New purchase

[adzeman]

In Lewes today to purchase an old chisel with attitude.

I should have photographed it against a rule to indicate its length which is 1' 9". It caught my eye as it is similar to a chisel we had where I was apprenticed. It was used in the wheelwrighting process/cart manufacture and repair. We also used it in the repair of king and queen post trusses in cleaning out the old mortices. We had a hand operated chain morticer similar to a large hand held wheelbrace which we could carry into the roof space and the chisel was great for cleaning out and bottoming the mortice.

 

[Fromey]

You could challenge someone to a duel with that.

 

[RogerP]

You could challenge someone to a duel with that.

... and probably win

Seriously nice tool.

 

[LJT]

What's the makers name out of interest?

 

[MARK.B.]

Blimey thats a bigun

 

[adidat]

i went to school in Lewes, Juggs road and Cockshut road caused great amusement!

adidat

 

[adzeman]

Unfortunately there are no identification marks at all. When I buy an old tool I buy it to use and not as a museuum piece but now and then a tool comes along and I just have to have it. I am not going to make a wheel or repair an old roof Its daft I know but like a child I want it.

Hopefully, someone with a greater knowledge than I has an opinion.

 

[Dovetaildave]

"king and queen post trusses"

Wow .....Kudos =D> , repaired in situ?

 

[adzeman]

Not only repaired in situ but with split stone slabs as roof tiles. When I say repaired it would be replacing a single member. It was the heat that was the hardest to put with. Most of the timbers would oak and infested with beetle. Strange thing was, though you could pul the outer timber apart with your hand the heart wood was hard like steel. Dont think big spans like say a church, nothing larger than 15' 00" Mainly weavers cottages. The last one I worked on was as a superviser/surveyor in docklands in 1987 we didnt replace the timbers but impregnated them with resin. (Under pressure)

 

[jimi43]

My type of tool that!

Looks like my bruzz only a LOT bigger! And that's saying something!

Thanks for posting

Cheers

Jimi

 

[adzeman]

I conceed. In your opinion what were they used for or what do you use them for? though I am pleased you have shown them.

 

[jimi43]

I conceed. In your opinion what were they used for or what do you use them for? though I am pleased you have shown them.

They are all used for big stuff like framing, wheelwrighting, coopering....that sort of stuff...and some are just general tools of a larger variety.

The shape of the edge and design of the tool can show specialised use...but there were literally hundreds of specialized professions, so to find which one is an art by itself.

Yours looks to be a big mortice chisel....from the pictures. This would have been used anywhere mortices were needed...building, ship building...that sort of thing.

Cheers mate

Jim