Thread: Disston Gauges

I can tell you a little bit about these, but would like to know more myself. Almost all of the gauges made prior to about 1900 are marked "Disston & Morss". Joab Morss was Henry Disston's partner from 1867-1879, when he passed away. Disston & Morss became a Division of H. Disston & Sons from then until about 1900, when it was absorbed into the main company. This division made gauges, levels, bevels, squares and other measuring tools. From 1900 to 1913 the gauges have flat thumbscrews, much like the ones on Stanley gauges. From about 1914 on, they have flat-topped thumbscrews with knurled edges.

You will see some of the following variations on the maker's mark:
"HENRY DISSTON & SONS PHILAD'A, P.A. U.S.A."; "HENRY DISSTON & SONS KEYSTONE TOOL WORKS PHILAD'A U.S.A. WARRANTED"; "H. DISSTON & SONS PHILADA U.S.A.";
"H. DISSTON & SONS U.S.A." and "DISSTON U.S.A.". The last one seems to date from the purchase of H. Disston & Sons by H. K. Porter in 1955. and the one before it is likely immediately pre-WWII to 1955. The first one in this list is shown on some gauges in the 1918 catalog. The Keystone works reference shows up in a 1912 catalog.

That is about all that I know. Hope it helps.
Bob

Originally Posted by gmoss

also can anyone advise on the stain used on Disston saws.

Hi,

Saying 'Disston saws' is a bit like saying 'Ford motor vehicle'

Have you seen the Disstonian website? Disstonian Institute.com -- Online Reference of Disston Saws

I don't know that they would have been staining applewood and beech and mahogany ... say pre 1928 ...

They must have had some sort of finish ... interesting question ...

Hmmm

Paul

OldTools Archive -- thread with message 156879

WoodNet Forums: Disston Saw Handle Finishes

- Question About Disston Saw - Woodworking Online

I have a little bit more to pass on. I wrote that "From 1900 to 1913 the gauges have flat thumbscrews, much like the ones on Stanley gauges. From about 1914 on, they have flat-topped thumbscrews with knurled edges." The latter applies only to the mortise gauges, the Boxwood Marking Gauges #79 & #80, the Boxwood Cutting Gauges #84 & #84 1/2 and the Oval-head Gauges #80 1/2 and #83. I think the other marking gauges likely had a Boxwood screw prior to 1914, judging by the 1876 catalog illustration. In 1914 they got a steel thumbscrew with a brass shoe underneath the thumbscrew to protect the beam.

Not a lot to go on, so I'd appreciate anyone else chiming in who is able to add to this.
Bob

I have a bit more information. In 1914, the lower priced Disston gauges got a steel thumbscrew with a brass shoe underneath the thumbscrew to protect the beam. The earliest ones have a plain face on them and many are painted with black enamel. Later on these screws were forged with a diamond shape on both sides of the thumbscrew. Those screws were used right through to the end of production. I found this in looking through several "H. Disston & Sons Saw, Tool and File Books from 1926 to 1945: Prior to 1933 the gauges with brass strip head plating seem to have had two narrow strips. Beginning in 1934, Disston reverted to a single 1/4" wide brass strip on the No. 83. I've also seen this on the No. 77 and No. 80 1/2, so I presume these were converted to single strip at the same time. I don't know if that applies to Nos. 77 1/2, 80, 82 and 84.

I'll keep adding more as I find it and hope others do the same.
Bob

I now have a copy of a 1911 Disston catalog and it seems the flat-head, round thumbscrews were in use by then. I sure wish there was more known about these.

I recently saw a No. 95 1/2 Rosewood Mortise Gauge (with graduations on the stem) listed on Ebay and the slider was quite interesting. It was entirely made of forged brass stock, with a 90 degree bend just above the bottom thumbscrew. The brass stock was forged to create a wider circular section to enclose the depth screw, but which still had a slight gap at the front edge. Prior to this, the sliders were made of cast brass, with a fair bit of machining. The bottom end of the cast sliders was more like a small barrel, with a hole drilled through it for the screw to pass through. I would guess this 95 1/2 is from the 1930s, as all companies were trying to cut costs in whatever way they could during the depression. It could also have been from the late 40s-50s when tool quality started to hit the skids, but I'm still putting my money on the 30s. I wonder if someone out there might have seen one like this?

Thanks for the info. The story is quite involved.

This is the mortise gauge I was trying to date. It is marked H.Disston&Sons USA 93. The name J.Moss was the owner.

Regards Graham

Disston Mortise Gauge 93 (3).jpgDisston Mortise Gauge 93 (1).jpgDisston Mortise Gauge 93 (2).jpg

Originally Posted by wascana_bob

I recently saw a No. 95 1/2 Rosewood Mortise Gauge (with graduations on the stem) listed on Ebay and the slider was quite interesting. It was entirely made of forged brass stock, with a 90 degree bend just above the bottom thumbscrew. The brass stock was forged to create a wider circular section to enclose the depth screw, but which still had a slight gap at the front edge. Prior to this, the sliders were made of cast brass, with a fair bit of machining. The bottom end of the cast sliders was more like a small barrel, with a hole drilled through it for the screw to pass through. I would guess this 95 1/2 is from the 1930s, as all companies were trying to cut costs in whatever way they could during the depression. It could also have been from the late 40s-50s when tool quality started to hit the skids, but I'm still putting my money on the 30s. I wonder if someone out there might have seen one like this?

Your gauge is definitely post 1911, but I think H. DISSTON & SONS USA and then the model number is much later. The earlier ones have PHILADA, PA after H. DISSTON & SONS. My best guess as to the possible production date range is 1930s to 1954 (in 1955 they were bought out by H. K. Porter and the gauges only had DISSTON USA and the model number), but I'm not entirely sure Disston made Rosewood gauges after WWII. I only know of the Beech No. 90 from post-WWII with any degree of certainty. My money is on 1930s-1941 for yours, but I have nothing to provide documentary proof of that. It sure would be nice if we had access to a whole bunch of gauge pages from a lot of Disston catalogues. Anyone else care to venture a guess or have more documentation?

Nice find as No. 93s are not that common, not that any Disston mortise gauges are. Thanks for the photos too.

Bob

Originally Posted by gmoss

Thanks for the info. The story is quite involved.

This is the mortise gauge I was trying to date. It is marked H.Disston&Sons USA 93. The name J.Moss was the owner.

Regards Graham

Disston Mortise Gauge 93 (3).jpgDisston Mortise Gauge 93 (1).jpgDisston Mortise Gauge 93 (2).jpg

This is a Disston & Morss No. 93, which has thumbscrews much like the ones on Stanley gauges. Other than those two thumbscrews, they are pretty much identical with the H. Disston & Sons gauges.

Disston & Morss No. 93 Rosewood Mortise Gauge_1.jpg

I recently found an H. Disston & Sons No. 82 Cutting Gauge, which has the early plain steel thumbscrew and the brass shoe underneath it.
H. Disston & Sons No. 82 Hardwood Cutting Gauge_4.JPG

This is the first one of these I've ever seen.