G'day Ray, Gary, Bill, Richard, Mike and Ed
Thanks for all your help with the saws.
An interesting note I found this morning in Mathieson 1899 catalogue
is that a compass saw is called "compass or port saw"
If by port they mean port hole, that would add some strength to the
notion that these three may have been in boat building hands.
Ray, like you I'm attracted to Gary's theory also.
Regards,
Peter
In Melbourne, Australia...recovering form the selling a large slice of
my Stanley collection over the weekend at the HTPAA sale.
Although I did find a lovely watch / clockmakers drill press. Made
with an 8mm collet WW lathe style headstock, and a 3 inch dia. table
that is raised with a lever...for VERY little money.

______________________
> www.petermcbride.com/temp/images/table_saws.jpg
> www.petermcbride.com/temp/images/table_saws1.jpg
> Regards,
> Peter
> In Melbourne, Australia
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Hi Peter,
How goes the HTPAA tool show?  I was hoping to make it down this time,
but I fear other commitments are going to beat me again.

I subscribe to the view that table saws are not for cutting table tops
but something else... I like Gary's theory, Tyabb would be a good
place for boat building..

Taking the Morey first,

Don's excellent book has two Morey sawmaking firms, possibly
sequential
(still hoping for a second edition... hint)
1840 - 1855 William Horlock Morey  22 Old Street St Lukes
1861 - 1872 George Morey 84 Old Street St Lukes.

Simon's list  ( again, I think it's likely these are sequential )
1834 - 1852 George Morey
1855 - 1860 Ephriam Morey
1865 - 1879 George Morey

So for a rough date I think mid 19th Cent would be a good description.

The Hunter,

Michael Hunter ( & Son Ltd)
1855-1879 Michael Hunter & Son Andrew St Talbot Works
1870-1909 Michael Hunter (Jr?) Saville St Talbot Works
Stamped marks, are almost always earlier than etched marks, so I think
we can say it's date is likely to be early in the second half of the
19th
Cent.

Beardshaw,
One of the longer running Sheffield firms, they still in business up
until
1961 at the Effingham Road, Baltic Steel Works,

1825-1895 Beardshaw & Son Ltd Jonathan (numerous addresses)
Being a stamped blade, rather than etched, would put the date into
the first half of the 19th Cent, especially for a larger firm like
Jonathan Beardshaw. No one has ever done a detailed study on dating
Sheffield saw medallions (so far as I know), but that might be the
way forward for dating saws from these longer running firms.

I would say that first half of the 19th Cent would be a reasonable
estimate for date.

So, in one day's shopping, I would say you've picked up 3 saws, all
are
around 150+ years old, and look to be in pretty good (original)
condition.

Beware, this is a very slippery slope you are standing at the top of
:-)

Nice finds,
Regards
Ray

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