Elwood Cramp, dovetail marker, plumbob mysteries

[neilyweely]

I have a weird gadget in my toolbox, called an Elwood cramp (says so on side). I don't have a camera ATM but it basically looks like a corner clamp, except the threaded bolt you use to tighten/loosen the 90' angle bracket runs throught the centre of the cramp/clamp (whats the difference?) thus stopping the edges of a mitre/corner being butted together, if you follow. In other words it is basically useless as a clamp because you cannot get the edges of the workpiece needing clamping to touch.
I have NO idea what it could be used for, although I think I have a couple of attachments for it, that look like 90' fences (small) that are obviously part of said cramp.


I have added shots of the DT gadget and an unknown plumbob sorta gadget for possible identification too. Hope this is ok.

Please, I would like to know what they are so I can either use or throw away!

Thanks a lot

Neil

 

[hog&bodge]

Any chance of a pic... :lol:

 

[AndyT]

You need to get your camera working!

First you have some strange dovetail marker, now an odd clamp.

You are teasing us!

 

[neilyweely]

OK, will do.

 

[neilyweely]

You wouldn't believe what hard work that was, but......

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Picture one is the dovetail marker, two is the cramp (ELWOOD) and the third is a sort of plumb bob/ marking thingy that I cannot suss out either. I will get a better shot of the third for y'all.

So, any ideas about the cramp and plumbob thingy? I was lucky enough to get a set of instructions for the DT marker from a forummember, although it is still a bit of a mystery to me!! The other 2 are totally unknown quantities.

I have sort of sorted the camera issue out, but as most of you probly know by now I am not so good at getting stuff to work, so don't expect miracles, eh?

Thanks guys.

Neil

 

[neilyweely]

Does anyone know a metalworking forum that is any good. I am thinking the cramp may be more along that line?

 

[Argus]

.



The dovetail marker in Picture one is an adjustable pattern and allows the centre part to be slid to mark both sides of more than one set of pins. Jim Kingshott had one in one of his videos. I think that Axminster sold something similar at one time.

The corner clamp in picture 2, (for that is what it is) is used to clamp square or rectangular frames during gluing.
It comes with the adjustable master corner screw in the picture, plus three of the smaller corner pieces.
The frame is assembled with glue and one corner piece is positioned in each corner of the frame, the master in the fourth. There should be a groove arrangement in the angle at the back of the three corner pieces to accommodate a wire. You appear to be missing that length of twisted steel wire that runs around the whole thing and is secured ender the two wing nuts. Final tightening is achieved with the large screw.

I had one once – it was bloody useless.


Dunno about the plum-bob thingy.


Hope this helps.


.

 

[neilyweely]

Argus - OMG you are right, that is exactly what it is. I guess I can make a wooden corner to replace the one that is missing. So the corner with the screw in actually sits on the frame with rather than around the frame (so the screw doesn't get in the way) is this right? I guess it'd kinda work. So, maybe worth keeping - ish, eh?

Argus, you have solved it mate, fair play. Of course the most difficult one is the plumbob thingy, which remains. So, your rating is, I dunno, Magnum. Whoever gets the plumbob will be Columbo!!

I would love to find a link to see that Jim Kingshott wideo. I am not sure I know quite how it works.

Thanks a lot mate

Neil

PS The plumbob thing is manufactured, I think, by a company rather than homemade. At least it looks that way to me. Therefore someone must know what on earth it is!!!

 

[AndyT]

Hi Neil

Let's have a go at the last one then...

Does the top bit rotate?
Does the sharp bit at the end look as if it might once have been a drill?

I think you might have an old bow drill. They were worked by looping a string (held on a bow like a violin bow) around the body - maybe in the groove yours has - and working back and forth. The top needs to rest in a pad of some sort to revolve, or be able to revolve itself.

There's a useful picture of one (and some other primitive drills) here:
http://www.fullchisel.com/blog/?m=200805

Andy

 

[head clansman]

hi

its not a plumb bob it was some sort of early drill been altered to do something else in stead , which to me look like it's been used as a
bradawl, does the little brass end unscrew?. hc

 

[dennis]

The piece of slotted metal alongside the dovetail marker is used to aid fitting and adjusting tension on Perko concealed door closers.

Dennis

 

[Argus]

I would love to find a link to see that Jim Kingshott wideo. I am not sure I know quite how it works.

Sadly, Jim is no longer with us.
Jim Kingshott's video is about 15 years old and may not be available any more, but it's the best vid on hand-made dovetails there is, in my opinion.
The item in question was just trotted out in the film to show the various types of marking gauges for the tails available taken from Jim's extensive collection.
In the end he used a home-made plastic one that he said was quite superior.

I use a wooden one of the same type I made myself and Jim was right.

In your jig, the two screws at the top ends set the extremity of the tail marker (you can see the marks where it was set by a previous owner). and the centre section is slid along the brass section.

The number on the marker section refers to the angular pitch of the tail.


.

 

[neilyweely]

The piece of slotted metal alongside the dovetail marker is used to aid fitting and adjusting tension on Perko concealed door closers.

So is nothing to do with the DT marker? It came in the same box.

The plumbob gadget I am not so sure about. The top part doesn't rotate, but yes, it does look like it could have run a string about it in the groove. However there is a piece on the brass section that looks like a sight on a gun or something (for want of a better description) and I don't see why this is there if it rotated. The brass section on the plumbob does unscrew though.

I did have an early pillar drill, a wooden gadget which could drive at an angle, driven by hand of course. There is one in the collectors tool sale at Peacocks this week. Which makes me wonder if I was right to give mine away!! Still, easy come.....

You guys never cease to amaze me. Where do you find out about this stuff?

Thanks again.

Neil

 

[head clansman]

hi

its called the university of life .hc

 

[neilyweely]

hc

Nah, it can't be. I went there, after school of hard knox! :wink:

I've been going to tool sales for years now, and have seen all sorts. Spoken to weird and wonderful folk, and picked the 'tooliest' brains out there. This forum is the one. I guess it is because there are so many like minded in one area. Wouldn't get it on the SF forum though!!!

Cheers

Neil

 

[head clansman]

hi neil

its just years of experience as you go through life , i love all the old tools especial those from before my period from the mid sixties not keen on a lot of the modern one although most are good .

What you call the plumb bob i'm sure it another tool that been modified the gun sight as you called it does that unscrew as well ?

From looking at the pic it look like the brass threaded section is on a skew to the handle and was wondering if the ( gun sight had been added )to help keep the brass section tight to the handle just like a locking nut, i think if it was a purpose made plumb bob it would be centered and set straight in the handle , anyway to have a plumb bob hang straight the gun sight would out balance it as it set off centre. hc.

 

[Benchwayze]

ref the dovetail marker, I need to check my Jim Kingshott videos, but I can't just go and interrupt SWIMBO, who is watching the news. It's 'her night' for the box too; just as it is every night, except for E/Endr's.


So I can't check now, but is the dovetail marker shown in Jim's video on 'Lap' or 'half-blind' dovetails?' I have that one and I seem to recall the marker being shown.

Just a thought.

 

[neilyweely]

Benchwayze - That'd be great matey, know what you mean though. The telly in the front room is all hers, which means I get the bedroom one. Great. Not the one for the footy, or movies.

I did put telly in the WS, and in fact it is still there but is never used (it has a 1" thick film of dust on the screen) and to tell the truth I think it is a bit unhealthy for my work ethic!! When the footie is on I am likely to glance at the screen whilst operating machinery or whatever, so in all seriousness it is not a good thing at all. The bloody radio is busted though, so .......

If you can get me a look at the video/dvd or whatever i would be grateful. I dunno if there is anyway of sending it to me via the computer(am a bit of a technophobe at heart!!) or could I pay for a copy to be posted?

Either way, whatever happens thanks a lot.

Neil

 

[mahking51]

My take on the plumb bob thingy is that it is to do with leatherworking, there should be an eyed needle at the business end, probably broken and now filed to a point. Thread is fed via the eye o the side and kept coiled arond the body. If I have a moment after the brain damage at Peacocks auction today I'll look in Salaman and get back to you.
Cheers,
Martin

 

[dunbarhamlin]

The DT marker is the spittin' image of a Lufkin I have.
Pretty little thing, but I think a simple saddle is better.
I've got the original instructions somewhere - can try to dig them out if useful.
Cheers
Steve