Tools by Redpath Brown & Co, Edinburgh ?

[TomM]

I wonder if anyone can help me with some information about a woodworking gouge that I have recently obtained. It is marked Redpath Brown & Co, Edinburgh, which some web searching tells me was a well known structural steel manufacturing business. However, I can see no reference to them ever having produced tools, and I can find no similar chisel (or any tool by them) for sale online. I would be very grateful for any information about tools by Redpath Brown & Co.

 

[AndyT]

The entry at Grace's Guide - http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Redpath,_Brown_and_Co - suggests that they started out in 1802 as a general ironmonger, specialising in structural steelwork after 1880, so it's possible that they may have had a range of tools for sale, marked with their name, but almost certainly made for them in Sheffield.

Does it look very old? Pics?

 

[TomM]

Hi Andy

Thanks for the information. Here are three pictures. As you can see, it has been cleaned up because I bought it to be used, and have only subsequently become interested in the history.

Tom

 

[AndyT]

Well that's not very old, I think. I think it was made by grinding a groove in solid bar. This method has taken over from the old forging method of rolling a flat bar into a part - cylinder but I can't put a date on that change.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

I might be utterly barking, but that looks rather more like a turning gouge than a firmer gouge. The bolster is a most unusual shape for a Sheffield product, and almost looks turned. However, the stamp is quite deep and distinct, which suggests it's been put in with the metal hot.

Very odd.

 

[TomM]

The suggestion that it might be a turning gouge makes some sense as it was originally sharpened in that way. Here's a photo of it in the original state. I think the stamp was probably put on to hot metal though. Thanks for the ideas.