OldTools Archive
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257615 | Philip Yarra <philip.yarra@i...> | 2016‑01‑14 | 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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257616 | "Maddex, Peter" <peter.maddex@n...> | 2016‑01‑14 | Re: New (well, old) mortise gauge |
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 |
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257617 | Tony Blanks <dynnyrne@i...> | 2016‑01‑14 | Re: New (well, old) mortise gauge |
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 |
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257618 | "yorkshireman@y..." <yorkshireman@y...> | 2016‑01‑14 | Re: New (well, old) mortise gauge |
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 |
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257619 | "Adam R. Maxwell" <amaxwell@m...> | 2016‑01‑14 | Re: New (well, old) mortise gauge |
> On Jan 14, 2016, at 02:49, Tony Blanks |
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257647 | michael suwczinsky <nicknaylo@g...> | 2016‑01‑19 | Re: New (well, old) mortise gauge |
>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 |
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257663 | Darrell & Kathy <larchmont@s...> | 2016‑01‑23 | Re: New (well, old) mortise gauge |
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 |
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257915 | Philip Yarra <philip.yarra@i...> | 2016‑02‑07 | Re: New (well, old) mortise gauge |
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. |
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257916 | Philip Yarra <philip.yarra@i...> | 2016‑02‑07 | Re: New (well, old) mortise gauge |
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. |
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