WOULD LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT THE N.Y. SAW COMPANY

Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., The, Jan/Feb 2004 by Ochenas, Bob

Another e-mail to test your knowledge:

Hello. I've been interested in old tools for nearly thirty years. Mostly I am interested in plows and complex molders. I'm not a saw collector, but for no particular reason I've started accumulating saws that have interesting handles (rosewood, etc.) and those that have nibbed blades, which I thought tended to indicate age. This saw I have question about had a very hard layer of rust and I had to be a little more aggressive cleaning it than I like. In any event the mark is faint and hard to read. (I hope that I'm not reading it wrong.) The specifics are these: There is an acid-etched mark on the blade. In a circle it says, "WARRANTED LONDON SPRING STEEL." Then, on a horizontal line through the center-"CONYSAWCO." I'm almost certain that the handle is American Walnut. It has 7 tpi and its overall length is about 27." The brass decorative screw in the handle says, WARRANTED, no name. This saw blade has a nib.

I've tried the basic approaches to learning more about this company. Although I'm not an EAIA member, I didn't find anything listed in the EAIA Directory of American Toolmakers. I did see a blurb on the internet site of the Rochester Library mentioning a "N.Y. Saw Co." but I couldn't open the page that it referred to. As to where I got it I don't remember. I've also consulted with one of northwest Ohio's long time collectors, and he had never heard of this company. Given my experiences so far, I think this will require a specialist! Sure hope someone can help.

Bob Ochenas

9465 CR 11, Delta, OH 43535

(419) 335-8714; E-mail: