With so many nice tools to choose from I’m going to restrict this post to my Top 5 tools in September’s 2021 auction. These aren’t chosen because of their value but instead because they are just tools that would be added to my collection if I wasn’t a tool dealer! Picking my favourite five is certainly more difficult now I’ve started looking again at what’s in the tool auction. It’s like choosing to save one of my 4 children from a disaster!
OK I’ll start with this small little cast steel rotating jewellers vice by the renowned maker Melhuish because these are so unusual and rare to find! Although its not likely to be the most expensive tool in the auction it’s certainly something that very few collectors will own. This is also in wonderful original condition and looks to have had a pretty easy life, but then again you would expect that from being a jewellers vice.
I’ve looked in the Melhuish catalogue and couldn’t find this in the illustration but it’s certainly Niche, it’s also a very well designed and constructed tool with a clear makers stamp.
Moving onto my second choice I’ve gone with these lady leg internal & external brass dividers. These have so such charm with what looks to be an elaborately user engraved ‘Wm Eaves’ name that just adds something to the overall design. The brass rivet is detailed and the overall shape looks well thought out.
Ever since I’ve had these here they keep asking me to pick them up and just play! These just make me happy!
If only Norris made these! However its that good and well done it would be hard to tell the difference. It may be a miniature but it’s big in personality and I could happily walk around with this in my pocket forever!
Craftmanship wherever it comes from should be appreciated and this must have taken some serious effort to create. The attention to detail has been extended to it’s custom made box with sliding lid and its something to behold. Well done that man I say!
It’s so difficult! I’ve got two more choices and I’m looking at my list now like I’ve got to leave someone behind on a desert island! Let’s throw a curve ball and limit the last two to no more planes and has to appeal to users.
This fine Turkey stone has to be one of the best honing stones I’ve seen for 3-4 years. As far as honing stones go, you would be hard pressed find a better example of this type. The natural stone doesn’t seem to be worn or mistreated in any way and as they say ‘it’s a peach’ fitted into a nice wooden box.
Turkey stones are rare, I’ve only found a couple since educating myself about them but nothing this good!
Last but not least, saws are generally my first love but on this occasion I’ve plumped for this rare Ward 2″ wide bevel edged chisel with a boxwood handle. There were never any better makers than Ward for chisels and this 2″ paring chisel size is a real rarity.
It’s only 1/2″ short of its full 10″ length and would last another couple of hundred years before it ever got down to a standard length of 6″ with correct sharpening.
It’s a beast of a chisel and something few people will ever get the chance to own. When it comes to using the right tool for the job, few chisels would ever get close to stepping into this big boy’s shoes.
There, I’ve done it but I guess anyone else trying to do this will come up with a completely different list. There might only be 300 tool lots in this first auction but there is loads to like whether you are a user or collector. It’s surprising how quality over quantity makes it so much harder to choose when it is applied to these tool auctions.