bugbear wrote:

>I acquired ... a nice "Diamic" 1 1/4" skew chisel
>for woodturning, covered in an even layer of red rust.
>
>Cleaning and sharpening went routinely,
>and then I remembered that Diamic was still made.
>...
>But MY Diamic is made by A. Hildick, whilst
>the catalogue Diamic are made by Henry Taylor.
>
>I'd always wondered why Henry Taylor called
>their carving tools "Acorn" and their turning and
>bench tools "Diamic". I'm assuming they
>bought Hildick out - can anyone fill in the
>details for me?

_The Cutting Edge_, 1992, has an entry which fills in some of
the details. I'm transcribing the entire entry as I'm not sure
this information is readily available elsewhere.

                     *********************

HENRY TAYLOR

   The Sheffield Directory of 1837 lists Taylor and Howarth as
manufacturers of edge tools, engravers' tools and cast steel
drawers situated on Fitzwilliam Street.

   By 1841 they were manufacturing engravers' tools and turners'
tools. The 1845 Directory shows that the business had become
Henry Taylor as James Howarth had left to start his own business.

   By 1856 the product range had been extended to include die
sinkers and carvers' tools. In the 1898 entry the business had
become Henry Taylor Ltd. situated at 92 Arundel Street,
manufacturing graining combs, files and saws.

   The 1923 listing shows that their main line had become carving
tools and that they were situated at 94 Arundel Street. By 1944
they were also manufacturing joiners' tools and four years later
the company had become incorporated into Aaron Hildick Ltd.

   In 1974 the company name was Henry Taylor (proprietor Aaron
Hildick) and in 1979 it had become Henry Taylor (Tools) Ltd.
incorporating Aaron Hildick. Today, they are still in business
situated on Lowther Road, Owlerton, Sheffield. They must be one
of the few firms still producing tools which largely depend upon
the skill of the workforce.

                     ***********************

Hope this helps.

Don McConnell
Knox County, Ohio

Hi Bugbear & All,

Paul asked about the relationship of Henry Taylor and A. Hildick and
guesses Taylor bought Hildick out. The Ruskin Gallery booklet "The
Cutting Edge"  includes a writeup about Henry Taylor that has things the
other way around. In 1948, Taylor was incorporated into Aaron Hildick
Ltd. However, the Taylor name must have had a better reputation than the
Hildick one or some such thing, because Hildick continued to use it
(citing Hildick as the proprieter) and, in 1979, made Henry Taylor the
company name - saying it incorporated A. Hildick. They're still in
business.

Best Wishes,
Bob

While the list was down (it's up! Yippee!)
I acquired some tools at my weekly car boot sale.
Included in this was a nice "Diamic" 1 1/4" skew chisel
for woodturning, covered in an even layer of red rust.

Cleaning and sharpening went routinely,
and then I remembered that Diamic was still made.
Sure enough, the current price of a 1 1/4" diamic
skew chisel is high enough to make the 3 GBP I paid
a decent bargain.

But MY Diamic is made by A. Hildick, whilst
the catalogue Diamic are made by Henry Taylor.

I'd always wondered by Henry Taylor called
their carving tools "Acorn" and their turning and
bench tools "Diamic". I'm assuming they
bought Hildick out - can anyone fill in the
details for me?

  BugBear