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Recent Bios FAQ

11753 Patrick Leach <leach@i...> 1997‑01‑10 Battle for the Tidey Bowl...
Here's letter IV, which proves to be just as terminal as the 
previous letter.

  "                     Ithaca Nov 17th 1856
    J.B.Anthony Esq.
              Providence
                        Dear Sir
                               There has just
  been suggested to my mind another important
  idea relative to my improvement in bench
  planes which I wish you to consider.
    It is that the throat case may be manufactured
  as disconnected with the plane stock and
  be an accompaniment of the iron only should
  this plan be adapted the sale of the case
  would be as soon as regularly introduced
  almost as general as is the demand for irons.
    There would be found equally advantageous
  disposition of the cases in that way both with
  planemakers and common hardwares.
    The fact is no mechanic after being
  posted with reference to this improvement
  will think of having a plane without it
  and very shortly I venture to say should
  these cases be acceptable (I mean to be pro-
  cured at common hardwares with plane irons)
  will almost every mechanic have them
  applied to his present planes.
    My mind has been brought to this consider-
  ation by already frequent applications
  for cases for this purpose. I have been 
  offered $4.00 to aply the cases to a
  single set of planes which had become some
  worne. In fact many in our village who
  have lately purchased new planes have 
  requested the construction of the cases
  therein. Now you see one very important
  feature in favor of this new provision is
  that those planes which are nearly or quite
  worne out (as their wearing out is occasioned
  by the enlargement of the throat) may be renew-
  ed by the application of said case and thus
  rendered 500% better than they ever were before
  and the construction of the case to a common
  plane may be accomplished by the most common
  of workman. It is my idea however that
  it would be best for at least some years
  to connect the case in its manufactory
  with the complete plane as I am
  fully satisfied that it is suf-
  ficient to warrant the project of
  a complet monopoly of the 
  article at least so far as I have
  introduced it which has been generally
  in our vicinity this opinion is general.
    Please pardon me for suggesting
  as I did in my last that you might
  credit me with a part of the availes of those
  articles sent you. I lacked apprehention
  at the time that you might be to some
  considerable trouble in exhibiting the same
  to my benefit. You are welcome to all
  that they may meet you after payment
  of charges. Just detach from
  the stock of the plane sent you the
  throat case and apply the iron and
  wedge there to and you see the complete
  arrangement as I should propose
  furnishing to both plane makers and
  common hardwares instead of the 
  irons alone. Should that method of dis-
  position be considered preferable
  the fase part of the case need
  only be emerced upon the common
  emery wheel which will be all the finish-
  ing required for the ordinary article.
  It of course wants a nice articl of
  casting much nicer than that
  sent you. The mill head screw
  I think I told you before I consider
  of little or no importance therefore
  in the case of the omission of said
  screw that portion of the case above
  the stock should be dispensed with.
  Please to inform me in your next
  where I may apply for some mal-
  eable castings to order refer me
  to the best establishment you know
  of if you please. I wish to make
  some of those saw gages.
                 Yours Obedt. Servnt.
                           M.B.Tidey"

  Luckily, Tidey decided to keep this letter a bit shorter than the
previous one. It's also a bit more comprehensible.

  Tidey hasn't given up hope in trying to have the PTCo manufacture
his 'great' idea. He makes mention that the cast iron insert can be
made and then retrofit into existing common wooden bench planes. While
that is certainly true, one must doubt his claim that the plane is made
500% better (how does one quantify such a claim?). 

  His idea, then, seems that it would be best to make the insert and
then sell it to planemakers and hardware suppliers, the latter of which
can offer it to those craftsmen who make their own planes and get their
irons from the hardware vendors, which was relatively common occurence
back then. However, Tidey later contradicts himself by saying he thinks
it best, initially, to limit the availability of his insert by making it
the exclusive of planemakers. He then contradict this contradiction by
going back to his initial plan.

  He finally tells the Co how the insert is machined and that the final
product should be of a better casting quality. He wants the Co to refer
him to a foundry capable of casting malleable iron.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Patrick Leach
Just say Tidey is on his heels, ready to kiss the mat.
etc.
Check IT out at http://www.intool.com
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Recent Bios FAQ