Old handsaws & a brace and augers set

[John Spitters]

I picked these up on the weekend from a Craigs list ad.

I've always wanted a brace and bits set but was unwilling to put the money out for a new set, so when I saw this I went after it.
It is a complete set of the Auger bits from 1/4" - 1"
The brace works fine though I believe that at some time in it's life the top knob was replaced with a machined allumminum one. Some of the auger bits still have their plastic coating on them.
$25 for the set

I also picked up all of these hand saws, most are Disston with some being Warranted Superior. I labelled each so that perhaps I could get some feed back as the whether or not I have some decent saws. From the Disston medallions some appear to be dated around 1846 or so this I know by comparing them to an on line site that dates the differences in the medallions as to their time periods. One of the saws has American Anderson Jubilee on the Medallion
$25 for all of the saws.

I also got a #4 Bailley plane for $10 that is in good condition

[Will Boulware]

Yeah, i'd say that's gloat-worthy. Good score!

[George Sanders]

That is a nice haul.

[David Weaver]

You pretty much got your money's worth on that clean looking #7 panel.

Any clue who made those bits? Are they a hardware store branded irwin bit, or are they of true english manufacture?

[John Spitters]

Here's what I found out about Re; the auger bits.



http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/images/oldtools_title.png (http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/index.php) http://www.swingleydev.com/images/blank_white.png (http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/get.php?message_id=127506&submit_thread=1#content)
Search (http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/search.php)Advanced Search (http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/advanced.php)Browse (http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/browse.php)Recent Messages (http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/index.php#recent)Bios (http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/bio.php)
The following shows the message you requested. To get back to the list of browse results, click the back button on your browser.
If you are thinking of subscribing to this list, please consult the OldTools FAQ (http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html).
Implementation details and privacy policy can be found on the Notes page (http://www.swingleydev.com/archive/notes.php).
127506Don McConnell <DMCCONN@c...>Jan-14-2004Gilpin (was: Auger bits, makers ...)Bob Nelson wrote:>Roger [Birkhead] asked about some auger maker names ... .>>>Gilpins - A William Gilpin & Co. is listed as a UK maker of plane irons>1868-1946 and a W. Gilpin (no & Co.) is listed as a chisel maker there>with no dates given.This relatively large, diverse and long-lived Gilpin firm seems toexist at the margins of our lore about English tool makers. Maybebecause it was not located in one of the major tool making centers?In any event, I've been able to uncover some additional informationabout the firm and this seems like a good time to "publish" it forthe edification of other porch dwellers.The earliest relevant trade directory listings I've found, so far,are from an 1834 Staffordshire directory. These listings are:George Gilpin, Wedges Mill, manufacturer of edge tools, augers, &c.George Gilpin, [Church Bridge] Great Wyrley, steel converters, and edge tool &c. manufacturer[George Gilpin, coal master, Great Wyrley]These locations and operations are also described in some generalcommentary about the area in the same 1834 Directory. I think itworth repeating here, as it reminds us of the importance of waterpower for the siting of such works, gives a fuller idea of theenterprise, and provides a rough idea as to when the firm may havebeen established: "Church Bridge is a small village in Great Wyrley township, 1mile S. of Cannock, on the Watling street, and on one of the tributarystreams of the Penk, where Mr. Gilpin established, about 35 years ago,an extensive manufactory of edge tools, augers, hammers, &c., and aforge, a tilt, rolling and grind-mills, and furnaces for convertingand refining iron and steel; all of which are now in a flourishingstate, and give employment to a considerable number of workmen. Aboutone mile to the west is Wedges Mill, a hamlet in Cannock township,where Mr. Gilpin has another edge tool manufactory on the Hedgfordrivulet."This description would place the establishment of the Church Bridgeworks at about 1800. I would surmise that the Wedges Mill site hadless water power than the Church Bridge site, which raises thequestion as to why George Gilpin would have had two separate worksin such close proximity? Possibly he had purchased the Wedges Millsite from a smaller, competing, firm?In any event, George Gilpin is also listed, in 1835, as an edge tool,and bar iron and steel manufacturer at Wedges Mills and at ChurchBridge.Ownership of the firm has changed by the 1842 listing:William Gilpin & Co., Wedges Mills & Church Bridge, edge tool and bar iron and steel manufacturer (and brewer)[William Gilpin & Co., coal masters, Great Wyrley & Pelsall]By 1851, the listing reads:William Gilpin & Co., steel converters, tilters, rollers, edge- tool mfrs., coal masters and brick makers, Church Bridge & Wedges Mills.Bernard Gilpin (of William Gilpin & Co.), edge tool &c. mfr.I've also been able to find listings from 1870 (William Gilpin & Co.),1904 and 1912 (William Gilpin, Sen. & Co. Limited) - the latter twoproviding a fairly extensive list of their products as well asinformation that they had become "Contractors to His Majesty'sGovernment." The 1904 Directory, in a general description of the areaaround Cannock, indicates that the firm was employing "hundreds ofworkmen" at that time.An 1876 "WM. GILPIN, SENr. & CO." advertisement gives a fairlyclear idea of the diversity of their products: Patent Screw Augers and Boring Bits Heavy & Light Edge Tools, for the following purposes:- Agricultural & Garden | Coopers Bricklayers | Masons & Plasterers Carpenters & Joiners | Quarrying & Miners Contractors, Platelayers, | Ship Carpenters &c. | Smiths & Farriers Plantation Tools, Matchets or Cutlasses, Cane Bills, &c. For all Colonial and Foreign Markets Anvils, Vices, Lifting Jacks Cider Press and other Screws, Chains, &c. Bar, Hoop, and Use Iron Cart Arms, Axle Moulds, &c. Steel of Every DescriptionHoping this provides some useful information concerning thisrelatively significant tool making firm.Don McConnellKnox County, Ohio

http://www.timelesstools.co.uk/images/1059%20gilpin%20catalogue.JPG

[John Spitters]

I also found this article Dated February 1877, listing 1 case of Gilpins augers and bits (near the bottom of the list)

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=WH18770228.2.13.1