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Thanks Andy, I've a number of these screwdriver bits, all unbranded, the one in question was sent to me by a friend in NSW and as well as having a brand on it is also bigger than the others. I know nothing about Norris planes, that's what the company is famous for, the engineers clamp you linked...

Hello, I've recently acquired two tools that I would like to get a bit of information on if you are able. One is a double ended screwdriver that goes in a brace. It has branded what looks like NORR.........LTD below that SHEFF......NG. There is what is possibly a logo above the script but the...

Andy, over engineered it certainly is and as far as spark proof NN would the steel rivets negate that aspect? The uncomfortable handles had me wondering rather than hand operated, if they fitted into some kind of device that you perhaps stepped on a foot pedal to operate thus keeping both hands...

It works well as a piston ring expander. My brother in law who's BSA piston we tried it on wondered about its ability to grip a ring on a a piston fresh out of a bore with a lot of carbon and gunge on it. The one we tried it on, I twisted the ring around the groove a couple of times to loosen it...

The one in your link, Sunnybob, was in NSW, Australia, and on ebay the same time as the one I've got. How I came by it is a bit of a saga. A lady I met at a show sent me a photo of the tool that she had to see if we could ID it. I forwarded her photo on to other members of my club and one of...

Hello again, I have posted this mystery tool on the Australian Wood Work Forum, www.woodworkforums.com we haven't got a definitive answer so I thought I'd see if any one here knows. The tool is made of brass though the rivets and pins are steel. On one arm is stamped JASON and on the other PAT...

Thanks Andy, I'll pass that on to my friend. Cheers, Geoff.

A friend showed me an old nose bit recently and we wondered about the name on it. Looks like Henry Roser (Roger, Rocer) & sons & co, Sheffield. There is a slight chance that the R is a B but I'm pretty certain it's not. I've checked my books here and can't find him, any clues? Cheers, Geoff.

Yes Rhyolith, I've seen a brace branded Edward Preston with James Chapmans Reg' No 239718, which I doubt that could have been made by any other than Chapman. Completely off topic again, you are quite right about the age of the geology here in Aus'. The aboriginal rock art which in the Pilbara...

Sorry Roger I should have known better, as I was pulled into line by a English work colleague some years ago who informed me that "we've got doors that are older than any buildings in Australia". Now back to the subject, could the date of Britain entering the ECC in 1973 (?) give us a starting...

I am very interested in James Chapman, less so Stanley, and have to agree, Andy, that it's very hard to get any information on either company in the UK. I find it quite surprising that Chapman being such an important manufacturer in Sheffield that they could attract a takeover by Stanley USA, as...

Thanks Custard that's an interesting read. I believe they are doing similar here, digging up the stumps of old Jarrah trees. Geoff.

Good luck indeed. As Vann said above, WW2 would have put an end to the use of Rosewood and I am of the opinion that the No 73 in question is pre WW2. A Chapman catalogue which I think is pre WW2 lists three types of wood used for their four grades of brace, descending from A to D as Hardwood...

Hello again Ben, now that my visitors have gone I was able to dig out my Stanley No 73 - 10IN for a comparison of the wood used on it to that on yours. The metal parts have been been painted with a silver paint, but concentrating on the wood, I scrubbed the grime off it with fairly coarse steel...

Hi Ben, That's a pretty early British Stanley, possibly pre WW2 and modelled on something like the James A Chapman No 16. It appears to have the nonagonal chuck shell which was usual on Chapman's "A quality" braces that carried the Registered Design No 239718. Stanley (USA) took a part...

Thanks for the photos Rhyolith and Andy, of the Ultra Rapid one of those sold at a tool sale here in WA recently, minus its grindstone, and we were wondering what the shaft was for, now we know. This was also made in Germany. Cheers, Geoff.

Vann, the chuck you are referring to as a Fray is frequently mistakenly so identified. It is in fact the patent of an employee of the Stanley Rule and Level Co, Joseph P Bartholomew (US Pat' 904501 Nov' 14 1908). You are right that the unit you linked to on trademe was made by John Fray but it...

hello Ben, You may be able to get the broken part mended by brazing. Take it to an engineering shop and get their advice on repair options. Geoff.

I think the original drawing would be accurate, my example is quite worn/damaged. It would appear that the spur on the main bit is possibly broken off although, of course, repeated sharpening diminishes them until they are uselessly shorter than the blade. The same applies to the spur on the...

Thanks Don, I don't think it's bad form to follow up your own post, in fact it should be encouraged when you've got more information at hand. The instruction of use of the bit is very interesting as I had thought you would lock the slot head screws after setting the cutter to the required...