[Woodcarver] Newbie Tools Followup Question

RMAgency RMAgency at bigfoot.com
Thu Mar 11 11:30:52 EST 2004


Hello all.

I'm the newbie who wrote a couple of months ago to ask about getting a 
decent-quality beginner's toolset. (I had hopes of paying $30-$40 for such a 
thing -- hopes that most of you quickly dashed!)

You guys gave me a lot of good advice, both on and off-list. And then, of 
course, I went out and did something completely different. ;-)

I found on eBay a set of old carving tools -- 13 gouges and chisels, five 
files, two wooden mallets -- and bought it sight unseen, knowing not much 
more than that the set had been used for many years by the seller's parents.

Can you give me any idea what I've got here?

Some of the tools are marked "Henry Taylor - Sheffield" with an acorn logo. 
I've been able to Google this brand and it looks to be of good quality.

But I have no clue as to the others:

Some have the word "Germany" stamped in the metal and a logo that looks like 
two figures standing arm-in-arm. The figure (if that's what it is) on the 
left has his arm down, the one on the right has his arm up. 

Some are marked "Sculpture Associates - Spain" and some "Sculpture Associates 
- Germany." The only references I can find to these are very thin. I find some 
for sale on a used-tool site 
(http://www.pricelessads.com/tool-guy/carvers/carvers.html). And I find one 
reference to a New York City scupltor's supply store, closed many years ago. 
Could these have been manufactured for that store?

Other tools in the set have octagonal handles with the words "Swiss Made" 
stamped into the handle. On the metal itself, there's a number (indicating 
the tool size?). Below the number is an arrow stamped into the metal. The 
arrow has a "v" at the point and two "v"s where the fletching would be on a 
real arrow. The v's point toward the number.

Then there are five beautiful little files in all different delicate shapes. 
These are merely stamped "Italy."

Although the tools are old and well-used, only one has any chipping or 
rounding on its blade. The others appear to be in great shape, other than a 
few rust spots or handles are still useable but have seen better days.

They range in size from an enormous Henry Taylor gouge that's about a foot 
long, with a blade 1-1/2" across (heavy sucker!) to a selection of small 
palm-handled (is that the right term?) gouges and v-tools for fine work.

I paid $81 plus shipping for this set. My total newbie impression is that I 
did okay. Can anybody tell me what I've really got here?

Many thanks!
Emily


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