In the last few weeks I have come into a clutch (gaggle, herd, mess) of saws.
I know there is a Disston dating page out there, but can't seem to find it.
Can someone send me the URL?

Bill

Thanks to Tom Price's efforts:

I think the real value of this timeline is that the various saw
medallions likely to be encountered by us rust hunters are in a linear
sequence. Previously, I was not able to find this information in the
archives or on the 'Net. The dates are probably not very reliable and you
may notice that I removed the ending dates. It has been pointed out to me
that Disston, like Stanley, used parts for a long time after their
introduction so who really can say when they stopped using a medallion of
any type. We will have to collectively wait for the real type studies to
accurately date our beloved saws.

Early medallions - no source
information forthcoming              -----?

Sunken medallion, split nuts,
H. Disston & Son                     1865?

Sunken medallion, split nuts,
H. Disston & Sons                    1871?

Sunken medallion, screw head nuts,
H. Disston & Sons                    ~1876

Sunken medallion, screw head nuts,
H. Disston & Sons., with Glover's
Dec. 27, 1887 patent date around
the keystone.                        ~1887

Raised medallion, screw head nuts,
H. Disston & Sons/Philada            ~1891

Raised medallion, screw head nuts,
Disston/Phila                        1920's?

Raised medallion, screw head nuts,
Disston/USA                          1940's?

Thanks for your collective interest and enthusiasm in this endeavor. At
least we weren't arguing with each other, which was perhaps my
unconscious goal after all.
****************************
Tom Price (TomPrice@a...)
Would Do A Belly Whopper On A Flea Market Table To Snag A D-15

>In the last few weeks I have come into a clutch (gaggle, herd, mess) of
saws.
>I know there is a Disston dating page out there, but can't seem to find it.
>Can someone send me the URL?
>
>Bill
>
>--
>
>
>

Your second entry with a date of 1865 is a bit difficult to explain,
considering Henry Disston's first son was born in 1871 if I'm not mistaken.
Could he have just been optimistic?

Prior to that event, his saws were marked 'Henry Disston'.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-oldtools@l...
[mailto:owner-oldtools@l...]On Behalf Of Louis
Michaud
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 8:52 AM
To: oldtools@l...
Subject: Re: Disston dating


Thanks to Tom Price's efforts:

I think the real value of this timeline is that the various saw
medallions likely to be encountered by us rust hunters are in a linear
sequence. Previously, I was not able to find this information in the
archives or on the 'Net. The dates are probably not very reliable and you
may notice that I removed the ending dates. It has been pointed out to me
that Disston, like Stanley, used parts for a long time after their
introduction so who really can say when they stopped using a medallion of
any type. We will have to collectively wait for the real type studies to
accurately date our beloved saws.

Early medallions - no source
information forthcoming              -----?

Sunken medallion, split nuts,
H. Disston & Son                     1865?

Sunken medallion, split nuts,
H. Disston & Sons                    1871?

Sunken medallion, screw head nuts,
H. Disston & Sons                    ~1876

Sunken medallion, screw head nuts,
H. Disston & Sons., with Glover's
Dec. 27, 1887 patent date around
the keystone.                        ~1887

Raised medallion, screw head nuts,
H. Disston & Sons/Philada            ~1891

Raised medallion, screw head nuts,
Disston/Phila                        1920's?

Raised medallion, screw head nuts,
Disston/USA                          1940's?

Thanks for your collective interest and enthusiasm in this endeavor. At
least we weren't arguing with each other, which was perhaps my
unconscious goal after all.
****************************
Tom Price (TomPrice@a...)
Would Do A Belly Whopper On A Flea Market Table To Snag A D-15

>In the last few weeks I have come into a clutch (gaggle, herd, mess) of
saws.
>I know there is a Disston dating page out there, but can't seem to find it.
>Can someone send me the URL?
>
>Bill
>
>--
>
>
>

Bob Rackers writes:

>Your second entry with a date of 1865 is a bit difficult to explain,
>considering Henry Disston's first son was born in 1871 if I'm not mistaken.
>Could he have just been optimistic?
>
>Prior to that event, his saws were marked 'Henry Disston'.
>

Actually, Henry's first son (Hamilton) was born in 1844 and after
serving a 7 yr apprenticeship whcih started in 1858 was brought
into the firm in 1865,  therefore I think the 1865 date for the
medallion is correct.

Paul Honore
Hebron  CT

Boy, I'd like to see the reference for that if you have it handy.

I don't have anything I can lay my hand on, but I've seen several times in
different texts that his first son was born in 1871, and in celebration,
Henry Disston changed the name to Henry Disston and Son. In 1872, he had his
second son, and it's been Henry Disston and Sons ever since.

Please enlighten me as to where you obtained this info.

Thanks.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-oldtools@l...
[mailto:owner-oldtools@l...]On Behalf Of Paul Honore
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 7:11 PM
To: OLDTOOLS@l...
Subject: RE: Disston dating


Bob Rackers writes:

>Your second entry with a date of 1865 is a bit difficult to explain,
>considering Henry Disston's first son was born in 1871 if I'm not mistaken.
>Could he have just been optimistic?
>
>Prior to that event, his saws were marked 'Henry Disston'.
>

Actually, Henry's first son (Hamilton) was born in 1844 and after
serving a 7 yr apprenticeship whcih started in 1858 was brought
into the firm in 1865,  therefore I think the 1865 date for the
medallion is correct.

Paul Honore
Hebron  CT

In a message dated 9/29/99 6:18:52 PM Central Daylight Time,
phonore@i... writes about the incorrect date of birth of Henry D's
son as it relates to the name change:

<<
 >Your second entry with a date of 1865 is a bit difficult to explain,
 >considering Henry Disston's first son was born in 1871 if I'm not mistaken.
 >Could he have just been optimistic?
 >
 >Prior to that event, his saws were marked 'Henry Disston'.
 >

 Actually, Henry's first son (Hamilton) was born in 1844 and after
 serving a 7 yr apprenticeship whcih started in 1858 was brought
 into the firm in 1865,  therefore I think the 1865 date for the
 medallion is correct.     >>

    This thing about a birthdate being 1871 (and a second son two years
later) and these events being celebrated by immediately changing the name of
Henry's firm has been incorrectly stated many times.  Some of this apparently
comes from the old Barlow book (one of everyone's favorite learning sources)
which was unfortunately way off in this assertion.  As to Ham Disston's
apprenticeship, I've read it started at age 15, so that would be 1859, but
1858 might be right (Erv says 1858 also).  Disston was not incorporated until
some years later, and it was admission to "the counting room" i.e., becoming
a partner that made the firm Henry Disston and Son, and all reliable sources
seem to say this started right after Ham's return home at the end of the
Civil War in 1865.  However long the apprenticeship lasted, it was
interrupted by Ham's enlistment for army service.  There were apparently
several attempts to enlist, much to father's consternation, but eventually he
was permitted to leave with a large group of plant workers and serve with
Henry's support.  It is not necessarily the case that stampings, etchings and
medallions were immediately made to read H. Disston & Son in 1865.  And there
are many, many examples of mixed markings (Disston w/ Disston & Son, then
later Disston & Son w/ Disston & Sons).  My guess is that this pattern
started by 1866 and ran through the early 70's using up the stocks, with
those products marked solely as  Disston & Son being generally in the middle
of this period.

                                                 Lloyd Henley

Okay, Guys:Henry  Disston brought one of his sons (Hamilton) into the
business in 1865 to generate Henry Disston & Son, and another one
(Albert) in 1871 to form Henry Disston & Sons. In fact, three other sons
also join Henry Disston & Sons even later. Does that help a bit?
--ErvSawwwwwwz
On Wed, 29 Sep 1999 22:23:35 -0400 "Bob Rackers" <rackersr@o...>
writes:
> I don't have anything I can lay my hand on, but I've seen several
> times in
> different texts that his first son was born in 1871, and in
> celebration,
> Henry Disston changed the name to Henry Disston and Son. In 1872, he
> had his
> second son, and it's been Henry Disston and Sons ever since.
>
> From: owner-oldtools@l...
> [mailto:owner-oldtools@l...]On Behalf Of Paul
> Honore

Yes that helps. Could you give me that reference please.
Perhaps I and the authors of all the references I've seen got incorrect
info.

Thanks.

-----Original Message-----
From: Erwin L Schaffer [mailto:elschaffer@j...]
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 1999 12:25 AM
To: rackersr@o...
Cc: oldtools@l...
Subject: Re: Disston dating


Okay, Guys:Henry  Disston brought one of his sons (Hamilton) into the
business in 1865 to generate Henry Disston & Son, and another one
(Albert) in 1871 to form Henry Disston & Sons. In fact, three other sons
also join Henry Disston & Sons even later. Does that help a bit?
--ErvSawwwwwwz
On Wed, 29 Sep 1999 22:23:35 -0400 "Bob Rackers" <rackersr@o...>
writes:
> I don't have anything I can lay my hand on, but I've seen several
> times in
> different texts that his first son was born in 1871, and in
> celebration,
> Henry Disston changed the name to Henry Disston and Son. In 1872, he
> had his
> second son, and it's been Henry Disston and Sons ever since.
>
> From: owner-oldtools@l...
> [mailto:owner-oldtools@l...]On Behalf Of Paul
> Honore

Thanks. Could you let me know the reference for your information?
I'd like to have it straight for good, and have the reference available.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-oldtools@l...
[mailto:owner-oldtools@l...]On Behalf Of
Lodley@a...
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 11:21 PM
To: OLDTOOLS@l...
Subject: Re: Disston dating


In a message dated 9/29/99 6:18:52 PM Central Daylight Time,
phonore@i... writes about the incorrect date of birth of Henry D's
son as it relates to the name change:

<<
 >Your second entry with a date of 1865 is a bit difficult to explain,
 >considering Henry Disston's first son was born in 1871 if I'm not
mistaken.
 >Could he have just been optimistic?
 >
 >Prior to that event, his saws were marked 'Henry Disston'.
 >

 Actually, Henry's first son (Hamilton) was born in 1844 and after
 serving a 7 yr apprenticeship whcih started in 1858 was brought
 into the firm in 1865,  therefore I think the 1865 date for the
 medallion is correct.     >>

    This thing about a birthdate being 1871 (and a second son two years
later) and these events being celebrated by immediately changing the name of
Henry's firm has been incorrectly stated many times.  Some of this
apparently
comes from the old Barlow book (one of everyone's favorite learning sources)
which was unfortunately way off in this assertion.  As to Ham Disston's
apprenticeship, I've read it started at age 15, so that would be 1859, but
1858 might be right (Erv says 1858 also).  Disston was not incorporated
until
some years later, and it was admission to "the counting room" i.e., becoming
a partner that made the firm Henry Disston and Son, and all reliable sources
seem to say this started right after Ham's return home at the end of the
Civil War in 1865.  However long the apprenticeship lasted, it was
interrupted by Ham's enlistment for army service.  There were apparently
several attempts to enlist, much to father's consternation, but eventually
he
was permitted to leave with a large group of plant workers and serve with
Henry's support.  It is not necessarily the case that stampings, etchings
and
medallions were immediately made to read H. Disston & Son in 1865.  And
there
are many, many examples of mixed markings (Disston w/ Disston & Son, then
later Disston & Son w/ Disston & Sons).  My guess is that this pattern
started by 1866 and ran through the early 70's using up the stocks, with
those products marked solely as  Disston & Son being generally in the middle
of this period.

                                                 Lloyd Henley

I stand corrected.

Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: Erwin L Schaffer [mailto:elschaffer@j...]
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 1999 12:25 AM
To: rackersr@o...
Cc: oldtools@l...
Subject: Re: Disston dating


Okay, Guys:Henry  Disston brought one of his sons (Hamilton) into the
business in 1865 to generate Henry Disston & Son, and another one
(Albert) in 1871 to form Henry Disston & Sons. In fact, three other sons
also join Henry Disston & Sons even later. Does that help a bit?
--ErvSawwwwwwz
On Wed, 29 Sep 1999 22:23:35 -0400 "Bob Rackers" <rackersr@o...>
writes:
> I don't have anything I can lay my hand on, but I've seen several
> times in
> different texts that his first son was born in 1871, and in
> celebration,
> Henry Disston changed the name to Henry Disston and Son. In 1872, he
> had his
> second son, and it's been Henry Disston and Sons ever since.
>
> From: owner-oldtools@l...
> [mailto:owner-oldtools@l...]On Behalf Of Paul
> Honore