Thread: The Simonds Saw Story

They look like substantial fangs on that beast, Paul - how many tpi is it? My guess from the pics is around 8...

Cheers,

Paul

the 4.5 looks beautiful, you don't seem to have any No 72's displayed in this very long thread? Based on some of the links you have provided in the past would you say they were the mid range product? What age would they be? About 1919?

Here is one I found a box? I knew it must have been decent when all the traditional tool groupies wanted to buy it off me for $5 at a saw sharpening workshop

image1.JPGimage2.JPGimage3.JPGimage4.JPG

I noted that in some of the No 8 adverts that have been posted in this thread that they made the 8 as a rip, cross cut and panel. Would that be the same for this No72? Would a No 72 rip and panel saw be hard to find?

I would appreciate any feed back you can provide.

Cheers
Stewart

Congrats on the nice write up on your saw collection in the latest Australian Wood Review!

Originally Posted by hiroller

Congrats on the nice write up on your saw collection in the latest Australian Wood Review!

Must have a friendly word with my newsagency - AWR not on their shelves...yet

Yvan

Originally Posted by yvan

Must have a friendly word with my newsagency - AWR not on their shelves...yet

Yvan

Subscibe, yvan! Not only will you get your copy sooner, if you sign up before the end of this month you can go in a drawer for a Hammer bandsaw. Those of us who are already subscibers don't get a chance on this one.

Actually, my copy hasn't arrived, yet, either - that's what you get for having a name that starts well down the alphabet, I expect...

Cheers,

I now subscribe to the digital version. It's cheaper, quicker and you can keep it without having to work out what to do with the big pile of magazines (that I may or may not have stacked in a corner).
It's worth having a look, as Paul is not the only forum member listed this issue as a collector!

Hiroller is ahead of me as I havn't seeen the mag yet (although I did see a proof).

I was going to suggest the same as IanW that it is far cheaper to subscribe and there is that bandsaw too. I even considered cancelling my subscription so I could subscribe again:

I have to say I rather like the paper copies, but in the IT world I am a dinosaur. Look at what I collect .

Back to Simonds in a moment.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by IanW

They look like substantial fangs on that beast, Paul - how many tpi is it? My guess from the pics is around 8...

Cheers,

Ian

They aren't big teeth! Well perhaps compared to your saws. It is a bit like comparing a Kenworth and an Audi .

But you are right on the money.

Simonds No.4.5 toothline 005.jpg

I thought I would also take the opportunity to show the saw in a good light:

Simonds No.4.5 toothline 002.jpg

.

Oh yes, I meant to say it got a final sharpening with sloped gullets and it easily cuts as fast as any saw I own. It has now been renamed "Tony's thoroughbred." Ironically it is pictured beneath what we call the racehorse tree (Tipuana).

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by bunya pine

Paul

the 4.5 looks beautiful, you don't seem to have any No 72's displayed in this very long thread? Based on some of the links you have provided in the past would you say they were the mid range product? What age would they be? About 1919?

Here is one I found a box? I knew it must have been decent when all the traditional tool groupies wanted to buy it off me for $5 at a saw sharpening workshop

image1.JPGimage2.JPGimage3.JPGimage4.JPG

I noted that in some of the No 8 adverts that have been posted in this thread that they made the 8 as a rip, cross cut and panel. Would that be the same for this No72? Would a No 72 rip and panel saw be hard to find?

I would appreciate any feed back you can provide.

Cheers
Stewart

Stewart

I am always happy to talk about Simonds saws. the bigger problem is stopping me.

In fact, thank you for raising specific questions as it prevents me rambling on. There is no reason why the No.72 has not featured here other than all the 70 series saws I own are as yet unrestored. I have a picture here of the full 70 series (Nos.71, 371, 72 & 372).

Simonds 70 series 003.jpgSimonds 70 series 002.jpg

The 70 series and the 60 series were referred to as the Blue Ribbon saws and as the name suggests they were the absolute top of the line made by Simonds. The mid range saws were Nos. 7 to 9 with Nos.10 and 10 1/2 being the lower end.

The Blue Ribbon Saws are readily identified by the three etches featured on these saws (providing the etch is still visible). There is no difference in the top two saws in the picture. I just happen to have two of them. They have the "dollar medallion," which was only made for a few years and in fact is the cost of the saw. It is also etched on the saw plate. Originally the dollar medallion had a blue enamel infill, but these examples have lost that.

The only difference between the 60 series and 70 series is that the 60s had extra carving on the flat of the handles and a higher level of polish to the saw plate. Both series were superb saws as are all Simonds (in my totally unbiased view ).

Also the Blue Ribbon saws originally had a distinctive blue etch, which has normally faded to black. You can see that the No.371 (24" panel saw) in the above picture still has traces of the blue, but it is unusual to see it after nearly 100 years.

The 70 series was made between 1912 and 1926 based on the catalogues I have. Your saw I think would be between 1917 and 1922 with the "Mfg" medallion.

All Simonds saws were made in Rip, Cross cut and Panel versions in a variety of lengths and ppi.

In the 1919 catalogue the No.72 was available as follows

Simonds 1919 catalogue pic.jpg

Finally, all Simonds saws are difficult to find outside of the United States. Of all my saws only three have come from Australia (or New Zealand in the case of the No.4 1/2). If you look at Ebay US there is almost always a No.72 for sale. The trouble is that freight will cost more than the saw and probably not less than $40 (That's US$).

Out of seven Simonds saws I have earmarked for sale, only one is a panel saw (and not a No.72). The panel saws don't seem to come up quite as commonly.

Simonds are around, but you have to be patient.

Regards
Paul

This might be of interest to the sawmakers amongst you. The degree of taper to the back of the saw. Sorry for the writing. The paint function is not quite playing the game.

Simonds No.4.5 Taper.JPG

You might have to enlarge the pic by clicking to read the figures. The sawplate is .036" and tapers down to .018". The figures along the back are at 150mm intervals. The degree of taper probably explains why the saw cuts well with so little set.

Regards
Paul

Thanks for the info Paul ! I must say I feel lucky to have one! And a blue ribbon at that! Which ones do you need to complete your collection? I will keep an eye out for you. I'm in the Hunter Valley and seem to find old boxes of goodies all the time.

Cheers
Stewart

Originally Posted by bunya pine

Thanks for the info Paul ! I must say I feel lucky to have one! And a blue ribbon at that! Which ones do you need to complete your collection? I will keep an eye out for you. I'm in the Hunter Valley and seem to find old boxes of goodies all the time.

Cheers
Stewart

Stewart


I used to live in the Upper Hunter.

Three saws have eluded me:

No.362
No.9 (It tends to look like a worn down No.8)
No.51 (Very rare indeed. A "no-set" model. Doesn't appear in any catalogues I have seen.)

I also need ( would like) a better No.4

Ok, so that's for my birthday and for Xmas..........

Seriously, thank you for that offer.

Regards
Paul

I get my latest copy of Aust Wood Review and have a a bit of a flick through
Hey look there's a saw till that looks familiar.

Hmm that's bushy

Looks like he's scrubbed up pretty good for the piccy

Yay I've rubbed shoulders with the famous - I'll be after an autograph at some stage

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

I get my latest copy of Aust Wood Review and have a a bit of a flick through
Hey look there's a saw till that looks familiar.

Hmm that's bushy

Looks like he's scrubbed up pretty good for the piccy

Yay I've rubbed shoulders with the famous - I'll be after an autograph at some stage

Wheres the picture?

We need proof[emoji6]

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art