ONE interesting SET OF tools
It started off like any other day at the flea. Lots of plastic crap and stuff that no one in their right mind would want. Then I happened on a dealer with some items that weren't plastic. He had some older wooden dressers and piles of 1920-1930 magazines and newspapers. He also had this large wooden box. Now, most people pass wooden boxes by, especially if they look this grotty but I always look in boxes-you never know what you'll find; sometimes treasures but mostly trash. This box was obviously hand made, not particularly interesting in design or execution; no dovetails, just knocked together, and repaired with a half-assed patch. Certainly not fine woodworking.
Not expecting much. I opened this box for a peak, At that moment the whole tone of the day changed; I thought my heart had stopped. I had a mouthful of coffee and had a hard time getting it down past the lump in my throat. It's not often I get choked up over any tools, I've seen my share and then some, but this was just too pretty, even in the pre-dawn light.
While not in a league with the Studley...or even the famous Pat Leach tool chest in the garage, it did make my day a lot brighter. I wanted to take them all out and drool over them for hours but knew that I couldn't let any of the other tool guys see what I had found. I had only opened it about half way and positioned my body so no one else could see the contents (good flea market trick). After getting a good (as I could under the circumstances) count of the chisels (34 it turns out), I closed the box and sat on it (another good flea trick/technique). After a hurried negotiation with the dealer-basically X$ for each chisel (he had already counted them the day before), I started the long haul to get it back to my car. I definately had my cardio workout for the day after that.
All Spear & Jackson, Buck Brothers and W. Butcher ass far as I can tell from a quick examination. I will have to spend a few days checking them all out. The dealer and I had both missed the three infill squares that were stuck behind the chisels and not in their proper spot.
Update:All of the squares are Stanley No. 1's, made from 1871-1887 with correct logos that more correctly date this chest...I have to revise my estimates on it's age down to the era of the squares...
NEW:
Chest Measurements Case construction: Outside dimensions: 33 ¼”X23”X8 ½” Each half 4 ¼” deep. Case sides are ¾” thick and front and back panels are ½” thick. The panels are dadoed into the frame and trimmed out with moulding. Simple rabbet joints were used for the frame construction. Simple butt hinges were used for the case and the hanging frame. I believe the case lock is original but the frame lock appears to have been added later. The frame is held into place when closed by a simple flat spring placed atop of a short stub attached to the case. Someone asked if I thought the case was made in one piece and “split”…can’t really say, no saw marks or other indications but that could have been cleaned up after separation. Frame insert: “H” shaped insert. Uprights are 7/8th” by 1 5/8th” and 24” long Stretchers are 1 ½” by 1 ½” square and 18 ½” long, offset to the back of the frame so it is flush to the front of the uprights. The stretchers are mortised into the uprights with through tenons...no appearance of nails or other pegs, must be glued only…side note you can still see the layout marks on the inner surfaces of the uprights. All chisels are hand fitted into shaped slots and held in place with small brass "locks". Drawers 2”X7”X3 ¼” 5/16th” thick stock
Right side
Outer Top
Outer bottom
Inner right
Inner top handles
Inner top blades
Inner bottom
Back Wall
Inner lid
Drawers
Patternmakers document
Update: History: The Pattern Makers' National League of North America was formed May 18, 1887, when thirteen pattern makers gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. T. J. McGonnell would become the League's first general president. In 1898, League members voted to change its name to Pattern Makers' League of North America.
Disston document
It's not everyday I find anything resembling this. I know, it's not complete like the Studley chest, but it certainly was something that knocked my socks off.
one thing I have noticed, don't ever store your chisels in a leather strap...the few small ones on the back wall are all damaged by the corrosion from the leather wicking up moisture
some more pictures of the frame opened:
Dating these...well, first guess from me is around turn of the century..1900-1910...I may be off by a few years either way though. (WRONG!) If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
Update: Well, dating the Stanley No. 1 squares to 1871-1887, (very, very light stamps on the blade...thanks Neil) I've revised my estimates down to that era...+/- 10 years.
still open to more interpretations...If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
thanks
Walt