OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

3891 thh1@c... (Thomas H. Holloway) 1996‑08‑13 Intro/gloat?/query
Galoots:
        I started lurking (and learning), dared to post, and realized I had
neglected to identify myself.  I've been an accumulator of bits and pieces
of rusty metal and hard cellulose for a some years, rec. user variety, and
more recently was drawn to this list by the Electronic Neanderthal, Jay
Sutherland's HP, and related Web sites.  It was a surprise to see the
Cornell base of the listserv, and have since done a minor deal, face to
face, with another neighber, Tom Bruce.  I also work at what in PRINY is
often called The Big U.
        Last summer when the all-too-Normlike WOOD magazine ran a piece
"testing" commercially available workbenches, I was intrigued enough to use
a stack of maple I'd been saving to build my own.  Real purty, and
functional, especially upon discovering the therapeutic effect of hand
planing.
        On to the gloat? part.  Stopped the other day at one of those
antique shops that specializes in old paper and costume jewelry and saw
some rust in a corner.  Got 3 *functional* braces for $2, and two handsaws
for $1.  The saws were total red dust, absolute mess, but I could see the
little Pennsylvania keystone in the big screw nut.  Much careful polishing
reveals one saw to bear the big keystone-and-scales label with D-23 in the
center and the scrolled engraving "For Beauty Finish and Value this Saw
Cannot be Excelled," and Henry's signature.  It has too much patina, but no
pitting, and is still very sharp!
        Finally the query:  The second saw has the keystone on the nut, but
only "Warrented, USA" and not "H. Disston & Sons" like the other.  The
blade was in even worse shape, but polishing reveals the etched images of
two runners in track suits



Recent Bios FAQ