Rapier Gateshead England braces.

[Boringgeoff]

Hello, I've had these two Rapier braces for a few years and am finally getting around to researching them, and what better place to ask questions than here? They are both very well made braces with Bakelite head and handles and nice tight ratchet selectors. The lower one has stamped on the underside of the head "PATENTS PENDING" and "REG'D DES NO 850089". I've not been able to find this design number but think it is from 1947-48. Other information, this was the Anglo Scottish Tool Co in business in Gateshead from perhaps 1945 to 1960's?
Anything you can add will be appreciated.

Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[Mike Jordan]

There were a number of Rapier tools on the market including planes,they competed with record and Stanley on quality but at a slightly cheaper price.
The only item I own with the name is a straight spokeshave which has served me well since about 1960.

 

[AndyT]

The only place I have come across any more information on them is the entertaining blog "Progress is fine but it's gone on for too long" which confirms what you say and gives a bit more detail and a nice photo of their factory

https://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2 ... ttish.html

I have the Rapier version of the Record 043 small plough plane, and my one is just as good as the Record.
I also have their more disappointing aluminium spokeshave, which looks as if you can adjust the depth of cut using the brass knobs, but you can't.





Grace's Guide gives this entry from the programme of the 1950 British Industries Fair, which does at least confirm that they made braces:

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1950_Brit ... ompanies_A

Anglo Scottish Tool Co, Ltd. Stand A,620. Team Valley, Gateshead, 11. Teleph. : 75015. Tel. Add. : "Canute, Gateshead.”—Joiners’ Iron Planes. Braces, Spokeshaves, Chisels, Automatic Screwdrivers, Bevels, Vices, Breast Drills, Plane Irons, Edge Tools, Levels, Hacksaw Frames, Augers. Gauges, Bradawls, Chucks, Spiral Levels, Squares, Saws, Turnscrews.

 

[Boringgeoff]

Thanks for your info' Mike and Andy. In part, the progress is fine blogspot says " ...their planes were of indifferent quality" which is backed up by your less than perfect aluminium spokeshave Andy. But both my braces are very well made, especially the lower one in my post with the bulbous ratchet cover. The selector only has to be turned a small amount to disengage the pawl and in use you can barely hear the ratchet clicking. I'll have to do some research on patents attributed to William Powell.

Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[Cabinetman]

Never seen a brace where the swing arms aren’t parallel, must give a bit more room for the users arm I suppose. Nice, on the spokeshave wouldn’t it be possible to give a thicker cut by adding thin washers between the blade and the tool body?

 

[AndyT]

Geoff, could you say a bit more about the second brace. What happens in that neat joint between the ball and the end of the arm? Presumably there's a ratchet in there, with the ring to select it. It does look neater than the ordinary pattern, as seen in the first one.

With the spokeshave I was just a bit surprised/disappointed that the brass nuts don't work like they do on old wooden shaves with adjusters, where the iron has threaded stems.

So yes, adding or removing washers is the only adjustment option, which is a bit crude and slow.

 

[AJB Temple]

Would it be possible to use a sprung split washer Andy? This would give maybe 0.5 to 1mm of movement which would probably be enough for blade adjustment?

 

[AndyT]

Would it be possible to use a sprung split washer Andy? This would give maybe 0.5 to 1mm of movement which would probably be enough for blade adjustment?

I'll give that a go, thanks for the idea.

 

[Vann]

...

Now Geoff, just because some of us live "downunder" doesn't mean you have to tease these Brits with upside down photos

I too am intrigued by that bulbous ratchet mechanism on the second brace. Tell us more.

As the past owner of a couple of Rapier 400s (No.4s), a 500, and a 110 block plane equivalent (No.14??? - I'm not going out to the shed to check), I've found them fair to middling at best. So I'm pleased to hear they made a decent brace. I've kept the block plane for use, and a 400 for the "collection".

I did have another 500, but it arrived in the mail broken in transit :evil: . I got the impression that the cast iron was more brittle than than other brands (but could well be mistaken).

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Boringgeoff]

Vann, I've no idea why that photo is upside down, it's up the right way in my camera!
Andy, I've added a photo of the business end of the brace, the ratchet is enclosed in the bulbous part, I'm reluctant to attempt pulling it apart as it's the only example I've seen and don't want to damage it. Left or right is selected by the knurled ring, as usual, but rather than a quarter turn to disengage the pawl, this only requires about an 1/8 of a turn. The ratchet has twelve teeth, but the only way of knowing that was to put the bulb against my lug-hole as I turned it to actually hear the clicking, it's that quiet.
Having previously said they are well made braces, there is no looseness or slop anywhere but this may well be due to not having had much use when compared to an equivalent age UK Stanley which may have done a lot of work.
Ian, you raise an interesting point about the non parallel arms of the brace. I'm aware that a number of braces are like that but it may well be a relatively modern feature or only used on larger sweep braces, now I suppose I'll have to go and do a study of that phenomenon.

Cheers,
Geoff.