P Codfrey tenon saw?

[johnnyrsa]

I also posted this over on backsaw.net.
Any one ever heard of this P. Codfrey fellow? I cant seem to find any info him, could this saw have been made by one of the bigger saw manufacturers and sold to a smaller lesser known saw seller who just branded it with his own company name?
The saw is actually still in pretty good condition considering it's age, the surface rust should clean up nicely.

http://s11.postimg.org/nq6q0q3gj/Camera_ZOOM_20140528065514519.jpg

http://s11.postimg.org/6ja4oyhab/Camera_ZOOM_20140527174719975.jpg

http://s11.postimg.org/ln0w6st1f/Camera_ZOOM_20140527174656349.jpg

http://s11.postimg.org/pfft8sj5v/Camera_ZOOM_20140528065548960.jpg

[planemaker]

Hi. This Census listing of Stradford's 1878 Commercial Traders may be of help to you. Jervis Thomas, saw maker, 218 High Street.

Thomas Jervis is the only saw maker shown within the listing.

http://pubhistory.co.uk/StratfordHistory/Stratford-1878Commercial.shtml

Stewie;

[johnnyrsa]

Hi. This Census listing of Stradford's 1878 Commercial Traders may be of help to you. Jervis Thomas, saw maker, 218 High Street.

Thomas Jervis is the only saw maker shown within the listing.

http://pubhistory.co.uk/StratfordHistory/Stratford-1878Commercial.shtml

Stewie;

Interesting. Thank you

[hiroller]

Looks more like GODPREY to me.
There are no references to Codfrey on the UK census site but there are Godfrey and Godprey.
http://www.ukcensusonline.com/search/index.php?fn=&sn=Godprey&event=1881&phonetic_mode=1&year=&range=0&token=2gsX5peiuzMjYxRLbHljMNqNt6UBsGNxwQyH3cHoib8&search=Search

[hiroller]

As a side bar. I found the reference to Maryland Point interesting.
It is now known as Maryland but there are still references to Maryland Point up until WW1.
Maryland Point is one of the few places in Britain that is named after a place in America!
It was named after the house of Richard Lee after he returned from 20 years in Maryland, USA. After he died, his family returned to the US. One of his descendent was Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee. Who also gave his name to a car.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland,_London
http://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/maryland/
http://www.history-in-pictures.co.uk/store/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=101

We return you to normal programming.
It could also be an owners stamp.

[johnnyrsa]

Looks more like GODPREY to me.
There are no references to Codfrey on the UK census site but there are Godfrey and Godprey.
http://www.ukcensusonline.com/search/index.php?fn=&sn=Godprey&event=1881&phonetic_mode=1&year=&range=0&token=2gsX5peiuzMjYxRLbHljMNqNt6UBsGNxwQyH3cHoib8&search=Search

You could be right there.. :D Godfrey sounds right but the "G" just looks more like a "C", maybe it's just the typeface they used.


As a side bar. I found the reference to Maryland Point interesting.
It is now known as Maryland but there are still references to Maryland Point up until WW1.
Maryland Point is one of the few places in Britain that is named after a place in America!
It was named after the house of Richard Lee after he returned from 20 years in Maryland, USA. After he died, his family returned to the US. One of his descendent was Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee. Who also gave his name to a car.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland,_London
http://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/maryland/
http://www.history-in-pictures.co.uk/store/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=101

We return you to normal programming.
It could also be an owners stamp.

It also crossed my mind that the stamp could be that of the owners which would make it near impossible to identify the maker. :?

[IanW]

Why are you all thinking of Stratford-on-Avon, UK, (which has never been an industrial centre afaik)? Given the reference to a 'point', I would be wondering if this Stratford is in Conecticut, USA, which is located on the mouth of a river? :? It's smack in the middle of a pretty busy area with a long furniture-making history. Boston, Newport, Philadelphia - all loom large in US woodworking history.....

Cheers,

[hiroller]

Hi Ian,

That was my original thinking too but I think you are mixing up your Stratfords!
The town of Stratfort-upon-Avon ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford-upon-Avon ) is in the west midlands.
The town of Stratfort ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford,_London ), which is served by Marylands (Point) train station is now an outer suburb of NE London.
Once more unto the breach, dear friends ...

Johnny, you might have to go hunting for an etch!

[RayG]

I think Fred might have this one nailed. see http://www.backsaw.net/index.php?option=com_jfusion&Itemid=58&jfile=showpost.php&p=3409&postcount=6

Once again, sawmakers and pubs seem to go together, want to find a sawmaker, go looking in pub history web sites... :D

Ray

[johnnyrsa]

I think Fred might have this one nailed. see http://www.backsaw.net/index.php?option=com_jfusion&Itemid=58&jfile=showpost.php&p=3409&postcount=6

Once again, sawmakers and pubs seem to go together, want to find a sawmaker, go looking in pub history web sites... :D

Ray

Haha yes I think Fred is right. :D
I'm gonna clean the saw plate up over the weekend, maybe I'll find an etch hiding underneath all that surface rust.

[planemaker]

I think Fred might have this one nailed. see http://www.backsaw.net/index.php?option=com_jfusion&Itemid=58&jfile=showpost.php&p=3409&postcount=6

Once again, sawmakers and pubs seem to go together, want to find a sawmaker, go looking in pub history web sites... :D

Ray

Nice work Ray. Good onya Fred.

Now if Phillip Godfrey's profession was an ironmonger.

Ironmongery originally referred, first, to the manufacture of iron (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron) goods and, second, to the place of sale of such items for domestic rather than industrial use.

The term ironmonger as a supplier of consumer goods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_goods) is still widely used in Great Britain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain),

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironmongery

Now was P. Godfrey likely to have been the actual Saw Maker. Most likely not. More than likely the actual Saw Maker was contracted by P. Godfrey to supply him the backsaws with his business details stamped on the hardback.

So who was the actual Saw Maker. ??? . Best lead would be a search for a Saw Maker within or close too Maryland Point, Stratford England, back in 1902.

Stewie;

[johnnyrsa]

Now was P. Godfrey likely to have been the actual Saw Maker. Most likely not. More than likely the actual Saw Maker was contracted by P. Godfrey to supply him the backsaws with his business details stamped on the hardback.

So who was the actual Saw Maker. ??? . Best lead would be a search for a Saw Maker within or close too Maryland Point, Stratford England, back in 1902.

Stewie;

That's what I thought as well. It's probably going to be near impossible to figure out who really made this saw. Maybe I'll be lucky and find an etch or even a partial etch on the saw plate somewhere.

[IanW]

Hi Ian,

That was my original thinking too but I think you are mixing up your Stradfords!
The town of Stratfort-upon-Avon ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford-upon-Avon ) is in the west midlands.
The town of Stratfort ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford,_London ), which is served by Marylands (Point) train station is now an outer suburb of NE London.

I yield - 'twas just a thought, too hastily thunk. :B After I'd posted I also read the bit about Marylands, but still thought a US source a possibility. That seems to be just a little off...... :C

One gets history and geography lessons on this site! :U
,
Cheers,

[johnnyrsa]

Cleaned her up a bit over the weekend and re-tensioned the blade, cleaned up pretty well but there is a small crack on the front of the plate.. Still deciding whether I should cut it out and trim the spine a little.
Sadly there was no etching.
http://s18.postimg.org/yq192gs6x/Camera_ZOOM_20140602065125606.jpg

[IanW]

..... but there is a small crack on the front of the plate.. Still deciding whether I should cut it out and trim the spine a little.

Might be a good idea to get rid of it, in case it decides to split further. It looks like you only need to trim 5 or 6mm, so I wouldn't think losing that much will make any difference to the balance or action.

Cheers,

[johnnyrsa]

Hey Ian

Yeah you are right, think I should just get rid of it. It is only about 5mm or so.

Cheers