rivett608
Diamond
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2002
- Location
- Kansas City, Mo.
As anyone who follows my posts knows, I know a lot about antique tools, but this has me stumped. It is a fine set of tools, beautifully cased for some unknown purpose and I believe the clues lie in the little pieces parts found in the case assuming they are original to it.
First a detailed description: A 10” x 5 1/2” x 2 1/2” very nice leather covered case fitted and lined in chamois. A friend who is one of the finest gun case maker still working cleaned it up a bit and said it looks all original and these things were not later fitted in to a nice case. Based on the case and tools I guess this dates from about 1880-1920. The tools are a little finer than average and as this type of tool was offered in that period. These are in what was known as “bright” finish. Some of the tools are clearly imported, both pliers are signed P. S. Stubs (England), the vise is marked Besançon (France) and the hammer is stamped “SM” in a way I have seen hammers from England signed. The screwdriver has a boxwood handle. In the lid are a wrench which has a now chipped screwdriver tip on the end of the handle. This is clearly a wrench and not a gauge based on wear, it’s soft steel, and the lack of precision in the opening. The sizes are .230”, .275”, .350”, .390” & .475”. There is also a nice little TEE handle with a screwdriver that fits it perfectly. I am guessing there was a set of long bits, reamers or something that fit in it stored in the compartments to each side of it.
My feeling is this was a set of tools made to adjust something very fine and special. The tools seem like what you would use to tweak some kind of expensive machine that would be located in a very nice place. Just not picking the dirty type workman using this. But what were they adjusting? The clue may lie in what these little parts are.
There are a bunch of screws, thumb screws, set screws, etc. with machine screw thread sizes 1-72, 9-32, 12-30 and 20-20. These are size used in the United States at that period so I assume the set is American. There are also two thumb screws that may have never been used as they have burrs left over from being manufactured, they are .146-38 which is a pretty strange thread. Then there are springs and some kind if finger like things that might just be the clue. Look at the photos as a picture is worth a thousand words. They seem familiar but what are they from?
So, what ideas might you have of what this set was made for?
Thanks
First a detailed description: A 10” x 5 1/2” x 2 1/2” very nice leather covered case fitted and lined in chamois. A friend who is one of the finest gun case maker still working cleaned it up a bit and said it looks all original and these things were not later fitted in to a nice case. Based on the case and tools I guess this dates from about 1880-1920. The tools are a little finer than average and as this type of tool was offered in that period. These are in what was known as “bright” finish. Some of the tools are clearly imported, both pliers are signed P. S. Stubs (England), the vise is marked Besançon (France) and the hammer is stamped “SM” in a way I have seen hammers from England signed. The screwdriver has a boxwood handle. In the lid are a wrench which has a now chipped screwdriver tip on the end of the handle. This is clearly a wrench and not a gauge based on wear, it’s soft steel, and the lack of precision in the opening. The sizes are .230”, .275”, .350”, .390” & .475”. There is also a nice little TEE handle with a screwdriver that fits it perfectly. I am guessing there was a set of long bits, reamers or something that fit in it stored in the compartments to each side of it.
My feeling is this was a set of tools made to adjust something very fine and special. The tools seem like what you would use to tweak some kind of expensive machine that would be located in a very nice place. Just not picking the dirty type workman using this. But what were they adjusting? The clue may lie in what these little parts are.
There are a bunch of screws, thumb screws, set screws, etc. with machine screw thread sizes 1-72, 9-32, 12-30 and 20-20. These are size used in the United States at that period so I assume the set is American. There are also two thumb screws that may have never been used as they have burrs left over from being manufactured, they are .146-38 which is a pretty strange thread. Then there are springs and some kind if finger like things that might just be the clue. Look at the photos as a picture is worth a thousand words. They seem familiar but what are they from?
So, what ideas might you have of what this set was made for?
Thanks