Reference Books

[SSSM]

Can anyone suggest a few very general and basic antique tool reference guides. we're a museum working on identifying a massive antique tool collection and have limited expertise in identifying tools.

Any titles you could suggest would be wonderful. Thank you all so much.

[jmk89]

A good start is RA Salaman Dictionary of Tools Used in the Woodworking and Allied Trades, 1700-1950 (http://used.addall.com/SuperRare/url.cgi?=~=http://www.biblio.com/details.php?dcx=249635927&aid=aa&t=1=~=Biblio)

[Quasimodo]

If you don't want to spend money buying books, try downloading some of the old tool and hardware catalogues available online, eg.,:

http://www.roseantiquetools.com/

[Woodwould]

What age of tools are you dealing with (one man's 'antique tools' are another man's modern junk). If they are dated and aren't too old, then you can often look them up in turn of the (20th) century trade catalogues and Army and Navy Stores catalogues etc.

Otherwise books like the afore-mentioned book by Salaman can often identify generic old tools by use/trade. You may find these titles useful too Handtools of Arts and Crafts (Diagram Group) and The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Woodworkingtools Instruments & Devices by Graham Blackburn.

[SSSM]

The tools we're cataloging range in date from the late 18th century to the early 20th century (its a large collection). I had a few titles in mind when posting, and you've already hit on a few of them, so I'm pretty confident in what you all have suggested. Thank you very much!

[Heavansabove]

Get in touch with the Davistown Museum - http://www.davistownmuseum.org/index.html

also there is EAIA - http://www.eaiainfo.org/index.htm, I am sure they can help, or certainly put you in contact with knowledgeable members close by.