Unusual Saw - one for Andy.....

[merlin]

A friend of mine challenged me the other day to see if I knew what this is and wondered if any body knew what its for as I've never seen one.
I haven't got a clue.

The main body is cast in a "T" section with what looks like a frame saw blade fitted, the brass tube on the end looks like a bodge so it could accept a wrong size blade.

What do you think?

Merlin

 

[AndyT]

The really frustrating thing about this question is that I have read about one of these online somewhere, in the last month or so!

Of course, I can't now find where that was, but I'll say if I do find it.

At least that confirms that it's a commercially made tool, not a one-off. The other one had a hacksaw blade in it, which backs up your idea that yours has been altered to take a different blade.

The conclusion about the other one was that it was a hacksaw for restricted spaces. For example, cutting through a rusted nut where other parts of a machine or engine got in the way.

Nice find!

 

[AndyT]

I wonder if you can find the name "PROTO" on the beam at all?

This is from a Proto tools catalogue here https://archive.org/details/ProtoToolsC ... 8/page/n55 from 1961 and looks pretty similar to me.

 

[MusicMan]

Funnily enough, I thought of making a similar design saw recently, but for woodworking, with a coping saw blade. This is in connection with cutting out an elliptical aperture for a hole in a hollow box (my harp soundbox). Easy enough to drill/jigsaw/padsaw out a rough aperture, but then it would be nice to cut fairly accurately 2 - 3 mm away from the final line, to leave just a small amount for a router trimmer to take out, following a template.

I probably shan't bother though, as I am well on the way to the first one, and if I make any more the holes will be cut while both sides are accessible!

 

[merlin]

Hello Andy,

I think you may have hit the nail on the head !
I shall see if I can have a closer look at the saw later as there is something stamped on it but its full of paint.

Thanks, Merlin

 

[Boringgeoff]

I've got one similar, I bought 2nd hand in Tasmania a few years ago thinking it would be handy. Like the one in the Proto catalogue it uses a 10" blade. It is unbranded.
I couldn't find a 10" blade anywhere so eventually a jeweller friend cut down a 12" for it.
Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[AndyT]

That's also a Proto saw. If you look in the older catalogues, available in the same place as the one I referred to, you should find it.

 

[Boringgeoff]

Thanks Andy, a quick look found it in Catalogue 4820 from 1948 . Listed as No 344 Low Clearance hacksaw. That's a pretty handy site.
Cheers,
Geoff.