NUMBER 179 MARCH 2015

   A Journal of Tool Collecting published by CRAFTS of New Jersey   

In today's vernacular the Let's face it, as tool collec-

word “Butt” gauge might bring
THE BUTT GAUGE tors we also just like the gadget
up all sorts of wild anatomical By Jim Fox qualities of these tools! In my
thoughts! But, the butt gauge collection I have over
gauge discussed here is a twenty different butt gauges
very helpful tool for the in- and there are others out there
Photo 1
stallation of butt hing- in the tool world that I don't
es. Today, we purchase possess. Sometimes the dif-
doors that are pre-hung in ference between the various
their frames. It is a fairly manufactured butt gauges is
simple task to install this slight causing confusion
type of door. If you have about the identity of the
ever tried to install butt maker. When you see the
hinges on a door and it's Marden gauge (Bottom,
frame, however, you know Photo 1), patented April 16,
how critical it is to do it 1872, and then come across
right. It can be a difficult the “Door Hanging Gage” of
job to set the hinges without Top - Thompson gauge, middle - LeFrancois gage, bot- Cereal LeFrancois, patented
the proper experience and tom - Marden gauge. August 26, 1890, you may
tools. Failure to align hinges confuse the two. Then when
on the door and frame will cause many problems in encountering the George Thompson gauge (Top,
it's closing and latching. Photo 1), patented October 2, 1900, many are left
During the 19th and early 20th centuries a number scratching their heads trying to tell them apart. The
of tool makers addressed this task by creating gauges Marden gauge shown here is trimmed with iron fit-
specifically for butt hinge installation layout. Many tings rather than the more common brass fittings
of these gauges received patents for their designs. making this a very rare variation. The LeFrancois
Almost any marking gauge may be used to do seems to be the rarest of the group. These three gaug-
hinge layout but the specialty features of the butt es are very similar in appearance and function and
gauge provide all the necessary settings to quickly are highly sought after and scarce. All of these gaug-
complete the job. Butt gauges often transfer the same es look great on display and with a little familiariza-
layout to both door and jamb without resetting the tion can be easily identified. I recommend Milt
tool. Some butt gauges also have a thickness marker Bacheller's book, “American Marking Gages Patent-
to set the depth of the hinge mortise. ed and Manufactured” as the best source for identify-
March Issue Contents ing most of these tools.
(Continued on pg. 3)
The Butt Gauge - Jim Fox ………………….. ………….…....1, 3-4
President’s Corner. ...…….……………………..…………...….....2 April 11, 2015 - CRAFTS auction
A Discussion About Early Disston Saws - Mike Stemple ……...5-7
Robertson Bill Poster Hammer - Scotty D. Fulton …..…...……..8-9 April 12, 2015 - CRAFTS meeting - Tour of the
J. Coder - Decoded - Joe Hauck …………………...………….10-11 Duckloe furniture factory in Portland PA.
Tool Events & Want Ads ……………………………...…...…….12

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015

 President’s Corner
Collectors of Rare and Familiar Tools Society
of New Jersey As I write this the temps outside are in the nega-
tives. Dang that is cold! I am glad I can go down to
President……………………….………BOB GARAY, Hopatcong the basement and work on tools and not have to go
……………………………………..email, [email protected]
Vice President………………….…IVAN RAUPP, Bloomsbury, NJ outside. I don’t mind the temperatures when they are
Secretary………………….…ANNETTE VLIET, Danielsville, PA normal but this is not normal.
Treasurer…………………..………HANK ALLEN, Glen Rock, NJ As the winter is moving along we are making
the plans for our two April events. The CRAFTS
The purpose of CRAFTS of New Jersey is to encourage in- Auction and the general meeting the following day.
terest in early trades and industries, and in the identification,
The April CRAFTS meeting will be off site—not
study, preservation and exhibition of tools and implements
used and made in New Jersey as an integral part of our herit-
at our regular location so pay attention. We have
age. the opportunity to tour the Frederick Duckloe and
Brother’s furniture factory in Portland Pennsylvania.
Membership in CRAFTS is open to anyone who shares the It is just over the Delaware River before you get to
above interests. Annual dues per person or couple are fifteen the Delaware Water Gap area. I take the Portland
dollars for the membership year of July 1 through June 30. toll bridge just off the route 80 exit and it is minutes
Membership fees may be sent to: Hank Allen, 524 Harris- from there. See page - 5 for more information. You
town Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 (write check payable to will also receive an email with detailed information.
CRAFTS of New Jersey). The Auction is shaping up to be another grand
event. Many of the photos of the tool lots are on our
CRAFTS of NJ meetings are held at the HOST Masonic
Lodge in High Bridge, NJ. Take I-78 to Route 31 exit at
CRAFTS website so check them out. I included
Clinton. Go north on Rte. 31 two miles to second traffic light some of the sparklers here on page - 7. New this
at the High Bridge exit. Turn right and go about half a mile year we will be charging a 10% buyers premium.
to Dennis Ave. Turn left, then straight to the Masonic Lodge This was added to assist the club with its fundraising
(on the left). Tailgate sales in the parking lot begin at 10 to pay for all the activities we do. It seems the cost
A.M., meeting starts at 1 P.M. of everything is increasing and we count dearly on
The TOOL SHED the auction as a fundraiser to pay these bills. As the
Published four times a year for members of CRAFTS of New auction is the only fundraiser we do it is important
Jersey. Editor: Bob Garay 15 N. River Styx Rd. Hopatcong, that it is successful so we don’t have to raise mem-
NJ 07843—(973)398-5875 - Articles, especially about early
bership and picnic fees. A good way to offset this
tools and trades, are encouraged and may be sent to the Edi-
tor. Email—[email protected]
charge is to set up a table before the auction and do
a little tailgating sales. It is free for members to tail-
CRAFTS WEBSITE gate and a good crowd is always in attendance dur-
www.craftsofnj.org ing these sales. That way you can dispose yourself
of some unwanted tools and purchase fresh tools
Containing general information about CRAFTS and its activ- with the new found cash!
ities including: meeting schedules, Tool Shed articles, etc. All the work for the auction is done voluntarily
by club members. There is a core group of members
NEW MEMBERS who have put in a lot of time before and during the
auction to make it successful. One way you can help
James Baltzer Canal Winchester, OH is being a runner the day of the auction. This is an
David Cox Mt. Arlington, NJ easy job, (As long as you don’t have to hold up a
Daniel Coyle Jim Thorpe, PA anvil for all to see!). If you are interested in helping
Bob Entwisle Whitehouse Station, NJ see me before the auction starts, and if even for only
Kim Grasing &Mark Collins Cortland Manor, NY a short time your help will be appreciated.
Walter Janicek Lebanon, NJ
As the auction and April meeting are something
Augustus Lawrence East Brunswick, NJ
Bob Levine Rockville, ND “special” for the springtime why not bring a friend.
Pete Lombardi Verona, NJ In the CRAFTS auction there is something for eve-
Zachary Michonski Long Valley, NJ ryone, even if antique tools are not there thing. We
David Nordahl Hopatcong, NJ always offer plenty of great “user” tools for the
Jim Owings Newton, NJ homeowner to use. As the April meeting will defi-
Wilbur Paniconi East Brunswick, NJ nitely be something “special” this would be the per-
Eric Riley Nichols, NY fect time to bring a friend along. They will likely
Mark Rogers Hammonton, NJ enjoy the experience and who knows they may get
Norman Rowe Sr. Gladstone, NJ “hooked” on old tools. Heck I did!
THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015
2
 (Cont. from pg. 1)

There are several Photo 2 this gauge. The one shown here has a nickel plated beam
wooden gadgetry butt which is much less common than the brass beam.
gauges that are as fun Stanley also made a series of nickel plated, all iron,
to manipulate as a Ru- butt gauges that were very efficient to use. The No. 95 Butt
bik's Cube. They have Gauge (Left, Photo 5) was introduced in 1897 and sold for
various adjustments almost a century. There were other variations of the Stan-
for all measurements ley 95 produced ( Nos. 95 1/2 and 94) which have slightly
required in hinge lay- different dimensions but basically were the same style
out. The William gauge. It appears that Stanley manufactured these gauges
McCullough gauge (Left, Left - McCullough gauge for other hard-
Photo 2) with it's two Right - Plante gauge ware compa-
thumbscrews, three scratch nies such as
points and two arms, patented January 2, 1883 is just that Winchester,
sort of all wooden tool. Similarly, the Henry Plante gauge, Craftsman,
patented February 23, 1886, has that same feel. Both gaug- Sterns and
es are for hinge layout only and are chunky in appearance. Simmons. The
The McCullough seems to be the most difficult to find of No. 94 shown
the two. I have only seen a couple in ten years of collect- here is ja-
ing. panned rather Photo - 5
Horace Fulton pa- Photo 3 than nickel Left - Stanley No. 95 Butt
tented his gauge on plated because Gauge.
July 17, 1888 (Right, of the need for Middle - Stanley No. 95 1/2 Butt Gauge.
Photo 3). He devised a nickel in Right - Stanley No. 94 japanned finish.
simple but efficient World War II.
design of two wooden Many butt gauges were made completely of metal.
blocks that adjust later- Some of these gauges do not have the beauty of wood and
ally to effect the setup Left - Dikeman No. 75 Butt Gauge brass. In fact, some are downright homely. But, that's the
desired. It's design was Right - Fulton gauge beauty of the genre. These gauges are functional and effi-
so good that sometime cient. The V. B. Staples, Door Butt Gage, patented October
after 1906 the Dikeman Mfg. Co. copied Fulton's gauge 19, 1897, is just such a gauge (Left, Photo 6). It is basically
patent, feature for feature. The Dikeman, No. 75 Handy a brass rectangle with two round adjustable marking
Butt Gauge used a nickel plated casting for the lower block wheels. It won't win any
of the gauge and a block of cocobolo tropical hardwood for beauty contest but will get
the top. With it's plated, knurled adjustment wheel this the job done and is rare as Photo 6
gauge is a beauty. It is also very scarce! a hen's tooth. When look-
Stanley Rule and Level Co. made several different ing at the Shally Butt
types of butt gauges. One is a mystery of sorts because it Gauge you see the same
was never listed in any Stanley catalog. It is not marked rectangular style. There are
with the Stanley name or any model number but can be also other rectangular style
identified by all the features (tells) used to identify un- butt gauges available to
marked Stanley gauges (Left Photo 4). These are quite the collector as well. Solo-
scarce and bring a good price when offered for sale. On mon said in the Book of
August 23, 1892 Stan- Ecclesiastes, “There is Left - Staples Door Butt Gauge.
ley patented the No. Photo 4 nothing new under the Right - Shally Butt Gauge.
92, Butt & Rabbet sun!” And, he was correct!
Gauge. It appears to The next group of gauges shown is of the all metal,
be the new version of gadget variety. The E. Wright, Door Hanging Gage, patent-
the wooden “mystery” ed October 3, 1893, is a scarce little fellow that can do the
gauge. If you like job well and fits nicely in your pocket (Right, Photo 7). A.
beautifully contrasted D. Goodell designed the Combined Hinge Gage and Square
wood and brass, along and received patent 531,114 on December 18, 1894. This
with the gadget adjust- Left - Unmarked Stanley gauge. gauge was so popular that it was made by the Goodell Tool
ments you will love Right - Stanley No. 92 gauge. Co. for Miller's Falls and Craftsman. It was sold for over
(Cont. on pg. 4)

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015

3
 (Cont. from pg. 3)
CRAFTS Meeting - April 12, 2015
fifty years and is Photo - 7
fairly common. You Plant tour of the Frederick Duckloe and Brother’s furni-
can purchase one ture factory in Portland Pennsylvania
without depleting
your bank account. We are indeed fortunate to be able to have our April
With a little looking meeting at the Frederick Duckloe and Brother’s furniture fac-
tory in Portland, Pennsylvania. We will be given a factory
they can be found in
tour hosted by Frederick B. Duckloe who is the 4 th generation
good condition for president of the company.
your collection. Left - Gelbaugh gage. We should plan to meet at the Duckloe Factory located at
Also, shown is the Center - Goodell combined gauge. 300 State St. Portland PA 18351. We will be able to tailgate
Gelbaugh gage of Right - Wright Door Hanging Gauge. after 10 A.M. in the parking lot behind the factory. (The park-
February 2, 1904 ing lot can be accessed from Hazen Rd which is a right turn
(Left, Photo 7). He refined his patent several times mak- after heading west from State St). The factory tour will begin
ing different varieties of his gauge to collect. at 1:00 P.M.
Frederick Duckloe and Bros. is a rare American company
that continues to take pride in the meticulous craftsmanship of
Photo 8 years past to produce heirloom quality furniture. The family
company was started just a few years prior to the Civil War,
in 1859, by master craftsman and carriage maker Frederick
Duckloe. Frederick experimented with the making of Windsor
chairs from available sketches and drawings of the great Eng-
lish masters. Windsor chairs soon replaced his carriage sales,
and many of the models he made during the late 19th century
are highly prized by today's serious antique collectors.
In the 1930s, his only son, W.J. Duckloe – who had made
his mark by making many fine reproduction pieces in solid
Above - Cast aluminum combination rabbit - router wood – turned his attention to Windsor chairs. These hand-
plane, gauge and marker tool, made by the Illinois made Windsor chairs were signed with chisel marks and per-
Stamping & Mfg. Co. of Chicago. fect in every detail. In 1938 Frederick Duckloe Sr., eldest son
of W.J., joined his father and by 1946, there was a great de-
An advertisement in 1928 by the Illinois Stamping mand for all Duckloe products. In the 1950s, Frederick Duck-
& Mfg. Co. of Chicago featured a combination plane loe decided to specialize in the making of Windsor chairs and
made of cast aluminum (Above, Photo 8). The ad settees.
claimed, “Our 'Up-To-Date' Rabbit and Router Plane,
The Duckloes have made customized pieces for private indi-
Gauge, and Marker is particularly adaptable for setting
viduals and famous U.S. institutions. When Freedoms Foun-
Hinges and Locks, making an absolutely perfect Base.”
dation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, was in its formative
It was also claimed to be used as a handy square. The years, Frederick Duckloe offered to donate the furnishings for
tool has a marking gauge feature on it's front end and is the now renowned Medal of Honor Room. In 1976, Frederick
marked, along with the company name, “Pat. Pend.” Duckloe was asked to reproduce in faithful detail, two of the
Due to the few of these encountered it would seem that most-prized original pieces from the collection of Independ-
they were not too popular. Later, on June 19, 1956, ence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a chair and a settee,
George Palm received a patent for an improved version for the U.S. Bicentennial. In 1980, the Smithsonian Institution
of this plane now made from plated steel. requested Duckloe to reproduce a circa-1800 chair from its
National Museum of American History. Sold exclusively
Butt gauges are only a small part of marking gauge through the Smithsonian, it is shown in the Institution's Cata-
collecting. The entire field has many advantages. The log.
tools are small and require little space to display. The Frederick Duckloe & Brothers Inc. continues to employ
gauges are beautifully made with exotic hardwoods, many talented artisans and their apprentices who are firmly
brass and steel and, as mentioned before, they have the committed to a long tradition of making only the finest hand-
gadget appeal. I encourage you, the reader, to consider crafted Windsor furniture reproductions. Today family mem-
adding some marking and mortise gauges to your col- bers Barbara Duckloe Townsend and Frederick B. Duckloe,
lection. Happy hunting! who represent the fourth generation of the family, head the
company.

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015

4
 A Discussion about Early Disston Saws
I have been collecting By Mike Stemple screws. These were expensive
hand saws and back saws for and cost prohibitive for a saw
about twenty years now. I started maker just starting out. Many of
out collecting anything with the pre-1846 saws used 9/16th
teeth and gradually have nar- saw nuts which are larger than
rowed down my scope to pre- those used after that date. U.S.
Civil war examples. For several and British makers also used a
years I have been researching large oversized blank nut simi-
early American saw makers and lar to a medallion in the short
publishing my results in the transition period between no
Gristmill, the Fine Tool Journal, medallions and the use of me-
and the Ohio Toolbox. Wood- dallions. Disston was no excep-
workers and tool collectors are tion.
becoming more knowledgeable Eagle head handle one of Disston's finest early The first medallion Disston
about the American sawmakers saws. used circa 1846 was the “flying
as information is being circulat- eagle” which had the full
ed with websites, catalog reprints, journal articles, and spelling of his name and city. The eagle has his head
a few books on sawmakers. As Henry Disston was one down and is flying at us with thirteen stars around him
of the earliest and the largest sawmakers, there is a lot in a circle. These early “Federal Eagle” medallions
of material about his general line of saws offered in his were very symbolic. We were a young country in a
catalogs thru the years. Yet many of the earlier saws world of super powers. The eagle is usually shown with
made by Henry Disston and others are still being re- an olive branch in one talon and arrows clutched in the
searched and an exciting histo- other. This meant we were seeking peace on one hand,
ry is being uncovered. but were ready for war on the other. The “Federal Ea-
In this first installment I gle” was used extensively in the early days and can be
would like to talk about the first found on money, government documents, and even
saws Henry Disston made in flags. The “flying eagle” medallion used on back saws
the 1840’s, their characteristics, and full sized saws is slightly different. The photos
handle styles, spine and blade show that they added the term “Keystone Works” un-
markings, and types of fasten-
ers. Disston made quite a few
high end saws in the 1840’s
and 1850’s that never made it
into a catalogue and were never
advertised. I will be highlight-
ing these also.
All saws made between Top - early saw with
1780 and 1880 used what we rivets & bottom split saw Above left is early “flying eagle” used on back saws and
nuts.
call “split nuts”. These have the on right is medallion with “Keystone Works” added for
shaft protruding into the screwdriver slot on the back full sized hand saws.
side and one cannot use a regular screwdriver to adjust
them. They were also put on the handles prior to them der the eagle and eliminated some of the stars on the
being belt sanded and are full sized saw medallions. A few saws can be found
sanded flush. Prior to 1780 with “flying eagle” medallions with “Warranted Supe-
rivets and rose headed rivets rior” instead of Henry Disston on them. These were
were used and post 1880 all made for sale to hardware stores and tool merchants.
makers switched to the Disston never put his medallions on saws that were
“modern” saw nuts, which meant for resale. These medallions are slightly differ-
have been used right up to the ent and have the stars clustered above the eagles head.
present day. After circa 1848, when Disston did a major expan-
Blank medallion used on Prior to 1846 Disston did sion of his business, the medallions and handle styles
Disston’s first saws. not use medallions or label changed. The early Disston back saw handles had a
Continued on pg. 6

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015

5
 Continued from pg. 5

Above left is early backsaw handle with lambs tongue and Above left are dome nuts and right are “Steeple” nuts
forward hook. On right is post 1848 handle without Lambs used on some of Disston’s early saws.
tongue or forward hook.
sized saws and back saws. The tall steeple nuts should
“hook” on the top and a “lambs tongue” on the bottom. not be mistaken for the much shorter steeple nuts used
During this transition period a few saws were made with by Wheeler, Madden & Clemson on some of their high
the earlier handles and the post 1848 medallions and the end saws, such as the “star saws”. Many of these are
post 1848 handles with the earlier “flying eagle” medal- decorated on the top.
lions. I have both. The post 1848 medallions have dif- Another handle Disston and others used on very
ferent versions of the “optimistic eagle” medallion high end back saws in the early days was the “triple
whose head is tilted back and is looking up. Disston lost cove” handle. These had three coves running from the
the “hook” feature on top of his back saw handles, post grip down the top of the handle to the nose. These are
1848, and not as many handles had the “lambs tongue” found on brass backed back saws from several makers
feature on the bottom. and on Disston “single eagle” and “double eagle” brass
Another medallion we should talk about is the very
early “reverse optimistic eagle”. The eagle is looking to
our right instead of our left and has only been found on
a few very early full sized saws. It is difficult to place
these in the medallion timeline since there are so few
examples, but the handle style is Disston’s first one with
the vertical dropdown from the top of the handle to the Above is triple cove brass
backed back saw. Right top
is rare single eagle mark on
some early brass back saws.
Right bottom is scarce dou-
ble eagle stamp found on
early Disston back saws.
backed back saws. From
almost the start Disston made a higher grade of back
saw with stamped eagles on the spine. The “single ea-
Above left is reverse eagle medallion. Right is early style gle” examples have an eagle with Disston’s name cir-
handle with heavy drop down at the top. cling it. The “double eagle” examples have an eagle on
each side of the name. The “single eagle” saws are
grip.
There were a couple of other fasteners early Ameri-
can saw makers, including Disston, used before the Civ-
il war. One of these is the domed, rounded, steel nuts
that are usually found on saws made at Sing Sing prison
during the same time period. However, a few early ex-
amples of Disston saws have been found with them.
The second fastener, and more common than the domed Above left is full size saw with three eagles above and to right
steel nuts, is the brass cone, or steeple nut. These are of the word “EXTRA” They are on the high quality Disston
found on expensive high end saws and back saws from saws and the stamps are usually light and hard to make out.
almost all the early American makers. A few of these Above right is a iron plate on a handle made for a hardware
saws have an oversized steeple nut with Disston’s single dealer with a eagle stamp above MADE FOR, again a light
eagle mark on it. These have been found on both full hard to make out stamp.

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015 Cont. on next pg.

6
much, much, scarcer and command a premium from collec-
tors. Some high end Disston full sized saws have eagles CRAFTS AUCTION SPARKLERS
stamped on the blade around the name. These are also very
scarce and highly sought after by collectors. Also some
high end early Disston models, particularly the model #15,
had steel plates inset in the handle with die stamped eagles
around the name. These also command a premium.
Early Disston full sized handles look much like early
English saw handles. In the early Sheffield directories one
sees many saw makers listed. You also see a half dozen
saw handle makers in the same directory. These handle
makers would make handles for all the various saw shops
in their area. With the influx of saw makers coming to this
country in the first half of the nineteenth century, it stands
to reason that handle makers did also. Many of the early

Above left is an early No.9 handle with lambs tongue, forward

hook, double nibs top & bottom. Above right is an early backsaw
also with lambs tongue and double nibs top & bottom.

Philadelphia saw maker’s handles look identical. Many

saw collectors, myself included, have thought for years that
they came from the same shop and handle maker.
McNiece even brought over a carver from the black forest
area of Germany to be his dedicated handle maker. Handle
makers would charge by the flourishes they had to carve on
the handle. Each flourish (wooden nibs, hooks, lambs
tongues, hounds teeth, triple coves) was extra, raising the
price of the saw. At some point in his early career Disston
began making two kinds of handles, a cheaper one made of
beech, with no lambs tongue, and a more expensive one
made of apple with the tongue. One could order or buy ei-
ther one. Disston liked to make money and you could spe-
cial order just about anything you desired from him. He
didn’t start making open handled saw until his Jackson line
in 1860, but I have two double eagles with open handles
made circa 1846. These had to be special ordered. Phil
Baker has stated that Disston stopped making double and
single eagle back saws circa 1855. I have seen nothing in
my observations to cause me to disagree with this date.

I will be continuing this article in an upcoming issue of

the Tool Shed and discussing die stamps, more handle
styles, wheat carving, and types of woods that were used in
saw handles.

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015

7
 Robertson Bill Poster’s Hammer
The A. R Robertson mag- By Scotty D. Fulton started one would pull
netic tack hammer collection down on the handle which
is one of my favorite collections of hammers. would dislodge the tack from the clip and the
Robertson got his patent way back on Nov. 2, poster from its clip and then the hammer was
1886, as patent number 352070. used to drive the tack up completely. I hope this
Now in case you don’t know about a bill explanation is clearer than mud. I didn’t realize
poster hammer, let me explain. It was (I don’t how difficult it would be to explain.
think anyone uses them today), used to put up
posters and signs on poles, trees, and buildings.
People did not put signs on wires and sticks on
the ground as they do today. I have a picture of
a cowboy standing on his horse reaching up with
his bill poster hammer putting up a poster.
The billposter Hammer with paper bill clipped in place with tack thru
hammer is a small bill ready to attach to a post.
magnetic tack ham-
mer. It does not I now have 4 one piece, 4 two piece, 2 three
have to be magnetic piece, and 1 four piece bill poster hammers in
but it usually is. the collection. By piece, I mean sections that
The handle is what screw-in together to make up the handles. I
makes it different. don’t know why but the sections are a little dif-
On the handle are ferent in length. Here is a summary of their
two metal clips lengths:
about eight inches 1 piece – 18 in.
apart. The clip that 1 piece – 17 ¾ in.
extends to the mid- 1 piece – 12 ½ in.
dle of the side of the 1 piece – 16 ½ in.
hammer head is slot- 2 piece – bottom 17 ½ in. – top 18 in. Total 35 ½
ted to hold a tack. in.
The bottom clip is 2 piece – bottom 17 ½ in. – top 18 ½ in. Total 36
for holding the post- in.
er. One would put 2 piece – bottom 17 ½ in. – top 18 ¼ in. Total 35
the poster in the bottom clip and put the poster ¾ in.
against the tack in the top clip. Next, one would 2 piece – bottom 18 in. – top 18 in. Total 36 in.
push the tack through the poster. This would 2 piece – bottom 24 ¼ in. – top 17 ½ in. Total 41
hold the poster while reaching up to install it. ¾ in.
One would use the side of the hammer head to 3 piece – bottom 14 ½ in – middle 15 1/16 in. –
start the tack into the wood. After the tack is top 15 ½ in. Total 45 1/16 in.
4 piece – bottom 14 ½ in – next 15 in. next 15
in. top 15 ¾ in. Total 61 ¼ in.

A few years ago I acquired a homemade box

containing 22 hammer heads from a fellow tool
collector who had bought it from Martin J. Don-
nelly’s Auctions. I saw Martin sometime later
and he told me that the box came from the base-
ment of someone who had spent their working
Hammer showing two metal clips at top of hammer. lifetime at the A. R. Robertson Company. He

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015

8
 one. The magnetic tops are round, rectangular,
square, or elliptical. The eyes for the handles
seem to be of different sizes but all are elliptical
in shape. The heads vary in length from 3 1/8 in.
to 4 5/16 in. Two heads are coated with a black
material or they are of black steel.

All of the 22 heads are split face magnetic.

To my surprise one of the heads is a double split
face, that is, both ends are split and magnetic. Of
all my years of collecting hammers I have never
seen a double
split face ham-
mer head, let
alone magnetic.

To go along with my bill poster hammers I

found on eBay some time ago a box of bill poster
tacks. Go to your local hardware store and ask
for bill poster tacks
and see what they
say. They are a long
gone item. The dif-
ference that I see be-
tween regular tacks
and bill poster tacks
is that the head of the
bill poster tack is
larger and the tack is
Display of Bill Poster’s hammers of different sizes. slightly longer.

thought they were probably prototypes. Each of

the hammer heads are of different length, shape,
marks, or splits. Some are marked only with
“Pat. Nov. 2, 86”. Others are marked “A. R.
Robertson Boston, Mass. Pat’d. Nov. 2, 1886”.
Some are marked on two sides and others in only

Robertson’s makers mark on hammer head and han-

dle clip.

22 different hammer heads from the Robertson factory worker.

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015

9
 J. Coder - Decoded
Joe Hauck

Many collectors have them, tools that can’t be

attributed to a maker or a location. There are a num-
ber of planemakers listed in AWP for which there is
little information other than a description of the
planes that have been reported to date. Many in the
hobby tend to look down on unattributed tools like
poor puppies without papers from the AKC. Two
unique and interesting planes that fit this description
are stamped J.CODER. Above is J.Coder plow plane details. Left is the inlaid brass
tip to the tote. Right is the forged iron arms with locking
brass wingnuts.

blade slot that prevents lateral movement of the blade

shank. A one of a kind piece.

The fillister has the same closed tote with brass

inlay on the tang, it also has three brass locking
screws with inlaid escutcheons in a straight line
along the top, two for the wood arms (which are in-
laid on top with elaborate brass strips) and one in the
center for the depth stop. Another “oner” obviously
made by the same hand.

Applewood plow plane with curved octagon wrought

iron arms.

The most elaborate one is a toted applewood

plow plane owned by long time collector Chuck
Granick. The second is a very fancy toted applewood
fillister owned by Jim Leamy planemaker extraordi-
naire. A third example is described in AWP as a
cherry nine inch bead with interrupted boxing and
flat chamfers. The applewood material points to NY,
NJ or Pennsylvania, while the interrupted boxing is a
characteristic of the eastern part of the last state not-
ed. I suspect the bead example is in fact made of ap-
plewood as well, I’ve yet to see a cherry plane but Fancy toted applewood fillister having very unique
I’m sure there is one out there somewhere. brass fence locks that lock onto the inlaid brass strips
on the top of the arms.
As the photos show the plow plane has very unu-
sual if not unique arms made of octagon wrought
iron stock. It also has an elaborate brass inlay on the Both Chuck and Jim have conducted detailed
tang of the tote which is both beautiful and protec- examinations of their prizes and conclude that the
tive. The tightening nuts on the threaded arms are while the overall appearance is stunning there are
bronze while the inlays on the body are brass. There small errors in design and execution. The verdict is
is an inlaid piece of steel on the underside next to the that they were not made by a professional planemak-

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015

10
 The “Find a Grave” website has a considerable
amount of information about Jacob, the following bio-
graphical detail provided courtesy of Arthur Hepler,
contributor #48289623:

Jacob Coder was born in Bucks Co., PA, then

moved to South Huntingdon Twp., West-
moreland Co., PA about 1795 with his father.
He married Elizabeth Aspey in 1807. The
1811 South Huntingdon Twp. tax list record-
ed Jacob as a shoemaker with 35 acres, 1
horse, and one cow. Jacob's earliest recorded
purchase of land was on August 24, 1822. He
bough 53 acres from his brother Philip Coder.
None of his sons that lived to maturity re-
mained in Westmoreland Co. Jacob continued
Applewood fillister showing the three in-line escutch-
to add to his farm until it totaled about 148
eons in a straight line and the inlaid brass strips on the
acres with a stone house, log house, wagon
arms.
shed, and cabinet maker shop. Jacob was
er however, they will keep them just the same, thank known to have fabricated a coffin for David
you. Well than, who did make them? Hepler, who died in 1853. David was the
youngest son of Jacob and Elizabeth Hepler.
This winter’s weather is highly conducive to stay- Jacob enjoyed good health until he received a
ing indoors and I decided to see what I could find wound to his wrist which through neglect be-
about J.Coder. I believe my search was a success. came abscessed. Neurosis set in from blood
poisoning, before his passing on. Jacob and
Conrad Coder was born in Wurttemburg, Germa- Elizabeth are buried in Hoffman's Cemetery
ny in 1747. His parents were Conrad Koder and Anna near Smithton, PA.
Maria Mayer. The senior Conrad was born in 1719 in
Germany and died in 1793 in Plainfield Township, The fact that Jacob had a cabinetmaker’s shop is
Northampton Pennsylvania. So some time after 1747 noteworthy but was it his or one of his sons? I went
both Conrad's emigrated here. Conrad, the son, and back to Ancestry.com for the list of Jacob’s eight chil-
Anna Maria Catherine his wife, had eleven children. dren of which only one son has a name starting with J,
One of whom was Jacob, who was born in Hilltop a John who was also the first son of the couple. He
Township, Bucks County in 1781. Jacob appears to was born in 1813 in Mifflin Pa. and died in 1896 in
be the first Coder in the lineage with a first name that Washington, Kansas. John had two wives and fathered
starts with the letter J. eleven children. A Jacob Franklin born in 1836 died
also in Washington, Kansas in 1916. The clincher is
that Jacob’s death certificate does list his occupation
as farmer and cabinetmaker.

I believe that the timeline for Jacob and his loca-

tion fit the planes. I surmise that during a similar long
hard winter the experienced cabinetmaker decided to
make himself some very special planes. I think you
will agree that he was successful and happily they
survived to be prized and admired. Photo credits to
Chuck and Jim.

J. CODER mark on the front of the applewood

plow plane.

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015

11
 CRAFTS of New Jersey
15 N. River Styx Rd.
Hopatcong, NJ 07843

TOOL EVENTS WANT ADS

March 14 - PATINA spring auction, Damascus, Maryland. Dave WANTED – Member’s email addresses. If you have not been receiv-
Murphy - 703-819-6880 ing email notices from Stew May or dues acknowledgements from
Hank Allen, please send your email address to [email protected].
March 20-12 - Donnelly Antique Tool Auction, Indianapolis, HELP WITH TOOL COLLECTIONS – A r etir ed shop teacher , I
Indiana. Martin Donnelly, www.mjdtools.com 800-869-0695 can assist you with tool collection. Finding buyers for your tools. Call
Bob Garay (973) 398-5875 or email- [email protected].
March 27-28 - Brown Auction, Camp Hill, PA. Jim Gehring, VINTAGE TOOLS -for woodworking, machining, leather working
www.finetools.com, 800-248-8114 and more. See us at New England area tool meets, online at www-
TimelessToolsand Treasures.com or email [email protected].
March 28 - David Stanley Auction, England. David Stanley, NEED HELP - disposing of your tools or home items? Entir e or
www.davidstanley.com, 011-44-1530-222320 partial house clean-outs available. Call Steve Zluky at 908-534-2710.
JIMBODETOOLS.COM – The lar gest antique tool website on earth
Apr.1 - Tony Murland Auction, England. Tony Murland - buying and selling fine antique tools. Call Jim at 518-537-8665 or
www.antiquetools.co.uk email [email protected].
WANTED – Molding planes made of apple wood, & better molding
Apr.11 - CRAFTS Auction, Oldwick Fire House, Oldwick, NJ. planes from Hudson River valley makers. Joe Hauck 908-236-2072.
www.craftsofnj.org - Steve Zluky 908-534-2710 THE TOOL EXCHANGE –Australia’s home of fine old tools for
sale. Our website has over 18,000 photos of tools. We ship to over 30
countries. www.toolexchange.com.au
Apr.12 - CRAFTS meeting - tour of the Duckloe furniture factory
WVTOOLS: CRAFTS member and eBay seller concentr ating on
in Portland PA. Bob Gar ay - [email protected]
bitstock tools and more.
Apr.17-18 - Donnelly Antique Tool Auction, Nashua, NH. Mar- WANTED - Bell System tools and electr ician’s plier s. Ted Da-
tin Donnelly, www.mjdtools.com 800-869-0695 vidson 609-731-6915
SAW SHARPENING - Restor ation & sales of all types of
June 7 - CRAFTS meeting - Host Masonic Lodge, Highbridge, saws Joe Federici - www.secondchancesawworks.com/
NJ. Bob Garay - [email protected]

THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2015

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