Thread: Witherby chisel query

Here is a tabulation of Witherby No. 70 and No. 75 socket chisels in the c. 1920 Winsted Edge Tool Works catalog:

Stamped: T.H. WITHERBY over WARRENTED in a rectangular Cartouche

WITHERBY SOCKET FIRMER CHISELS

With 6 1/4" long blades

No. 70 -- leather tip handle - plain edge ..... Special mirror finish - extra fine quality, highly polished

No. 75 -- leather tip handle - bevel edge ..... Special mirror finish - extra fine quality, highly polished


My No. 70 -- much used but original:









James

Bump:
I was surprised by the extremely shiny blade surface of the chisel I illustrate here when I received it for I had not encountered this on any chisel previously and it really stood out among my other chisels. At first I thought some previous owner had chrome plated it but that didn't make sense, for the socket surface didn't match and an examination of the blade surface under a 10x magnifier revealed it was highly polished rather than plated. The tarnish/corrosion spots are of obvious long standing which meant it must have been polished a long time ago. And something else: The T.H. WITHERBY over WARRENTED Cartouche had obviously been stamped after the blade was polished and this, combined with the sharp edges of the chisel all around, seemed to indicate the chisel had been polished during the manufacturing process at the factory. I conjectured it might have been a salesman's sample or a special presentation tool -- and then I came across the information relating to the No.70 and No.75 chisels in the c. 1920 Winsted Edge Tool Works catalog. I think I have a No. 70 chisel. I am hoping some members of this Forum who own Witherby No. 70/No. 75 chisels will post pictures for comparison.

BTW, I recommend all tool collectors visit the Toolemera Press web site (Gary Roberts) -- the "Free Stuff" old tool catalogs available there are invaluable research resources.

Note: I do not buy or sell tools.

James

Hello James.
I think that T H Witherby chisels are not as common here in Australia as they are in the USA, however I have a few. Some are firmer style while others are bevelled edge chisels. All are sockets of course.
I hope that the pictures do them justice as they are wonderful chisels that seem to resist corrosion very well.
Here are the pix:
Kind regards
SG

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

.......... I think that T H Witherby chisels are not as common here in Australia as they are in the USA ..........

I think you are correct, SG. I only encountered a few in England -- I bought this one in order to post an example on my web site.

.......... I hope that the pictures do them justice as they are wonderful chisels that seem to resist corrosion very well ..........

Great Witherby's and wonderful pics, SG -- they display so handsomely against the polished wood.

Thanks for posting!

James

Originally Posted by SGBarnes

.......... The T.H. WITHERBY over WARRENTED Cartouche had obviously been stamped after the blade was polished ..........

Hard to photograph due to glare.

James

Originally Posted by SGBarnes

.......... I bought this one in order to post an example on my web site ..........

I have just loaded up this chisel page to my web site. This first iteration is a little rough, but I will flesh it out as I think of additional information.

James