If only..

[steven newman]

Was just wondering how much to assemble one of these things..

Tool Chest No. A...

Yep..a whopping $20 back then...Move up a bit, to the #B..

To put another 23 tools in the chest, it will cost you another $20

Maybe see what Chest #C has?

87 tools...$60.00 ?

 

Almost afraid to look at Chest #D..

Not as many tools, just a fancier case to store them in...still $60.00

 

Well..

Afraid this would be about the top of MY budget...

These can be found in..

This Swan Catalog...from 1911....

[lew]

That $60 today would be about $2000 today and the tools would likely be much poorer quality 

[Grandpadave52]

Cool Catalog. Is it your collection?

[John Morris]

I really like that Steve!

[steven newman]

catalog is a reprint..the MTCA sent me a copy...Donna Rose Allen has the original copy...

[steven newman]

That $15 tool set?   would retail out to about...$398.30 + Sales Tax ( Ohio=7%) + Shipping....

[steven newman]

Here is a suggestion...point out one of those Tool sets....and I will try to post the contents that match up to that set...

[steven newman]

Thinking Tool Cabinet "C"...since it has a set of these in it

Calls for a #4 Stanley Smooth Plane...a Stanley #5 Jack plane and a Stanley #6 Fore plane...

Some of the other items?

A couple handled saw files..A Screwdriver bit for a Brace drill...a #40 automatic drill ( Yankee) A Marking gauge..

Flat nosed pliers, a #4 or #5 Tool A handle Gimlet Drill, a Chalk line and reel, a folding rule

A Handled Scratch Awl, a Countersink bit, a "Knurled Nail set"

And to go with those saw files..a Saw set..

 

An 8" Carpenter's Pincers, 2 Carpenter's Pencils, One Expansive bit( had a couple, size wasn't listed)a Stanley Block Plane (No. 120, instead of a #220)

8" Bevel Gauge, a Steel square ( didn't call for a Framer's square), an 8" Try Miter Square....a pair of 8" dividers...Brace called out as a Stanley 10" No. 945

It calls for an 18" Hand saw and a 24" one..a Stanley iron spokeshave..I didn't have the right style of Coping saw, but...it also calls for a mallet..and a Nail Hammer..

One of these might do the trick..

Also called for..12" Compass saw, a 9" Drawshave ( I have a 6" or an 8", choose)  That canvass roll is a full set of Irwin Bits..4-1/4 to 16-16...It did not call for a Breast Drill, though..That 24" D8 Panel saw will work...

It calls out a Bottle of Liquid Glue and a brush...I think I can come up with that...

That be a #5 German Gimlet bit...the Irwin Bit beside it, is a No. 12 (3/4")

They call for a Stanley Level & Plumb...figured my 24" No. 3 will do..

Sharpening stone..supposed to have a Zinc Oiler..My 3in1 Oil Bottle will just have to do...

They list a Miter Box, but...not a saw for it...

I only have one gouge (7/8") and not a set of Swan Chisels...but these will do..

So...imagine all of this in a crate, that you go down to the Railroad Freight Station to load up in whatever flatbed you had...and haul this home? 

 

Next, Imagine buying all of these tools NEW, TODAY...and bring them home in the back of your truck?  Still just one packing crate...Price? ( not counting Shipping, of course...)

[kmealy]

Here's one, but I've always been amazed how the saws grew so much they didn't fit any more. Maybe signaling the decline of PopWood.

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/authentic-sloyd-tool-cabinet/

 

 

[steven newman]

Kind of ironic..that they used an all power tool approach to build a case to store hand tools in....

 

As for a carrying handle, most of the time, they just swung the handle of the Brace up, and into notches...either in the top of the case, or on the latch side of the case...

[steven newman]

Just getting back..was watching Roy Underhill discussing The Book of Sloyd.....and showing HOW to make a bench hook, according to that book...

 

I might put most of those tools away, except for that $15 cabinet....just to see what a Minimum Tool Set was like...

At one time, I did have a pair of those "Gas Pliers" not sure they went...

 

[steven newman]

So..27 piece tool set. Style G Cabinet...

Is supposed to have the following tools supplied, along with the cabinet...

Chisels: 1/4", 1/2", 3/4"

Auger Bits..#4, # 8, #12

Of the 3 German Gimlet bits...I only had a #5 size...

One screwdriver

One Countersink bit

One Drawing Knife 8"

One Victor Brace drill

One 18" Handsaw

One Nail Hammer

One Tool Set #5

One Stanley Block Plane #120

One Boxwood rule

 

One 7-1/2 Try Square

One Marking Gauge

One Nail set, Knurled

One pair of Flat nosed pliers

One Handled 4" Taper Saw file

One Oil Stone

And an Oiler for that stone..

There was also to be a pair of Gas Pliers , 6"

 

So..how well did I do?

Hammer and square..

The 3 chisel sizes called for..and a proper brace drill...at least it matches the picture..

Zig-zag rule, the 3 bit sizes called for (Irwins, even) 4" Srewdriver, 4" slim Taper Saw file, Nail Set, Countersink bit, Flat nosed pliers, a No.5 Tool set, A 8" drawing knife (Fulton), A Stanley No. 120 Block Plane...Oil stone, a No. 68 Marking gauge

And, that 18" Disston D8, 10 ppi saw..

I don't have a "Zinc Oiler", but this will just have to do.    Sizes are stamped on the bits...#4 = 1/4", #8= 1/2",  #12 = 3/4"

 

Cabinet size? Height= 24", width=16", Depth=5-1/2"...has ONE inside drawer.  Door was fitted with a Lock & Key..in 1911, this set sold for $15.00, complete.  

 

Wondering IF I might have enough lumber stashed away to try a cabinet..

Might need to resaw some of this down...glue up a few panels? 

That "German Gimlet Bit", That I don't have?

Look like this #5 bit.

 

Box wood rule?  Don't think they mean a Lufkin No. X46?    Or, even a No. 066?

 

This one seems to be an "Entry Level" set...

 

 

[Gerald]

I know Steven may be the only one with most of these old tools . But today as probably then there are so many levels of quality. I think that is what Steve is seeing in the "beginner " set. As a practical look at the tools of yesteryear we see "mostly" tools that we either do not know what they do or we could not use them. We like to think modern tools are faster and more accurate, are they really? Seeing what Steven does makes me wonder. 

 

We look at works like Biltmore and say how did they do that. They had apprentices and worked 12 to 14 hour days with no distractions like TV and cell phones. Which reminds me of a story. I had started working in a Pharmacy and the owner had just sold to a young man. previous owner tole me he had a pharmacist say he could get something done if the phone would stop ringing. Owner said the Pharmacist did not know how much it had cost to get the phone to start ringing.

[steven newman]

Out and about, this afternoon..picked up a few items that MIGHT fit the Tool Sets a bit better...

$3 Hacksaw?  $6 Zinc Oiler?   An $18 Stanley No. 68 Boxwood Ruler?  And a Stanley No. 220 Block plane>

 

And, since I also needed a straight fence for my Stanley No. 66...and it costs over $30 on-line for just the fence..

Why not buy the entire plane for $20?   Yes, I do have a blade for this one. 

 

Spent a bit over $60, today...That should do, until May's Payday shows up...