I'm Stumped.

[Bob Smalser]

Anybody know what these were for?

http://merr.com/users/deshane/groove1.jpg

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI. dll?ViewItem&category=13871&item=6125790866&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13871&item=6125790866&rd=1)

http://merr.com/users/deshane/groove2.jpg

Definitely not a caulking iron. The ad is as clear as mud, but I believe these are side views...

...thick working edges with coves.

Some sort of ironing device to form a bead in pitch or plaster?

Thick enough to be used hot.

DR Barton was an edge tool maker, and I suspect these are tempered tool steel.

[Chris Padilla]

Are ya gonna bid, Bob? :) If nothing, it might be some nice iron to use for something else or rehab to their intended use!

[Steve Jenkins]

Don't know what they are but depending on the thickness the look like they would be good for caulking with oakum. Them and a wooden mallet. Steve

[Rob Bourgeois]

Maybe something to tool mortar with when doing brickwork?

[Scott Quesnelle]

If you take a look here:
http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioBarton.html

Then mention a few different D.R. Barton's who were tool makers. This one struck me as a possibility.

David R. Barton & Co.: 1849 - 1874.
Adzes, axes, carpenter tools, chisels, cooper's tools, drawknives, hammers, hatchets, picks, tinsmith tools and wooden planes.
Marks: D. R. BARTON (with and without the CO.) and ROCHESTER (with and without the N.Y.). Some included "1832" and some a star figure. There was a variety of shapes used with the lettering: straight line, oval and half-circle.
Location: 136 Mill Street

What about it being a tinsmithing tool? Used to run grooves? or used with a matching stake it could make a nice round profile on tin.

Just a wild guess though.

[harry strasil]

they look like joint tools a white (stone)mason would use on the wide joints of native stone work.

[Tom LaRussa]

Anybody know what these were for?

Definitely not a caulking iron. The ad is as clear as mud, but I believe these are side views...

...thick working edges with coves.

Some sort of ironing device to form a bead in pitch or plaster?

Thick enough to be used hot.

DR Barton was an edge tool maker, and I suspect these are tempered tool steel.
Bob,

Just curious, did you ever find out what those things were for?

[Bob Smalser]

No...that's why I didn't follow up.

Most thought it was a beading tool for mortar joints in masonry....but it wouldn't have to be near so heavy for that.

A better answer was probably a forming tool to be used with a factory sheet metal rolling machine to form a beaded joint....or even a saddlery to form decorative edges in leather...but nobody had seen anything like that, either.

[Bob Smalser]

Most folks were correct.


Hi Bob,

You were stumped. So was I. The answers that were coming back did not seen to be right. The brick jointer idea seemed a bit far fetched. Why would it be so heavy? so I just filed it in the brain and waited for something to come up. Well It has!

Today a Copy of the Edward Preston catalogue for 1909 arrived in the post. on glancing through it, low and behold,

There on page 105 is your tool. You know what - it is a brick jointer!

They came in three sizes, Flat and three sizes grooved.

Regards, Ralph