The Traditional Tools Group Inc.

There has been a lot of discussion of late in regard to the restoration / preservation of tools. President Bob seizes every opportunity to create debate on the topic, then nurturing the ongoing discussion. ...

In NEWS No 115 the Editor Bob) in an
article titled Repair or replace sugges
some considerations when restoring a
hand plane. As a follow-up I thought my
experience in cleaning-up this impulsive
buy would be acceptable.

Early this Century I received a phone call. "Your name was passed on to me; you wouldn't have any old tools or implements from the days of early settlement, would you"? That was my introduction to Bob Dennis who immediately had my attention; perhaps it was his direct manner, the voice or the request, whatever the catalyst, I knew that I was talking to a "no nonsense, down to earth" man that had a passion.

I was given this little plane to "get it to work" a few weeks back; the plane's owner acquired it when in the UK. The previous owner, a clock collector and amateur clock case maker called it a veneer plane however, after a think-tank session with Fred Murrell, we felt that Skew-mouthed Mitre Plane was closer to the mark.

We see these things in reference books and on rare occasions in collections, however we seldom expect to find them just around the corner.

I was attending a moving sale of a local resident. As the roller-door came up my eye caught the sight of a two bladed handled Beech moulding plane; it was in the company of a lot of overpriced relics from yesteryear, however it stood out as something to be picked up.

Time saver or back breaker?

Martin Wyles, a keen member of TTTG and "hawk-eyed" when it comes to spotting something a little out of the ordinary, arrived at my shed door with his latest mystery item.

There are many reference books and articles by various clubs and groups that give the impression that if one checks out the technical stuff, they'll be able to perform skills at a Trade Level; perhaps true for those who have had previous experience in a workshop, however not so for someone that has been deprived of such an exposure or the opportunity to have a go at hand eye challenges. I'm not discounting the value of reference material, for as part of sequential learning, one must start on a firm first step.

An Edward Preston No 1367 1½ inch Registered Shoulder Plane was found in the bottom of an old tool chest from England (It pays to speak to your hairdresser NEWS No.116).

Imagine a shed annex that had been closed up for many years, with no light source, a repository for all sorts of stuff, mostly unrelated clutter smothered in dust-attracting grease. The owner had passed away some time back and his son had the task of cleaning the place up. Apparently the father was a hoarder and wouldn't part with anything and in later years became suspicious of anyone that ventured near the place.

To view a collection, to open a cupboard door or to lift the lid on an old tool box and to feast the eyes on tools of a bygone era conjures up a mixture of responses; for some it's possession, others a flashback to Grandpa's shed and for a growing number of folk, wouldn't it be great to have in the shed to use; most of the collectors I know have a healthy blend of all with the majority not being able to resist trying out their latest find, or using that special tool that has been resting in the cupboard. As for me, well, you'll be able to work that one out for yourself.