Hi all,

this decided to follow me home recently, for a reasonable price:

https://goo.gl/photos/VSLHHHP7s9kNbCPU6

Brass stem, ebony(?) stock, hefty brass wear plate which needs 
re-gluing. Any specific dos and don'ts in regards to the repair? I have 
included a few pics of the underneath of the wear plate - there appear 
to be some location pins or similar from inside the wooden part of the 
stock. I figure clean up the old glue, apply new glue, clamp and wait.

Anyone know the maker and possible date? Google obligingly finds me 
similar items, but there seems to be significant disagreement as to the 
manufacturer - perhaps a lot of people made very similar looking tools? 
I can't find anything so helpful as a maker's name.

This page shows something similar as an I Sorby : 
http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/david-stanley-
auctions/catalogue-id-srdav10002/lot-3cb29f7f-8975-4693-ad3b-
a3f7015a81c2">http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/david-
stanley-auctions/catalogue-id-srdav10002/lot-3cb29f7f-8975-4693-ad3b-
a3f7015a81c2

This page shows similar and says it's a Marples: 
http://www.findmytool.co.uk/marples-mortise-gauge-2140-review.php

Jim Bode lists something similar (but in really nice condition): 
http://www.jimbodetools.com/Fine-7-inch-Ebony-Mortise-Gauge-with-Solid-
Brass-Stem-p46444.html">http://www.jimbodetools.com/Fine-7-inch-Ebony-Mortise-
Gauge-with-Solid-Brass-Stem-p46444.html
but offers no guess as to maker.

It seems to be in serviceable condition - pins are in good nick, 
adjuster screw moves nicely. This thing is a pretty hefty piece... and 
also (to my eye) a rather pretty piece. Just goes to show when the 
antique shop owner says "Nah, there aren't many tools in stock at 
present" - it's still worth having a look!

Cheers,
Philip.

I have one like that it came with an ebony square and bevel gauge.

The brass plate could be pinned or screwed on with the heads filled flush, it
might be worth taping the remaining pin back and see if it comes out.
Or just clean it up and epoxy/hide glue it back on, which might be safer rather
than ruin the patination.


Pete

-----Original Message-----
From: OldTools [mailto:oldtools-bounces@s...] On Behalf Of Philip Yarra
Sent: 14 January 2016 08:41
To: OldTools 
Subject: [OldTools] New (well, old) mortise gauge

Hi all,

this decided to follow me home recently, for a reasonable price:

https://goo.gl/photos/VSLHHHP7s9kNbCPU6

Brass stem, ebony(?) stock, hefty brass wear plate which needs re-gluing. Any
specific dos and don'ts in regards to the repair? I have included a few pics of
the underneath of the wear plate - there appear to be some location pins or
similar from inside the wooden part of the stock. I figure clean up the old
glue, apply new glue, clamp and wait.

Anyone know the maker and possible date? Google obligingly finds me similar
items, but there seems to be significant disagreement as to the manufacturer -
perhaps a lot of people made very similar looking tools?
I can't find anything so helpful as a maker's name.

This page shows something similar as an I Sorby :
http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/david-stanley-
auctions/catalogue-id-srdav10002/lot-3cb29f7f-8975-4693-ad3b-
a3f7015a81c2">http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/david-
stanley-auctions/catalogue-id-srdav10002/lot-3cb29f7f-8975-4693-ad3b-
a3f7015a81c2

This page shows similar and says it's a Marples:
http://www.findmytool.co.uk/marples-mortise-gauge-2140-review.php

Jim Bode lists something similar (but in really nice condition):
http://www.jimbodetools.com/Fine-7-inch-Ebony-Mortise-Gauge-with-Solid-
Brass-Stem-p46444.html">http://www.jimbodetools.com/Fine-7-inch-Ebony-Mortise-
Gauge-with-Solid-Brass-Stem-p46444.html
but offers no guess as to maker.

It seems to be in serviceable condition - pins are in good nick, adjuster screw
moves nicely. This thing is a pretty hefty piece... and also (to my eye) a
rather pretty piece. Just goes to show when the antique shop owner says "Nah,
there aren't many tools in stock at present" - it's still worth having a look!

Cheers,
Philip.


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G'day Philip
> this decided to follow me home recently, for a reasonable price:
>
> https://goo.gl/photos/VSLHHHP7s9kNbCPU6
>
> Anyone know the maker and possible date? Google obligingly finds me 
> similar items, but there seems to be significant disagreement as to 
> the manufacturer - perhaps a lot of people made very similar looking 
> tools?

If it isn't marked then it may also be a Preston.  Lots of UK 
manufacturers apparently "copied" each other but at the same time there 
were makers who specialised in particular items and supplied them to 
other companies who stamped them as their own and sold them on.  This 
was efficient, but required  faith on the part of the re-seller in the 
primary supplier if the re-seller was going to claim, stamp,  and sell 
them on as their own.

As an example, I have my doubts that Edw. Preston and Sons made their 
own edge tools.  Rules, plane bodies, cast iron items for sure, but 
Birmingham was a long way from the heart and acme of steel edge tool 
production in Sheffield (Gilpin at Cannock Chase being the exception to 
the rule).   Your gauge may be one of these tools sent out to be marked 
by others.  Or it may be an example that went through the factory the 
day the man with the stamp was off sick.

Cheers,

Tony B

G’day

Could be any of a few makers - as you found out.  It was a standard pattern, as
Tony says.


I’d go with hide glue - epoxy has no give for the small changes due to
temperature.  Hide glue doesn’t have much, but at least its more likely to fail
than crack the ebony.


Richard Wilson
Northumbrian Galoot

> On Jan 14, 2016, at 02:49, Tony Blanks  wrote:
> 
> Your gauge may be one of these tools sent out to be marked by others.  Or it
may be an example that went through the factory the day the man with the stamp
was off sick.

I think it's probably the former, in this case, though mine has a very faint
Marples stamp; from photos I've seen, there are lots of identical gages with
different names. They have a really similar look to Marples' Ultimatum brace.

Anyway, this is a great find! I bought one after learning that it was Ralph
Brendler's favorite user gage (IIRC), and it has been worth it. Heavy,
comfortable, and I reach for it over any of the dozen others on my shelf.

Adam

>Anyway, this is a great find! I bought one after learning that it was Ralph
Brendler's favorite user gage (IIRC), and it has been worth it. Heavy,
comfortable, and I reach for it over any of the dozen others on my shelf.
I found a similar gauge at an antiques mall in Monterey after the oldest's
wedding. Cracks in the ebony open up when the screw is tightened. Still
pondering the best repair, but a heavy, substantial tool

On 19/01/2016 11:59 AM, michael suwczinsky wrote:
> > I found a similar gauge at an antiques mall in Monterey after the > oldest's
wedding. Cracks in the ebony open up when the screw is > tightened. Still 
pondering the best repair, but a heavy, substantial > tool >

I have a boxwood and brass morticing gauge that has a full
brass plate on the face of the head.  The points are still good,
but the head was split in half, and has a few dark stains on it.
This poor thing had loads of potential, but due to the split
head it was no longer a collector's item.  So it was sitting in
one of the boxes full of junk under a dealer's table, for $2.
I glued the head back together and it works just fine now.

What's that?  Pictures, you say?  Here you go...
http://galootcentral.com/components/cpgalbums/userpics/10074/gage.jpg

-- 
Darrell LaRue
Oakville ON
Wood Hoarder, Blade Sharpener, and Occasional Tool User

Hi all, sorry to take a while to catch up on these emails...

On 15/01/16 00:25, yorkshireman@y... wrote:
> I’d go with hide glue - epoxy has no give for the small changes due to
temperature.  Hide glue doesn’t have much, but at least its more likely to fail
than crack the ebony.

Thank you, Richard, that strikes me as good advice. I was all ready to 
slather on some epoxy (been using it a bit lately to do marking knife 
scales) but I'd hate to risk cracking the ebony. Hide glue it is!

Cheers,
Philip.

Hi Adam,

On 15/01/16 04:26, Adam R. Maxwell wrote:
> Anyway, this is a great find! I bought one after learning that it was 
> Ralph Brendler's favorite user gage (IIRC), and it has been worth it. 
> Heavy, comfortable, and I reach for it over any of the dozen others on 
> my shelf. Adam 

I think I'm going to prefer this one too, over my other marking gauge, 
though the suggestion that you have a dozen marking gauges... ummm... 
Adam has a gauge problem? :-)  I just know that some people reading this 
list are thinking "Oh no, only a dozen? That poor man! Can't we do 
something to help him get more gauges pronto?!"

Cheers,
Philip.