Help in Identifying an Unknown Tool

[BANYAN]

Hi folks, I have recently had some old tools come my way (#7, #4, #71 and #78 planes; and a bunch of other small odds and ends).  Among the other items was this small hand held tool that looks like it may be some form of vise.  The screew (metal into hardwood thread, slides the brass strip back and forth in the slot which can open to about75mm.  The slot is about about  3 -4 mm wide.  There are the stubs of what appear to have been two brass pins visible, on on the fixed end, one on the sliding part.

 

if not a vise, I intend to use it as such, as it is ideal for holding short lengths  for sanding, bevelling and drilling or the like.

 

Any ideas or clues please?

 

cheers

 

Pat

 

Edited April 10, 2016 by BANYAN

[Rick01]

It scribes parallel lines but is missing a block. There's a couple of pictures here https://www.etsy.com/listing/64392965/antique-brass-wood-carpenter-scribe-tool. Set the two pins for the distance apart for the lines then set the block for distance from the edge of the wood. Especially useful for mortice and tenon joints.

 

Rick

[Mark P]

Hi Pat;

 

Over here in England,  that is what we call a mortice guage.  As Rick says above,  it is missing a block.  This block could be moved independently of the pins,  so that either one pin is just tucked into the face of the block,  in which case only one pin scribes a line,  or it can be set away from both pins,  so that a double line can be scribed.

 

Without the pins and the block,  it is probably only good for a small vice,  as you say.

 

All the best,

 

Mark

[Bob Blarney]

By the way, if the planes need some TLC, then go look at the videos by Paul Sellers.

[BANYAN]

Thank you very much Rick, Mark and Bob - appreciate the feedback.  I had a thought after I had posted it may have been a scribe due to the two pins; but had not even thought on the missing block

 

Thanks also for the tip on the planes TLC - I will take a look.  These look to have been used by a carpenter (based on the wear and tear) with the soles having been trued.  that said, I intend to pull them down, clean all parts, resharpen the blades and retrue the soles and the sides of the rebate plane. 

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Gaetan Bordeleau]

H. DISSTON AND SONS USA   95 1/2

[BANYAN]

Ah, thats the beastie - many thanks Gaetan.  My source is looking around his stuff to see if the block is there.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Rick01]

Should have a nice brass butterfly or slotted screw  -  I'm pretty sure the steel item isn't original.

 

Rick

[Gaetan Bordeleau]

Rick is right

[BANYAN]

Thanks Rick and Gaetan - will need to find one

 

cheers

 

Pat

Edited April 17, 2016 by BANYAN

[Bob Blarney]

For information about how it is used, just look at Paul Seller's current video about making cam clamps such as luthiers use.

[BANYAN]

Thanks Bob, happy with their use, just did not recognise it at first   I'll have a look at that video as paul has some interesting stuff.

 

cheers

 

Pat