I'm the guy who published the updated Addis overview on Oldtools in March
2006.  One of the benefits of that effort is all the communication it
spawned with other people interested in the Addis tools and their makers.

 

I don't think I contacted Oldtools about this find but in 2011 Charlie over
in the UK found a narrow Addis tool which was either modified or originally
was a No. 22 spoon bent shallow skew gouge with a rectangular shank taller
than thick with only about 3/16 inch of space on the side for the
inscription.  The stamp was indistinct but there is enough lettering intact
to describe it as "Gothic" or Germanic in style....some would describe it
also as "old English".  It was difficult to read but we were fairly sure the
inscription on the tool had the very bottom of "Addis" and below it "Prize"
is the only complete word and what seems like "Medal" is only barely there
with the top of "M", very top of the "d" and most of the "l" present.  There
is no way to see if it says Medal or Medals and any year date didn't fit at
all. 

 

I showed the tool around and sent off photos of the inscription but most
people said it could not be Addis for this or that reason.  Despite this,
Charlie was "100% sure that it is Addis" and after playing with Gothic
fonts, I felt it very well could be Addis.  For the last three years the
more objective people said we were dreaming.

 

Yesterday an email arrived from Barry in Christchurch, New Zealand with the
photo of a large Addis carver with Gothic imprint.  He found it covered with
paint in a recycling shop.  Crisp and clear, the inscription reads "J. B.
Addis" over "Prize Medal." over "1851".  

 

Our original information was that James Bacon Addis exhibited at the Great
Exhibition in 1851 and 1852 winning Prize Medals at both.  It might be that
his awards were in 1851 and 1862, not 1852.  His older brother, the
celebrated Samuel Joseph Addis, also exhibited but didn't win Prize Medals
so the 1851 imprint may have been bragging rights.  Later J. B. Addis tools
state "Prize Medals" in the plural or list strings of dates such as "9 PRIZE
MEDALS" over "51 & 62".  For now, I am estimating that the Gothic imprint
was either a one year indication or possibly something used during a longer
period up to 1862.  In either instant, we have a major verified new Addis
imprint.

 

Please continue to contact me regarding Addis information that you find.

 

Gary Laroff

Portland, Oregon