OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

261361 William Ghio <bghio@m...> 2017‑01‑20 Saw ID and Free Handles
I was given a saw several months ago that needs a bit of rehab. Heavy patina on
the blade but no rust, i.e., very, very dark.  I started to work on it and
quickly saw there is an etched logo, but I can’t bring it up. Here is the best
pic I could get of the logo —
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../32423489575/in/dateposted-public/
All I can read is “saw works”.

Here is the medallion —
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../32423489575/in/dateposted-public/
“Sheffield Warranted” w/ an “A” enclosed in a shield and “Trade Mark”. 

Can anyone provide info on this maker?

Later I was also given a bunch of saws that were trash and that was where I put
them. Before doing so I did salvage the handles. Pics of three not very special
handles are here —
https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../albums/72157675648497854

If you would like one or more of these handles they are free for either the
price of the postage or a tool in return (chisels, dividers &/or calipers
preferred). Two things to consider: You will most likely have to make new holes
in your blade & if the handle looks too blocky, it just hasn’t seen the right
rasp yet.

Bill
261363 Kirk Eppler <eppler.kirk@g...> 2017‑01‑20 Re: Saw ID and Free Handles
On Fri, Jan 20, 2017 at 8:43 AM, William Ghio  wrote:

> Here is the medallion —
> *https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../32302580331/in/dateposted-public/
> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../32302580331/in
/dateposted-public/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../32302580331/in
/dateposted-public/>*
> “Sheffield Warranted” w/ an “A” enclosed in a shield and “Trade Mark”.
>


According to the Lumberjocks article I linked to a while back, that is an
Atkins medallion

http://lumberjocks.com/summerfi/blog/39861






-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA
261365 William Ghio <bghio@m...> 2017‑01‑20 Re: Fwd: Saw ID and Free Handles
> On Jan 20, 2017, at 12:27 PM, Kirk Eppler  wrote:
> 
> Crud, forgot to reply all.
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jan 20, 2017 at 8:43 AM, William Ghio  wrote:
> 
>> I was given a saw several months ago that needs a bit of rehab. Heavy
>> patina on the blade but no rust, i.e., very, very dark.  I started to work
>> on it and quickly saw there is an etched logo, but I can’t bring it up.
>> Here is the best pic I could get of the logo —
>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../32423489575/in/da
>> teposted-public/
>> All I can read is “saw works”.
>> 
>> Here is the medallion —
>> https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../32423489575/in/da
>> teposted-public/
>> “Sheffield Warranted” w/ an “A” enclosed in a shield and “Trade Mark”.
>> 
>> Can anyone provide info on this maker?
>> 
> 
> I have a 1935 Atkins catalog, and it has a page (118) of saws bearing the
> Sheffield brand,
> Numbers 55 - Straight Back
> 56 - Skew Back
> 57 - Straight Back
> 58 - Reliable Straight Back
> 59 - Skew Back
> 9 - Home Builder Skew Back
> 

Hmmm. I have the 1935 catalog and the handles are not a match. I also have the
reprint of the 1919 Atkins catalog and the handles are much more similar, but
still not an exact match. The nut orientation does appear correct and there are
two handles in the 1919 catalog that if you combined features would be right, so
the handle shapes are in the Atkins repertoire. All the logos and medallions I
can read in the catalogs are the triple A mark or, if a single A, the cross bar
is in a v shape. Also, what appears to me to say “saw works” in the pic I posted
looks to be the very bottom line of the logo and in the 1919 catalog, the bottom
line reads “Sheffield Saw Works, Indianapolis, IND”. So I think you nailed it as
to brand, but of an earlier era. According to “Hand-Saw Makers of North America”
the Atkins, Sheffield works started up in 1904. The nut is an anomaly though.

Bill
261366 William Ghio <bghio@m...> 2017‑01‑20 Re: Saw ID and Free Handles
> On Jan 20, 2017, at 12:10 PM, Kirk Eppler  wrote:
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jan 20, 2017 at 8:43 AM, William Ghio  wrote:
> Here is the medallion —
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../32302580331/in/dateposted-public/
> “Sheffield Warranted” w/ an “A” enclosed in a shield and “Trade Mark”.
> 
> 
> According to the Lumberjocks article I linked to a while back, that is an
Atkins medallion
> 
> http://lumberjocks.com/summerfi/blog/39861
> 

Yep. Thanks for the quick work.

Bill
261367 Kirk Eppler <eppler.kirk@g...> 2017‑01‑20 Re: Fwd: Saw ID and Free Handles
On Fri, Jan 20, 2017 at 9:57 AM, William Ghio  wrote:

> Hmmm. I have the 1935 catalog and the handles are not a match. I also have
> the reprint of the 1919 Atkins catalog and the handles are much more
> similar, but still not an exact match. The nut orientation does appear
> correct and there are two handles in the 1919 catalog that if you combined
> features would be right, so the handle shapes are in the Atkins repertoire.


Hmm, Sorry.  I got distracted by Shiny, and didn't finish my search.

I have an 1894 that has no hand saws.
I have an 1895 that has 1 hand saw #51, and a backsaw #2

My 1923 has twelve pages of handsaws, including one with the Sheffield Saw
works description, and #57, 58 & 59.  58 & 59 where the Reliable Line then
too.

The 1935 data was shared above.

I have a 1948 price list, no pix, with the #58 & 59 listed

I have a 1931 Saw Sense and another similar catalog that don't list the
Sheffield Saw works

So you saw handle could have been from any time 1895 to 1948, but guessing
closer to your 1919 is probably correct.  The more comfortable the handle,
the earlier it usually is, up to a point.

(Don't really know, since you didn't show us the keeper handle, only the
three you were going to pitch.)


-- 
Kirk Eppler, in Half Moon Bay, about to dive into another 50 page document
261368 "=?utf-8?B?cGhpbHNjaGVtcGZAZ21haWwuY29t?=" <philschempf@g...> 2017‑01‑20 Re: Fwd: Saw ID and Free Handles
Sooo - what is this "coffee stain" of which they speak?  Lots of possible clues
from the rings where I set my cup, but I hadn't heard of intentionally doing it
before.

Sent from my HTC (I really hate trying to type and edit messages on this thing)

----- Reply message -----
From: "Kirk Eppler" 
To: "Tools Old" 
Subject: [OldTools] Fwd:  Saw ID and Free Handles
Date: Fri, Jan 20, 2017 10:27 AM

....Beech handle, full carved.  Coffee stained, laquered and polished ....
261369 William Ghio <bghio@m...> 2017‑01‑20 Re: Fwd: Saw ID and Free Handles
> On Jan 20, 2017, at 1:39 PM, Kirk Eppler  wrote:
> 
> So you saw handle could have been from any time 1895 to 1948, but guessing
closer to your 1919 is probably correct.  The more comfortable the handle, the
earlier it usually is, up to a point.
> 
> (Don't really know, since you didn't show us the keeper handle, only the three
you were going to pitch.)

Here are four Atkins handles —

https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../31614797483/in/dateposted-public/

Upper left is a “Rex" (No.67). However, the wheat carving is similar to that
shown in the 1935 catalog. The upper right is a No.69, also a “Rex”, w/ the
style of carving shown in the 1919 catalog. "Hand-Saw Makers of North America”
says the “Rex” was made 1904 to 1919 including four models (66 thru 69), but
that the 67 and the 69 were discontinued in 1914. By the 1919 catalog the nibs
were gone from the Atkins line. Based on the finer shape of the handle and the
presence of the nib and notwithstanding the wheat carving, I believe the top
left (No.67) saw is the earliest. At the bottom right is another early Atkins
handle an bottom left is the Sheffield Saw Works model that I first asked about.
Again, the more refined handle shape suggests earlier than 1919.

Bill

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