Kenneth George
10-08-2006, 8:41 PM
Well to me anyway and maybe a few others. Recently along with several other items I picked up another #80 Cabinet Scraper. The thing had a blade in it about 4” long by 2-1/2” wide. It was rather covered with fine rust but it did not look to be in too bad of condition so I decided to clean it up. The blade was sharpened with a gentle curve across it and from the marks left on it I would think it was done with a file. Now the interesting part revealed itself one the blade was cleaned up. Down towards the sharp part of the blade and off center and running vertical I found the following that appeared to have been engraved.
HENRY DISSTON& SON
PHILADA USA
NO 20
Now I say engraved as you can see scratch patterns inside the letters and there is no ghosting on the opposite side of the blade as you would see on things stamped. The type above is exactly how it appears on the blade including the missing space between the N and the & symbol.
So I know that original hand card scrapers were made from old saw blades and I kind of feel this is what was done here but I find no reference to a # 20 Disston saw.
Where do you guys think it came from and does the engraving give any clues to its age?
Ken
HENRY DISSTON& SON
PHILADA USA
NO 20
Now I say engraved as you can see scratch patterns inside the letters and there is no ghosting on the opposite side of the blade as you would see on things stamped. The type above is exactly how it appears on the blade including the missing space between the N and the & symbol.
So I know that original hand card scrapers were made from old saw blades and I kind of feel this is what was done here but I find no reference to a # 20 Disston saw.
Where do you guys think it came from and does the engraving give any clues to its age?
Ken