Fitzwilliam saw

**AJOE123** · 11th May 2014, 07:26 PM

Saw fans
I purchased this item yesterday at the local swap meet.
My eye was attracted to the flat base of the handle and the fact that the horns were intact.
Rust wasnt too severe and the plate seemed pretty straight. 24 inch 6 tpi XC
Upon returning home I commenced cleaning.
The beech handle came up well;I refrained from overdoing it as this one looked historical.No stains and just some general filth.
I cleaned the plate with a stainless scourer and a bar of Solvol pumice soap and was well pleased with the restrained outcome.
The saw plate is stamped Fitzwilliam Sheffield J T & S.and has a nib.
Possibly a second tier saw from Tyzack ?
Medallion is Warranted Superior.
Split nuts in very good order,probably untouched.
So;etching came along around 1850 and was a more involved process than stamping.
Did sawmakers change completely to a more involved(although glamourous) and possibly more expensive process;involving more factory space and personnel.
Or did second level saws retain stamping as it was cheaper?
The handle looks old but could have been retained unchanged for similar economic reasons.
Split nuts were around until WW 1.
No mention of Cast Steel or best London Spring Steel.
This one could date to around 1860; but saw time is rubber time it seems (Disston excepted)
Any thoughts?

Cheers
Tony

**IanW** · 12th May 2014, 09:18 AM

Can't help you with the dating, Tony, but it's a nice find! The saw has to be well over a hundred, and a bit worn, but I think I'm in worse condition at probably little more than half its age!

Cheers,

**pmcgee** · 12th May 2014, 01:35 PM

Well ... I can plead being a bit "rusty" myself ... arr arr arr ... 'cos I've had to focus away for a bit ...
but the handle speaks kinda "modern" blockiness to me. (modern being sorta 1900

)
The london-pattern handles were on saws 1800-1840ish, but also on the cheaper ones 1880-1920ish (in the UK)

As far as I know, etching was a cheaper process than stamping as one template could do 100s (1000s?) of saws.
Also stamping affected the blade and it had to be counter-hammered.

I'd say part of that "brand" is from a hardware store/retailer.
I did think stamping implied about 1850 latest ... but uncertain now. The handle at any rate looks later to me.

I forgot to mention the sunken medallion. On Disstons that would put it pre-1880.
But the type of lettering of the "logo" doesn't loo old.
Interesting!

Cheers,
Paul

**Heavansabove** · 12th May 2014, 01:44 PM

Fitzwilliam was a secondary brand of Joseph Tyzack & Son, looks like c. 1875. Well used, but handle looks cared for. Thin saws like this often become "whippy" and are perhaps filed past their tensioning. One for the collection rather than use?

Cheers
Peter

**pmcgee** · 12th May 2014, 01:46 PM

http://www.backsaw.net/index.php?opt...hread.php&t=96

**bridger** · 12th May 2014, 02:55 PM

pretty low hang angle on that one. how's it in use?

**AJOE123** · 12th May 2014, 11:11 PM

No use yet;but it doesnt feel like a D8.
I am a bit wary of sharpening it as the teeth

may be likely to break on setting.
Plate thickness 0.040"
Cheers
Tony

**planemaker** · 13th May 2014, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by AJOE123

No use yet;but it doesnt feel like a D8.
I am a bit wary of sharpening it as the teeth

may be likely to break on setting.
Plate thickness 0.040"
Cheers
Tony

Plate thickness should be fine. A very nice pick up Tony. Looks quite early. I know it would a sin to do but it would be interesting to see how the handle could be improved with a bit of reshaping followed by quality finish with Van Dyke Crystals and shellac.

Dont get too hung up with applying set to the teeth. The teeth should hold up fine. Just apply gentle pressure with the setting tool. That is all thats required. Good luck.

Stewie;

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