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276889 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2023‑01‑10 Re: Large triangular burnisher (?) marked "K&F Made in USA" ( *CORRECTED* )
With profuse apologies to Kirk and all the assembled Galooterati,  I'm starting
over, hopefully without the previous typos!!!

A *Corrected* Whatzit Mystery" for your consideration.
I recently bought two mystery tools at a local Flea. ( Observation on that,
later. )

They appear to be large triangular burnishers.  Envision a 12" triangular
tapered file _13/16" wide_, without teeth nor any sign that it ever had teeth.
It's in a 5" wooden handle with a brass ferrule that's made of simple brass
tubing. ( Tool is 17" LOA ).

The edges are slightly rounded and the sides are flat.  This pretty much ruled
out a "bearing scraper", as bearing scrapers have sharp edges and a concave
relief on each side.

The tip shows some signs of corner-rounding, but only for about 1/4" back from
the tip.

All three sides have a trademark just above the tang. ( i.e. in the same
position as a file would be stamped. ). Why would the maker _identically_ stamp
all three sides?

The mark is "K & F" enclosed in an ellipse. "Made in USA" is wrapped around the
exterior of the eclipse.

My speculations run toward a folding or creasing tool for bookbinding. Second
most likely seems to be leatherwork.  _The 13/16" width steers me away from
thinking it's an ordinary scraper burnisher._

Now, that observation I hinted at: The mere fact that I bought two tools without
knowing what they are is a symptom of the disease we all have!

John Ruth
Metuchen, NJ
I'm going to attempt to delete the previous erroneous post from the groups.io
website.






--
Kirk Eppler
Planned Time Off
no major events planned
Principal Engineer
Pharm Dev Processing
eppler.kirk@g...<mailto:eppler.kirk@g...>
650 225-3911


--
Kirk Eppler
Planned Time Off
no major events planned
Principal Engineer
Pharm Dev Processing
eppler.kirk@g...<mailto:eppler.kirk@g...>
650 225-3911
276891 Chris Wolf <hframe79001@g...> 2023‑01‑10 Re: Large triangular burnisher (?) marked "K&F Made in USA" ( *CORRECTED* )
The company is probably Kearney & Foot, apparently mostly known as file 
makers.
http://americanmadefiles.blogspot.com/2014/02/kearney-foot-files.html

Here's examples of some for sale:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/394169949107
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175483641282 
<https://www.ebay.com/itm/175483641282>

17" is awfully long to be a burnisher for card scrapers.

--Chris

Check out H-frame, the site for vintage Black & Decker Workmates
https://h-frame.weebly.com/
276893 Kirk Eppler 2023‑01‑10 Re: Large triangular burnisher (?) marked "K&F Made in USA" ( *CORRECTED* )
My guess would be the same as Chris’ reply.

Here are some catalog listings .  No time to look, lost my free time
tonight to fetching sandbags

https://archive.org/details/internationaltoolcataloglibrary?query=Kearney

Kirk in Half Moon Bay, CA


On Mon, Jan 9, 2023 at 6:30 PM Chris Wolf  wrote:

> The company is probably Kearney & Foot, apparently mostly known as file
> makers.
> http://americanmadefiles.blogspot.com/2014/02/kearney-foot-files.html
>
> Here's examples of some for sale:
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/394169949107
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/175483641282
> <https://www.ebay.com/itm/175483641282>
>
> 17" is awfully long to be a burnisher for card scrapers.
>
> --Chris
>
> Check out H-frame, the site for vintage Black & Decker Workmates
> https://h-frame.weebly.com/
>
> On 1/9/2023 7:55 PM, John Ruth wrote:
> > With profuse apologies to Kirk and all the assembled Galooterati,  I'm
> starting over, hopefully without the previous typos!!!
> >
> > A *Corrected* Whatzit Mystery" for your consideration.
> > I recently bought two mystery tools at a local Flea. ( Observation on
> that, later. )
> >
> > They appear to be large triangular burnishers.  Envision a 12"
> triangular tapered file _13/16" wide_, without teeth nor any sign that it
> ever had teeth. It's in a 5" wooden handle with a brass ferrule that's made
> of simple brass tubing. ( Tool is 17" LOA ).
> >
> > The edges are slightly rounded and the sides are flat.  This pretty much
> ruled out a "bearing scraper", as bearing scrapers have sharp edges and a
> concave relief on each side.
> >
> > The tip shows some signs of corner-rounding, but only for about 1/4"
> back from the tip.
> >
> > All three sides have a trademark just above the tang. ( i.e. in the same
> position as a file would be stamped. ). Why would the maker _identically_
> stamp all three sides?
> >
> > The mark is "K & F" enclosed in an ellipse. "Made in USA" is wrapped
> around the exterior of the eclipse.
> >
>
>
>
> --
Sent from my iPad, apologies for the Auto Correct errors. Kirk


-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA 
276895 Thomas Conroy 2023‑01‑10 Re: Large triangular burnisher (?) marked "K&F Made in USA" ( *CORRECTED* )
O Galoots:
John Ruth wrote asking about what "appear to be large triangular burnishers.
Envision a 12" triangular tapered file _13/16" wide_, without teeth nor any sign
that it ever had teeth. It's in a 5" wooden handle with a brass ferrule that's
made of simple brass tubing. ( Tool is 17" LOA )....The mark is "K & F" enclosed
in an ellipse. "Made in USA" is wrapped around the exterior of the eclipse.""My
speculations run toward a folding or creasing tool for bookbinding. Second most
likely seems to be leatherwork...."
Wotcher, John. Its not any bookbinding tool known to me. It's certainly not a
manufactured binding tool, though it might be a user-made tool for a use I don't
know. But for creasing and folding, binders tend to prefer (in order) bone,
brass, stainless steel, extremely hard wood. The hands stay clean and these
materials are felt as gentler on paper or leather. There are various kinds of
carbon steel tools around, but they tend to be low preference because of the
danger of rust getting on the hands or paper (there is a lot of water in a
bindery, at least by woodworking standards). Also, a chemical reaction of water,
leather, and steel causes a deep black indelible stain on leather, and even a
tiny dot of this is a major disaster. A few long steel tools with wooden handles
are used (especially burnishers for leather), but they tend to be used heated so
they typically have long handles and short massive heads. The described tool
just doesn't sound like something I would find in a bindery.
Tom ConroyBerkeley

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