George H. Bishop & Co. No. 7 Back Saw

[James Pickering]

Some of my friends invited me to attend a local 'flea market' yesterday. "Alright", I said, "but I am not going to buy any more tools, for I have pledged to 'she who must be obeyed' that the last tool was my final purchase!" Ah, what fools we mortals be! And we all know that the disease is incurable.

Anyway, I succumbed abjectly at the first 'old tool stall'. The purveyor was a pleasant enthusiast who offered a well presented collection of nice old tools - just wiped clean and completely un-restored specimens - exactly the way I like 'em!

Of course I couldn't resist a fine Disston D-8 Rip saw - all there - with a nice etch for $10. But what really caught my eye was this exquisite Geo. Bishop & Co. back saw with a pretty nice etch and well sharpened and set teeth. As soon as I picked it up I knew I had to have it for it 'hung' just right and it was in really nice condition. I have read some about the quality and excellence of Bishop saws over the years, but I have always been primarily a 'Disston man'. "Thirty five dollars" the gentleman said. "How about twenty five" I replied in my best 'wheeler dealer' voice. "Sold - its a deal". We shook hands and now I am the proud owner of as fine a back saw as I have ever owned.

I know very little about Bishop saws - I spent last evening stroking the one I just bought and 'Googling' Bishop saws. I know a little more than I did before yesterday, but I would appreciate all information anyone can provide. Introducing my newly acquired Bishop back saw:

http://jp29.org/0bishop01.jpg

http://jp29.org/0bishop02.jpg

http://jp29.org/0bishop03.jpg

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James

[Adam Neat]

As someone from Cincinnati I think that is really cool. Never heard of them myself, great find

[Adam Petersen]

Hi
I have two Geo H. Bishop saws. One large crosscut backsaw and a really cool rip saw with thumb hole. I tried to research them too with little success. Other than Cincinatti and some years they operated there isn't much. I read somewhere that the steel used in them was a little more brittle than Disston but who knows. I wish there was more info as well. They are beautiful saws with nicely made medallions and etchs. Congrats on the new saw. $25 is a good deal for that saw in that condition in my opinion.

[Stanley Covington]

Congratulations. GHB made fine saws, superior to Diston IMO. I have four of them and use one frequently. GHB was not a marketing juggernaut like Diston, and being in Ohio and far from the more heavily populated East Coast, was not as well known. Marketing and metallurgical factors aside, I also like the appearance of GHB's because of the cherry wood handles, and the classy winged-greyhound logo.

Stan

[James Pickering]

Hi
I have two Geo H. Bishop saws. One large crosscut backsaw and a really cool rip saw with thumb hole. I tried to research them too with little success. Other than Cincinatti and some years they operated there isn't much. I read somewhere that the steel used in them was a little more brittle than Disston but who knows. I wish there was more info as well. They are beautiful saws with nicely made medallions and etchs. Congrats on the new saw. $25 is a good deal for that saw in that condition in my opinion.
My "Googling" has produced some worthwhile results. One of the best resources I have unearthed to date is the George H. Bishop & Co. - Lawrenceburg, IN page
of WK Fine Tools.com at http://www.wkfinetools.com/hUS-saws/BishopGeoH/BishopGeoH-index.asp (check out the embedded links). I used their in-house Google search engine to access other Bishop related pages.

James

[James Pickering]

Congratulations. GHB made fine saws, superior to Diston IMO. I have four of them and use one frequently. GHB was not a marketing juggernaut like Diston, and being in Ohio and far from the more heavily populated East Coast, was not as well known. Marketing and metallurgical factors aside, I also like the appearance of GHB's because of the cherry wood handles, and the classy winged-greyhound logo.

Stan
Excellent information regarding cherry wood for the handles, Stanley. Thanks. What is the source for your information please?

James

[Stanley Covington]

Excellent information regarding cherry wood for the handles, Stanley. Thanks. What is the source for your information please?

James

James:

I am not aware if any published documentation about GHB saws with cherry handles. But two of my GHB saws, a backsaw and a double-edged saw (similar to the Disston 80 but with a spine of sorts) have cherry handles.

Stan

[James Pickering]

James:

I am not aware if any published documentation about GHB saws with cherry handles. But two of my GHB saws, a backsaw and a double-edged saw (similar to the Disston 80 but with a spine of sorts) have cherry handles.

Stan
Thank you, Stan. Still very good information.

James

[James Pickering]

As someone from Cincinnati I think that is really cool. Never heard of them myself, great find
My son-in-law is also from Cincinnati, Adam and he had never heard of Bishop saws either. Now his interest is piqued. I agree it is really cool.

James

[James Pickering]

My "Googling" has produced some worthwhile results. One of the best resources I have unearthed to date is the George H. Bishop & Co. pages of WK Fine Tools.com at http://www.wkfinetools.com/hUS-saws/BishopGeoH/BishopGeoH-index.asp (check out the embedded links). I used their in-house Google search engine to access other Bishop related pages.

James
After further reading, I have found the George H. Bishop & Co. (http://www.wkfinetools.com/hUS-saws/BishopGeoH/BishopGeoH-index.asp) reference pages of WK Fine Tools.com to be a very rich and comprehensive research resource. Again, be sure to use the embedded links to visit the very informative illustrated pages:


Historical Review
Tool Samples
Patents
Publications & Miscellaneous Docs.
Marketing Advertising and Sales
In the Press


James

[James Pickering]

I have consolidated the information into a web page ..........

http://jp29.org/wwbishop01.htm

........ that includes additional photos and reference resource links.

James