Goldenberg all metal gouges

[Tumbles]

Does anyone have experience of the heavy duty all steel gouges made by Goldenberg and others? I have been given several, they belonged to to a French artisan staircase fabricator and I would like more information about them if anyone can help. There is also one, just over 600 long with a 60 gouge head made by what appears to be Auzelle et fils, Paris. All are in superb condition with just a little surface rusting.

Tumbles

 

[swagman]

Can you supply photo's.

 

[AndyT]

I wonder if this is the sort of thing you mean - style 901, 902 or 903, but as a gouge rather than a chisel?

This is from a 1904 Goldenberg catalogue. They were listed as 'Ciseaux à tête' - 'steel headed chisels' - Pattern 901 was the ordinary sort, 'usual length' in widths from 12mm to 50mm. It was also available in extra long 30, 45 or 60cm length, widths from 15 to 55mm. There was an extra charge for the other two shapes - 902 was a 'ciseau bédane' - translated in the multi-lingual catalogue as a 'cant chisel' and 903 was 'façon d'Alsace' - 'Alsatian pattern.'

The rest of the catalogue shows a wide range of plane irons, carving tools, turning tools, drawknives, axes billhooks etc. They survived well into the twentieth century.

 

[woodpig]

I've seen all metal wood chisels before but not gouges.

 

[Tumbles]

Ok, will take some pics and post them today. Thanks for assisting

 

[Tumbles]

Pictures being added

 

[swagman]

Would I be right in suggesting those chisels are designed for working wood.

 

[Tumbles]

Well I doubt if you would find them in Mrs Beeton's kitchen. I believe they were used, in this case, for hollowing the turning newel at the half landing of a typical "turn of the century" French rural staircase. They are the right length and profile for this and I know that the newels were often made in situ. I cannot think of any other likely usage other than the formation of, or cleaning out of, large circular mortises. They are obviously designed to be struck with massive force.