OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

93452 Paul Fuss <pfuss@h... 2001‑05‑01 Re: Help with Saw ID
Brian Buckner asks for some information:

> First is a nice rip saw with a medallion that reads "C.E. Jennings & Co.",
> "Pat. Dec. 27 1887", "New York".  

> I've looked at my friends copy of Erv's book and see that "C.E. Jennings &
> Co." is the second incarnation of the Jennings saw business that was created
> in the late 1870's. I'm assuming that this saw is from somewhere in time
> around it's patent date. Anybody have any more information of this saw?

As usual, I can't offer any help, but instead have yet another question:
Did C.E. Jennings have any connection with "Jennings and Griffin"?
If any of you kind reference-book-enhanced galoots have any info
on the latter company and would share it, I'd be most grateful.
I picked up a nice big chisel over the weekend with the Jennings
and Griffin marking -- 2" wide, bevel-edged, socketed, overall blade
length about 8", really good condition (except for the handle).  The
handle, which may or may not be original, is an ordinary leather-
capped one that has been beat to h*ll (but better it than the socket)
and looks somewhat too small for this chisel to me.  Since I don't
anticipate chopping any mondo mortices anytime soon, I'm toying
with the idea of making a new handle in the style of a slick.  I'm
much more likely to use this for shaving/paring anyway -- while
this chisel isn't as big as a slick, I can't see any reason why I
couldn't use it as such.

As for Brian's saw quandary, I can only commiserate -- too
many marginally salvageable saws, yet still too cool to cannibalize
(sorry dude!).

Thanks,
Paul Fuss


93458 reeinelson@w... (Robert Nelson) 2001‑05‑01 Re: Help with Saw ID
Hi Paul & All,

Paul F. asked if there was any connection between C.E. Jennings & Co.
and Jennings & Griffin. The short answer is Yes - Charles E. Jennings
was in both. The longer answer is that the exact connection is a bit
cloudy. Jennings & Griffin succeeded George S. Wilder in Hinsdale, NH,
in 1883, but Wilder continued as manager of their plant there. By 1891,
they had a second plant in Yalesville, CT, and the NH plant was closed
down then or a bit later. Jennings concurrently had his other company in
NYC (18778-1923). It is fairly certain that by 1901, Jennings & Griffin
was only a C.E. Jennings & Co. brand name and that may have been all
they were all along.

Best Wishes,
Bob


93403 "BUCKNER, BRIAN" <BBUCKNER@a... 2001‑05‑01 Help with Saw ID
Sawing Galoots,

In my never ending search for possible "donors" for some of the saws that
I've been building I recently found a couple of saws that I think are too
nice and/or valuable to use (for my neferious purposes). I was wondering if
any of you might help shed some light on a couple of my recent finds.

First is a nice rip saw with a medallion that reads "C.E. Jennings & Co.",
"Pat. Dec. 27 1887", "New York". The medallion has a beautiful, high quality
"coin look" with a very detailed eagle w/shield. If it had an etching it's
long gone. This saw is in fairly nice condition considering it probably was
used to rip miles of lumber. It appears to have been sharpened several
(dozen?) times since it looks a bit narrow. Also, (this is the part that I
really like) the wheat carved (apple?) handle is worn super smooth and has
worn in depressions from the user's grip. Pretty neat.
I've looked at my friends copy of Erv's book and see that "C.E. Jennings &
Co." is the second incarnation of the Jennings saw business that was created
in the late 1870's. I'm assuming that this saw is from somewhere in time
around it's patent date. Anybody have any more information of this saw? Was
this a high quality saw? (looks to have been top of the line in it's day).


Second saw is a nice skew-backed model with a wheat carved handle that looks
like beech. It's not a "cover top" handle. It has an etching on it that says
"SARGENT" in large block letters with "No. 148" and "Warrented Spring Steel"
in a banner above Sargent. There is also a cursive script below "Sargent"
that says something about replacing the saw if it should prove less than
perfect (or something to that effect). I can't quite make out all of the
etch that says this.
Again, looking in Erv's book he says that Disston, Simonds, Atkins all made
saws for Sargent but of the models that he lists I didn't see a #148.
Anybody have any idea of who might have actually made this saw?

I also found a nice keyhole saw made by Wheeler, Madden and Clemson. Looks
like it was bought and put up on the shelf. 

One of these days I'm going to find some saws that I can cut up and not
worry about it. I just hate to think of "altering" anything before I really
know what it is.

Thanks in advance.

Best, 

Brian.



Recent Bios FAQ