James Pickering
Greetings to everyone -- this is my first post here.

Nostalgia is overcoming me in my dotage as can be seen by my first contribution:

Most of the tools I have painstakingly sought out and purchased from various sources in an attempt to re-create (as best I can) the various woodworking and tool kits that I used when I was an apprentice Truck Cab and Body builder at the firm of Oswald Tiilotson, Burnley, Lancashire (northern England) in the late 1940s. The tools depicted here are the type and vintage I used during my apprenticeship -- and in the same general condition -- well used but also well cared for. I derive great satisfaction from using tools that still function well after so many years of constant use. For me its really all about nostalgia and affection.

My tool kits evolved during my apprenticeship from a few used old tools (mostly pre-WWII 1930s vintage) when I started, to a mix of used and newly bought tools by 1950. The tool kit depicted here is representative of one of mine from about 1949.

Some of my Stanley tools were of US manufacture while others (post 1938) were produced at their British (Sheffield) plant. I personally preferred Stanley metal bodied planes - some craftsmen and apprentices preferred British made Record (and other make) metal bodied planes. I also mostly used Stanley bench (butt and paring) chisels, but generally preferred British made (mostly Marples, Sorby and Butcher) firmer, sash mortise and heavy duty mortise chisels. I eventually exclusively used North Bros. (Philadelphia manufacture) ratchet mechanism tools: rapid return spiral screwdrivers, hand drills and bit braces.

Top well compartment:

* Smoothing Plane - Stanley Bailey No. 4.
* Bit Brace - North Bros. "YANKEE" No. 2100 (12" sweep).
* Hand Drill - North Bros. "YANKEE" No. 1530A.
* Low Angle Block Plane - Stanley No. 60½.
* Finishing Block Plane - Stanley No. 203.

Top Drawer:

* Paring Chisel - Stanley tang No. 161.
* Butt Chisel - Stanley No. 60 Stanloid handle.
* Butt Chisel - Stanley No. 40 Everlasting wood handle.
* Pocket/Butt Chisels - Stanley No. R40 hard rubber handle (3).
* Butt chisels - Stanley No. 750 - an assortment (5).

Middle Drawer:

* Spiral Ratchet Quick Return Screw Driver - North Bros. "YANKEE" No. 130A Medium Pattern.
* Claw Nail Hammer - Stanley No. 53 (7 oz).
* Claw Nail Hammer - Stanley No. 51½ (16 oz).
* Nail Set - Stanley No. 11.
* Screw Wax (or home made tallow box) - FastCap.
* Spiral Ratchet Quick Return Screw Driver - North Bros. "YANKEE" No. 131A Heavy Pattern.

Bottom Drawer:

* Oil Stone - Norton boxed, medium/fine.
* Hand Saw Sharpening Jointer - Disston.
* Hand Saw Tooth Set - E. C. Stearn.
* Marking Gauge - Stanley beech wood No. 61.
* Dividers/Compass - Microbow.
* Boxwood Folding Rule - Stanley 24" No. 61 or No. 62.
* Bevel - Stanley No. 25 (6").
* Try Square - Stanley No. 2 (8").

Hand Saws not in my Tool Box but part of my kit. (hanging on adjacent wall).

* Cross-cut Hand Saw - Disston D-8 (8 tpi).

* Tenon/Dovetail Saw - Disston No. 4 (18 tpi).

Tote for storing additional tools and for carrying specific tools to job sites. (kept on bench next to tool box).

* Mallet - Crown (or home made) 16 oz.
* Mortise marking gauge - Marples rosewood No. 2154.
* Heavy duty mortise chisel(s) - W. & S. Butcher.
* Sash mortise chisel(s) - Sorby "Kangaroo brand" boxwood handles.
* Firmer chisel(s) - Stanley No. 720.
* Miscellaneous small tools/accessories such as small clamps, spokeshaves, rasps, gouges, brad awls, wrenches, screwdriver bits, drill bits, pencils, sand paper & sanding block, sweeping brush, etc.

Sash mortise and firmer chisels were actually kept in a canvas chisel roll.

Addendum

Specialized Tools

As a general rule, apprentices didn't own specialized tools such as Rabbet, Dado, Router and Scraper Planes or Breast Drills, etc. - instead, they borrowed them when needed from the older craftsmen who were always forthcoming.

Other tools such as Gouges, Spokeshaves, Keyhole Saws, etc. of various makes were obtained whenever the opportunity presented itself, in the meantime being borrowed from older craftsmen as the occasion for their use arose.

Here are three tools often borrowed -- I eventually bought my own much later:

* Ratchet Breast Drill - North Bros. "YANKEE" No. 1555.
* Router Plane - Stanley open throat No. 71.
* Duplex Rabbet Plane - Stanley No. 78.

James