OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

22858 <GINGRICH.LORN_C+@A...> 1997‑07‑29 Delurk, Hello, and a coupla questions
GG's:
       Greetings from lovely Albany (yes, the Wal-Mart closes at 10 here;
they tried the 24 hour thing around Christmas, but recently wimped out).
My name is Lorn Gingrich, and I've been lurking for a few weeks on this
esteemed porch, enjoying myself so much that I felt guilty for not
contributing.  I'm a social worker by day, a husband and father of two
girls, and a newbie to both woodworking and Neanderthings.  It all started
when SWMBO bought me a TS for my birthday a couple years back (because, of
course, the collected wisdom at the local megasuperhomeimprovementmart
told her that was the cornerstone of the well appointed woodshop.  Not
that they'd have any handtools worth owning, but I digress.)  I made a few
things and collected a few tailed apprentices, and even a year ago my hand
tool knowledge was such that I delighted in a $12 #4 Great Neck I stumbled
upon in an antique shop in Newport.  
       I am obsessive, anal, frequently verbose, and a veritable font of
trivial information, which is to say, I feel very comfortable on the
porch.  I try to keep in mind the words of the venerable Karthar Rinpoche
(a learned Buddhist monk), who told me with a big smile: "You think you're
so smart.  You don't know anything!"
       I got me a small but growing pile o' rust, and am finding I'm
spending all my time searching, cleaning and tuning, without doing actual
wooddorking at all.  
       Ennyhow, I recently snarfed a couple nice (dirt cheap!) box lots
that included 3 North Yankees, 4 braces (6,8,10 and 12 in.), 11 Irwin and
Jennings pattern bits, a small vise, 2 expansion bits, a small eggbeater
drill, and nondescript wooden level, a whatsit?, and 6 North slotted bits
(not to mention a Crapsman d*d* s*t).  These prompted a few questions, and
forgive me if they're facile:
       1.  3 of the braces are standard MF and Stanley; the 6" is not.
It's got a Barber chuck, no ratchet, and is marked on the arm "H. S.
BARTHOLO***   BRISTOL  CT  USA"  and on the other arm of the sweep "117
  PAT'D MAY 24 70"  I'd love to know more about this brace.
       2.  re the bits:  several are marked "Snell MFG Co, Fiskdale, Mass,
Made in USA"  One is an Irwin style marked "CE Jennings"- any relation to
Russell?  One of the expansion bits is a neat PS & W with the hole depth
marked right on the shaft.  Again, any info on these companies would be
appreciated.
       3.  Finally, I also picked up a #12 from a different lot at the
same auction.  Looks like it's never been used, just stored in a very damp
place to cultivate rust.  Now that I've cleaned it up, it's in very nice
condition, with a SW blade.  And I didn't pay anything close to what they
were going for at Crane's, which as I recall, was $90 and up.  It is,
however, missing one of the brass thumbwheels that set the blade angle.
At the risk of being flamed for an untoward WTB, can anyone point me in
the direction of a good source of parts?
       Thanks for indulging me.  I warned you I could be verbose.
 
Lorn Gingrich  
"When all is said and done, more is said than done."  --Lou Holtz



Recent Bios FAQ