Saw maker question

2/4/04, 3:54 AM #1

Angelo in Cornwall, NY
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Saw maker question

Angelo in Cornwall, NY

>I've picked up two saws over the last year that have handles fastened with wood screws, from the factory. The more I look at them the more I think they are from the same maker. The first is 1 10 inch, 10ppi open handled saw, almost like a kid's toy. The second is an 8 ppi xcut, 26 inches long. Any clues who used wood screws on the handles?

Re: Saw maker question

2/4/04, 3:58 AM #2

John Aniano in Central NJ
Carpenter
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Registered: 12/31/03
Website

Re: Saw maker question

John Aniano in Central NJ

>Angelo,

I have a similar handsaw with the same simple screws holding the blade in place. I, too, assumed it was a tool for a child. As to the maker of yours and my handsaw, I have no clue. Maybe "Inspector" Todd Hughes will know!

John

- - -

My bowmaking web site I have done some sort of woodworking since I was 6 years old. In 5th grade I tried, with my father's help, to make a pine violin. It hangs on the wall in my shop. Later in middle school I had basic wood shop class. No project I can remember that survived from then! In high school, I took wood shop I and II, and metal shop I and II. This along with the usual college prep courses - my counselors thought I was nuts! I made a number of clocks during high school, maybe 2 dozen altogether, including wall clocks, shelf clocks and a pocket watch with wooden case, some of which I still have. I began to collect, restore and use old wood working tools. I especially like 19th century English tools. After graduation, I made a grandfather clock which is now on the landing of my home staircase. I made the metal dial and metal hands as well. In college, I studied Industrial Arts to be a shop teacher. I made a number of projects including a multi-wood specie flax-style spinning wheel and a walnut tool box. In 1978 I began to make stringed instrument bows, self-taught at first. After graduation, between 1982 and '83, I worked for William Salchow, who, at the time, was the best known bow maker in New York City. I stopped bow making in the mid-80's to attend college again, this time for ceramic engineering. Got married in 1988 to my wife Debbie. With her help (although I did a lot of the cooking, hey, I had the time!) I pursued a BS and MS in ceramic engineering. Worked for ~12 years as an engineer in the field of fiber optics (I have one patent to show for it). In 2002 I switched back to making and repairing bows. In 2006 I won a gold medal at the Violin Society of America's International competition. Later, in 2010, I got a second gold medal. Not easy for 50+ year old eyes! I continue to do some general woodworking - dovetailed drawers, frame and panel work, restoration tasks for our 260+ year old home - things like that. Mostly hand work. I have only a few power tools - a tiny 7" blade INCA table saw (which never gets used), 6" Atlas Jointer, 14" Rockwell bandsaw, a circa 1943 Delta 768 10" bandsaw, a 9", 3 foot Southbend metal lathe, Rusnok milling machine, a no-name wood lathe, and Jet drill press. I am a member of the Central Jersey Woodworkers Association - I was the vice president for the CJWA a few years back. I took Mike Dunbar's class in the late '90s and made a sackback chair. Back in ~2010 I outfitted a new, passive solar shop space for bow making and general woodworking. New benches, tool racks, etc. Still working (ever so slowly) on my 10 foot long Roubo-style bench. As of November 2018, the four pieces of ash that will comprise the top need to be milled and fitted, but the base is ~95% finished. Absolutely the largest and heaviest item I've ever made. It has been a fun journey so far!

Re: Saw maker question

2/4/04, 4:04 AM #3

Angelo in Cornwall, NY
Guest

Second Pic.

Angelo in Cornwall, NY

>Both have the same 45� notch by the blade too. Now I'm really interested.

Re: Saw maker question

2/4/04, 11:58 AM #4

Todd Hughes
Guest

Re: Saw maker question

Todd Hughes

>I don't know if the use of the screws is an indication of a particular maker but only that the saw is the cheapest of the bottom of the line saws. These type saws are very common and while most are pretty rusty don't think I have ever found one that had been sharpened much and I figure they were just bought by people that just wanted a saw around the house to use for chores.The small ones are for children tool boxes as I have seen more then a few that still had these saws in them.The cheapest saw that Disston had in thier 1918 catalog, which wasn't marked Disston by the way, was the no.087 combination square and saw and it sold for about $9.00 a doz. and it still had saw screws and nuts so these must have sold a for a good deal less.......Todd

Re: Saw maker question

2/4/04, 3:01 PM #5

Angelo in Cornwall, NY
Guest

Re: Saw maker question

Angelo in Cornwall, NY

>Todd,

I have no doubt that they were cheap, however the larger saw cuts suprisingly well. The smaller saw I picked up for my daughter, and now has a disston blade.

Saw maker question

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