San Diego's tool show

Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., The, Mar/Apr 2003 by Wells, John G

TOOL AUCTION NEWS

Under brilliant deep blue skies and temperatures nearing 80 degrees, tool collectors gathered again this year at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in San Diego, January 16-18, and spent three days swapping tools, sharing experiences, and renewing old friendships. Al Bennett and his wife Hilde hosted the meeting in the same wonderful laid-back style that has become their hallmark.

PRE-AUCTION SALES

The show began officially on Thursday morning before daybreak with a sale in the parking lot. A Stanley No.1 with the sweetheart trademark, a near mint Stanley No.46 in a box lacking the label, and a terrific 20-inch overstuffed infill plane were sold to pleased collectors.

The two skylight-covered atrium layout of the hotel was ideal for tool events. Most attendees who brought tools to trade had rooms that opened directly off the ground floor. When we arrived Wednesday afternoon, several of the guestrooms were already open for trading, but the real action began Friday morning when sellers had tools set up on tables in the atrium.

A collector from the Pacific Northwest became the new owner of a previously unseen version of a Benjamin A. Blandin jack plane, patent May 7, 1867 (Figures 1 and 2). It was in superb condition and is the only known example with a cam lock, keyhole lever cap.

Blandin planes used a T-- shaped cast iron lever to adjust the depth of cut by rising or lowering the leading edge of the cutter. This lever pivoted in semicircular recesses cast in the plane's bed and sideboards. The rear end of the lever was slotted to fit around a vertical threaded rod, which held a brass adjustment wheel. A coil spring around the vertical rod and under the end of the lever provided back pressure. On this example, a cast bronze frog, which carried the lever cap screw, spanned between the sideboards above the T-- shaped adjusting lever. The tin alloy coating on the surfaces of the lever and the frog that contacted the cutter were other features that had not been seen before.

GREAT LEVELS

A very scarce 28-inch inclinometer spirit level, patented March 27,1900, by Magnus Nilson of Oakland, California, sold in a private sale to a collector from the Pacific Northwest (Fig. 3). This inclinometer used an ordinary level vial mounted on a pivoting device to read the slope of the level stock.

A 12-inch cast iron level, in super condition with unblemished paper labels on both sides reading "The Empire Spirit Level, Green Tweed & Co. N.Y. Patent No. 354,076," sold to the same collector. This was the Edward E. Webb, December 7,1886 patent, which was also used by The Fitchburg Level Co (Fig. 4).

A collector, wanting to thin out his collection, put several inclinometer levels on his table Friday morning. They all sold immediately.

Probably the most interesting and sought after level in this group was the "novelty gravity level" (also known as the "Murray & Porter level") -a pendulum inclinometer level that uses a tiny plumb bob in a pivoting brass enclosure to measure slopes. It was patented by Oscar B. Fuller of Burlington, Kansas, September 13, 1887.

Another interesting level in this group was a lovely gravity dial inclinometer level, the Protractor Level (Fig.5). This inclinometer was mounted in a removable case for use in tight places.

Other interesting items that sold in the atrium or the rooms included the third model of the Walker plow plane with a full set of cutters; a Fales combination plane with a big selection of the many sets of bottoms and cutters that were made for it; a scarce Mayo block plane; an extremely scarce and graphic Bailey Tool Co. No.B block plane with "Bailey Tool Co" cast in the sole; and a Stearns No.53B, one-foot, four-fold, fully bound ivory rule in pure white, crisp condition.

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

For the past several years The San Diego Old Tool Show has featured a listed auction of high quality antique tools. This year there were 377 listed lots plus fifty-nine lots consigned by members immediately before the auction.

A very scarce Wine Cask Gauging Rod and Caliper by Prine & McKean, 1870-1890, was one of the stars of the show. Stanley Rule and Level Company made these rare gauges on special order. They were never listed in a Stanley catalogue. This example in fine condition brought $1800.

A rare "tall frame" L.L. Davis 18-- inch cast iron inclinometer level, 3 3/16 inches tall, with a 23/4 inch diameter inclinometer, beautiful open floral filigree, and nice gold highlighting, was another star. It realized $750. These Davis tall frame levels were apparently only manufactured briefly, from 1868 through 1870.

A beautiful goosewing axe, decorated with attractive rosettes, was purchased for $415.

An absolutely mint, 72-inch Rapid Tape Measurer, in the original box, by H. A. Farrand, a leading developer of the steel measuring tape, brought $75.

A small router in cornier wood, nicely decorated with carvings on the scroll handles, sold for $175. An attractive, high quality, 12-inch mahogany scraper with an ivory wear plate sold for $185. A beautiful and delicate bow saw, with ebony points and handles in a nice small size, sold for $160.