Mystery Carpenter’s Tool Chest Items

[AdrianUK]

Anyone shed light on these, from carpentry chest, my best guess so far trammel points maybe. All were kept in a hard leather sleeve case.
I couldn't find any info online for W Baker, maybe someone knows more.

The second images came out of the same drawer, not sure if they carpentry related, any ideas?

 

[Bod]

2nd photo. Items on the left. Brace and bit, Jaws, look different to normal, so if there is a brace in the chest, these may be a spare set.

Bod

 

[Sandyn]

Could be something to do with piano tuning? see here

 

[Tuna808]

First image could be marlin spikes.....did the tools belong to a shipwright?

 

[TheTiddles]

They could be marlin spikes, but they’d be hard to use like that and how many does W.Baker need?!

If he was a boaty person, we used pins like that for holding sail cloth to the loft floors during layout.

However for my money, they look like podgers, for drawboring dry assembly before using wooden pegs

Aidan

 

[toolsntat]

Could be something to do with piano tuning? see here

Interesting, never seen the like before. Thanks.
Next to the unusual brace jaws ( not seen those before either) is probably a "spike" from ornamental spiked fence chain.
Ought else interesting?
Cheers Andy

 

[Just4Fun]

However for my money, they look like podgers, for drawboring dry assembly before using wooden pegs

I'll second that. At least they are similar to some spikes I made for that purpose, though mine are not so nice-looking. I would not have known the "podgers" name.

 

[Boringgeoff]

Hi Adrian, the site I like to use for Millers Falls brace info: Millers Falls Bit Braces has jaws similar to those in your second photo listed as "bar and slot" used on a No 71- 73 and No 82 & 83 braces in production from 1885 to 1912.
Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[morturn]

Second photo you have a pair of hand brace jaws on the right and a chain spike on the left use in spiked chains.

 

[Jacob]

They could be marlin spikes, but they’d be hard to use like that and how many does W.Baker need?!

If he was a boaty person, we used pins like that for holding sail cloth to the loft floors during layout.

However for my money, they look like podgers, for drawboring dry assembly before using wooden pegs

Aidan

6 would be a good number too. 4 corners and one glazing bar. A fast glue-up with the podgers (a.k.a. "draw bore pins") into drawbored holes hence needing no clamps. Wooden pegs knocked in later when the glue's gone off. A good idea as wooden pegs themselves not strong enough to pull up the frame tight.
PS the pointy ends aren't hammered at all so they must have been pulled out of whatever they were stuck into - may be with the brace or another handle device to fit the square shank?
Most drawbore pins have a head or a handle - or are just turned over, so you can get a hammer under it to tap them out

 

[AdrianUK]

Thank you gents for your replies, all food for thought, and wanted to update in case anyone’s interested.

The ref’ to piano tools was interesting, after a bit of searching, I finally came across online info here

J. & J. Goddard | Martin Shepherd Piano Service

with the following small ref to W. Baker

‘Piano tools made by W. Baker, London. William Baker appeared in the 1881 UK census, listed as a tool maker born c 1837, in London. Not sure if this is an older relative of G. F. Baker.’

So another obscure London toolmaker that I was not aware of previously, and likely to be making tools for more than one trade ? So, possible these were piano tools, or some other trade. Looking at the fonts on the tools, they are identical types so can be reasonably certain its the same W Baker.

The points ref’ to shipbuilding and rope could be also be very relevant with the Thames in London?

I guess as these all came from a carpenters tool chest, they were likely were re-purposed for a different task, all good thoughts provided, drawbore pins a good call also. If only tools could talk and clear up their mystery.

I have not come across a brace with missing jaws yet, but maybe in another chest I’ve yet to explore. Thanks Geoff for the link, very useful.

Thanks all for your thoughts

 

[AdrianUK]

If anyone can make use of the W Baker thingbobs, more than happy to pass them on for postage cost, pm me.