Whats the oldest outdated tool you can rember using?
I used a Stanly screwdriver (It had a name) that you pushed to spin the bit.
Edited 9/6/2005 10:59 pm ET by TRIGGER
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Edited 9/6/2005 10:59 pm ET by TRIGGER
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Replies
Isn't that a Yankee screwdriver?
I used a rock to pound a nail once, I think that was pretty old.
I've got an old boring machine, made to sit on while boring mortises in timbers, ca. 1890. Bought it in a shop in some little burg in Vermont years ago....I've used it some, but mostly it's just an attractive artifact.
I've got an old drawknife that's a family heirloom with 1819 stamped on the hand-forged handle tangs. I keep it razor sharp and use it occasionally when it suits me....it's a nicely made tool.
And I came in possession of an old compass transit a couple of years ago, ca. 1913 that was well cared for.....all brass with mahogany tripod. Used it to layout one foundation....it was dead on. I've retired it beside the boring machine.
And Junkhound sent me an old Turner blowtorch that I use occasionally just because I like to use it and it's more fun than propane or MAPP gas torches.
my Dad ..
Hey Notchman...that boring machine wouldn't have the word "BOSS" on it would it. They made one that had a wood seat between two metal bars with an adjustable vertical member. It was two-speed with a double-ended chuck. Great old tool.10man
Anybody know how to use a tool like this?
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Here ya go Piff...can ya name it? Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Iiiii've been working on the raaiill road all the live long day....................It's Never Too Late To Become
What You Might Have Been
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Maybe..adze head with a hammer opposite. I made the handle about 28" long.
Too lite for spike driving. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
small adze! The handle's too short too for RR work, i'm thinking. Gunner might have a comment there...That orange paint is so you can see it just before you hit yourself in the shin with it, right?
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LOL. I marked all my hewing tools so I could FIND them in the chips.
I think it was a Cooper's Adze. The hammer head is for setting the hoops or bangin bungs.
Damn thing is awkward to use until ya get used to its non-balance, that is why I made tha handle that length...I got it 20 some yrs ago, w/o a handle. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
don't suppose there was a co-incidence why I posted a cooper's work?
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it's a half-adze
Mr. T. MOTOL
"I think natural selection must have greatly rewarded the ability to reassure oneself in a crisis with complete bull$hit."
I'm Swiss!
Grain or feed shovels?It's Never Too Late To Become
What You Might Have Been
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I thought you lived in a place where the rain comes down in white lacy decorative solid pieces. Does the word Winter ring a bell?;)Here's something wwe don't see very often anymore...
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I was still to young to know better...........there were several of those in the basement of the house I grew up in. My dad and his dad built the house in the late 50's. G'pa was a carpenter.
The estate of my parents was disaolved while I was still young and tender...........the nail kegs unbeknownst to me ended up in the hads of the man who would employ me in my first job as a "carpenter".
he told me they often included a hammer in the keg?
Eric
I'll have a few pics of my own coming up.It's Never Too Late To Become
What You Might Have Been
[email protected]
That's my tool of choice and we get lots of snow in Northwest Indiana. No power garden tools either. I like quiet tools.
Mine has a wood seat, but the rails are beechwood. It does self feed, but with one speed only. It's kind of fun and a good workout for the shoulders.
Hi Notchman <!----><!----> :
I am new to this forum so bear with me. I also collect old tools an I own one of the old torches you have mention. My question is what do you fill it with and will it blow up on me if I try to light it??
I have aquired a Stanley 45 dated 1895 (no cutters) but would you or the crew know if this was the first year of production for this unit?
You use white gas, which is available in most hardware or sporting goods stores.
I doubt it'll blow up, but make sure all the "O" rings and gaskets are good and the "leathers" on the pump foot are not dried out.
You light these by pumping them up, like you would a Coleman lantern, and then opening the valve slightly on the rear of the torch. The little bowl below the face of the torch will fill with fuel. (If you open it too far, it will squirt a stream of gas quite a distance....easy does it!)
Shut the valve momentarily and light the bowl with a match or whatever. The flame will heat the torch head in a couple of minutes. Before the flame exhausts the fuel in the bowl, slowly open the valve and, if the head is warmed sufficiently, you'll get a blueish flame which you can adjust in intensity.
Some individual torches can be finicky. My Dad had two, which we used a lot when I was a kid. One was never a problem, the other generated a lot of nasty expletives.
The one Art (Junkhound) sent me, works like a charm. I did have to replace one "O" ring, but every other component was in A-1 shape.
They're really a nice torch with a lot of application around home, but as with any flammable fuel device, should be used with care.
You might stalk your neighborhood and find some old painter or plumber or farmer or seasoned DIYer who was most active in the 40's thru 60's and get some hands on lessons.
Have fun....and welcome to the forum.
Interesting -- How do they compare for temperature with propane? Could you use them to sweat copper pipe?
-- J.S.
I'm not sure of the temp range, and some of that leadless solder has a pretty high melting point....but my guess would be yes....
They were used for numerous things around farms....thawing pipes, removing paint, soldering, etc., but probably most used professionally by plumbers in the field melting the lead out of cast iron pipe joints.
Something you don't see as much at a job site as you used to is a radial arm saw. Years ago they were very common even for ripping materials.
I assume your talking kerosene or Naphtha????
Thanks for that Notchman, I'll check the "O" rings and the leather. I'll let you know how it goes. If you don't hear from me ,,,well you know it went badly.
White gas, as we always called it, is a naptha petroleum distilate. I use the Coleman brand which is formulated for camp stoves and lanterns.
I think if you try to use kerosene, you will have disappointing results.
Thanks for that Notchman. I feel a little more confident now. BTW I chked the "O" rings and the leather and I believe there good to go. I'll let you know.
From "The Stanley Plane" book, by Alvin Sellens
the Stanley 45 was sold from 1884 to 1962
so your's isn't the first year, but it's close
I've got 2 #45s; I've played with them a bit, but haven't come near using them to their full capabilities. Maybe when I retire.
I will chk out that book from Alvin Sellens, thanks. Do your 45's have the complete cutters??
One does, the other is missing some.
My 2 45s aren't quite identical, either. One has a threaded blade depth adjustment, like most Stanley/Bailey planes. The other one ( the older one, I think) has no depth adjustment. You have to tap the blade to proper working setting.
You might want to check out the Knots forum if you're interested in finding out more. The people there can probably come up with more info; maybe even some cutters. And the handtool forum at http://www.woodcentral.com is worth checking out, too.
We pound survey stakes in all the time with a Vermont Hammer.
(You would call it a rock.)
Oldest and outdated (i.e. obsolete) are two entirely different things. Most woodworkers still have to use things like hand planes and rulers; framing squares for carpenters have been around for a couple hundred years, etc.
I am not sure I'd want to be using an old swing saw or square-head jointer, so I'd consider those obsolete. On the other hand I have several 19th century-made tools that get used regularly (planes, squares, braces, hammers, etc.)
Here is an old “Rock” tool that I found laying next to the slab of a home I framed a few years back. It looks like a prehistoric artifact that was found by one of the concrete finishers and used to trowel/touch-up a small area of the slab. I wish I could get the concrete off of it with out damaging the rock.
Try soaking it a few weeks in vinegar.The concrete may begin to peel or flake off.If not, bake it to about 400 for an hour. Bring up to heat slowly, don't just pop it in a hot oven. Let cool. Again slowly. Just leave it in the oven and leave door closed, until cool. Then soak in vinegar again for a few weeks.
Are we there yet ?
I appreciate the reminder about using vinegar to remove lime deposits. I thought about doing that a while back and then decided to leave it. I think the rock itself might be limestone so I was apprehensive to do it. But what the heck, it probably couldn’t be any worse than the cement on it.
<!----><!----><!---->
I had another so-called expert look at it once and he called it an “Indian Love Stone” and then he followed up by saying “It’s just a frolicking rock!” 8) Who knows? I thought it was interesting and it looked like it had been “shaped”.
It looks like it could be river or beach erosion. I dig up lots of rocks like that.
-- J.S.
The first thing that popped into my head was a pitchfork. When I was a kid we used to have to clean out the barn usng pitchforks and an old horse drawn manure spreader. (fortunately wepulled it with a tractor)
We didn't get a loader for the tractor until I was a teenager.
I've used a brace and bit a few times. Even have an old angle adapter for one that belonged to my Grandpa.
Didn't go to work today but could get in the shop and take a pix.
Left to right, most of these Grandpa used to build his first house in 1907 in Springfield (Ron - the one that had all the bikes in it) . Have used all of these except the toolbox.
Breast drill; square; still have a bar of Grandma's DIY soap (circa 1955), used to use for screw/lag bolt lubricant; dovetail joint framing sq.- nice to fit in toolbox; couple of slicks w/newer handles; 45 degree brace attachment (kind of hidden, also partially hidden is saw vise; adze (last used in '73 on some beam for my house), #196 docking saw, still in weekly use; Grandma's old hatchet, used to chop off chicken heads; and, behind it all is Grandpa's dad's old toolbox (not used now, semi preserved).
View Image
Edited 9/7/2005 11:18 am ET by junkhound
Could you please check your Grandpa's old hatchet for forge or mfg. markings?
I have that very closely resembles yours, even the shortish handle. Made in Charleston, WV. It is more of a squaring hatchet, meaning the blade is honed 'flat' on one side, beveled on the other. Blade is quite stout. Used for squaring small timbers I believe.http://costofwar.com/
Have both rh and lf versions (side on which it it sharpened). Believe your comments on purpose are correct as to purpose, definetely not a branch choppin' blade.
Grandma's ax only says "CCC", assume it was 'liberated' from civilian conservation corp at one time or another. One other says GNRR (assume it was liberated fro Great Northern, got it at a garage sale. One with a slightly different head pattern (same ax, but more of a framing hammer opposite the blade says " collins red seal", 6 others I have say nothing (all of these have and 'as forged' finish, none polished), have a TT 'tommy ax' in among these, claw on the head. The 13" broadaxe also does not say anything on the head. Recall one of the double bit axes does say Kelly True Temper, Charlston, W.V.
Did not bother looking at all the markings on the 30 or so felling, double bit, and single bit axes in collection, let me know if you would be interested in what those are (most are collins, TT, much older Crafstman, Plumb, Colonial, etc.) A few look home-made in that the forge welding is visible. Couple of brush hooks, one just says 'collins'.
I use a 8 Inch table saw that I got from my late father in law. Made by Beaver. Works great. Also have his saw sharpening vise and guide, spoke shave from GM. to make wooden wheel spokes,and wooden folding tape measure. LOL no snap back into the case with that one.
A six foot folding rule was on my apprentice tool list and all the journeymen had one.
Was your pitchfork steel or forked branch?You got me to remembering some of the tools I saw in a shed here on the island. There were some old limb-fork pitchforks, well polished from hands and sweat-oilAnd some old snow shovels made entirely out of wood, about 18" wide. I ended up owning one of them, and used it until I wore it out. It was nice and light and snow never stuck to it like it does to metal shovels.
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"Was your pitchfork steel or forked branch?"
A forked branch ??? Are you yankin' my chain or what?
We had a couple of old pitchforks that we used. And sometimes we borrowed from relatives. (Ya know you're a poor redneck when ya gotta borrow pitchforks)
I dug one of them out of the barn a while back and cleaned it up. It's a nice reminder of better (?) days. (-:
Q: What is the best way to tune a bagpipe?
A: With a pitchfork.
So I have used tools older than you guys have even heard of, eh?Really - no chain yanking here, I don't have a yanking tool, BossLook up at a nice hardwood sapling and the limbs. It is not uncommon to see one with just the right curve and a fork in it to trim out. The two sides of the fork can be split while green and held to the right position while it seasons. Then a little carving and scraping will leave you with an all wood four tine hay fork.I know you aren't so far west that you don't have hardwood trees!
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I've never heard of anything like that. But you gotta remember - I ain't NEARLY as old as you are.(-:
Every step we take toward making the State the caretaker of our lives, by that much we move toward making the State our master. [Dwight D. Eisenhower]
Here's a shot of a shovel handle - from that snow shovel or what's left
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that must of hurt. how did you get it out?
Not that its very old compared to some of the other hand tool posts here, but on the power tool side of things I have a model 874 skil saw from 1956 that I still use as my primary. Its pretty heavy, at least thats what everyone says that picks it up! I'm not a full timer, but it has been used on our house addition, barn-garage, deck, about a dozen Xmas in April projects, and many, many other jobs. I inherited it from my uncle in 1979 and the only thing that needed an update was the thumb lever used to adjust the depth bolt.
The oldest big item that I have a reliable date for is the Unisaw, circa 1939 - 41. Lots of small hand tools from the early 20th. century, too.
-- J.S.
I wore out two Yankee screwdrivers before I got my first cordless drill/driver.
I'm amused to think that in your eyes, a tool I used regularly for years is gathering antique status.
Some of my old tools ( as far as my worn out old memory will go)
a two man pullsaw
an adze
an axe
a boat slick
wooden hand profile planes
a shovel with re-inforced heels
a cabbage/kraut slicer
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Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
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Excellence is its own reward!
a shovel with re-inforced heels
what's that?It's Never Too Late To Become
What You Might Have Been
[email protected]
Stay tuned for pictures. We're gonna have some fun.
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Be carefull now - this shovel is twice as heavy as normal so be sure your monitor is braced off and won't fall over... One shot of the shvel alone and one with a modern shovel to compare to.
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Thanks.
I've seen at least one of those; may even be in my garage somewhere..............It's Never Too Late To Become
What You Might Have Been
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Those heals were sold at the hardware store when I was a kid . my dad bought some to put on the spade . It made the top edge wider and more comfy on the foot at the end of a day of diggin.
It is more than those heels riveted on. Did you notice that the tongue in center of the plate is doubled too? Also, what does not show in the phot, is the thickness of the metalTjhe whole thing is literally tweice as heavy as the other.BTW, did you notice the piffinscrews holding the newest handle on?
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About the only place I know of that you can get the heavy gauge shovels now is from the rail road.
Most of the better shovels had the back of the handle ferrel welded or forged together ,back in the old days .
I had some newer shovels that needed piffen screws and duct tape to hold the flimsy handles on . I buy my "new " shovels at estate auctions now.
The thing that P's me off is that you also know how to get a digital photo on this machine w/o help from your offspring (I'm assuming).
Also, I have a Miller Falls miter box that's in pretty good condition. I'll get a pic on here as soon as my daughter gets home. It looks old, but I don't really know for sure.
Jack
Heres my Millers Falls miter box. Anybody have any input on this treasured peice of equipment that I own?
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/candanrat/r001.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/candanrat/r002.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a233/candanrat/r003.jpg
-Jack
Edited 9/15/2005 10:38 pm ET by TRIGGER
Edited 9/15/2005 10:39 pm ET by TRIGGER
I'm fortunate to have some of my 2xgreat-grandfather's tools, including a 2-man tree saw, and some wood moulding planes, among others.
I've never used the tree saw, nor do I have any desire to.
But I have used the planes to replicate small sections of old trim when I couldn't just buy what I needed.
Kind of like these?
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Mine's about 4-1/2' or 5' long, not near as long as yours.
I guess that could be construed a couple of ways <G>
I see I made a mistake and double attached one while missing another.As far as comparing sizes goes...[shaking head...]...You know I swing a big...Scythe;)
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I've got 25-30 of the old planes. I'll try to remember to post a pic of them tomorrow, along with the saw.
Oldest tool I used was a scewdriver that had a flat metal handle that was sort of teardrop shaped and had wood riveted to it and smoothed over to form a nice oval handle.
1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1ROAR------ROAR more----Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
Today I used a electric drill motor, a hammer to drive some nails, and a phillips screwdriver on a lockset.
What did you use the motor for ?Why didn't you leave it in the drill ???
Are we there yet ?
Some day, we'll be able to post pictures in a thread like this showing extension cords "yep Sonny, we used to have to plug them in all day long..."
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How old do you have to be to call it a drill motor?
I'll let you start right now, 'cause i like ya, even though you're young;)here's an old tool that used to be more common
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oooooo
you gonna sleep with one eye open after suggesting that?
I figuered it might get me in trouble with anyone having no humourus sense of history
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Here's some of my old tools. The tree saw is only 48"
edit to include- ignore the background of the shots of my shop. I know it's a disaster in there.
Edited 9/9/2005 11:35 am ET by Shep
I'm wondering which end of the tool you use to train your wife, and why.
Gulp, Help! I'm in opver my head here...;)
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shouldn't that pic be traing tools... (plural)Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
U noticed the background
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couldn't miss it...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Nice ironing board, eh?;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
is that what that is....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I started apprentice in 1977. Worked with four guys, the youngest was 55.
Everybody had a Yankee screwdriver then.
Today I used a star drill for a gate latch hole in the sidewalk.
Hey, we have some same tools in common! I use the same trash buckets - except that mine are turned right side up;)And same Rigidd miter saw stand for my 12" SCMSand I think that fence rail on your TS is also same as mine. I just got it maybe six weweks agoI forgot about my sawtooth setsBut you got more
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the saw fence is a Delta Unifence; its what came with my contractor's saw.
I bought the Rigid stand because of all the endorsements here- nice stand.
You turn your trash buckets right side up? Gotta try that- maybe I could fit more into them that way :)
Pif-
I think you mean husband training tool...
Kate
ouch!;)
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Piffin
...sauce for the gander, that's all...
Kate
How old do you have to be to call it a drill motor?
Just about my age, actually.
My dad always called his 'electric drill' that. I have it now, and it still works, too. It's a Mall. Any of you senior citizens remember Mall tools?
View Image
View Image
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Dino,
I have a Mall reciprocating saw. It is a drill attachment, not an independent tool. Works perfectly. No reason why it shouldn't, though. It's Canadian made and only fifty or so years old. Just like me.
Ron
I have a Mall reciprocating saw. ... It's Canadian made and only fifty or so years old. Just like me.
Interesting. I didn't know that Mall had a Canadian manufacturing plant. My dad's drill motor was made in Chicago, according to the data plate. Of course, we lived in the States when I was a kid.
One of these days I've gotta see if I can find new brushes to fit the thing. After fifty-odd years, they're a bit worn down...like various parts of me, LOL....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Dino,
I thought Mall was a Canadian company with plants in the USA. Perhaps I'm wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
Ron
I thought Mall was a Canadian company with plants in the USA. Perhaps I'm wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
Yeah, and you could be right, too. Now you got me curious.
Wonder who's the best arcana researcher here on BT?? The closest match I came up with when I ran 'Mall Tools' through Google was a page in Korean. And I don't have the language pack loaded and I don't read Korean anyway....
Anybody??
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Found this excerpt from "The Life of Arthur Mall" by Jane Mall on the web. Now I can't remember the URL. Google "Mall Tool Company".
The story of Arthur Mall is the truly inspiring story of a man with an idea, a little capital, practically no outside assistance, and a lot of ambition and desire to make his idea a reality. His determination and sincere effort made his dream come true and today he ranks in the upper bracket of the portable power tool industry. Arthur W. Mall is a soft-spoken, calm man who is truly gracious and kind, however, one feels the presence of a strong-willed man, a man with strength and faith. You look at his trade-mark, “MALL POWER TOOLS” and you think of just the two words: “MALL POWER” and you know that is what has brought him to the position he maintains today.<!----> <!---->
Arthur Mall was born on August 15, 1895 in Hammond, Indiana. When he was two years old the family moved to the south east side of Chicago where he has lived all of his life. At the age of six years he sold newspapers on the streets of south Chicago until the time he entered high school. Besides his studies in high school he found the time and ambition to work at part time jobs after school. Upon graduation from high school he went to work. Arthur Mall didn’t have the opportunity to go to college, but in the course of his life, he found the time to study and acquire the knowledge he knew he both desired and needed. He attended Steven’s Institute in Hoboken, Armour Institute in Chicago and passed the severe examination for Officer Candidate School in the United States Navy. He has the equivalent of a college degree in Mechanical Engineering.<!----><!----> <!----><!----> <!---->
End of Page One Hundred twenty-one
Page 122
In 1916 Arthur Mall answered this country’s call and entered the United States Navy. He served as an officer of the Navy until 1918 when he was discharged as an Ensign.<!----> <!---->
Arthur W. Mall started the Mall Tool Company on January 1, 1921, in Milwaukee, Wisc., with a capital of less than $200.00. One year later the company was moved to the south side of Chicago where it stands today.<!----> <!---->
The first product of the Mall Tool Company was a pneumatic sanding and polishing wheel which requires a portable power tool to revolve, and thus the Mall Tool Company started to make various kinds of portable power tools, the product which they now make and for which they are known throughout the world. From the first product they went to making gas engines, then to electric and then to gas self-contained engines and then to pneumatic power tools of all types.<!----> <!---->
The Mall Tool Company now employs over 2,000 people, with forty branch warehouse stores on their own property in cities in the U.S. and Canada. The Mall Power Tool product is sold and used throughout the world. The factory and home offices in the South Chicago area cover an area of ten acres.<!----> <!---->
Man, I don't know what I'm doing wrong with my Google searches, but 'Mall Power Tools' 'Mall Tool Company' 'Arthur Mall' 'Arthur W. Mall' 'Jane Mall' and 'The Life of Arthur Mall' all come up completely blank zero zip nada buttkiss....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Try "The Mall Tool Company". Remington bought it in 1956.
Okay, putting quotes around the search terms seems to help. I found this:
DESA, LLC Tradition
75 Years on the Leading Edge
With roots in two companies- Mall Tool Company and Master Consolidated - DESA, LLC today is the synthesis of a succession of innovative product ideas, improvements and strategic acquisitions spanning some 75 years.
Founded in the 1920's, Mall Tool Company pioneered the development and introduction of gas and electrically operated power tools. In 1956, Mall Tool was acquired by the Remington Arms Corporation and renamed the Remington Power Tool Division. In 1969, a group of entrepreneurs purchased the Power Tool Division and named the company DESA Industries. New products were added and, within six years, sales grew fourfold. This rapid growth caught the attention of AMCA , which acquired DESA in 1975.
Master Consolidated played a leading role in the introduction of portable forced air heating during the 1950's. Later acquired by the Koehring Company, Master became a separate division within Koering under the Atomaster name in 1975. In 1980, Keohring, and the Atomaster Division, became a part of the AMCA family.
In 1981, as a result of the strong customer and market compatibility between Atomaster and DESA, both operations were combined by AMCA into its new Consumer Products Division.
In March 1985, Consumer Products Management purchased the assets of the Division and formed DESA. During the past decade, DESA, LLC has grown rapidly through a combination of internal product development and the acquisition of complimentary zone heating and specialty tool product lines. These acquisitions include Heath Zenith, and Fireplace Manufacturers, Inc. in 1998 and Trine in 2000.
So, if you need a blade for your old Mall saw, maybe somebody at Remington would know where to start looking?
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
I have a Mall saw and not one, but two, original owner's manuals for it. Can't get blades though.
I have a Mall saw and not one, but two, original owner's manuals for it.
Another of my dad's tools is his Delta-Rockwell table saw. That one I use on a regular basis. It is the TS in the shop (I've got a modern portable for jobsites, but it's not precise enough for cabinetry). Its the tilting-arbor type, not the tilting-table type, which was still fairly common in those days. Still has the original motor and power cord, but I had to change the drive belt and on/off switch. Not bad for 50 years....
I've got the original owner's manual for that saw, too. It's a book. Must be about a hundred pages. Instead of being filled with enough useless Warnings! to sink a ship, it's basically a complete course in joinery between two soft covers. Tells you how to make virtually any joint or cut you can think of--and even some you never would!--on a table saw, including the big hollow coves which were so popular in 1950s-style furniture; lock-mitres; at least six diffferent types of drawer joints, and how to cut threads into a dowel....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
I temporarily retired my 1938-vintage Craftsman table saw in favor of a ten-year-old Unisaw, just biding my time until I can build a new shop and bring the old Craftsman back to life as a dedicated dado saw or similar.
You wanna check out good stuff in this regard, go to http://www.owwm.com. Some of my machines are on there. That old owner's *book* is probably scanned in the archives.
I've never heard anybody under 70 use the term. I've got a Black&Decker drill that's very similar. Not much power, single speed, rare use. Will likely last forever.
Here's an accessory your dad missed. Has a Mall blade, likely not replaceable, but I have several. Also not often used, like never. PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
I have the full set of Stanley bench planes. some of them are well over a hundred years old. They are full tuned and I use them on a regular basis. I have a very old lump hammer that has been in my family for 5 generations. The handle has been replaced twice and the head only once.
I'd rather see a photo of that collection than a nude movie star
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
My slide rule is from the late 40's.
My leatherworking tools (from my grandfather) are from the 20's.
An biplane rigger's tool (screwdriver and like a bicycle spoke wrench to tune the wires) from WWI from my great uncle.
The oldest is a scythe (spelling? what the grim ripper carries) from a relative in Wales. Used by my GGGF circa early 1800s. The interesting thing is the sharpener. It is a length of horn with a slot in it. You fill the hollow of it with sand in fat or wax. Then as you pass the blade through the slot, it gets honed by the inbedded sand.
While digging a bunch of fence post holes, I started to find several flint hand axes at about 30" deep in a alluvial gravel deposit. Talked to a county geologist, and he said that the strata was about 6-9000 years BCE. Took the sharpest axe and used it to chop down a small (2") mesquite. No problem. These are roughly 5-6" in diameter, 2-" thick, with one face knappped.
Hey Tom,
Any chance on posting a picture of those?
The flint hand axes, not the fence post holes.
as Buddha said to the hotdog vendor .... "make me one with everything"
Know anything about artifacts?
Dale recently found a "gorget" in a tabbacky field. kinda looks like a phallus , made of polished rotten slate. OA is about 5" and the "head" is maybe 2" wide..kinda like an anchor in shape...an almost perfect hole about 3/8th is drilled( ?) so as to hang it from ones neck(?).
He was quoted a $ of 5K for it...cool digs if ya can find them.
His is NFS tho'.
I wish I had found it..I think it has magic and beauty all over it, if nothing else, it is an inspirerd piece of craftmanship maybe created out of divinity to the cosmos, or just boredom of being a native american waiting for the onslaught of do gooders.
I'll see if I can score a pic of it..but like the Amish, it may detract from it's soul if it is captured. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Yes, time for a pic.
as Buddha said to the hotdog vendor .... "make me one with everything"
I have an old hammer that dates back to the early 1700's. Of course it's had several new handles over the years and at least 3 or 4 new heads but you can still drive nails with it.