November 2008 - Richmond Antique Tool Society

THE TOOL TABLE
The Newsletter of the Richmond Antique Tool Society
VOLUME 14, NO. 5
Next meeting
Friday November 14
Agenda
All times are approximate
6:00–7:00 p.m. Tool talk & sales
7:00-7:15 p.m. General meeting
7:15-8:00 p.m. “Emmert vises”
8:00-9:00 p.m. Donation
auction
9:00-10:00 p.m.Tool sales/wrapup
THE TOOL TABLE is the official
publication of the Richmond
Antique Tool Society and is
published bi-monthly, in
approximately January, March,
May, June, August and
November of each year.
Editor & Layout..... Bill Taggart
[email protected]
NOVEMBER 2008
The President’s Plane Talk
Our next meeting is our annual “Donation Night” Friday,
November 14th at Pocahontas Middle School. This is the time to
clean up your shop and bring in all the items, supplies, tools, and junk
that has been cluttering the shop since last year’s meeting. This is our
major fundraiser for the year and offsets the cost of the school and
Legion Hall rentals. We also will have a presentation on “Emmert
Vises” by Alan Weber and Dick Levy. I’m bringing some fresh tools
to sell and hopefully, my sales will help pay for my speeding ticket to
Bellwood Flea Market this past Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. I’m
bringing lots to donate and Bill Taggart has a very nice (surprise)
donation for your consideration. As usual, you never know what will
show up. Bring a friend to this fun-filled auction night, learn about
Emmert vices, eat some great food, bring in items to donate and have
lots of cash. Hey, let’s all spread the wealth…or should I say “junk”.
The Gathering will take place on Wednesday night, December
10th at the Glen Allen Legion Hall. We will mail all members a letter
with all the details, directions and times. Remember you can place 10
items into the tool auction that night. This is a good opportunity to get
a little money back to buy more tools.
Well, we did it. We pulled the “Pocket Knife Night” off with
anybody going to the pokey. Tom Storamski did a fine job explaining
his collection and different aspects of collecting pocket knives. It was
great to see a large turnout after our summer break. With the
exception of Brian Blair bringing in his JUMBO pocket knife, I would
like to thank everyone for following the rules. Linda Blair’s
homemade warm bread made up for Brian. I guess that’s why she
does such sweet things. Thanks, Linda! Also, Bob Ziegler gave a fine
presentation on Liberty Bell planes. It was a great night.
So, lots of activities coming up: The next meeting, Nov. 14th,
The Gathering – Dec 10th and the Tool Show @ The ShowPlace Jan.
3rd & 4th. Please get involved in some way and best of all, just our
company is needed. Let’s close out a great tool year and usher in a
new one.
Plane and Simple,
Rick Long
The Richmond Antique Tool
Society (RATS) is a non-profit
organization serving to promote
knowledge of and interest in
collecting, making and using
antique tools. RATS provides a
gathering place where members
and guests can gain knowledge
and understanding about tools and
trades from the past and also buy,
sell and trade old tools. Regular
meetings are held in February,
April, June, September,
November and December.
Memberships are available for
$10.00 annually by mailing to:
Richmond Antique Tool Society
c/o Mike Larkin
9487 Williamsville Road
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
Officers
President....................... Rick Long
[email protected]
(804) 550-1010
Vice President ............ Jim Hollins
(757) 874-9573
Treasurer ................... Mike Larkin
(804) 730-8332
Auction
Committee........Anthony Senunias
(804) 746-8310
To receive THE TOOL TABLE
and RATS announcements
via e-mail, contact:
[email protected]
The Emmert Vise
Known as “The Iron Hand,” the Emmert line of vises were marketed
as the most versatile vises ever made – and they quite likely were (and
still are). They mostly are associated with patternmaking, where their
ability to hold various oddly-shaped pieces of work at almost any
angle was highly valued. Today, an Emmert vise is the “holy grail” of
woodworking tools for many woodworking enthusiasts. Tales are told
of finding an Emmert vise at a garage sale for only a few dollars, just
like the stories of finding an all-original classic old car in a barn with
only a few miles on the odometer.
The reality is that Emmerts tend to go for several hundred dollars,
unless the seller doesn’t realize what he or she has – and then the
buyer has a very happy day indeed. Alan Weber and Dick Levy will
be showing us more about these great tools. In the meantime, for a
primer and some reference material on Emmert vises, check out
http://www.mprime.com/Emmert/index.htm.
PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO PAY YOUR DUES FOR 2009!
RATS Calendar 2008
November 14th
RATS Meeting
Pocahontas Middle School, 12000 Three Chopt Rd.
December 10th
RATS Gathering
American Legion Hall, Indale Road, Glen Allen
January 3-4, 2009
Antique Tool Show
The Showplace, Mechanicsville, VA
THE NEW ROGERS TREADLE FRET SAW
By Bill Taggart
to thread a blade through. In this way, the operator
could make fretwork without having to start the cut
from the outside and cut into the piece.
The Millers Falls Company introduced its “Rogers”
treadle saw in 1878. Only a year later, the company
replaced that saw with the “New Rogers” saw,
which went on to become a very successful item for
the company.
The saws became very popular with home hobbiest
woodworkers – and even some serious makers of
fret-work – and remain popular today.
The New Rogers saw came with an automatic dustblower bellows, strategically located just above and
behind the blade, with a nozzle pointed down
towards the work. The bellows kept the cutting area
clear so the operator could see the cut line.
It also came with a simple collet-like drill chuck on
the right side, for making “pierced” fretwork. A
small drill was used to make a hole just big enough
Several companies made similar saws and
variations of scroll saws, but the New Rogers
appears to be one of the most commonly found.
This probably is because it actually works very
well!
These days, fretwork usually is cut out with a laser,
or stamped out with a steel die. But a New Rogers
saw, although over 100 years old, can still work just
as well as when new, and children often enjoy
cutting out simple shapes. It is a very safe way to
introduce children to woodworking.
As with any other tool, there is always someone
who collects them. For pictures of an impressive
collection, check out
http://www.scrollsaws.com/SawCollection/SawsCol
lection.html.
For a bit more history of the New Rogers saw, and
the best site on the web for information about the
history and tools of the Millers Falls Company, go
to http://oldtoolheaven.com/history/history2.htm.
Richmond Antique Tool Society
c/o Mike Larkin
9487 Williamsville Road
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
FIRST CLASS MAIL
DATED MATERIAL
THE TOOL TABLE
The Newsletter of the Richmond Antique Tool Society
VOLUME 14, NO. 5
NOVEMBER 2008
RATS Calendar 2008
The Richmond Antique Tool Society (RATS) is a
non-profit organization serving to promote
knowledge of and interest in collecting, making and
using antique tools. RATS provides a gathering place
where members and guests can gain knowledge and
understanding about tools and trades from the past
and also buy, sell and trade old tools. Regular
meetings are held in February, April, June,
September, November and December. Memberships
are available for $10.00 annually by mailing to:
Richmond Antique Tool Society
c/o Mike Larkin
9487 Williamsville Road
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
November 14
RATS Meeting
Pocahontas Middle School
December 10
RATS Gathering
American Legion Hall
Indale Rd., Glen Allen, VA
January 3-4, 2009
Antique Tool Show
The Showplace, Mechanicsville, VA