14 of brace bits by Alex Marshall of Glasgow. Ranging from 1 3/4″ to 3/16″. They are in top condition still showing the yellowing of the hardening process.

Very rare to find one of these in good condition due to pitting caused by the trowel digging in soil and the related dampness. Manufactured by leading makers Brades Co. This is a nice example of a tool used in the Victorian passion of keeping ferns.

The Victorians were mad for ferns, growing them in Wardian cases in their drawing rooms, conservatories and ravine gardens, and hunting many of the UK’s native ferns to the verge of extinction. Then they fell from favour.

2 of pad saws. 1 made from rosewood the other from beech. Elegant little items at a small cost.

 

Lufkin 50′ tape in original box. Of little value but a nice display

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This is a Mathieson 2 1/8″ machinist level that I carry with me as a lucky charm. It is small enough to fit snuggly into my pocket. In all the time I have been collecting old tools, I have never seen another of its like.

I called into Bills Tool Store as usual, at the weekend. The previous week I had seen a new old stock Record spokeshave on display and thought about making a purchase as it was only £7.50p. In the end, I had decided against it. In the meantime, I had a change of mind and decided I would buy it if it was still there. When I arrived at Bills I checked the windows and it had gone. In its place, there was a Stanley USA 271. I decided not to make the same mistake as the previous week and bought it right away.

There can’t be many tools stores where you can still purchase this type of vintage tool.

Thank goodness for places like BTS.

On a recent trip to my brothers’ workshop, I happened to mention that I was considering buying an Ultimatum brace, as an addition to my tool collection. We had a look at a few back additions of our  David Stanley catalogues and then carried on working on our latest projects. Over the past few weeks, we carried on refurbishing a number of planes with no more mention of the brace, until last night when he presented me with this fully functional miniature brace that he had made in the workshop. Dims 6 3/4″ X 2 1/4

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Two Stormont Archer mortice chisels (pig stickers) manufactured in Sheffield, England.

Partial labels on both. Good condition. Both blades 6 3/4 inch (17cm).

A note of interest: I read an article in a national newspaper about Bill’s Tool Store in the Barrowlands in Glasgow, Scotland.

The owner of the shop, which has a fantastic real old feel to it, has been collecting tools for yonks. I believe that he even bought some of the tools from Alex Mathieson closure, which had its main factory only a half mile down the road. Anyway, he has been quietly adding to his collection for the past 40+ years.

The week before the article came out my brother happened to be in Glasgow and called into Bill’s Store. Bill(Val son of Bill) occasionally had an odd older tool for sale. My brother got talking to Bill about his interest in old carpentry tools and, off the cuff, Bill said, “I’ve got a collection too. Would you like to see it?”. My brother (a collector himself) jumped at the chance.

Bill took him into a neighbouring five-story building, which was jam pack with tools. There were at least five Spiers mitre planes, shelves of Infill Planes, unopened boxes – all sorts! Bill said that he hoped to turn the building into a museum and keep the history going. I can only hope he does.

So if you are ever in Glasgow be sure to pop into Bill’s Tool Store. He might let you have a look around!