V gouge identification

[Lons]

I've had this unhandled V gouge in among my carving chisels for years and finally decided it's time to make a handle for it but I'm curious to know who the manufacturer was. I've seen that brand somewhere but can't remember, any ideas?

 

[AndyT]

Well, I'm away from home and reference books, but your nice clear photo says "Wilfin" to me. A quick search led to this page at lathes.co.uk
http://www.lathes.co.uk/wilfin/

which says it was the brand name of tool dealers William Findlay and Son in Newcastle, but it's likely to have been made in Sheffield for them.

The same trade name was used on a patented tool handle with a pewter ring around it, though I can't see pewter being much use for reinforcement. There was a handle like that on one of the tools in the Warrington Chest, which I ought to have remembered before looking up the name online, but didn't.

If you can find one, it would be an appropriate handle to use.

 

[Lons]

Thanks for that Andy, much appreciated.
I've never heard of them though I really should have being a Newcastle company. William Findlay does ring a bell somewhere in the deep recess of lost memory.
The chances of me finding a handle would be pretty slim I think but I'll look for pictures and see if I can knock up a similar shape.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

The lack of a bolster fits with it being a turning tool, rather than a carving one ? Or for very light duty.

 

[Lons]

]That's a fair point Tony. :eusa-think:
It's ground like a carving V gouge though with a definite point same as my other V gouges. It's not a profile I would use personally on my lathe, a diamond point, skew or fingernail gouge would do the job easier and safer. It measures around 10mm x 10mm btw.

[attachment=1]IMG_1878.JPG[/attachment

 

[toolsntat]

This gives me the opportunity of being able to show you one of the chisel handles Andy has mentioned...
Very difficult to pick out the patent

Cheers, Andy

 

[Lons]

Thanks Andy.

 

[AndyT]

Here's a (not very clear) photo showing a long shallow gouge in the Warrington Chest, fitted with a Wilfin Patent handle.



This sort of thing may come across as a bit nerdy, but the Wilfin Patent marking proves that this handle was bought after 1924. Alongside a handful of other tools that can be dated to the 20th century, it shows that Tom Warrington didn't just keep his older brother Ernest's toolchest after he died, he continued to add new tools to it, that he could use in his own work.

But for your V-tool, if I were you I'd make a nice tapered octagonal handle. No lathe required and it won't roll off the bench.

 

[Lons]

Thanks Andy, I was thinking octaganol as several of my carving chisels have them though I do have a lathe.

Any idea apart from just a design statement why they fitted the metal band so far down the handle? It doesn't seem to serve much purpose.

 

[AndyT]

Any idea apart from just a design statement why they fitted the metal band so far down the handle? It doesn't seem to serve much purpose.

Maybe the idea is to prevent chunks splitting off the end when hit too hard with a mallet, as you sometimes see on badly abused chisels. It does all sound a bit hypothetical to me. And a steel band at the tip would be more effective.

You can read the whole patent here
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publica ... 1871A&KC=A

but I don't see much in it myself. I find it hard to believe that a low melting point alloy would have enough tensile strength to make any difference. But then again, patents only have to be original; being practical is a matter of opinion or even blind optimism!

 

[Lons]

Thanks Andy