library

The Slippery Slope

So, you're just starting to accumulate old hand tools? Well, we won't really call it collecting…will we? There are a few "must have" books for anyone even considering this slippery slope. Some are fairly common books that you can find in big box stores all over the country, some are only found by a diligent search. This is by no means a complete list. I've left off the many excellent books on levels, rules, saws and wooden plane manufacturers because I have yet to delve into these areas. There are only so many minutes in life and a limited amount of space to store things. These books will get you started down many slopes, maybe too many for one lifetime. They may even inspire one of you to write your own book or just assist you in your search for that ultimate tool.

John Walter's Stanley Tools Guide to Identity & Value (885 pages ) This is the bible of tool collectors and the fact that it's been out of print now for 9 years doesn't decrease it's importance or utility in the tool world. While you can get by with the little yearly pocket guides, the big book has much more information. John has taken the Alvin Sellens book and expanded the type studies. In the back of the book you get detailed type studies in depth for the Bailey bench planes, the 9 ½ family of block planes, the #18 & 19 blocks, the wooden bottom transitionals, the #'s 41-44 Millers Patents, the #45, 46 & 50 combination planes, the 71 & 71 ½ routers, the #110 blocks, the Bedrock series, levels and Stanley retail box type studies. A wealth of information for the budding or advanced collector. It really is a necessary part of your library if not for the pricing (remember it's just a guide) then for the dating information included in each listing. The pocket edition just can't cram that much info into it's tiny pages,

Alvin Sellens The Stanley Plane..A History and Descriptive Inventory..1975.(4th printing 1981 published by EAIA).this is the seminal book on Stanley planes..John Walter's book and much of Patrick Leach's site is based on Mr. Sellens work. An unimposing book of 216 pages it is still jam packed with tons of info and usually can be had for less than the Walter's book. you may actually find it in your local library buried on a dusty back shelf (very appropriate).Actually has some better graphics than the BIG book and doesn't skimp on details. No prices..it's just the facts.

Dave Heckel- Sargent Planes Identification and Value Guide, -104 pages. Improved second edition 2004 with history, advertising material and a detailed type description for the complete range of Sargent planes. Good solid reference book will tell you as much as you need to know about different era Sargent planes. There is even a very interesting section on early Sargent advertising and catalogs. Stanley Tools being "THE" name it is harder to find information on some of their competitors but Dave does an admirable job.He'll walk you through the different patents and design changes that Sargent made over the years and give you an idea of value..again, only a guide-your mileage may vary. The book has been expanded to include the differing values for early and late types of particular models a must have for Sargent collectors or flea market denizens.

Roger Smith-Patented Transitional & Metallic Planes in America Volumes I & II.. (PTAMPIA) getting away from the most common manufacturers Roger gives us a detailed look into more American plane makers than we'll probably ever see in our lifetimes. Details abound for company dates, places of manufacture and some of the most beautiful pictures you've ever seen of planes you will never see. First volume is out of print but well worth any dollars you have to part with to acquire it. Volume II is still available.. These were the first "tool porn" books; heavy on beautiful pictures of even more beautiful planes and heavily laden with detail. Anything you may have ever wanted to know about any plane you can imagine are within these pages. Both volumes are necessary. Volume II is all new material not found in volume I.

Milton H. Bacheller Jr.-American Marking Gages Patented & Manufactured-2000. Milton has done for marking gages what Walters did for Stanley planes. A wealth of detail about manufacturers and styles of gages fill each page. A massive book Hardcover, 439 pages about not just marking gages but any and every tool designed for marking, mortising, scribing, cutting, & slitting. Nearly all the original patent diagrams are included along with surviving advertisements from the eras. As it's been said; "If you are a gage collector, you must have this book. (Remember, if you have more than two, you are a collector!)" (Roger Smith)

Thomas C. Lamond- Manufactured and Patented Spokeshaves & Similar Tools-1997 452 pp., illustrations and includes 16 full color picture pages (unabashed tool porn!). I've always had a particular interest in spokeshaves..maybe because some of my gunstock scrapers were designed like them. Tom's book pushed me well over the edge. Arranged by maker & utility, it gives a detailed history of the shave and descriptions of every shave you may run across in your travels (and many you will probably never see). Tom has made shave collecting easier and harder at the same time; now I at least know what to look for but it's opened up a whole new can of worms. With detailed descriptions and pictures you'll never look at a flea market bucket of junk with the same eyes. Indispensable for the collector or the casual user.

The next two authors works can be found most anywhere and should already be in your library so I won't dwell on their merits. I will say that these are the finest graphics books out there...the ultimate in tool porn

Garrett Hack- "The Handplane Book" & "Classic Handtools"- these two volumes are the "tool porn" of collectors. Amazing photographs of amazing tools.

Sandor Nagyszalanczy-" The Art of Fine Tools" & "Tools: Rare & Ingenious".- and Sandor is no slouch in the "tool porn" category either.

Here are a few that I've perused but not yet added to my own library..but certainly will at a later date..well worth a look.
A Source Book for Rule Collectors :Philip E. Stanley
Patented American Planes for Wood, Leather, and the Allied Trades Volumes 1.2 & 3 by Lars Larson & Clarence Blanchard
Scottish and English Metal Planes Manufactured by Stewart Spiers and T. Norris & Sons.
Ken Roberts, Editor
A Guide to the Makers of American Wooden Planes
by Emil Pollak, Martyl Pollak

and finally one magazine that should be on every ones list:

Fine Tool Journal-Quarterly publication by Clarence Blanchard -while not a book the Fine Tool Journal is the ultimate tool collector's publication. Clarence has brought us the only magazine for old tool nuts. There's always something new to learn in every issue and I eagerly await each and every one.
THE FINE TOOL JOURNAL
27 Fickett Rd.
Pownal, ME 04069
http://www.finetoolj.com/
fine tool journal book list
http://www.finetoolj.com/Booklist.html

Sources: A few of these books are still available from:

Early American Industries Association (EAIA)
http://www.eaiainfo.org/
book list
http://www.eaiainfo.org/frprv54.htm

---------------------------------------

Manufactured and Patented Spokeshaves & Similar Tools
Tom Lamond
30 Kelsey Place
Lynbrook, NY
11563-1516

TomLamond@aol.com

516-596-1281

------------------------------------------------

Sargent Planes Identification and Value Guide
Dave Heckel
email: heckel@advant.net

-------------------------

Roger K. Smith
Box 177
Athol ,Mass. 01331
(978) 249-5990
http://rogerksmith.com/PTAMPIA1Pages.html

-----------------------------------

American Marking Gages Patented & manufactured

Milton H. Bacheller

185 South St

Plainville MA 02762

----------------------------------------------------------

not affiliated in any way with these gentlemen but I have met most of them in my travels and searches and have been very impressed with their knowledge and gracious sharing of same. Gentlemen and galoots, to a man.

back to index