Anyone recognize these?

#1

Anyone recognize these? I bought a box of old tools at an auction on Saturday and these handles were in the box. Judging by what else was in the box I'd say that whatever attached to them was popular up to the 50s or 60s. I'm guessing it might have been a saw blade of some type but I'm hoping for more specific info. When the part with the slot is fully screwed into the handle the rivet that holds the tool is seated into the slotted collar so that it can't fall out. Anyone remember seeing these when they were young?

smitty10101 · #2

Chuck --- the top one, I have 2 of 'em that are VERY similar to what you have.
1 is a General & the other is a Craftsman.
The Craftsman has on it "File & tool handle 9-6775.
The General also has "file & tool handle" but the rest of the #s are illegible.
Mine have an adjustment knob on the end that lets the jaws open & close.
I've used them as a handle on rat tail files.

If someone can walk me through posting a pic I'll give it a try.

smitty

#3

Posting pictures is fairly easy Smitty. Just click on Full Editor and Preview. Then go down below the text box to Attachments and click on it. Then click on Add Files button. This will take you to your files. You can pick from documents, downloads, and pictures depending on where you have them stored. Then click on Open. The first picture you add winds up last and the last one you add winds up first. Sometimes that matters if you are posting a few pictures and you want them in the right order.

Herb Stoops · #4

They look like the auxiliary handle for the "D" handle crosscut saws. they would move them from the "D" handle to far end for 2 man use.
HErb

Bushwhacker · #5

That was fun.

Bushwhacker

smitty10101 · #6

@herb your explanation appears to be more likely than mine.

smitty

smitty10101 · #7

file handle3.jpeg

file handle2.jpeg

file handle1.jpeg

#8

Looks like Herb has the "cutting edge" on this one.

#9

I'm pretty sure you got it Herb. Smitty your handles don't have the pin that Herb's do that go through the blade to hold it. The period those would have come from is correct too. These were part of a box of goodies that I bought at the auction last weekend along with some old Stanley planes that I think all came from the same person/estate. I doubt if anything in the box was newer than 1960 and maybe longer ago than that. It appeared the person was a woodworker and maybe also worked on sawmills. One of the odd tools in the box was a type of socket used in a brace. It says Flexco #2 so I looked it up and that socket fits a special nut on a fastening system that attaches the ends of large belting together. The type belting commonly used on old sawmills. https://www.flexco.com/EN/Product-Serie ... Size-2.htm

The box also contained a sickle, something I haven't seen sold in a store for decades. There was also a pair of plies in the box marked Kraeuther so I looked them up and they were a high end pliers maker in New Jersey. The pliers date somewhere between 1910 and 1950. They are the heaviest pliers for their size I've ever handled and there isn't a mar on any tooth in the jaws. I took a picture of the contents. It's kind of a walk down memory lane.

By the way Herb, there was one of those egg beater drills in the lots I bought like the one you showed a couple of months ago. It's missing the bottom handle and currently the chuck is frozen on it but I only paid $7.50 for it so if I can't free it I'll replace it with another. It appears to be a 1/2" 20 thread socket which is one of the common chuck threads.

Herb Stoops · #10

That is Breast Drill, Chuck, it has the chest shoe to hold pressure on it while one hand is on the drill straight handle and the other cranking the drill. They were a beast in the day before 1/2" power drills.
When I was young I spent many hours on the crosscut saws far end, bucking off rounds from 3'-4' diameter Douglas fir logs for fire wood.
HErb

Herb Stoops · #11

smitty10101 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 15, 2021 7:07 am file handle3.jpeg
file handle2.jpeg
file handle1.jpeg

Good job posting the pictures,Smitty, Those are a good brand file holders you have.
Herb

#12

I had a feeling they had something to do with a saw blade but I envisioned that it might be something like a pruning saw or keyhole saw. The real application is way more interesting.

Those do look like good file holders and the General 890 one is still available: https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-89 ... B00004T7TG

One of the other tools in the lot was a German made Yankee screwdriver. They make adapters for the Stanley ones so that you can use common hex bits in them. I'll have to see if this one matches in bit size to one of the Stanley ones. It might be handy for running small screws in and out of things like door hinges and drawer slides.

Herb Stoops · #13

That is an interesting Yankee, I have never seen one quite like it. Can you give a closer up picture of it?

HERb

#14

Here it is a bit closer and in better light. It only says Germany on it. It might have had a logo like the egg beater drill has but is also worn off. There's too little left of the logo on the drill to identify it unless I saw another like it that was still complete.

I also included the flexco socket in the picture. A socket that was meant to be driven with a brace instead of a 3/8" or 1/2" ratchet dates these tools to probably 50s at the latest. That goes along with the handles you identified. The Stanley #29 fore plane may also date it. I'm guessing Stanley hasn't made a wooden bodied plane with a cast steel frame inset into it in a long time.

Herb Stoops · #15

I had a Yankee like that and it had a plastic handle that held several drill bits and screwdriver tips.. The Stanley 29 were made between 1872-1874 and are worth around $85. now.
https://www.oldtools.com/item/Stanley-N ... Plane-2564
Herb

#16

I think every wooden part of mine has been replaced. Any idea what wood was used on the original? Being able to replace the body might have actually been a plus rather than minus.

#17

Ironically I see one of those buck saws for sale on FB Marketplace and in really good condition. It has the holes for my handles. Problem is they are a good 3 hrs from my place. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... l%7D%22%7D

Herb Stoops · #18

LOL, Chuck, you would be buying a lot of work, unless you just want a trophy to hang on the wall. Maybe the buyer would be interested in buying your handle for his saw.
Herb

#19

Maybe, what's this nib for can be solved with this?

image.png

Herb Stoops · #20

There have been a lot of discussions about this over the years during lunchtime in the dryshack. The old carpenters used it to nub off the corner of the board to start their cut, I don't know if that was the original reason for it or not. It did work well to keep the saw from grabbing the corner and tearing out a long sliver or buckling the saw.
Herb

Jon · #21

That must have been a fun auction to attend. Well done Chuck.

#22

Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Mon Aug 16, 2021 4:59 pm LOL, Chuck, you would be buying a lot of work, unless you just want a trophy to hang on the wall. Maybe the buyer would be interested in buying your handle for his saw.
Herb

I did message the seller about the handles but I didn't offer to sell them. Maybe she'll tell the buyer and they might be interested. As for using it, my shoulders are barely up to using a chain saw these days. I do have a soft spot for old tools that can be put back into working order. Some of them get used often in my shop like the planes, spoke shaves, and card scrapers. I have a collection of old Sheffield chisels and gouges that get used quite a bit too. I even take my brace off the wall once in a while and drill a hole or two with it. When the bits are properly sharpened they cut pretty fast and you can get a brace closer in a tight spot than you can a drill. Once in a while the brace and expansion bit are the only thing I have that will make a hole the right size.

Jon all our auctions are still online bidding only, even the big Ritchie Bros ones. You can go to a bunch of auctions (in person or online) and there are no good deals. But every so often you get in on one where there are some really good deals and this was one of those. A Stanley 29 fore plane for $5, two Stanley low angle block planes plus a Japanese? wooden coffin plane for $5, the old egg beater drill for $7.50, a box of goodies that I posted that picture of that had the Stanley #5 plus the #130, the brace, sickle, two Sheffield chisels, chalk line, wooden level, and a Yankee type screwdriver all for $10. I got 8- 750 count 1" by #8 washer head screws for $10 (6000 total) plus an old fly rod and reel for $7.50. The rod is in perfect condition and the reel has line on it still. It felt like it was Christmas. All the planes need some rust removal and sharpening but that will be a good winter job.

#23

Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Mon Aug 16, 2021 6:40 pm There have been a lot of discussions about this over the years during lunchtime in the dryshack. The old carpenters used it to nub off the corner of the board to start their cut, I don't know if that was the original reason for it or not. It did work well to keep the saw from grabbing the corner and tearing out a long sliver or buckling the saw.
Herb

Herb didn't they also used to file the first few teeth a little different to make starting the kerf easier or is that something I imagined that I heard or read?

Herb Stoops · #24

Yes they did, Chuck, some even finer teeth for about an inch of the tip. Rob Cosman has incorporated that feature into his back saws if I remember right.
Back in the day, before power saws were common, the hand saws were mark of the craftsman and he sharped them, and set them, polished them,made sheaths to protect the teeth. The same with his chisels and planes. Even white overalls were required of all carpenters, if you were a carpenter, you had to look like one too.
HErb

#25

My grandfather was a carpenter but he passed when I was 11 so I never got a chance to learn anything from him. Skill saws were still rare in those days and there probably wasn't any power at the sites back then to run them with anyway. Every carpenter had a wooden tool box he carried his tools in and some took pride in how well the box was made. Like you say, a lot of them filed and set their own saws. There are still lots of old saw sets for sale that are from that period. The best was one of the Stanley #42s I think. One model in particular was better than the others, the W model if I remember right.

One of the other standard tools in that tool box was the folding wooden ruler. Quite a few years ago I saw one for sale in Lee Valley's catalog so I bought it. It wasn't that expensive back when I bought it. It's made by Starrett so top quality and it has the brass extension in the first section which makes it good for taking inside measurements. Because it has that extension I use it fairly often, especially when I'm doing case work. It's another example of an old tool that fell out of favor that is still perfectly functional. Maybe it will make a comeback some day too.

#26

I was looking through the items for sale at the local auction this weekend when I came across this oddity, a wall mounted drill press. Made in Canada.No idea of the age but I'm guessing it goes back a ways. I'm not sure one person could operate the thing.

Herb Stoops · #27

I wish the drill presses of today had a hand wheel instead of spokes.
Herb

#28

Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 12:03 pm I wish the drill presses of today had a hand wheel instead of spokes.
Herb

Me too. I've thought about trying to convert mine somehow. A wheel with a handle that spins on it's axis like on the tailstock of a lathe.

Herb Stoops · #29

I wonder what the one on top was, a depth stop?
Herb

#30

I dunno. I was wondering that too. Does one of them change the distance between the drill assembly and the platform maybe? I could buy it and find out I guess. It was only $12.50 or $15 when I looked at it.

DaninVan · #31

"One of the other standard tools in that tool box was the folding wooden ruler. "
Summit Tools has been selling ones made from bamboo. They're less than $10ea and I bought a couple to give away to neighbours who are fond of their dad's and granddad's old tools.
They seem like fairly decent quality, not sure about the accuracy; no reason to suspect they aren't.
(I just checked their online catalogue and didn't see them listed. I'm guessing they went fast!)

#32

DaninVan wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 10:14 pm "One of the other standard tools in that tool box was the folding wooden ruler. "
Summit Tools has been selling ones made from bamboo. They're less than $10ea and I bought a couple to give away to neighbours who are fond of their dad's and granddad's old tools.
They seem like fairly decent quality, not sure about the accuracy; no reason to suspect they aren't.
(I just checked their online catalogue and didn't see them listed. I'm guessing they went fast!)

I've checked mine and it is but you wouldn't expect Starrett to put their name on something that wasn't accurate.

Herb Stoops · #33

Bambo is exceptionally strong. If they are calibrated right, they will last a life time without breaking. As long as the markings are as good as the old ones. The only thing my dad had a problem with is the breaking, but they cud still be used as a short ruler.
HErb

Bushwhacker · #34

DaninVan wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 10:14 pm "One of the other standard tools in that tool box was the folding wooden ruler. "
Summit Tools has been selling ones made from bamboo. They're less than $10ea and I bought a couple to give away to neighbours who are fond of their dad's and granddad's old tools.
They seem like fairly decent quality, not sure about the accuracy; no reason to suspect they aren't.
(I just checked their online catalogue and didn't see them listed. I'm guessing they went fast!)

I had to go dig mine out. I never use it any more. I have tapes all over the garage so i just pick one up when I need to measure some thing.
Mine is an X46 by LUFKIN RED END EXTENSION RULE
The beauty of it is what is written on the reverse side.
(MADE IN THE U.S.A.)
The stud lay outs are colored red.
The end with the slide is split half the way down and the end cap is missing.
Between the 8"and the 9" it has P.R.APP'D. 212 Tb
any one know what that stands for?

Bushwhacker

Herb Stoops · #35

My guess it stands for Patent Request United States under INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(iii)

Something in the order of "Patent Pending"
HErb

Bushwhacker · #36

Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Thu Aug 19, 2021 5:45 pm My guess it stands for Patent Request United States under INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(iii)

Something in the order of "Patent Pending"
HErb

Thanks Herb.
But I find it remarkable that you got that out of P>R>A>P>P>D.
Must be that clear mountain air you guys have up there in Washington State.

I was once stationed at Fort Lewis, but I never felt any smarter.
Must be me.

Bushwhacker

Bushwhacker · #37

Bushwhacker wrote: ↑Thu Aug 19, 2021 7:57 pm
Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Thu Aug 19, 2021 5:45 pm My guess it stands for Patent Request United States under INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(iii)

Something in the order of "Patent Pending"
HErb
Thanks Herb.
But I find it remarkable that you got that out of P>R>A>P>P>D.
Must be that clear mountain air you guys have up there in Washington State.

I was once stationed at Fort Lewis, but I never felt any smarter.
Must be me.

Bushwhacker

Bushwhacker · #38

Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Thu Aug 19, 2021 12:12 am Bambo is exceptionally strong. If they are calibrated right, they will last a life time without breaking. As long as the markings are as good as the old ones. The only thing my dad had a problem with is the breaking, but they cud still be used as a short ruler.
HErb

I agree, I just use mine from the other end.

Bushwhacker

Herb Stoops · #39

Bushwhacker wrote: ↑Thu Aug 19, 2021 7:57 pm
Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Thu Aug 19, 2021 5:45 pm My guess it stands for Patent Request United States under INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(iii)

Something in the order of "Patent Pending"
HErb
Thanks Herb.
But I find it remarkable that you got that out of P>R>A>P>P>D.
Must be that clear mountain air you guys have up there in Washington State.

I was once stationed at Fort Lewis, but I never felt any smarter.
Must be me.

Bushwhacker

The APPD means Applied for. I forgot to include that above, thanks for correcting me.

Patent Request Applied for under INA section 212(a)(9)(A)(iii).

It took some digging to find it, I knew that most tools have Patent Pending on them,so I started searching around the Patent information.

Herb

Nickp · #40

If you go to the stores that sell the Lufkin, you will note today's X46's are by far shy of the older ones...wood, markings, hinges, accuracy, etc...

What a shame...!