What is it? Set 279

Rob H. wrote:
>
>
>> It certainly looks like an antique version of this:
>> http://www.lilweggie.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
>
>> --riverman
>
>
> It does look very similar, I agree with those who say the Stearns' tool
> is for leather, canvas, or a tarp.
>
> Rob

There were lots of inventions to secure tarps, especially over hatchways
on ships, but this device would require constant tension. It doesn't
seem to be for the edge of a tarp as it's made for a strap or something
to pass through.

I've found a 1900 patent for a sort of wire frame used to shut off a
garden hose by kinking it. The hose pictured is flat like a strap or a
fire hose.

Suppose in 1900 a farmer has a water tank on a 30-foot tower. He rolls
out a hundred yards of hose to supply a trough where cattle will be
penned for a month. To shut it off he could walk back to a valve, but
that would be inefficient. The simple, cheap way to shut off the flow
would be to leave the end of the hose in the trough and pinch the hose
outside the pen. Nailed to a fence post, 1585 could serve.

riverman wrote:
> On Apr 20, 12:48 pm, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
>> I'd like to read up on that. I've read that Edward C Stearns took over
>> the company from George N Stearns in 1877. He filed for a patent on a
>> saw set as late as 1925. It was granted in 1930. In 1926, Albert
>> Acheson filed for a patent on an incinerator, to be assigned to the E C
>> Stearns company. It was granted in 1931.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Hmm, that's interesting, and between all the Stearnses and Stanleyses,
> a timeline would be helpful.
>
> Here's my effort, gleaned from several sources; these are the biggest.
> http://tinyurl.com/c4w2kn
> http://tinyurl.com/cj7ube
> http://tinyurl.com/cuqhx8
>
> (here are several overlapping events that do not correlate!)
>
> 1831: The Stanley brothers, August and Timothy, start making hardware
> in New Britain, CT. under the mark "A. Stanley, New Britain"
> 1833: S. Morton Clark starts manufacturing rules in Brattleboro, VT
> under the name "Clark and Co."
> 1837: Economic hard times forces Clark to close up shop.
> 1838: Edward Stearns buys out Clark and starts "EA Stearns and Co,
> Brattleboro, VT and Springfield, MA"


> 1857: Charles Mead acquires controlling interest in "EA Stearns and
> Co"
> 1860: "EC Stearns and Co, Syracuse NY" (year of incorporation unknown)
> opens a plant in Syracuse, manufacturing bicycles and hollow iron
> tools. Later, they get into Lawn Mowers and automobiles. They also
> have a plant in Toronto, Ontario, although I do not know when it
> opened.
> 1863: SR&L acquires "EA Stearns and Co", but continues to list their
> products in the Stanley catalogue under the Stearns name until 1898,
> or later.

I can imagine a connection. In the 19th Century, a lot of settlers came
from VT, which had limited living space. In 1856, George N. Stearns of
Syracuse filed for a patent on a woodworking tool. Syracuse had been
growing lately. I think Edward A Stearns sold out after 25 years
because his son had gone to Syracuse.

> 1900: "Evans and Dodge Bicycle Co" acquire "EC Stearns Co" of Toronto.
> "Evans and Dodge" eventually get into the automobile business. From
> this merger come the founders of many of today's autos.

Stearns had a bicycle shop in Toronto, run by Frederick J. Haynes.
Evans and Dodge was in Hamilton.

November 19, 1899, the NY Times announced a "bicycle trust."

*****
There was set afloat in Toronto to-day the National Cycle and Automobile
Company, with a capital stock of $2,500,000. The new company is a
branch of the American Bicycle Trust, but the Toronto business is
largely financed in Canada and will be run chiefly by Canadians. The
National Company, which will unite the Stearns Company, "E. and D.", the
Christy Saddle Company, and the Wheeler Saddle Company, will in the
Spring erect a factory in this city to employ 1200 men.

F. S. Evans of the "E. and D." Bicycle Company is President, the Board
of Directors being A. G. Spaulding, New York; Col. A. A. Pope, Boston;
A. L. Garford, New York, E. C. Stearns, Syracuse; T. P. Coffee, Toronto;
and A. R. Creelman, Toronto.
*****

So Stearns sat on the Board of a new company that included his Toronto
operation. Haynes and the Dodge Brothers worked there. In 1901, the
Dodges went to Detroit. In 1902, Haynes went to Syracuse.

In connection with hangers, Elias Pratt invented hangers for railroad
car doors in the 1870s and assigned them to E C Stearns, who in the
1890s sued another company for patent infringement and lost.

In article <[email protected]>, Rob H. <[email protected]>
wrote:

> >> http://answers279s.blogspot.com/
> >>
> > 1585: The rope clamps I've seen are spring loaded with two cams. With
> > only one movable jaw, this one would chafe a rope. With no spring, a
> > sailor might need both hands.
> >
> > It seems to me that for stretching leather, springless cam clamps would be
> > a hassle.
> >
> > I think it's a hanger for mops and brooms. With either tool, you want the
> > head off the floor and you don't want it to fall over. This hanger would
> > work with no hands, and you could suspend a mop at the height you chose,
> > for example to drip into a bucket.
>
>
> Sounds reasonable, I added your suggestion to the answer page. I also added
> Matthew's idea for the number 1587.

I disagree. The orientation of the jaws is off 90 degrees to be
effective.

On Apr 22, 1:41=A0am, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> About 1850, NYC needed a special water tower to have pressure for water
> in the upper floors of buildings; that indicates that water pressure was
> typically low. =A0A 1920 patent speaks of a need to station somebody at
> the faucet to shut off water in a hose. =A0If this was a hose shutoff, th=
e
> friction of the single-cam action would be just the thing to keep water
> pressure from opening the jaws.
>
> One loose end is whether the jaws were wide enough for the typical size
> of canvas garden hoses. =A0Some hoses have a 5/8" diameter these days.
> Flattened, that would require 1" jaws.- Hide quoted text -
>

Consider that when it gets jammed into the clamp, its *not* flattened.
If it were a hose clamp, it would have to accept a full and
pressurized hose.

I think there are some other options we are not considering. Since
Stearns made bicycles, and later cars, there is a possibility that
this is some component of either. I propose some of the following:

--a retainer for some sort of strap...maybe to hold the brakes or to
hold the hood up or something
--some part of a bicycle...maybe on a trailer or to tow something
--a rein holder on a carriage
--a universal axle wrench

or the Universal "What Is It" default....a carpet stretcher.

--riverman

On Apr 9, 11:00=A0pm, Gerald Miller <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Thu, 9 Apr 2009 18:47:32 -0400, "Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >>http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
> >>Others have noted #1590 being a thickness gauge... I would suggest
> >>that if you told us how many TPI the screw we could figure out which
> >>gauge is being measured on the dial.
>
> >A couple weeks ago I took a few quick shots of this tool at an auction, =
it
> >belongs to someone else so I can't tell you the TPI.
>
> >Rob
>
> American standard wire gauge, lead works out to 0.22567 " per
> revolution

Is there an "American standard wire gauge"?

I tried AWG first but the ratios were all wrong. We know from the
photo that 1/3 of 00 gauge should be about 10.7 gauge, but that
doesn't even come close to AWG.

British or Imperial Standard Wire Gauge does have the right ratios, as
does Birmingham and Stubbs, but AWG can't be right. In the middle
range a lot of gauges were fairly close to BSWG and I can't really
rule them out either.

Tim.

Rob H. wrote:
>>
>> Here is the reply that I received from the owner of the tool:
>>
>> "The clamp holds leather very well. The max capacity would be 1/2" at
>> the most and it runs out of grip surface on the movable arm. It does
>> have a name on it. E.C.Stearns & Co. Syracuse, N.Y."
>>
>> Maybe if someone has an old Stearns catalog they could find the tool
>> listed in it.
>>
>>
>> Rob
>
>
> I just sent an email to a museum that has a Stearns catalog, hopefully
> they'll be able to identify it for us.
>
> Rob

Their 1924 catalog was reprinted in 1977. It's supposed to have lawn
mowers, among other things. About 1900, they patented several
typewriter and saw-sharpener items, a vise, faucets, and a lawn sprinkler.

Back when they patented their sprinkler, I wonder if garden hoses had
threaded ends. I wonder if this could be a clamping hanger for the
barnyard or garden. You have a water hose with no metal end and 10 PSI.
You nail the hanger to a post or tree. When you aren't using the
hose, you clamp the end in the hanger.

On Apr 20, 9:00=A0am, "DoN. Nichols" <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 2009-04-19, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 [ ... ]
>
> > E C Stearns seems to have manufactured only certain lines of items. =A0=
In
> > 1924, their 88-page catalog included spoke shaves, hollow augurs, bench
> > stops, plumb bobs, mason's tools, and a lawn mower.
>
> > Their line seems to have changed over the years. =A0The patents I found
> > were from about 1900. =A0The biggest category was typewriter parts,
> > followed by saw-sharpening tools. =A0Third was water valves and a
> > sprinkler. =A0They also patented parts for a bicycle they manufactured =
in
> > those days.
>
> > According to Occam's Razor, shouldn't one think in terms of the lines
> > Stearns was known to manufacture? =A0The item doesn't seem to be a spok=
e
> > shave, augur, bench stop, plumb bob, mason's tool, lawn mower,
> > typewriter, saw sharpener, or bicycle.
>

Possibly so, but remember that "Stearns" ceased to exist in 1863,
although the Stanley catalogue continued to sell their items under the
Stearns name. I think its entirely possible that this item is from
pre-1900, unless there is something else in the writing on it to
indicate otherwise. They seemed to specialize in lots of clamps and
ironworking tools as well as woodworking stuff before Stanley acquired
them.


> =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Well ... this *could* be a form of bench stop. =A0Bolt it=
(or
> perhaps a pair of them in line) to a bench top, put a board edge down in
> there. =A0Start planing the top edge, and the clamps will tighten onto th=
e
> wood. =A0When it comes time to do the other edge, pull it back to open th=
e
> grip, flip it over, and reinstall to start planing again.

I don't see that. These guys were very meticulous in their
toolmongery...the direction of pull between the 'hole' in the arm and
the locking cam tells me that this tool was designed so that it was
free to move around the hole. If it were bolted down firmly to a bench
or table, the lines of force would not be along the shaft from the
hole. If it were free to move (tied by a rope, or even carried with a
T-handle through the hole), then the clamp would hang in such a way
that the cam took all the force, locking it down tighter.

Also, if used in the manner you describe, I think the cam would
prevent you from getting the plank OUT, not hold it in tighter. Am I
reading you wrong?

I think this will turn out to be something that either is used to hold
on to tarps or some other cloth while they are under tension (either
from being pulled, or from hanging while being hoisted), or else had a
handle or strap and was some sort of carrying device.

--riverman

riverman wrote:
> On Apr 22, 1:41 am, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> About 1850, NYC needed a special water tower to have pressure for water
>> in the upper floors of buildings; that indicates that water pressure was
>> typically low. A 1920 patent speaks of a need to station somebody at
>> the faucet to shut off water in a hose. If this was a hose shutoff, the
>> friction of the single-cam action would be just the thing to keep water
>> pressure from opening the jaws.
>>
>> One loose end is whether the jaws were wide enough for the typical size
>> of canvas garden hoses. Some hoses have a 5/8" diameter these days.
>> Flattened, that would require 1" jaws.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>
> Consider that when it gets jammed into the clamp, its *not* flattened.
> If it were a hose clamp, it would have to accept a full and
> pressurized hose.

Without a shutoff nozzle, the hose wouldn't be pressurized until the
clamp was closed.

I tried a 5/8" vinyl hose today. At 50F, it was probably much stiffer
than a canvas hose a century ago. With water running, I could squeeze
it flat enough with my fingers to feel the sides touch. Water still
flowed. I think a mechanical clamp could stop the flow.

Water pressure around here is probably about 50 psi. A century ago in
NYC is was about 20 - 35. It may have been lower in places where they
didn't try to fight fires in tall buildings using mains pressure.

>
> I think there are some other options we are not considering. Since
> Stearns made bicycles, and later cars, there is a possibility that
> this is some component of either. I propose some of the following:
>
> --a retainer for some sort of strap...maybe to hold the brakes or to
> hold the hood up or something
> --some part of a bicycle...maybe on a trailer or to tow something
> --a rein holder on a carriage

In a bouncing vehicle, wouldn't the clamp swing around its mounting
screw? Wouldn't the jaws rattle?

> --a universal axle wrench

I'd call it a wrench for very small axles.
>
> or the Universal "What Is It" default....a carpet stretcher.
>
> --riverman

On Apr 20, 12:48=A0pm, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> I'd like to read up on that. I've read that Edward C Stearns took over
> the company from George N Stearns in 1877. He filed for a patent on a
> saw set as late as 1925. It was granted in 1930. In 1926, Albert
> Acheson filed for a patent on an incinerator, to be assigned to the E C
> Stearns company. It was granted in 1931.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Hmm, that's interesting, and between all the Stearnses and Stanleyses,
a timeline would be helpful.

Here's my effort, gleaned from several sources; these are the biggest.
http://tinyurl.com/c4w2kn
http://tinyurl.com/cj7ube
http://tinyurl.com/cuqhx8

(here are several overlapping events that do not correlate!)

1831: The Stanley brothers, August and Timothy, start making hardware
in New Britain, CT. under the mark "A. Stanley, New Britain"
1833: S. Morton Clark starts manufacturing rules in Brattleboro, VT
under the name "Clark and Co."
1837: Economic hard times forces Clark to close up shop.
1838: Edward Stearns buys out Clark and starts "EA Stearns and Co,
Brattleboro, VT and Springfield, MA"
1843: "The Stanley Works, New Britain, CT" is formed as a bolt and
door hardware manufacturing company by Frederick Trent Stanley and his
younger brother, William.
1852: "A. Stanley, New Britain" changes its name to "Stanley Works,
New Britain" and acquire Seth Savage's Rule Co (Middletown, CT)
1854: August and Timothy Stanley join ranks with Thomas Conklin, and
form "A. Stanley and Co.", specializing in rules and levels.
(Note; some sites say August and Timothy formed "Stanley and Co" while
Henry formed "A. Stanley and Co")
1857: "Stanley Rule and Level Co, New Britain" (SR&L) is formed by
Henry Stanley, cousin of Frederick
1857: Charles Mead acquires controlling interest in "EA Stearns and
Co"
1860: "EC Stearns and Co, Syracuse NY" (year of incorporation unknown)
opens a plant in Syracuse, manufacturing bicycles and hollow iron
tools. Later, they get into Lawn Mowers and automobiles. They also
have a plant in Toronto, Ontario, although I do not know when it
opened.
1863: SR&L acquires "EA Stearns and Co", but continues to list their
products in the Stanley catalogue under the Stearns name until 1898,
or later.
1900: "Evans and Dodge Bicycle Co" acquire "EC Stearns Co" of Toronto.
"Evans and Dodge" eventually get into the automobile business. From
this merger come the founders of many of today's autos.
1920: SR&L merged with "The Stanley Works" to form the "Stanley Hand
Tools" division of "Stanley Works", the company we know today.

So in a nutshell, all the Stanleys are related, and after forming a
host of companies, in 1920 SR&L bought out everyone (who had
previously bought out their competitions) and formed the modern
"Stanley Works" that make modern tools.

Meanwhile, there is no apparent connection between "EA Stearns" of
Brattleboro and Springfield, who made woodworking and iron tools until
SR&L bought them out in 1863, and "EC Stearns" of Syracuse and
Ontario, who made iron tools, lawnmowers, bicycles and cars until
Evans and Dodge bought them out in 1900.

Curious. This would make a fascinating movie...

--riverman

On Apr 8, 11:19=A0pm, "Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote:
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
> Rob

1585. Looks sort of like a cam cleat for rope or line.

Karl

On Apr 9, 5:19=A0am, "Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote:
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
> Rob

1585 - Sailboat hardware. A cleat to hold a line against
tension. It releases when the line is pulled the other way.

1589 - a tool used for sewing nets with heavy rope?

1590 - a thickness gauge, an old micrometer, but clearly the
question is for who?

John

I think 1585 looks much more like it is up side down. I'm betting
it is for picking up something of fairly uniform thickness like
heavy plate that only holds while the load is in tension. I know
it is not the typical ice tong type and I would worry about
picking something as slick as steel plate. bit I don't see its use
in rigging or rope work of any type.

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)
[email protected]



"DoN. Nichols" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 2009-04-09, Rob H. <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need
>> assistance
>> figuring out:
>>
>> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
> Posting from Rec.crafts.metalworking as always.
>
> 1585) You pull a webbing strap through it (or leather, I
> guess), and when you relax your pull it pulls the jaws closed if
> the strap is in contact with the hinged jaw. Not as much
> tension as a ratchet strap, but good for holding things down in
> general.
>
> 1586) A style of "wiggler" used for centering a workpiece in a
> 4-jaw
> chuck (where each jaw is individually adjustable). You place
> the sharp point at the end of the ball in a center punch, or the
> ball itself in a center-drilled hole, with the rectangular shank
> in the toolpost, and adjust the cross-feed until the other end
> from the ball/point end is near the center in the tailstock.
>
> As you rotate the chuck, the free end draws a circle in the air
> whose diameter is a function of how far off center the workpiece
> is. So -- you adjust jaws until the end is stationary through a
> full revolution of the chuck.
>
> Note that the rod can slide in the gimbal, and the closer the
> gimbal is to the workpiece the larger the circle at the free end
> will be.
>
> It is no longer made, based on a catalog from the late 1990s.
>
> 1587) No idea -- sorry.
>
> 1588) I *like* it. A neat trade (or hobby) specific door
> knocker.
>
> 1589) Hmm ... a strange one, but I have a couple of guesses.
>
> 1) A tool for laying rope (center line goes through the
> hole in the center, and three others go through the 3/4
> circle notches, and you turn the handle around it as you
> go along the length of the rope being made.
>
> 2) A bobbin for weaving nets (fairly large opening ones.)
>
> The line being carried by the bobbin wraps through the
> three notches, and is unwound a notch at a time as you
> need the extra length.
>
> 1590) For measuring the thickness of sheet metal. (Or perhaps
> wire.)
>
> The handle protects the knuckles of the user from the edges of
> the metal.
>
> You turn the disc until the end of the screw clamps the sheet
> metal against the anvil.
>
> The numbers (starting next to the '0' at about 5:00 o'clock
> indicate the gauge thickness of the metal. (There have been a
> number of measurement systems for sheet metal and wire, and I
> can't tell which of the systems is used on this one. But in all
> of the systems the large the number, the smaller the thickness.
>
> This represents the number of passes through rollers which make
> it thinner each pass. Note that this goes through about 1 and
> 1/3 turns before it gets from the "0" which is when the empty
> gauge closes to the "0" which is quite thick -- and it goes on
> to "00" at about 1 and one-half turns.
>
> Note how steep the threads are. Those are mult-start threads,
> (three or four, I think) so 1-1/2 turns take you from fully
> closed to fully open.
>
> Now to see what others have suggested.
>
>
> Enjoy,
> DoN.
>
> --
> Email: <[email protected]> | Voice (all times): (703)
> 938-4564
> (too) near Washington D.C. |
> http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
> --- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

1586: Looks like a centering indicator to be clamped in a lathe tool
post, the point rides on a part chucked in the lathe and the other end
exaggerates any out of true motion - I think they are called
"wobblers". Now replaced by dial indicators. Joel in Florida
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
On Apr 9, 5:19=A0am, "Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote:
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
> Rob

DoN. Nichols wrote:
> On 2009-04-19, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> [ ... ]
>
>> E C Stearns seems to have manufactured only certain lines of items. In
>> 1924, their 88-page catalog included spoke shaves, hollow augurs, bench
>> stops, plumb bobs, mason's tools, and a lawn mower.
>>
>> Their line seems to have changed over the years. The patents I found
>> were from about 1900. The biggest category was typewriter parts,
>> followed by saw-sharpening tools. Third was water valves and a
>> sprinkler. They also patented parts for a bicycle they manufactured in
>> those days.
>>
>> According to Occam's Razor, shouldn't one think in terms of the lines
>> Stearns was known to manufacture? The item doesn't seem to be a spoke
>> shave, augur, bench stop, plumb bob, mason's tool, lawn mower,
>> typewriter, saw sharpener, or bicycle.
>
> Well ... this *could* be a form of bench stop. Bolt it (or
> perhaps a pair of them in line) to a bench top, put a board edge down in
> there. Start planing the top edge, and the clamps will tighten onto the
> wood. When it comes time to do the other edge, pull it back to open the
> grip, flip it over, and reinstall to start planing again.

I guess you would need two to keep a board from rocking. It looks as if
they would have to be screwed down to keep from flipping sideways. In
that case they would obstruct your bench until unscrewed.
>
>> That leaves water valves. In 1920, Berlin Bender invented a nozzle with
>> a shutoff, pointing out that otherwise it was necessary to station an
>> assistant at the faucet in case a pedestrian came along while you were
>> washing your car. Apparently shutoff nozzles were not widely available
>> before then.
>>
>> Patent 662955 shows how in 1900 a canvas garden hose could be shut off
>> by a bending device. If Stearns made valves and at least one sprinkler,
>> wouldn't it make sense for them to make a hanger to shut off a hose?
>
> I would really expect a hose with pressure in it to be difficult
> to shut off with such a clamp.
>
> Enjoy,
> DoN.
>
Until 1989 it was common in the UK to supply a house from a cistern in
the attic. That could mean only 3 psi in the bathroom. I imagine in
1900 a lot of homes in America were supplied by tanks that weren't very
high; water would probably not have been piped from a mountain reservoir
100 miles away. (I remember the soothingly low water pressure at two
farms owned by relatives in the 1950s.)

The need to resist water pressure offers an explanation for why only one
jaw moves. For most uses, that would be undesirable because the shear
would cause wear. The friction of that shear could hold the clamp
closed against some water pressure.

In article <[email protected]>, Rob H. <[email protected]> wrote:
>Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
>figuring out:
>
>http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>

1585: A clutch for part of a block and tackle rig.

1586: For transferring a dimension of some sort, not sure what.

1587: Perhaps for installing an escutchen plate over a lock handle.

1588: A hammer and anvil. If the hammer is attached to the horn I
imagine this is some sort of modified piece, as it would make the horn
useless. Or it is possibly intended as a musical instrument rather than a
metalworking tool (in which case the horn shape is merely decorative)


1589: Possibly a fancy plumb bob...
1590: some sort of specialized thickness gauge.

--
It's times like these which make me glad my bank is Dial-a-Mattress

Rob H. wrote:
>
>
>> 1587. That's a puzzler. Is it possible there is a part missing? Does
>> the metal part thread into the wooden handle?
>
>
> Hard to say if there is a part missing but I'll ask the owner your
> second question.
>
> I'm still not sure about two of them this week, the rest of the answers
> can be found at this address:
>
> http://answers279s.blogspot.com/
>
>
> Rob
>
>

1585: The rope clamps I've seen are spring loaded with two cams. With
only one movable jaw, this one would chafe a rope. With no spring, a
sailor might need both hands.

It seems to me that for stretching leather, springless cam clamps would
be a hassle.

I think it's a hanger for mops and brooms. With either tool, you want
the head off the floor and you don't want it to fall over. This hanger
would work with no hands, and you could suspend a mop at the height you
chose, for example to drip into a bucket.

DoN. Nichols wrote:
> On 2009-04-20, riverman <[email protected]> wrote:

>>> Well ... this *could* be a form of bench stop. Bolt it (or
>>> perhaps a pair of them in line) to a bench top, put a board edge down in
>>> there. Start planing the top edge, and the clamps will tighten onto the
>>> wood. When it comes time to do the other edge, pull it back to open the
>>> grip, flip it over, and reinstall to start planing again.
>> I don't see that. These guys were very meticulous in their
>> toolmongery...the direction of pull between the 'hole' in the arm and
>> the locking cam tells me that this tool was designed so that it was
>> free to move around the hole. If it were bolted down firmly to a bench
>> or table, the lines of force would not be along the shaft from the
>> hole. If it were free to move (tied by a rope, or even carried with a
>> T-handle through the hole), then the clamp would hang in such a way
>> that the cam took all the force, locking it down tighter.
>
> Mount them in shallow recesses in the bench top so only the jaws
> stick above the top. Secure them with a screw which allows them to
> pivot as needed, but holds them firmly in place to the benchtop.

A recess would also take part of the jaws below the surface. It seems a
recess deep enough to get the head of the screw out of the way wouldn't
leave much of the jaws usable.

>
> Mount them with the screw eye towards the operator and the jaws
> pointing away.
>
> Spread the jaws enough and drop in the board.
>
> Then pinch the jaws tighter and apply force from the operator
> end (as would be applied by running a plane along the top edge of the
> board.) The cam tightens when force is in that direction.

I think the owner said they wouldn't spread more than half an inch or
so. That sounds more like webbing than boards.

>
>> Also, if used in the manner you describe, I think the cam would
>> prevent you from getting the plank OUT, not hold it in tighter. Am I
>> reading you wrong?
>
> Pull the board back towards the operator and the clamps release.

Depending on how hard you shoved the board in planing, for example,
there would be friction resisting your removal effort.
>
>> I think this will turn out to be something that either is used to hold
>> on to tarps or some other cloth while they are under tension (either
>> from being pulled, or from hanging while being hoisted), or else had a
>> handle or strap and was some sort of carrying device.
>
> While I still like my original suggestion that it was for
> clamping webbing straps (canvas or other woven material), I do consider
> the bench stop function to be a possibility for rough work. For fine
> work, you would use polished brass, or wood to avoid marring the
> workpiece surface.
>
> Enjoy,
> DoN.
>
According to a 1900 patent for a wire frame that shut off water by
folding a hose, garden hoses used to resemble webbing.

About 1850, NYC needed a special water tower to have pressure for water
in the upper floors of buildings; that indicates that water pressure was
typically low. A 1920 patent speaks of a need to station somebody at
the faucet to shut off water in a hose. If this was a hose shutoff, the
friction of the single-cam action would be just the thing to keep water
pressure from opening the jaws.

One loose end is whether the jaws were wide enough for the typical size
of canvas garden hoses. Some hoses have a 5/8" diameter these days.
Flattened, that would require 1" jaws.

DoN. Nichols wrote:
> On 2009-04-10, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Rob H. wrote:
>>>
>>>> 1587. That's a puzzler. Is it possible there is a part missing? Does
>>>> the metal part thread into the wooden handle?
>>>
>>> Hard to say if there is a part missing but I'll ask the owner your
>>> second question.
>>>
>>> I'm still not sure about two of them this week, the rest of the answers
>>> can be found at this address:
>>>
>>> http://answers279s.blogspot.com/
>>>
>>>
>>> Rob
>>>
>>>
>> 1585: The rope clamps I've seen are spring loaded with two cams. With
>> only one movable jaw, this one would chafe a rope. With no spring, a
>> sailor might need both hands.
>
> I agree that is is wrong for lines on a sailboat. But there are
> two simple work-arounds for the lack of a spring on the jaw.
>
> a) Suspend it by the eye which is shown at the bottom in the photo
> and the jaw would close by gravity.
>
> b) Pull the webbing to be clamped (not rope, I think, with those
> jaws) sideways against the movable jaw, and then allow a little
> draw-back of the webbing which will drag the jaw closed.

Wouldn't the shear between the fixed and the moving jaw damage webbing?
>
>> It seems to me that for stretching leather, springless cam clamps would
>> be a hassle.
>
> Again -- the same could solve it -- but those jaws would leave a
> serious imprint on the leather -- especially assuming wet leather to
> start with to allow the stretching.
>
>> I think it's a hanger for mops and brooms. With either tool, you want
>> the head off the floor and you don't want it to fall over. This hanger
>> would work with no hands, and you could suspend a mop at the height you
>> chose, for example to drip into a bucket.
>
> Poor shape for gripping a round handle, though that would have
> the eye up and the jaws down. I would expect it to rapidly wear the
> paint off the handle, followed by removing wood every time it is used.
>

Suppose you have a bucket in one hand and want to use the other hand to
take the mop from the clamp. The way the jaws are shaped, you should be
able to slide the handle out sideways if you pull slightly upward to
loosen the clamp. You might similarly be able to insert a handle from
the side.

The ridges look rounded. I think similar ridges on metal decking would
not damage my shoes. The jaws wouldn't close very hard on a two-pound mop.

"Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
>
> Rob

1586 looks like a wiggler, for truing up stock in a lathe.

riverman wrote:
> On Apr 19, 8:14 am, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Rob H. wrote:
>>
>>>> It certainly looks like an antique version of this:
>>>> http://www.lilweggie.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
>>>> --riverman
>>> It does look very similar, I agree with those who say the Stearns' tool
>>> is for leather, canvas, or a tarp.
>>> Rob
>> There were lots of inventions to secure tarps, especially over hatchways
>> on ships, but this device would require constant tension. It doesn't
>> seem to be for the edge of a tarp as it's made for a strap or something
>> to pass through.
>>
>> I've found a 1900 patent for a sort of wire frame used to shut off a
>> garden hose by kinking it. The hose pictured is flat like a strap or a
>> fire hose.
>>
>> Suppose in 1900 a farmer has a water tank on a 30-foot tower. He rolls
>> out a hundred yards of hose to supply a trough where cattle will be
>> penned for a month. To shut it off he could walk back to a valve, but
>> that would be inefficient. The simple, cheap way to shut off the flow
>> would be to leave the end of the hose in the trough and pinch the hose
>> outside the pen. Nailed to a fence post, 1585 could serve.
>
> It 'could', but that seems like a particularly specific use, and
> Ocham's Razor should apply here. I think this item could be for
> hanging a tarp: it is either nailed or tied up to an overhead beam,
> and the tarp is jammed up inside the cleat.
>
> I'm looking forward to finding out its real use. Isn't there an
> archivist at Stanley Tools who knows the history of old Stearns tools?
> Stanley Rule and Level bought out Stearns in 1863, before they went on
> to merge with Stanley Works to form Stanley Tools.
>
> --riverman

I've always stored my tarps folded. How many customers would order a
clamp to hang one from a beam? I'd hang a tarp from the top edge, but
this clamp is designed with the capability of grabbing something from
the side.

E C Stearns seems to have manufactured only certain lines of items. In
1924, their 88-page catalog included spoke shaves, hollow augurs, bench
stops, plumb bobs, mason's tools, and a lawn mower.

Their line seems to have changed over the years. The patents I found
were from about 1900. The biggest category was typewriter parts,
followed by saw-sharpening tools. Third was water valves and a
sprinkler. They also patented parts for a bicycle they manufactured in
those days.

According to Occam's Razor, shouldn't one think in terms of the lines
Stearns was known to manufacture? The item doesn't seem to be a spoke
shave, augur, bench stop, plumb bob, mason's tool, lawn mower,
typewriter, saw sharpener, or bicycle.

That leaves water valves. In 1920, Berlin Bender invented a nozzle with
a shutoff, pointing out that otherwise it was necessary to station an
assistant at the faucet in case a pedestrian came along while you were
washing your car. Apparently shutoff nozzles were not widely available
before then.

Patent 662955 shows how in 1900 a canvas garden hose could be shut off
by a bending device. If Stearns made valves and at least one sprinkler,
wouldn't it make sense for them to make a hanger to shut off a hose?

Dave Balderstone wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, Rob H. <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>>> http://answers279s.blogspot.com/
>>>>
>>> 1585: The rope clamps I've seen are spring loaded with two cams. With
>>> only one movable jaw, this one would chafe a rope. With no spring, a
>>> sailor might need both hands.
>>>
>>> It seems to me that for stretching leather, springless cam clamps would be
>>> a hassle.
>>>
>>> I think it's a hanger for mops and brooms. With either tool, you want the
>>> head off the floor and you don't want it to fall over. This hanger would
>>> work with no hands, and you could suspend a mop at the height you chose,
>>> for example to drip into a bucket.
>>
>> Sounds reasonable, I added your suggestion to the answer page. I also added
>> Matthew's idea for the number 1587.
>
> I disagree. The orientation of the jaws is off 90 degrees to be
> effective.

Do you mean 1585? It would hang from a screw or a nail with a washer.
The jaws would point down. The edge of the straight jaw would be
against the wall.

There have been lots of inventions for hanging mops and brooms. This
one looks as if it could take heavy tools like sledge hammers, too. It
would take only one nail to install and could last centuries.

On Apr 18, 7:19=A0am, "Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Their 1924 catalog was reprinted in 1977. =A0It's supposed to have lawn
> > mowers, among other things. =A0About 1900, they patented several typewr=
iter
> > and saw-sharpener items, a vise, faucets, and a lawn sprinkler.
>
> > Back when they patented their sprinkler, I wonder if garden hoses had
> > threaded ends. =A0I wonder if this could be a clamping hanger for the
> > barnyard or garden. =A0You have a water hose with no metal end and 10 P=
SI.
> > You nail the hanger to a post or tree. =A0When you aren't using the hos=
e,
> > you clamp the end in the hanger.
>
> Could be, I'm still hoping to hear back from that museum with the catalog=
,
> I'll think we'll get the answer for it eventually.
>
> Rob

It certainly looks like an antique version of this:
http://www.lilweggie.com/mm5/merchant.mvc

--riverman

> Might be another difficult set ...

1590 appears to be a thickness gauge - possibly for metal sheet.

On Apr 9, 5:19=A0am, "Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote:
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/

Others have noted #1590 being a thickness gauge... I would suggest
that if you told us how many TPI the screw we could figure out which
gauge is being measured on the dial. It looks to me like the first
revolution from tight reads off gauges 3.5 to 35 or 40, and the second
revolution reads off gauges 00 to 3.5 with the next half turn. I would
hazard a guess that gauge 00 must be about 3 times bigger than gauge
11, and 1.5 times bigger than gauge 3.5. This seems to not be AWG, but
maybe British SWG.

Tim.

On Apr 9, 4:19=A0am, "Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote:
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
> Rob

1585. Obviously a cleat or clamp of some sort. I think it's a cleat
used to clamp down on a tarp being stretched over something. There
are similar cleats on boats, but the ones I've seen have two movable
"arms" not just one. On our sailboat, my Dad called these "jamb
cleats" or "monkey cleats". Never understood the second term.

1586. An old "wobbler" style center finder for a lathe. I only know
this because my machine shop teacher in VoTech showed us a lot of
"olde tyme" tools/tricks.

1587. That's a puzzler. Is it possible there is a part missing? Does
the metal part thread into the wooden handle?

1588. Some sort of apparatus for drop testing or testing impact
sensitivity of a material. Could be used for anything from testing
resiliency of a plastic to sensitivity of explosives.

1589. Plumb bob?

1590. A thickness gauge of some sort? But the graduations and
calibrations seem to be in a logarithmic not linear scale.

On Apr 19, 8:14=A0am, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
> Rob H. wrote:
>
> >> It certainly looks like an antique version of this:
> >>http://www.lilweggie.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
>
> >> --riverman
>
> > It does look very similar, I agree with those who say the Stearns' tool
> > is for leather, canvas, or a tarp.
>
> > Rob
>
> There were lots of inventions to secure tarps, especially over hatchways
> on ships, but this device would require constant tension. =A0It doesn't
> seem to be for the edge of a tarp as it's made for a strap or something
> to pass through.
>
> I've found a 1900 patent for a sort of wire frame used to shut off a
> garden hose by kinking it. =A0The hose pictured is flat like a strap or a
> fire hose.
>
> Suppose in 1900 a farmer has a water tank on a 30-foot tower. =A0He rolls
> out a hundred yards of hose to supply a trough where cattle will be
> penned for a month. =A0To shut it off he could walk back to a valve, but
> that would be inefficient. =A0The simple, cheap way to shut off the flow
> would be to leave the end of the hose in the trough and pinch the hose
> outside the pen. =A0Nailed to a fence post, 1585 could serve.

It 'could', but that seems like a particularly specific use, and
Ocham's Razor should apply here. I think this item could be for
hanging a tarp: it is either nailed or tied up to an overhead beam,
and the tarp is jammed up inside the cleat.

I'm looking forward to finding out its real use. Isn't there an
archivist at Stanley Tools who knows the history of old Stearns tools?
Stanley Rule and Level bought out Stearns in 1863, before they went on
to merge with Stanley Works to form Stanley Tools.

--riverman

On Apr 20, 10:50=A0am, riverman <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> Possibly so, but remember that "Stearns" ceased to exist in 1863,
> although the Stanley catalogue continued to sell their items under the
> Stearns name. I think its entirely possible that this item is from
> pre-1900, unless there is something else in the writing on it to
> indicate otherwise. They seemed to specialize in lots of clamps and
> ironworking tools as well as woodworking stuff before Stanley acquired
> them.
>

Whoops, I take that back (and wish that usenet had a usable 'retract'
command). I'm confusing "EA Stearns" of Brattleboro VT and Springfield
MA with "EC Stearns" of Syracuse. Stanley acquired EA Stearns, not EC
Stearns.

--riverman

I wonder if, around the turn of the century, the name 'Stearns' was
used much like how "Acme" is used in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons...

--riverman

1586 is a center finder, used on a metal lathe


On Apr 9, 5:19=A0am, "Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote:
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
> Rob

On Thu, 9 Apr 2009 18:47:32 -0400, "Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>
>> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
>>Others have noted #1590 being a thickness gauge... I would suggest
>>that if you told us how many TPI the screw we could figure out which
>>gauge is being measured on the dial.
>
>
>A couple weeks ago I took a few quick shots of this tool at an auction, it
>belongs to someone else so I can't tell you the TPI.
>
>
>Rob
>
>
American standard wire gauge, lead works out to 0.22567 " per
revolution
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

In article <[email protected]>, "Rob H." <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/

My guesses--only the first and the last carry any small degree of
certainty:

1585 - This looks to be a rope holder/tensioner, such as might be used
on a sailboat. I don't know the official nautical term offhand. The
rope can be pulled between the jaws towards the hole for the mounting
bolt, but will bind when tension is applied in the other direction.
This particular one lacks any loop over the top to prevent the rope from
pulling out obliquely, so it's only usable for loads in the plane of the
base of the gizmo.

1586 - I think I've run across pictures/descriptions of this tool, but
can't remember the name or purpose. I think I might have a vague
recollection that it's for setting up machining operations somehow.

1587 - Possibly a tool for holding corrugated metal in place during
assembly, say for joining two sheets at their edges?

1588 - Small anvil with drop hammer, I'd guess for jewelry making or
similar light work.

1589 - Patent neo-gothic doohicky thingamabobber. The pointed end looks
as though it may be intended to bind onto nails, as to pull them out,
but the rest of the implement doesn't look at all suited for that task.

1590 - Thickness gauge, I'd guess for sizing wires, but possibly for
sheet metal instead.

Now on to other people's ideas!

--
Andrew Erickson

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot
lose." -- Jim Elliot

"Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>

1585:
lifting eye for sheet goods

1588:
hammer and anvil designed to give a
controlled blow to test the malleability
of a metal sample.

1590:
sheetmetal thickness guage

basilisk

1588 Based on absolute ignorance, I'll suggest that this is a cute
door-knocker by/for a blacksmith enthusiast.

"Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
>
> Rob

> http://55tools.blogspot.com/

>Others have noted #1590 being a thickness gauge... I would suggest
>that if you told us how many TPI the screw we could figure out which
>gauge is being measured on the dial.


A couple weeks ago I took a few quick shots of this tool at an auction, it
belongs to someone else so I can't tell you the TPI.


Rob

"Alexander Thesoso" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 1588 Based on absolute ignorance, I'll suggest that this is a cute
> door-knocker by/for a blacksmith enthusiast.


Good guess, door knocker is correct.


Rob

It is a silly thought, but it would be amusing to contemplate this
door-knocker coupled to a delay/amplifier so that if it were struck it would
produce the ting-Clang of a blacksmith/apprentice strike.


"Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Alexander Thesoso" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> 1588 Based on absolute ignorance, I'll suggest that this is a cute
>> door-knocker by/for a blacksmith enthusiast.
>
>
> Good guess, door knocker is correct.
>
>
> Rob

>1587. That's a puzzler. Is it possible there is a part missing? Does
>the metal part thread into the wooden handle?


Hard to say if there is a part missing but I'll ask the owner your second
question.

I'm still not sure about two of them this week, the rest of the answers can
be found at this address:

http://answers279s.blogspot.com/


Rob

>> http://answers279s.blogspot.com/
>>
> 1585: The rope clamps I've seen are spring loaded with two cams. With
> only one movable jaw, this one would chafe a rope. With no spring, a
> sailor might need both hands.
>
> It seems to me that for stretching leather, springless cam clamps would be
> a hassle.
>
> I think it's a hanger for mops and brooms. With either tool, you want the
> head off the floor and you don't want it to fall over. This hanger would
> work with no hands, and you could suspend a mop at the height you chose,
> for example to drip into a bucket.


Sounds reasonable, I added your suggestion to the answer page. I also added
Matthew's idea for the number 1587.



Rob

I'll ask the owner to test how well it works on fabric, rope, metal plates,
and a broom. I will report back when I get his reply.


Rob

"InfoSeeker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:41:26 -0400, "Rob H." <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>I'll ask the owner to test how well it works on fabric, rope, metal
>>plates,
>>and a broom. I will report back when I get his reply.
>>
>>
>>Rob
>
> Rob, can you ask the owner about the words on the device?


Good idea, I just sent him another email. I can read just a couple of them
now, the words near the hole say "Syracuse N.Y.", and the other visible text
should be a company name since the last letters are obviously CO.


Rob

>1587. That's a puzzler. Is it possible there is a part missing? Does
>the metal part thread into the wooden handle?


I just heard back about your second question, the metal part does unscrew
from the handle.


Rob

"InfoSeeker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:41:26 -0400, "Rob H." <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>I'll ask the owner to test how well it works on fabric, rope, metal
>>plates,
>>and a broom. I will report back when I get his reply.
>>
>>
>>Rob
>
> Rob, can you ask the owner about the words on the device?



Here is the reply that I received from the owner of the tool:

"The clamp holds leather very well. The max capacity would be 1/2" at the
most and it runs out of grip surface on the movable arm. It does have a name
on it. E.C.Stearns & Co. Syracuse, N.Y."

Maybe if someone has an old Stearns catalog they could find the tool listed
in it.


Rob

>
> Here is the reply that I received from the owner of the tool:
>
> "The clamp holds leather very well. The max capacity would be 1/2" at the
> most and it runs out of grip surface on the movable arm. It does have a
> name on it. E.C.Stearns & Co. Syracuse, N.Y."
>
> Maybe if someone has an old Stearns catalog they could find the tool
> listed in it.
>
>
> Rob


I just sent an email to a museum that has a Stearns catalog, hopefully
they'll be able to identify it for us.

Rob

>
> Their 1924 catalog was reprinted in 1977. It's supposed to have lawn
> mowers, among other things. About 1900, they patented several typewriter
> and saw-sharpener items, a vise, faucets, and a lawn sprinkler.
>
> Back when they patented their sprinkler, I wonder if garden hoses had
> threaded ends. I wonder if this could be a clamping hanger for the
> barnyard or garden. You have a water hose with no metal end and 10 PSI.
> You nail the hanger to a post or tree. When you aren't using the hose,
> you clamp the end in the hanger.

Could be, I'm still hoping to hear back from that museum with the catalog,
I'll think we'll get the answer for it eventually.


Rob

>It certainly looks like an antique version of this:
>http://www.lilweggie.com/mm5/merchant.mvc

>--riverman


It does look very similar, I agree with those who say the Stearns' tool is
for leather, canvas, or a tarp.

Rob

On 9 Apr 2009 23:04:43 GMT, "DoN. Nichols"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>1590) For measuring the thickness of sheet metal. (Or perhaps wire.)

Howdy,

The scale makes me wonder if it is for measuring the
thickness of leather in "Oz." (64ths of an inch) - (but the
narrow jaws seem to counter that.)

All the best,
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

On Thu, 9 Apr 2009 06:54:59 -0700 (PDT), Tim Shoppa
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Apr 9, 5:19 am, "Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
>> figuring out:
>>
>> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
>Others have noted #1590 being a thickness gauge... I would suggest
>that if you told us how many TPI the screw we could figure out which
>gauge is being measured on the dial. It looks to me like the first
>revolution from tight reads off gauges 3.5 to 35 or 40, and the second
>revolution reads off gauges 00 to 3.5 with the next half turn. I would
>hazard a guess that gauge 00 must be about 3 times bigger than gauge
>11, and 1.5 times bigger than gauge 3.5. This seems to not be AWG, but
>maybe British SWG.
>

It looks like the standard sheet gage used in the US, and the lead of
the screw is 1/4". 7ga is about 3/16", about 90 degrees on the dial is
11ga (~1/8"), and another 90 degrees to 16ga (~1/16"). Birmingham
Sheet Gage is similar.

The tool could be used in a warehouse or a rolling mill. Starrett
makes (or made) large rugged micrometers with a wooden handle for this
sort of duty.

--
Ned Simmons

Just great! No one else had answered so I had a chance to be
first. I didn't recognize or even have a clue about a single one.

Feeling a little dumb. Rob, I really appreciate your efforts at
doing this, I look forward to Thursdays.

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)
[email protected]



"Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need
> assistance figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
>
> Rob

On Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:41:26 -0400, "Rob H." <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I'll ask the owner to test how well it works on fabric, rope, metal plates,
>and a broom. I will report back when I get his reply.
>
>
>Rob

Rob, can you ask the owner about the words on the device?

riverman wrote:
> On Apr 20, 10:50 am, riverman <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Possibly so, but remember that "Stearns" ceased to exist in 1863,
>> although the Stanley catalogue continued to sell their items under the
>> Stearns name. I think its entirely possible that this item is from
>> pre-1900, unless there is something else in the writing on it to
>> indicate otherwise. They seemed to specialize in lots of clamps and
>> ironworking tools as well as woodworking stuff before Stanley acquired
>> them.
>>
>
> Whoops, I take that back (and wish that usenet had a usable 'retract'
> command). I'm confusing "EA Stearns" of Brattleboro VT and Springfield
> MA with "EC Stearns" of Syracuse. Stanley acquired EA Stearns, not EC
> Stearns.
>
> --riverman
>
> I wonder if, around the turn of the century, the name 'Stearns' was
> used much like how "Acme" is used in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons...
>
> --riverman

Now I wish I could retract MY post!

On 2009-04-09, Rob H. <[email protected]> wrote:
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/

Posting from Rec.crafts.metalworking as always.

1585) You pull a webbing strap through it (or leather, I
guess), and when you relax your pull it pulls the jaws closed if
the strap is in contact with the hinged jaw. Not as much
tension as a ratchet strap, but good for holding things down in
general.

1586) A style of "wiggler" used for centering a workpiece in a 4-jaw
chuck (where each jaw is individually adjustable). You place
the sharp point at the end of the ball in a center punch, or the
ball itself in a center-drilled hole, with the rectangular shank
in the toolpost, and adjust the cross-feed until the other end
from the ball/point end is near the center in the tailstock.

As you rotate the chuck, the free end draws a circle in the air
whose diameter is a function of how far off center the workpiece
is. So -- you adjust jaws until the end is stationary through a
full revolution of the chuck.

Note that the rod can slide in the gimbal, and the closer the
gimbal is to the workpiece the larger the circle at the free end
will be.

It is no longer made, based on a catalog from the late 1990s.

1587) No idea -- sorry.

1588) I *like* it. A neat trade (or hobby) specific door knocker.

1589) Hmm ... a strange one, but I have a couple of guesses.

1) A tool for laying rope (center line goes through the
hole in the center, and three others go through the 3/4
circle notches, and you turn the handle around it as you
go along the length of the rope being made.

2) A bobbin for weaving nets (fairly large opening ones.)

The line being carried by the bobbin wraps through the
three notches, and is unwound a notch at a time as you
need the extra length.

1590) For measuring the thickness of sheet metal. (Or perhaps wire.)

The handle protects the knuckles of the user from the edges of
the metal.

You turn the disc until the end of the screw clamps the sheet
metal against the anvil.

The numbers (starting next to the '0' at about 5:00 o'clock
indicate the gauge thickness of the metal. (There have been a
number of measurement systems for sheet metal and wire, and I
can't tell which of the systems is used on this one. But in all
of the systems the large the number, the smaller the thickness.

This represents the number of passes through rollers which make
it thinner each pass. Note that this goes through about 1 and
1/3 turns before it gets from the "0" which is when the empty
gauge closes to the "0" which is quite thick -- and it goes on
to "00" at about 1 and one-half turns.

Note how steep the threads are. Those are mult-start threads,
(three or four, I think) so 1-1/2 turns take you from fully
closed to fully open.

Now to see what others have suggested.


Enjoy,
DoN.

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On 2009-04-09, Kenneth <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 9 Apr 2009 23:04:43 GMT, "DoN. Nichols"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>1590) For measuring the thickness of sheet metal. (Or perhaps wire.)
>
> Howdy,
>
> The scale makes me wonder if it is for measuring the
> thickness of leather in "Oz." (64ths of an inch) - (but the
> narrow jaws seem to counter that.)

Also the observable fact that the larger numbers come with the
smaller gap, which is common with wire and sheet metal gauges, which are
smaller the more times they have passed through drawing dies or between
rollers. To measure in "Oz" (unless you mean in Australia :-) you would
need the numbers to increase as the gap increases.

Also -- if it were reading in 64ths of an inch, the numbers
would be equally spaced, instead of getting more widely spaced as the
numbers get smaller.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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On 2009-04-09, Rob H. <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
>>Others have noted #1590 being a thickness gauge... I would suggest
>>that if you told us how many TPI the screw we could figure out which
>>gauge is being measured on the dial.
>
>
> A couple weeks ago I took a few quick shots of this tool at an auction, it
> belongs to someone else so I can't tell you the TPI.

Aside form that, given the rather steep observable angle of the
threads, we would need to know how many "starts" (parallel interleaved
threads).

Enjoy,
DoN.

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On 2009-04-10, Andrew Erickson <[email protected]> wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, "Rob H." <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
>> figuring out:
>>
>> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
> My guesses--only the first and the last carry any small degree of
> certainty:
>
> 1585 - This looks to be a rope holder/tensioner, such as might be used
> on a sailboat.

How about "jam cleat"?

> I don't know the official nautical term offhand. The
> rope can be pulled between the jaws towards the hole for the mounting
> bolt, but will bind when tension is applied in the other direction.
> This particular one lacks any loop over the top to prevent the rope from
> pulling out obliquely, so it's only usable for loads in the plane of the
> base of the gizmo.

Yes -- but the material is wrong for sailboat use. It is drop
forged steel -- and would rust like mad in such an environment. For a
sailboat, the materials should be either bronze or a tough plastic like
Delrin -- perhaps with internal parts of stainless steel, if there were
springs which are common in actual jam cleats.

> 1586 - I think I've run across pictures/descriptions of this tool, but
> can't remember the name or purpose. I think I might have a vague
> recollection that it's for setting up machining operations somehow.

Yep.

> 1587 - Possibly a tool for holding corrugated metal in place during
> assembly, say for joining two sheets at their edges?
>
> 1588 - Small anvil with drop hammer, I'd guess for jewelry making or
> similar light work.

Nope -- not given the thin anvil, the material, and the mounting
holes. It petty much *has* to be a blacksmith's door knocker.

[ ... ]

> 1590 - Thickness gauge, I'd guess for sizing wires, but possibly for
> sheet metal instead.

I *think* sheet metal, but I'm not positive.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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On 2009-04-10, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
> Rob H. wrote:
>>
>>
>>> 1587. That's a puzzler. Is it possible there is a part missing? Does
>>> the metal part thread into the wooden handle?
>>
>>
>> Hard to say if there is a part missing but I'll ask the owner your
>> second question.
>>
>> I'm still not sure about two of them this week, the rest of the answers
>> can be found at this address:
>>
>> http://answers279s.blogspot.com/
>>
>>
>> Rob
>>
>>
>
> 1585: The rope clamps I've seen are spring loaded with two cams. With
> only one movable jaw, this one would chafe a rope. With no spring, a
> sailor might need both hands.

I agree that is is wrong for lines on a sailboat. But there are
two simple work-arounds for the lack of a spring on the jaw.

a) Suspend it by the eye which is shown at the bottom in the photo
and the jaw would close by gravity.

b) Pull the webbing to be clamped (not rope, I think, with those
jaws) sideways against the movable jaw, and then allow a little
draw-back of the webbing which will drag the jaw closed.

> It seems to me that for stretching leather, springless cam clamps would
> be a hassle.

Again -- the same could solve it -- but those jaws would leave a
serious imprint on the leather -- especially assuming wet leather to
start with to allow the stretching.

> I think it's a hanger for mops and brooms. With either tool, you want
> the head off the floor and you don't want it to fall over. This hanger
> would work with no hands, and you could suspend a mop at the height you
> chose, for example to drip into a bucket.

Poor shape for gripping a round handle, though that would have
the eye up and the jaws down. I would expect it to rapidly wear the
paint off the handle, followed by removing wood every time it is used.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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On 2009-04-19, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:

[ ... ]

> E C Stearns seems to have manufactured only certain lines of items. In
> 1924, their 88-page catalog included spoke shaves, hollow augurs, bench
> stops, plumb bobs, mason's tools, and a lawn mower.
>
> Their line seems to have changed over the years. The patents I found
> were from about 1900. The biggest category was typewriter parts,
> followed by saw-sharpening tools. Third was water valves and a
> sprinkler. They also patented parts for a bicycle they manufactured in
> those days.
>
> According to Occam's Razor, shouldn't one think in terms of the lines
> Stearns was known to manufacture? The item doesn't seem to be a spoke
> shave, augur, bench stop, plumb bob, mason's tool, lawn mower,
> typewriter, saw sharpener, or bicycle.

Well ... this *could* be a form of bench stop. Bolt it (or
perhaps a pair of them in line) to a bench top, put a board edge down in
there. Start planing the top edge, and the clamps will tighten onto the
wood. When it comes time to do the other edge, pull it back to open the
grip, flip it over, and reinstall to start planing again.

> That leaves water valves. In 1920, Berlin Bender invented a nozzle with
> a shutoff, pointing out that otherwise it was necessary to station an
> assistant at the faucet in case a pedestrian came along while you were
> washing your car. Apparently shutoff nozzles were not widely available
> before then.
>
> Patent 662955 shows how in 1900 a canvas garden hose could be shut off
> by a bending device. If Stearns made valves and at least one sprinkler,
> wouldn't it make sense for them to make a hanger to shut off a hose?

I would really expect a hose with pressure in it to be difficult
to shut off with such a clamp.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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On 2009-04-20, riverman <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Apr 20, 9:00 am, "DoN. Nichols" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 2009-04-19, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>         [ ... ]
>>
>> > E C Stearns seems to have manufactured only certain lines of items.  In
>> > 1924, their 88-page catalog included spoke shaves, hollow augurs, bench
>> > stops, plumb bobs, mason's tools, and a lawn mower.
>>
>> > Their line seems to have changed over the years.  The patents I found
>> > were from about 1900.  The biggest category was typewriter parts,
>> > followed by saw-sharpening tools.  Third was water valves and a
>> > sprinkler.  They also patented parts for a bicycle they manufactured in
>> > those days.
>>
>> > According to Occam's Razor, shouldn't one think in terms of the lines
>> > Stearns was known to manufacture?  The item doesn't seem to be a spoke
>> > shave, augur, bench stop, plumb bob, mason's tool, lawn mower,
>> > typewriter, saw sharpener, or bicycle.
>>
>
> Possibly so, but remember that "Stearns" ceased to exist in 1863,
> although the Stanley catalogue continued to sell their items under the
> Stearns name. I think its entirely possible that this item is from
> pre-1900, unless there is something else in the writing on it to
> indicate otherwise. They seemed to specialize in lots of clamps and
> ironworking tools as well as woodworking stuff before Stanley acquired
> them.

Hmm ... it looks like a drop-forged tool, perhaps zinc coated,
and a *thin* zinc coating, not hot dip galvanized which would have been
done earlier.

>
>>         Well ... this *could* be a form of bench stop.  Bolt it (or
>> perhaps a pair of them in line) to a bench top, put a board edge down in
>> there.  Start planing the top edge, and the clamps will tighten onto the
>> wood.  When it comes time to do the other edge, pull it back to open the
>> grip, flip it over, and reinstall to start planing again.
>
> I don't see that. These guys were very meticulous in their
> toolmongery...the direction of pull between the 'hole' in the arm and
> the locking cam tells me that this tool was designed so that it was
> free to move around the hole. If it were bolted down firmly to a bench
> or table, the lines of force would not be along the shaft from the
> hole. If it were free to move (tied by a rope, or even carried with a
> T-handle through the hole), then the clamp would hang in such a way
> that the cam took all the force, locking it down tighter.

Mount them in shallow recesses in the bench top so only the jaws
stick above the top. Secure them with a screw which allows them to
pivot as needed, but holds them firmly in place to the benchtop.

Mount them with the screw eye towards the operator and the jaws
pointing away.

Spread the jaws enough and drop in the board.

Then pinch the jaws tighter and apply force from the operator
end (as would be applied by running a plane along the top edge of the
board.) The cam tightens when force is in that direction.

> Also, if used in the manner you describe, I think the cam would
> prevent you from getting the plank OUT, not hold it in tighter. Am I
> reading you wrong?

Pull the board back towards the operator and the clamps release.

> I think this will turn out to be something that either is used to hold
> on to tarps or some other cloth while they are under tension (either
> from being pulled, or from hanging while being hoisted), or else had a
> handle or strap and was some sort of carrying device.

While I still like my original suggestion that it was for
clamping webbing straps (canvas or other woven material), I do consider
the bench stop function to be a possibility for rough work. For fine
work, you would use polished brass, or wood to avoid marring the
workpiece surface.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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riverman wrote:
> On Apr 20, 9:00 am, "DoN. Nichols" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On 2009-04-19, E Z Peaces <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> [ ... ]
>>
>>> E C Stearns seems to have manufactured only certain lines of items. In
>>> 1924, their 88-page catalog included spoke shaves, hollow augurs, bench
>>> stops, plumb bobs, mason's tools, and a lawn mower.
>>> Their line seems to have changed over the years. The patents I found
>>> were from about 1900. The biggest category was typewriter parts,
>>> followed by saw-sharpening tools. Third was water valves and a
>>> sprinkler. They also patented parts for a bicycle they manufactured in
>>> those days.
>>> According to Occam's Razor, shouldn't one think in terms of the lines
>>> Stearns was known to manufacture? The item doesn't seem to be a spoke
>>> shave, augur, bench stop, plumb bob, mason's tool, lawn mower,
>>> typewriter, saw sharpener, or bicycle.
>
> Possibly so, but remember that "Stearns" ceased to exist in 1863,
> although the Stanley catalogue continued to sell their items under the
> Stearns name. I think its entirely possible that this item is from
> pre-1900, unless there is something else in the writing on it to
> indicate otherwise. They seemed to specialize in lots of clamps and
> ironworking tools as well as woodworking stuff before Stanley acquired
> them.

I'd like to read up on that. I've read that Edward C Stearns took over
the company from George N Stearns in 1877. He filed for a patent on a
saw set as late as 1925. It was granted in 1930. In 1926, Albert
Acheson filed for a patent on an incinerator, to be assigned to the E C
Stearns company. It was granted in 1931.

"Rob H." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Might be another difficult set, there are three that I need assistance
> figuring out:
>
> http://55tools.blogspot.com/
>
>
> Rob

1589 looks like an old style fid for splicing wire rope.

Len