Bliss Shaper 1881 ?

[Robert Lang]

BTW, if you did not know, Jeff passed of cancer. I have taken over his duties managing the shop at Tuckahoe.

No I did not. Sorry to hear that.

Not 100% sure but I think this is Albert's grave. The timeframe fits.

Albert J. Davis (1824-1901) - Find A Grave Memorial

This is his brother Andrew. He was also a machinist. He died in the Civil War.

Capt Andrew S. Davis (1833-1863) - Find A Grave Memorial

This is his brother Charles D.B. Davis. He had a foundry.

Charles D. B. Davis (1832-1892) - Find A Grave Memorial

Have not found out anything on J. Frank Davis

Rob

 

[Vince]

Rob,

Thanks for the information.

The main difference I see, which you may not pick up in the pictures, is that the legs and the main casting are two parts on our shaper at Tuckahoe. I wonder if that is an indication that it is older than the 1877 ad. My thinking is in the early days of iron casting they were limited in the amount of iron they could pour at once.

One the flip side, I always wondered if they made it light weight, and able to disassemble into smaller pieces intentionally for shipping reasons.

Vince

 

[Robert Lang]

The main difference I see, which you may not pick up in the pictures, is that the legs and the main casting are two parts on our shaper at Tuckahoe.

Vince

I noticed that right away.
Don't put to much stock in the illustration for being very accurate.
Some engravers did a very accurate job while others did not.
This engraver did not do a very good job.
It does have separate legs.
You can see errors that the engraver made. Here are three of them.
The opening on the rear, on the side, is shown in the illustration as being one long vertical opening.
It is in fact two openings.
The long vertical opening on the front of the side of the illustration is shown as narrow in width.
It is in fact wider.
The illustrator shows the arch opening of the legs on the front, but fails carry it to the back side.

Rob

 

[Robert Lang]

Just for reference, here is the Bliss shaper which came out in 1882.

Rob