Hi Guys,
Was digging through my garage the other day and came across my old miter box I bought at a garage sale when I was a teenager. It’s an old Stanley No. 358.
I was wondering how old the thing actually is. I looked online but all I could find was for sale ads. Anyone have a link or maybe some idea when?
In addition to it saying Stanley Mitre Box No. 358, it says Frame No. 3, 28×5 Backsaw and Stanley Rule and Level. Maybe something else there too, I’m not at home so I don’t have it in front of me right now. At least four patent dates on it, the latest of which is 1912. It has a Simmons 28×5 backsaw in it.
Thanks.
-Sawdaddy
Replies
That's cool. Found one in my cleanup attempt the other day that reads TRU-TEST, J.L. Johnson Company, Tomahawk, Wisconsin.
Just a little wooden bench top thing about 16" long and usable space of about 3 3/4"
Maybe a little info on http://www.tooltrip.com/tooltrip8/index.htm. And/or try posting your question at http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/handtools.pl?index. There's a lot of folks there who know hand tool history.
You know it's at least newer than 1912 - a good start.
The Stanley number 358 miter box saw was manufactured from 1905 through 1972. It has a 5" capacity and came with a 5" by 28" back saw. I assume this is cast iron?
If it is cast aluminum, then it is a 358A made from 1925 through 1941.
I have the Stanley Tool Book guide to identity and value. It's about 7 years old but they list the value on a 358 (depending of course on condition), anywhere from $50-$150. The 358A is listed from $250-$500.
I myself have an old Millers Falls cast iron miter box, but I bought it brand new, and even then (about 1979)it cost over $200. It had been sitting in the unopened box in the back store room of the hardware store (Sid's Hardware in Brooklyn) for years, they had just never sold it.
I have two large 5" back saws and it works fine, it's just rather obsolete in today's market.
I trimmed with it for about 5 years before buying my first electric. I used block planes and my Swedish rasps with it.
I don't have the heart to get rid of it.
Thanks for the replies everyone.
I'll go check out those links.
Yeah, I don't wanna get rid of this either. It's not in any kind of good shape or anything, but it's still cool as all get out. It is a cast iron one by the way, not aluminum. Beat up, but still servicable.
I used to use it all the time. Only because I was a poor kid who couldn't afford a power miter box. I grumbled every time. Now ,of course, if nothing else, it's good to look at.