Benjamin Seaton's chest

Re: Benjamin Seaton's chest

john jesseph

>I got a copy from interlibrary loan via the local University. The copy I borrowed was from the Smithsonian. The information was very interesting, but not what I thought it would be. It is one data point among many in terms of how a tool chest should be built and organized. More informative was the information about his tools and where they came from- I was surprised that many didn't appear to be first quality tools, for example.

John Jesseph

Re: Benjamin Seaton's chest

Ed Mulligan, Cape Cod

>Bjenk -

Chris Schwarz is the author of the Pop WW article you mention. He's a frequent poster on this board. Perhaps he will be able to answer your question about his article.

The book by Rees et al has a chapter on the chest itself including line drawings of the exterior and till and several good photos in color and black and white.

Also you might check out a recent thread on Knots (http://www.taunton.com/fwn/Community/CommunityHome.aspx) about toolchests.

Ed

Re: Benjamin Seaton's chest

Bjenk Ellefsen

>Im going to send an email to Astragal Press and see if they would be willing to sell me one.

I am dead curious to see what tools are in that chest!

Re: Benjamin Seaton's chest

Paul Kierstead

>I was surprised that many didn't appear to be first quality tools

I am curious (seriously); why does this surprise you? I guess the more general expectation that people have concerning the quality of tools used by craftsman in days gone by?

PK

Re: Benjamin Seaton's chest

Todd Hughes

>In 1796 cabinet maker and upholster Joseph Seaton bought his son Benjamin some 200 tools from the famouse London tool maker and merchant Christopher Gabriel. The son added about 60 more tools , some of which were homemade and built the chest to hold them.Apparently the son was planing to come to America and bring the tools and chest with him but never left and tools saw only the most minimal of use and they were preserved all together.

I would be surprised if the tools , other then maybe the homemade ones, were of anything but high quality. They were bought by an experanced master craftsman for his son from one of the major tool merchants of the day. The photos I have seen of the tools certainly show tools that are top of the line. The chest is beautiful work of a master wood worker with many inlays etc. The tools while not "Fancy" with inlays or engravings do look to be of very good quality, probably the best "Users" that could be bought in the day ......Todd

Re: Benjamin Seaton's chest

Ed Mulligan, Cape Cod

>EAIA has discontinued their book sales program but might have a copy or two: eaia@comcast.net

Ed

Re: Benjamin Seaton's chest

john jesseph

>Hello; I returned the book quite awhile ago, so I don't have it to refer to. I recall that some of the planes were made from stock with grain irregularities or knots, IIRC. I guess I expected it to be like a Studley chest from an earlier era. I wouldn't be disappointed to own it though!