I wonder if chippendale used a dovetail template?
Nooooopr!!!!!
My dad bought a few chests from an antique dealer in Chicago. My ex/Grilfteind was stupid and did not think much of them. I found one destroyed by weather out by the barn and all I could salvage was the brass.
Chipoendale eventually used craftsmen in his employ to do much of the work as business was good. Townsend was a decifle of chippendale and worked in the states. The designs were similar but chippendale used. Mahogany with oak often the secondary. Townsend used walnut with eastern white pine as the secondary.
In the drawers I have examined, it appears the tails were done pins first by eye. The same approach used by Frank Kluauz. The angles were close but different. Frank was taught to be fast. Chris Becksvort was taught the German way of tails first. Kingshot did high end work including commissions to the crown.
often Kingshot would mark out a quick 1in 7 on a board and set a sliding bevel. Later he used a clear plastic gage he made.
There is an overwhelming school of thought in commission work these days toward cutting the socket necks narrow. Often towards 1/8 in. While not a true London tail, it’s a statement of hand cut tails. The1/8 in being based on the smallest standard chisel in use.
Becksvort could care less as his customer base knows better. His work is primarily cherry based shaker reproductions. He often used a LN gage.
Lie Nielsen has been at it for 35 plus years. His tools are straight forward and built for craftsmen. He avoids fancy updates and embellishments like you see in Veritas and Bridgecity. Becksvort shares this basic mentality as do I.
So the focus is on basic high quality and functional work. Straightforward joinery with locally sourced timber.
