Hi Galoots,
Just a quick bio to "unlurk" myself, and hopefully make some 
useful contributions to discussions. I have previously attempted to 
post a bio, but for some reason it has not appeared, so apologies if 
it appears twice.
I have been a user of handtools since I was a kid, but within the 
last 5 or so years I have sought and "accumulated" (collected) old 
tools as a highly effective way to do quality work with minimal risk 
to one's general health and finances.
This is important to me, as I am studying for a Masters degree in 
Botany at Otago University in Dunedin, New Zealand.
I have thus managed to accumulate a set of tools which continues 
to grow, and allows me to do most things that I need to. 
Most of the tools I have are either European or English in origin, as 
these tools seem to be the commonest here, especially tools 
made by Mathieson, Ward & Payne, and Marples. Some USA stuff 
does turn up though, I recently acquired a mint type 6 #3 with 
usermade Jarrah (Australian hardwood) handles,  lots of later 
stanley planes and post WW2 Disston saws turn up, mostly poor 
condition as New Zealand has a cool, moist coastal climate which 
eats unprotected tool steel.
Regards,
David Burnett

BTW, does anyone know anything about an unusual square, it has 
two triangular blades attached to a heavy steel stock. One of the 
blades has a row of diamond-shaped holes along it, and the whole 
thing appears to be copper plated. The mark reads:
				DUBY & SHINN MFG. CO. INC. N.Y. (in an arc)
						PAT. MAY 13 1902
				 	    UNIVERSAL SQUARE (in an inverted arc)
          						 IMPROVED