Thread: Spear & Jackson saw(s)

Something I had saved a while back, but forgot to post ...

Display board - stages in making a saw -

S&J Display Board.jpg

RayG's summary of S&J backsaws over time:

Comparative Dating by Style - Saw Discussion Forums

S&J related - concentrating on thumbhole ripsaws:

Spearior "d8" - Saw Discussion Forums

hey, say whatever happened to that Tobyc bloke, he was a saw fanatic, much missed!

Busy? Alien abduction? Hopefully he'll be back.


Meantime ...

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/s...0/#post1595005

John Cockerill saw

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/s...ackson-149732/

S&J History + "Spearior" saws

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/a...n-saws-115512/


wkfinetools website

Spear & Jackson, Inc.

More S&J History
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/s...ry-saw-106832/

"Story of the Saw"
http://toolemera.com/bkpdf/Story%20o...e%20Saw(2).pdf

Vintage Saws in general ... including from Bob Smalser ... https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/s...nd-saws-27948/
and talks about tensioning with a hammer(!)

"The best Atkins, Disston, Simonds and S&J saws were taper ground and around .00350 thick at the edge. The inexpensive saws like the D7 was .0042 or so at the edge. The difference was the thinner blade cut easier, but needed more tensioning and was accordingly more expensive. New ones by PAX or Roberts and Lee can cost 200 bucks and still be .0040 on the edge and no real improvement over a relatively inexpensive D7 or D8. The best of the old ones like the Disston 12, Disston Acme and Atkins 400 simply aren't duplicated today at all.

The good news is that rehabbing a hand saw isn't as difficult as the folks trying to sell you new saws like to make it out to be. I have a saw filing tutorial here if you search....and I'm writing a magazine article on total restorations this winter...to include retensioning."

Where this started from ...
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/m...ml#post1516707

Archived Tools for Sale
http://hyperkitten.com/pics/tools/fs...ov2010/s1.html
By far the best Spear and Jackson saw I've seen- This model has a goreous double-loop beech handle with all of its original finish and the original paper label around the medallion. The paper label reads "All saws branded SPEAR and JACKSON are fully warranted. SPEAR and JACKSON have an experience as saw makers extending over 100 years." The blade is 26 inches and 7 points per inch crosscut. It has a mirror like finish to it and a bright, clear etch. In the middle of the plate the main etch reads "Made by New Process". Below that is the S&J Mermaid brand logo. Below that "London Spring, The perfection of quality and workmanship." To the left of the main etch it reads: "This saw is made of a secret grade of Special Vandium Steel which will keep a better edge than any other." To the right of the main etch it reads: "Extra High Temper, It has to be set with a hammer instead of a plier saw set. Set the points of each tooth only. Reset frequently." The blade is dead straight and sharp, with a bold nib at the end. It has a fantastic "ring" to it. There are a few scratches and some small areas of tarnish that look worse than they do because of the bright finish on the rest of the blade.

Any info on this old Spear & Jackson handsaw? : Hand Tools - UKworkshop.co.uk

Originally Posted by pmcgee

... To the right of the main etch it reads: "Extra High Temper...

Hmm, sounds a bit like my wife...

Cheers, Vann

Info from RayG in ... umm ... one of the links below.

Hi Kenny,
John Cockerill was a secondary product line marketed by Spear and Jackson,
The brand survived up until quite recently, you could still buy "Cockerill" branded saws.
The origins of the name are interesting, there was a William Cockerill who was involved in the export of British weaving technology into Belgium (among many other things) , his sons James and John carried on the business. They were quite the celebrities in their time, but just why Spear & Jackson chose to name a line of saws after them remains a mystery.
Here's a bit about John Cockerill.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Co...dustrialist%29


In 1915 the S&J pricing structure was...
"Mermaid" brand (top of the line) sold for 80/- per dozen (10inch brass backsaw),
"Leapfrog" in same configuration was 64/- per dozen,
"Technical" 10inch brass back was 50/- per dozen,
"John Cockerill" 10inch with brass back was 36/- per dozen.
The cheapest in their range was the "Goblin" (not available with brass back), 17/- per dozen.




Hi Kenny,
History of saw making firms is a fascinating subject, there are always twists and turns and unexpected connections. Nothing would surprise me.
Names for secondary product lines were often just made up at random, like "Lloyd Davies" (another Spear and Jackson) or "Bowden", a Tyzack secondary line.
Spear and Jackson's main factory was the Aetna works in Saville Street East. From 1852 Up to about 1974
Prior to 1852, they had premises in other locations, including Gibraltar Street and Saville Street (Saville Works)
Where did you see the "East Street" reference?
Regards
Ray


Musings from the Workbench: Pass me the Eclipse, lad
Musings from the Workbench: Size isn't everything


https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/s...nd-saw-164315/
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/j...l-saws-134181/
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/s...puzzle-133987/
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/h...ip-saw-112376/
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/s...nd-saws-93901/
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/s...-ray-g-131643/
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/i...nd-saw-117740/

Great post from Heavansabove ... 2010 ...

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/a...2/#post1132979




and an older saw ... Stamped maker => earlier than about 1850/60 ...
Spear & Jackson, Inc.

Awesome escutcheon saw ... Spear & Jackson Escutcheon Saw - a set on Flickr