Thread: The Simonds Saw Story

Ian

I apologise. I have a little more information that I have not shared forgetting that not everybody's book shelves are jammed packed full with ancient catalogues!

There is some confusion even among the respective manufacturers themselves. This is from a Disston 1929 catalogue

Disston PatternMakers saw 1929.png

It features those very pointy teeth, but the gauge of the saw clearly conflicts with what I measured in the first post. This is from the 1914 catalogue. Same story (21 gauge)

Disston PatternMakers saw 1914.png

This is the Simonds version from 1916 showing similar pointy teeth

P1050493 (Medium).JPG

This is from the 1923 catalogue. A bit difficult to see but it no longer has the pointy teeth.



Simonds Pattern makers saw 1923.png

So from all that I conclude that the Disston saw is just a badly sharpened example of the original configuration. The Simonds saw is either a late model with conventional teeth or an earlier model that has been sharpened with a triangular file to produce conventional teeth. It is not clear where the thin plate Disston saw fits into the timeline.

Regards
Paul

I was torn between posting this on the "Ebay Droppings" thread or here. I decided on here as it is not really a ludicrous listing, just little impractical and a trifle expensive :

I suppose, as a Simonds collector I would be sort of interested, at about 10% of the asking price!


Original enamel Simonds Saw and Steel sign 36' Fitchburg Ma sawmill one of one _.jpg

This is the sellers description:

" This is the original porcelain enamel sectional sign totaling 36 feet from the now closed Simonds Saw & Steel company in Fitchburg Massachusetts. Had been taken down decades ago and replaced with a more modern piece. The finish will clean up but has some nondetrimental rust stain blisters knicks scrapes and outdoor storage shelf wear. I believe this to be the only one in existence. Simonds made blades of all sorts from buck and circular to sawmill and beyond. There is NO shipping of any kind. Buyer must arrange to have the sign picked up in Massachusetts zipcode 01524. I can hold for up to six months to accommodate shipping or pickup logistics. I can answer specific questions eastern time between 11am and 8pm at [phone removed by eBay]. Payment is to be made in full within 12 hours after close auction."

Original enamel Simonds Saw and Steel sign 36' Fitchburg Ma sawmill one of one | eBay

Also it is an awfully long way to go for local pickup, which is the only delivery option offered. There is one further complication. My storage area is a 20' shipping container. This sign is 36' long so I would have to order a 40' container to display the sign to it's full potential.

Hmmmm.



Regards
Paul

two very long frames extending past the edges of your container will see that appropriately displayed.... stop trying to find excuses not to make an offer !

Originally Posted by poundy

two very long frames extending past the edges of your container will see that appropriately displayed.... stop trying to find excuses not to make an offer !

You are quite right poundy. It is a feeble wimp out. I should borrow Greta Thunberg's boat and make the pilgrimage saying to myself all the way, "I am not a wimp, I am not a wimp. I can raise the money. I can mortgage the house. I can trade in SWMBO......."



I think I had better just stay here.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

I was torn between posting this on the "Ebay Droppings" thread or here. I decided on here as it is not really a ludicrous listing, just little impractical and a trifle expensive :

I suppose, as a Simonds collector I would be sort of interested, at about 10% of the asking price!


Original enamel Simonds Saw and Steel sign 36' Fitchburg Ma sawmill one of one _.jpg

Paul
I assume that this is the first listing for that Simonds sign?

Don't stress too much. USD $2,800 is but an initial asking price. If the seller doesn't get any bids -- possible in the current environment, then it could be relisted with a starting bid much, much lower.

Now, ignoring the fact that personal inspection is out of the question -- travel restrictions and what not -- what do you consider would be a "fair price" for such a sign?

Just remember that the seller will have difficulty selling the sign as is.

Originally Posted by ian

Paul
I assume that this is the first listing for that Simonds sign?

Don't stress too much. USD $2,800 is but an initial asking price. If the seller doesn't get any bids -- possible in the current environment, then it could be relisted with a starting bid much, much lower.

Now, ignoring the fact that personal inspection is out of the question -- travel restrictions and what not -- what do you consider would be a "fair price" for such a sign?

Just remember that the seller will have difficulty selling the sign as is.

Ian

Thanks for that and I am sure you are right that the seller is testing the market. So dispensing with the frivolous and slightly facetious nature of my post the appeal of this type of product depends on the provenance and the potential use. The listing makes reference to a "sawmill." I don't know for certain if Simonds operated their own sawmill or not, but it is quite likely and I think this would have been displayed on an operation like that. In fact their factories did not display their name in this style at all. This is from the 1923 and 1938 catalogues:

Simonds Factories 1923.jpg

Simonds Factories 1938.jpg

You may have to enlarge more to see the names, but they are just a simple sans serif font in capitals.

If you wished to make a display, the sign certainly replicates the Simonds logo and if I were serious about it, that would be my use for it. Price wise, like I said, about 10% (US$280) of the asking price would be my limit which would translate into around A$480 (ouch). I can disclose these hypothetical figures as there is no chance of me obtaining the sign. Then depending on where you reside in the US would dictate how much it would cost to transport the sign. Could be quite expensive.

This is always the drawback with bulky objects. Still the listing is an auction so we will see whether anybody steps up. Current Covid-19 implications might well have an adverse effect on this one too.

Regards
Paul

Paul,
I think some lateral thinking is needed I know you have a liking for shipping containers, can it hurt if you say ,deal if you throw in the 40 footer as well.

Vintage tin signs in are Australia are very much A rich persons hobby.

Cheers Matt.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Paul,
I think some lateral thinking is needed I know you have a liking for shipping containers, can it hurt if you say ,deal if you throw in the 40 footer as well.

Vintage tin signs in are Australia are very much A rich persons hobby.

Cheers Matt.

Oh yes! Why didn't I think of that? (Rhetorical question.No need to humiliate me.)

And I don't have a 40 footer.

.

Trouble is I have just added about 3.9T of weight and I don't think Greta's boat is going to cope .

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Oh yes! Why didn't I think of that? (Rhetorical question.No need to humiliate me.)

And I don't have a 40 footer.

.

Trouble is I have just added about 3.9T of weight and I don't think Greta's boat is going to cope .

Regards
Paul

A bit of spray foam, just tow it across behind her boat.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

A bit of spray foam, just tow it across behind her boat.

Matt

Stuff Greta's boat:

Jet container.jpg

The sign and I can go inside.

Regards
Paul

Paul

look at the proposition another way...

The sign is already sectioned (aka cut into pieces) that for shipping would constitute an LCL (less than Container Load).
Getting it into AUS wouldn't be too big of a problem. The LCL cost (FOB) in Boston would be about USD $300
To this you'd have to add pick-up from the nominated zipcode and delivery to Millerman
But the sea voyage would be less expensive than hiring Greta's boat and enough foam to float the sign across.



But as you intimate -- providence is the thing

Originally Posted by ian

Paul

look at the proposition another way...

The sign is already sectioned (aka cut into pieces) that for shipping would constitute an LCL (less than Container Load).
Getting it into AUS wouldn't be too big of a problem. The LCL cost (FOB) in Boston would be about USD $300
To this you'd have to add pick-up from the nominated zipcode and delivery to Millerman
But the sea voyage would be less expensive than hiring Greta's boat and enough foam to float the sign across.



But as you intimate -- providence is the thing

I think you and Matt are trying to get me into trouble. I recognise the signs.



Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by bushmiller

i think you and matt are trying to get me into trouble. i recognise the signs.

... :d

Buy 40 footer, encourage mates to fill it with extra stuff at a knock down freight cost and ship it to Oz. You paid for the container from said mates freight contribution and you keep the container. What could go wrong? I reckon that with the current container issues they must be just about giving them away. BTW I don't need anything from the US.