Thread: Tool Catalogues

thanks

Another catalogue from our colleague in the USA. It is a Simonds catalogue, #38 (complete catalogue is about 90MB, hand tools only 34MB).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzJ...ew?usp=sharing just the hand tools

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzJ...ew?usp=sharing the whole catalogue


More to come! Click on the link and then click the download button:

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 7.46.10 AM.png

That's the little downward pointing arrow with a line underneath it. You'll then have a copy to use offline.

Terrific Homesy

Any more Simonds in particular that you know of?

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Terrific Homesy

Any more Simonds in particular that you know of?

Regards
Paul

Yes, there is a 1912 Simonds catalogue (and a couple of S&J catalogues) in the pipeline.

Here is the the link to the short version of the 1912 Simonds catalogue (53MB):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzJ...ew?usp=sharing

Homesey

That is an excellent link. It must be from the hardback version as it has colour plates included whereas my A6 size soft cover is monochrome.

Would you mind if I posted the link into my "Simonds Saw Story" thread? I think it would be most useful.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Homesey

That is an excellent link. It must be from the hardback version as it has colour plates included whereas my A6 size soft cover is monochrome.

Would you mind if I posted the link into my "Simonds Saw Story" thread? I think it would be most useful.

Regards
Paul

Hi Paul,

The links to the catalogues are on our US colleagues private site that is hosted by Google (Google Drive). I believe he will be making these catalogues available through the WKFine Tools site. I think for the longevity of data a link to the WKFine Tools is preferred (when available). In the meantime using the links I've posted here, in the Woodwork Forum, will be okay.

From the few emails we have exchanged, I understand our US colleague is of the opinion that these catalogues should be freely available for study (or pleasure!) rather than sitting on a dusty shelf and accessible to only a handful of people. To this end he is making publications in his hands freely available. I am of a similar opinion and have scanned the catalogues I have (mainly S&J). The scanned catalogues will be formed into PDF documents and a link posted here for all to download.

I have previously uploaded catalogue pages (showing saws of course!) to the Woodwork Forum but with some computing help the complete documents will be available soon. Readers with interests in tools other than saws will then be catered for. Stay tuned!

Regards,

Paul

That's a great ethos!
Keep up the good work.

Great catalog scans!

Paul, interesting that 1912 only has regular and slim taper files, would have made filing back saws interesting.

#38 (date after Simonds exited hand saws as there is only a docking saw, and no hand/back saws) also has X Slim taper files.

I have not seen any Simonds XX Slim files . Do any of your catalogs list them?

Cheers
Peter

Originally Posted by Heavansabove

Great catalog scans!

Paul, interesting that 1912 only has regular and slim taper files, would have made filing back saws interesting.

#38 (date after Simonds exited hand saws as there is only a docking saw, and no hand/back saws) also has X Slim taper files.

I have not seen any Simonds XX Slim files . Do any of your catalogs list them?

Cheers
Peter

Peter

I appreciate that you were asking Homsey (Paul) about his other catalogues. Perhaps I can chip in a little. I have three full catalogues which include the files: 1910,1912 and 1919. None of these show EST or DEST files. (My other exerts from the catalogues only focus on handsaws.)

At some point Simonds did have such a beast as this listing from Ebay shows, although in this instance it is probably very recent.

Simonds Double Extra Slim Taper Saw Hand File American Pattern Triangula New | eBay

However the most interesting aspect for me was the product description which in particular identified the difference between the American and Swiss patterns.

Product Details:
"The Simonds taper saw hand file is 6" long, has a black oxide coating, and has a double extra-slim triangular shape with single-cut American pattern teeth for filing handsaws with 60-degree angle teeth. The file tapers slightly toward the point to ease access between small saw teeth. It has single-cut American pattern teeth on all sides for finishing, sharpening, and deburring. The file edges are set and cut for filing gullets between saw teeth. The file's black oxide coating helps provide greater resistance to loading and rust than uncoated files. The tang can be used with an optional handle for secure gripping (sold separately).
Hand files are used to remove material and smooth and shape workpieces. They have forward-facing cutting teeth and cut when pushed over either a stationary or rotating workpiece. Single-cut teeth are single rows cut diagonally across the width of the file. Double-cut teeth have two sets of rows cut in opposite directions. American pattern files have three coarseness grades. Coarse, also known as bastard cut, is suitable for efficient, heavy material removal where finish is not a concern. Medium, also known as second cut, offers average material removal and finish quality. Fine, also known as smooth cut, provides the smoothest finish. Swiss pattern files have eight coarseness grades, from 00 (coarse), 0 (medium), and 1 to 6 (fine to finest), offering a smoother finish than equivalent American pattern files. For Swiss pattern files the length of the tool is the length of the blade, not counting the tang, which is the pointed end fitted for a handle; for American pattern files the length of the tool is its entire length, including the tang.
Simonds International manufactures tools for cutting and finishing. The company, founded in 1832, is headquartered in Fitchburg, MA."

and an interesting differentiation in describing the method of measuring the length. I expect everybody else already knows this.


Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Simonds Double Extra Slim Taper Saw Hand File American Pattern Triangula New | eBay

However the most interesting aspect for me was the product description which in particular identified the difference between the American and Swiss patterns.

Product Details:
For Swiss pattern files the length of the tool is the length of the blade, not counting the tang, which is the pointed end fitted for a handle; for American pattern files the length of the tool is its entire length, including the tang."

and an interesting differentiation in describing the method of measuring the length. I expect everybody else already knows this.

Regards
Paul

Hi Paul, actually I was replying to your message...

Interesting how the Product Details are about. Especially as, if he measured the file, he would have realised the error. All files are measured exclusive of tang - AP and SP, except... needle files are measured overall length. This is a contemporary file, you can tell by the pathetic taper.

The Simonds website has XX Slim down to 5", I wonder when they started to make them? Be interesting to see say a late pre-1955 Simonds catalog. There were probably only Heller branded XX Slim files (Simonds took over Heller in 1955 - Heller did have XX Slim files).

Cheers
Peter

Hi Folks,

A couple more catalogues:

Spear and Jackson (around 1930) catalogue. This catalogue doesn't have a date on the cover or in the text, however, from claims in the first few pages the catalogue must date after 1924. I contacted Dr Simon Barley (author of "British Saws and Saw Makers from 1660") and he dated it to around 1930 so I've used his date. The catalogue is simply designated "T3." If anyone has a better date for the catalogue, please add to the discussion.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzJ...ew?usp=sharing


Fast forward 30 years for the next catalogue, another S&J, this time from 1961:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzJ...ew?usp=sharing


The third catalogue is also from S&J - dated to around 1974:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzJ...ew?usp=sharing



Enjoy!

Hi Peter,

I have access to Simonds catalogue #19 (1919 on cover). It has regular, slim and Xslim tapers listed. No XXslim. (I'm sorry, I can't share the 1919 catalogue as it is a reprint published by Roger K Smith 1994. It is available through eBay from secondchancesawworks.)

On quick inspection the S&J from c.1930 lists slim taper. No Xslim or XXslim. The 1961 S&J similarly lists slim taper. No Xslim or XXslim.

The 1908 S. Tyzack and Son catalogue just lists saw files as "best taper saw files." (This catalogue is also a reprint.)


Regards,

Paul (homesy135)

I may have stumbled on a little more information on the apparent absence of DEST files in the Simonds range.

There is a catalogue on Ebay (US) at the moment on Simonds Saw Files.

Simonds file catalogue 2.jpgSimonds file catalogue.jpg

It is a 24pp booklet and the interesting point is their reference to their speciality hand saw files, which they allege are equivalent to DEST, but they have blunt ends.

The era is unclear. The seller thinks it is early. The booklet refers, on the front cover, to the most recent exposition being the 1915 exposition in San Francisco. The next significant exposition in America was in Chicago in 1933. So I, if my assumptions are correct, I would place the catalogue in that eighteen year time frame, but tending to be later rather than earlier.

The blunt ender seems to fly in the face of tradition.

Regards
Paul