OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

1856 Sjholmes@a... 1996‑07‑02 Re: C.C. Gaines + a bio (was chest and wood planes HELP)
In a message dated 96-07-01 00:34:20 EDT, Jim Parker writes:
 
>*** A 09 1/2 moulder marked Charlers C. Gaines in a rectangle over a toothed
>cartouche with New Orleans, There is another one 09 3/4 also
  
I missed this post the first time out, didn't catch my eye till Cliff B.
responded (It's great to see your own research quoted), but at least that got
me out of lurk-mode.  OK, first post, obligatory bio:

I was first introduced to old tools when my dad (Mickey Holmes) suddenly
snapped and started collecting wood planes.  Antique shopping for tools (and
depression glass) accelerated when I started at Mary Washington College,
where I majored in historic preservation where, among other things, I
actually got tested on identifying old tools.  My studies concentrated on
architecture, so it didn't take long for my research interests to join up
with dad's tool buying.  I really got into studying tools when I started to
research the New Orleans marks--and especially the owner's marks found on
them.  I also located a chest of tools and patterns (Greek Revival) belonging
to a  carver/builder at the Louisiana State Museum and used that as the basis
for my senior thesis.  I came back home (just outside of N.O.) after
graduating, got settled into a job at the Historic N.O. Collection, and ended
up getting kicked out of the house when my parents moved to Pennsy. after Bud
Brown called dad up and asked if he'd be interested in taking over his
auction.  I now live in another part of the N.O. area and am planning to go
back to school and finish up my M.A. (history) this year.  I'm planning to
expand the work I've to done to look at N.O. builders 1810-1860 for my
thesis.

Back to Jim's post:
>I don't see a lot of southern items

There weren't many--at least that were marked to let you know so.  You ought
to be able to count the number of tool makers located below the Mason-Dixon
line (well, with the exception of Baltimore and D.C.) with one hand.  In the
case of N.O. marks, the marks are of hardware dealers, sometimes with maker's
marks, but often without.  Both A. & E. Baldwin and T.J. McMaster (and
possibly his brother Z.J.) were suppliers of tools to dealers here.  It seems
most likely that the majority of planes sold in N.O. were made in New
York--many of the dealers had offices in both New York and N.O.

As to the C.C. Gaines mark, I can't add much more.  The dates should be quite
accurate.  The firm doesn't seem to have tried to re-establish itself after
the fire, which was in Jan. of 1862, and N.O. came under Union control that
April--not the best of economic conditions.  I would love to know if you've
got some owners marks on those tools and whether they were used here or if
their owner(s) used them elsewhere.  If you've got some names I'll start
looking them up ASAP.  If anyone else knows of any other N.O. tools I'd
appreciate knowing about them, my sample is large enough to begin to
speculate, but ever so small in comparison to the no. of tools used here.

Sara Holmes



Recent Bios FAQ