Auction finds

[George Sanders]

I went to an auction yesterday in central Indiana near the Illinois line. Windy and snowing and very cold. I thought that might work to my advantage. It did and it didn't. A lot of other diehards like myself were there. I spent under thirty dollars for some good almost full length chisels. One is a Stanley Defiance 5/8 1221, And 2 unknown corner chisels. 1" and a 3/4". 2 pretty pitted gouges, one a Buck Bros. A Stanley spofford brace that had a spoke pointer in it.( It has an adjustable depth stop.) An 8" L.&I.J.White spokeshave, a nice 20" bow saw along with a bevel that has a silver inlay on it. There was also a razor sharpener. The only thing that I can't figure out is the thing at the top of the photo of the brace. It has a mortise through it with a thumbscrew. On the bottom there is a small rabbet with copper attached with tiny screws.
Non woodworking tools: ratcheting pipe threader with extra teeth. I left the horse belly band on the hayrack.

[Andrew Gibson]

Looks like a great day except for the weather.

Love the spofford brace. I still have to find a nice spofford in the wild. I have to say I might be getting addictied to braces. That being said I only have 4.

As for the thing you don't know, neighter do I :)

[Jim Koepke]

Nice haul, any maker's mark on the bevel gauge? It looks like it could be shop made.

Only idea on the unknown tool is some kind of clamping device.

jtk

[George Sanders]

The Spofford has pewter rings on it. Kind of a high end touch back in the day. The bevel also has a ruler along the side so I think it was factory made. I too, think that one thing is some kind of clamp. I am really happy about getting the corner chisel. Last fall I offered $15 for a 3/4 at a flea market and was declined. I got a whole flat of chisels with 2 corner chisels for $12.50. Ten for the saw and 5 bucks for the brace and everything else. There were also 2 hatchets I didn't photograph. This should satisfy my add..er hobby for a while.

[Jim gormley]

I wonder if the unidentified tool is a head piece to an adjustable T square?

[Alfred Kraemer]

I have a Spofford brace like that - maybe the sweep is smaller. That's the only brace I ever use: it is accurate, easy to sight down the tool for aim, and the bits always seem to line up just right. Just a simple, well-designed and well-made tool.
Regarding the mystery tool: it looks like a scraper. I think there is a blade inserted/clamped inside the wooden bocy(?)

Alfred

[Joshua Clark]

The mystery tool sounds like it could be the head to a panel gauge. The stem would be held in place by the thumbscrew. The plated rabbet rides the edge of the work.

Josh

[Dan Andrews]

Great capture George! I watch ebay a lot and that spofford brace is worth at least $25. The chisels are another high cost item on ebay. You got a steal.

[George Sanders]

Full length chisels in usable shape are a premium item. I cleaned the saw enough to read the name "Richardson" embossed on the wood.

Josh, I think you are right about the mystery tool. I have downloaded several old tool catalogs and have found other tools that I have listed in them. The large spoke pointer goes for a lot on the "bay" and prices are almost as high as the online dealers.

[George Sanders]

I did quite a bit of reading and searching on the web concerning the tools I picked up. The mystery tool is indeed a panel gauge, though I still haven't discovered the manufacturer. The bevel is by Nelson&Hubbard Middletown Ct. 1850 to 1855, They became Nelson&Co. in 1855. Found one in better shape that sold for $125. :eek: Anybody got a c-note? :rolleyes: