OldTools Archive
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276125 | John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> | 2022‑08‑11 | Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
GG's Just created a Flickr album showing a front and side view of a mystery ( presumably ) leatherworking tool. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA2vxJ The business end looks like it would cut a narrow square-sided groove. The purpose of the offsets, and the adjustable brass parts, is a total mystery. What was this tool used for? Best Galootish Regards, John Ruth |
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276126 | Kevin Foley <kevin.foley.135@g...> | 2022‑08‑11 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
John, My guess is that it would be a stitch groover. It would cut a channel a set distance from the edge of the leather work piece to recess stitches. Kevin, enjoying the calm after the storm in Chantilly after a couple hours of continuous thunder. |
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276127 | John M. Johnston <jmjhnstn@m...> | 2022‑08‑11 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
John, it doesn't look like any leather working tool I've seen. However, with the addition of some dental floss it looks like it would be great for cleaning between one's teeth. (Ducking and running) 😎 John Johnston John M. Johnston “P.S. If you do not receive this, of course it must have been miscarried; therefore I beg you to write and let me know.” - Sir Boyle Roche, M.P. ________________________________ From: oldtools@g... |
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276128 | Rock Harris <nombre7@g...> | 2022‑08‑11 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
My initial inclination was an edge beveler. The square nature and the line cut in the top side portion gave me pause. The idea of a stitch groover is also a possibility. The crook neck throws me off, as does the contraption on the top. I do a fair amount of leatherworking, which is why I’m answering. But I’ve not seen a device like this before. rock harris lesser programming deity, tyro woodworker, and aficionado of obsolete machinery 314.221.5941 sent from my BatPhone.... |
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276129 | Kirk Eppler | 2022‑08‑11 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
John, those are horrible pictures. It makes it look like it has two parallel arms with the shadows (unless it really has two parallel arms, then they are OK pics). But your contrast is low, no 3d view, really hard to visualize what it is. But seriously now. Here is a great place to start, poke around his vintage tools for sale. I’ve nailed down one or two of mine that way. https://brucejohnsonleather.com/ He is sort of active in a certain FB group, so I can post it there later if you strike out. I don’t recall ever seeing it in a catalog, but there are lots of obscure ones here that I have not been thru yet. You can probably skip Osborne, and look back pre 1945 or so, in my guess. https://archive.org/details/internationaltoolcataloglibrary?query=Leather&sort=- date Kirk in Half Moon Bay, planning an auction pick up tomorrow. But nothing we talk about here, I didn’t win those. On Wed, Aug 10, 2022 at 6:27 PM John Ruth |
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276131 | Phil E. <pedgerton66@g...> | 2022‑08‑11 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
Could it be a gun checkering too?. (I know nothing about checkering, but not knowing has never stopped me from taking the opportunity to look ig'nernt.) Phil E. |
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276132 | Kirk Eppler | 2022‑08‑11 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
In my little tiny knowledge of checkering, I would expect the business end to be a Vee shaped rasp like thing. Can't see that level of detail. Kirk in HMB, CA On Thu, Aug 11, 2022 at 1:24 PM Phil E. |
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276133 | John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> | 2022‑08‑11 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
Kirk and assembled Galooterati: Maybe I should apologize for my inept cell phone photographs! The tool is/was for sale at a local flea. The vendor is an elderly Hungarian immigrant who's retiring from the flea market. He said this Saturday will be his last session. I've identified a number of Old Tools for him, so it seemed natural that he'd ask me what this mystery tool might be. So, I just snapped a couple of pictures in the bright sunlight right at the Flea table. I'm impressed with the volume of thoughtful replies! I looked at the archive.org catalogs until ran out of time, without finding anything even vaguely like it. The business end looks more like it would make a pair of very thin grooves rather than a single flat-bottom groove. It might very well be a stitching groover with a sort of "hop over" feature to clear some obstruction. Leather is used for so many items that it may be impossible to identify what items this was intended for. ( Military accoutrements, harness, saddles / saddle bags, etc, just to name a few. ) I'm sure I'll never see another one! Maybe I should buy it. John Ruth |
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276134 | gtgrouch@r... | 2022‑08‑11 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
Maybe? We need a new acronym: WWAGS for what would a Galoot say? Gary Katsanis Albion New York, USA -----------------------------------------From: "John Ruth" To: "Kirk Eppler (KEPPLER)" Cc: "Oldtoolslist" Sent: Thursday August 11 2022 4:55:52PM Subject: Re: [oldtools] Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took Kirk and assembled Galooterati: Maybe I should apologize for my inept cell phone photographs! The tool is/was for sale at a local flea. The vendor is an elderly Hungarian immigrant who's retiring from the flea market. He said this Saturday will be his last session. I've identified a number of Old Tools for him, so it seemed natural that he'd ask me what this mystery tool might be. So, I just snapped a couple of pictures in the bright sunlight right at the Flea table. I'm impressed with the volume of thoughtful replies! I looked at the archive.org catalogs until ran out of time, without finding anything even vaguely like it. The business end looks more like it would make a pair of very thin grooves rather than a single flat-bottom groove. It might very well be a stitching groover with a sort of "hop over" feature to clear some obstruction. Leather is used for so many items that it may be impossible to identify what items this was intended for. ( Military accoutrements, harness, saddles / saddle bags, etc, just to name a few. ) I'm sure I'll never see another one! Maybe I should buy it. John Ruth Links: ------ [1] https://groups.io/g/oldtools/unsub |
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276138 | Mike Rock <mikerock@m...> | 2022‑08‑11 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
That would describe a purfling tool. My friends on Leatherworker.net came up with zilch for leather tools. One guess was a picture frame grooving rebate, but this is pretty small for that. What is the dimension across the cutting face?? Mike |
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276142 | Richard Wilson <yorkshireman@y...> | 2022‑08‑12 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
Well, as time is pressing for you, I’ll offer up ‘purfling cutter’ - if only it were sharp (ened?) Old and Hungarian? I can convince myself that a skalled man would use it against a straight, or curved edge, or does the adjuster work in such a manner as to act as a very short stock, such as would be needed to negotiate a tight inside curve? Time was, skilled people used all manner of simple things to achieve astounding results. Back to me heatwave in Northumbria now…. Richard Wilson > On 11 Aug 2022, at 21:55, John Ruth |
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276147 | John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> | 2022‑08‑15 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
Richard and GG's Please patiently await further photos because _I conformed to the Galoot Code and bought this probably-never-to-be-used tool from the old gentleman!!!_ There are several details which don't show in my previous photos! Among other things, the metal cap on the back has knurled sides, suggesting that perhaps it unscrews! The adjustable brass "stop" remains a puzzle. I'll try to get views from several directions without strong shadows. And the old gent, with whom I've been transacting flea market business for at least 20 years, gave me some good news. He'll be back in November. It's just an extended trip, not permanent absence! :) John Ruth |
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276152 | mike.lietzow@g... | 2022‑08‑15 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
GGs, On Sun, Aug 14, 2022 at 04:25 PM, John Ruth wrote: "I conformed to the Galoot Code and bought this probably-never-to-be-used tool from the old gentleman!!!" Fully appropriate. The key word there is "probably," suggesting an ever-so-faint chance that you might need it someday, thusly justifying the acquisition. We're here to help. Cheers! Mike |
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276153 | Kirk Eppler | 2022‑08‑15 | Re: Mystery ? Leatherworking ? Took |
Oh heck no. Once we tell him what it is, he will realize he's been needing it his whole life, but the needs have passed. Kirk in Half Moon Bay, CA, added some shelving to the garage over the weekend. On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 8:54 AM |
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