
ReplyDelete