Thread: Age of spear and jackson saws

Originally Posted by Virgil

Evening all.

I s'pose I could do the research myself but I'd rather go the lazy route and ask you lot.

I bought three old saws on the weekend for $15 (yay!). One small Atkins (with an intricately decorated handle) and two S&Js. One was 5tpi rip(?) and a 9-10 tpi Xcut. Both were 88 Speariors with the "unbreakable" handle. All pretty rusty but straight and with a bit of scrapong showed the etch coming through quite clearly.

My question to you all is when did S&J start with the 88 Spearior and when was the unbreakable handle included as a feature?

Cheerio,
Virg.

Hi Virgil,

That's the handle with a dowell vertically through the hand grip isn't it?

Regards
Ray

Yes it is Ray.

Cheers,
Virg.

Bradley,

I think you will find that Spearior is a post-WW2 brand. There is a mention in the 1961 book you can get here:

Mfg. - Spear & Jackson Saw Makers - Toolemera.com,

note the booklet also listed on that page seems to no longer be there, I have emailed Gary to report it.

None of my Oz or UK catalogues have S & J saws, so cannot check there.

There is a bit of history here:

Spear & Jackson, Inc.

The handle style could be 1930s onwards, I suspect the "Spearior" was made post-WW2 up to the mid-1960s. Here are a few examples:





This one has the "Spearior" dowel support, but is not marked Spearior, and is clearly later. Note the writing on the timber is SPEAR & JACKSON, not Spearior.



The medallion. Note "backed by 200 years..."; as S & J started in 1760, this means that saws with this medallion were made after 1960:


This is not the only 1960s style handle, the following has the same medallion surround, but a different medallion:


and the medallion:


The next image shows a style that was probably launched in the late 1960s or early 1970s:



That should get you started on S & J. By the way, Bob Crosby is quite a fan of post-WW2 S & J saws.

Cheers
Peter

Many thanks Peter.

I'll bring one along to the next workshop to see what Bob reckons.

Cheers,
BvL.

Hi Virgil, Peter,

I think Peter has already covered it better than I could.

With Spear and Jackson, the handle style varies considerably over time, for example the space age look handle has a definite 1960's post look. From the age when saws began to be designed by industrial designers with an eye to cost, and not by people who actually knew how to use them.

If you could post a picture of the handle, that would help. (or if it looks like one of the styles Peter has posted.)

Spear and Jackson, made some of the best saws around, (IMHO) so chances are it's a going to be pretty good.

Regards
Ray

Good saws? That's nice to know as I think I have about six in my collection now, not including the John Cockerill and Lloyd Davies dovetail saws on the wall.

I remember Bob and John commenting on the quality of them at the TTTG saw sharpening workshops I've been to so I keep an eye out for them.

When I extract digit from date I'll post a few photos of the handles.

Cheers,
Virg.

very interesting thread. If they started in 1760 they have their 250th aniversary this Year? Congrats to S&J!

Chers Pedder