Rare and Interesting Woodworking-related Books and Pamphlets

[AndyT]

:text-thankyouyellow:

I thought you would know! And you've already answered my next question about whether any of these behemoths survive...

 

[Trevanion]

I thought you would know! And you've already answered my next question about whether any of these behemoths survive...

There are quite a few old moulders still left elsewhere in the world though like New Zealand, Australia and North America that you'll see posted up on Instagram, but never any old ones here. I wouldn't be surprised a few of our old machines were exported to developing nations in Africa and South America as well as being scrapped.

 

[AndyT]

Thanks again.

As it's the weekend, I'll add a couple more samples. This is for anyone who's thinking of upgrading from an Aldi special desktop planer/thicknesses:



And this is just to reclaim the phrase "Made in Chelsea" as denoting something desirable and useful

 

[9fingers]

Any theories as to why the cutter head on that "mini" thicknesser travels on an angled slide?

I can't think of one at the moment - maybe my mind will clear after a couple of glasses of vino with dinner :lol:

Bob

 

[Trevanion]

So I asked an Australian who knows more about those old Planer Moulders, and he told me while he'd never seen one in person he knew that that the Swedes did a lot with fixed knives on planers.

So I then asked a Swede who also knows a lot about old Planer Moulders, who told me the Knife Box is a Swedish Patented invention by Bolinder and Jonsered called a "Planbox" in Swedish.

Patent Papers

If you look closely at this image, you'll see a knife box fitted underneath the powerfed rollers in the top right.

And this image of a Bolinder moulder, you can see the two cutouts in the side of the machine that you slide the knife boxes into.

 

[AJB Temple]

I see a number of those machines were made by Ransome's. I presume this is the same firm that made mowing machinery? After I did my legal training I needed to get a finance qualification with what is now PwC and Ransome's was a small client of PW. At the time I was junior and I remember visiting (from London office) somewhere near Ipswich as I recall (?) and they had a large collection of antique mowers. I recall seeing other machines but had no idea wha they were at the time. They were a vey old fashioned firm with a wood panelled board room. I had completely forgotten about them until this thread.

Somewhat fitting for my 500th post.

 

[AJB Temple]

And with that I have been transformed from a sapling into a splendid Nordic Pine :lol:

 

[AndyT]

I see a number of those machines were made by Ransome's. I presume this is the same firm that made mowing machinery? After I did my legal training I needed to get a finance qualification with what is now PwC and Ransome's was a small client of PW. At the time I was junior and I remember visiting (from London office) somewhere near Ipswich as I recall (?) and they had a large collection of antique mowers. I recall seeing other machines but had no idea wha they were at the time. They were a vey old fashioned firm with a wood panelled board room. I had completely forgotten about them until this thread.

Somewhat fitting for my 500th post.

I can answer this one (well, I know where to look it up...)

Both great firms, but not related as far as I can see.

Allen Ransome & Co of Stanley Works, Chelsea, Battersea, and later of Stanley Works, Newark-on-Trent, sawmill engineers and ironfounders, made lathes, bandsaws and other woodworking machinery from 1868 onwards, disappearing in the 1930s - see https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/A._Ransome_and_Co

Ransome and Son of Ipswich and Ransome and Co of Yarmouth were the agricultural engineers, starting around 1800 with cast iron ploughshares and later diversifying into lawnmowers - see https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Ransome_and_Son

 

[AJB Temple]

Ah, thanks.

 

[Trevanion]

I can answer this one (well, I know where to look it up...)

Both great firms, but not related as far as I can see.

Allen Ransome & Co of Stanley Works, Chelsea, Battersea, and later of Stanley Works, Newark-on-Trent, sawmill engineers and ironfounders, made lathes, bandsaws and other woodworking machinery from 1868 onwards, disappearing in the 1930s - see https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/A._Ransome_and_Co

Ransome and Son of Ipswich and Ransome and Co of Yarmouth were the agricultural engineers, starting around 1800 with cast iron ploughshares and later diversifying into lawnmowers - see https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Ransome_and_Son

Actually, they were very closely related!

Allen Ransome 1833-1913 (The woodworking machinery engineer) was the son of James Allen Ransome 1806-1875 (The agricultural machinery engineer). Allen's son, James Stafford Ransome 1860-1931 wrote the very rare "Modern Wood Working Machinery", "Cutters & Cutter Blocks" (Both of which I own) some other books about his travels around the world as an engineer designing sawmills, as well as articles in "The Engineer" magazine.

James Allen Ransome (agricultural machinery engineer) was the son of James Ransome 1782-1849 (agricultural implement engineer) who was the son of Robert Ransome 1753-1830 who was also an agricultural implement engineer.

It's all rather complicated though as there's been a few companies with "Ransome" in the name that leads back to that family in one way or another but I believe the only technically surviving company is "Ransome and Marles" which made quite complex bearings, who are now owned by NSK bearings in Japan.

I reckon there's enough interesting history about the Ransome family that you could write quite a heavy book if you wanted to.

 

[AndyT]

bscene-drinkingcheers: :text-thankyouyellow:

 

[Trevanion]

I've changed the name of the thread since we're not trying to lure anyone anymore (Although I haven't seen Toolsntat pop his head in yet!)

Here's my copy of "Cutters and Cutter Blocks" by Stafford Ransome, 1927. Copies of these are reputed to be exceedingly rare, this one was the only one I have ever seen for sale and I haven't seen another since.

 

[Trevanion]

I picked up a pair of little books by Alfred E Bridgwood, "Questions & Answers on Joinery" and "Questions & Answers on Carpentry" which were part of the Newnes' "Questions & Answers" Series which included titles on Brickwork, Heating, Plumbing and a few more. A. E. Bridgwood was a lecturer in Carpentry and Joinery at the Royal Technical College in Salford



The interesting bit about these books that caught my eye though is that they were both owned by an "E.C. McIntosh" in 1951-1952 and from what I can understand they spent time in an RAF base in Nairobi, Kenya, and Fayid, Egypt. I love books that have a bit of interesting history.

Joinery:









Carpentry:

 

[AndyT]

Another good find. I agree about evidence of previous owners - and that reminds me of a favourite of mine. I'm busy woodworking at the moment but will post some pictures when I'm back in the Library Wing.

 

[AndyT]

Ok, I'm back in the library and I've found the book I promised. It's Volume 1 of a series of text books published in 1875 to fit alongside a course devised by the Science & Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education, South Kensington. The short version of that story is that it was one of a set of worthy Victorian institutions which gave us the V&A, the Science Museum and Imperial College - there's a longer summary here.

I bought this book in the Community Book Shop in York in 1982 for 60p. It was the first book I read about how buildings were put together 'under the skin' as it were. It helped spark my interest in practical building trades (especially carpentry and joinery) and has been a great help in maintaining various old places I have lived in since.

You can read the whole work online here: https://archive.org/details/notesonbuilding02artgoog/page/n8/mode/2up where you can also find the other volumes. But you won't find the pencilled notes of the previous owner of my copy, which are still as bright and clear as they must have been nearly 150 years ago.

He didn't sign his name, but did note on the title page that the course was "commenced 2nd week in May". He must have had a good college instructor and really paid attention in class. There are extra notes and diagrams every few pages, adding extra detail not included in the textbook. Here's a selection, concentrating on the woody sections.



















I hope he won't mind anyone borrowing his homework!

 

[Trevanion]

What a wonderful thing, not only is it a great book but it has been augmented by the owner's own scribblings and notes, which arguably make it an even better resource as he's in some cases simplified what's already on the page into easy formulas and clearer illustrations.

"Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for." - Socrates

 

[Trevanion]

Picked up this interesting little pamphlet of eBay the other day, it's an old Accident Case Study pamphlet from the '60s with some interesting adverts and sobering stories in it.

 

[NickM]

What a gruesome book!

 

[AndyT]

Yes, but with a certain grim charm to it.
Dan, are you thinking of selling a range of greetings cards using some of those images... I hope the answer's No...

 

[Trevanion]

What a gruesome book!

And the book wouldn't exist if these things didn't actually happen, it's a terrifying thought that all these case studies are true and happened to people, some of whom might even still be alive (slim, but not totally impossible).

Dan, are you thinking of selling a range of greetings cards using some of those images... I hope the answer's No...

I wouldn't dare infringe the Crown's copyright, we know what they used to do with thieves, and I like my hands!

 

[AndyT]

Thinking again about the style of those pictures, especially the one of the laundry incident, I was reminded of this illustration. It's real, from an old children's story book. Unfortunately I omitted to make a note of the title. I know it's not woodworking but it appealed to my childish sense of humour.

 

[Chris101]

Nancy doesn't give two sh*ts what you think.

 

[NickM]

I like the tea station you can skate over to. I suppose the modern equivalent is a swim up bar.

 

[Trevanion]

One for AndyT

"Carpentry and Benchwork" by "Boy's Own Paper". No idea about age but I'd guess the early twentieth century. I haven't taken a picture of the inside chapters but if anyone wants to see anything that they see in the contents list, just say.

 

[AndyT]

Another brilliant find, right up my street.

You're right about the date - Wikipedia gives dates for the editors and AL Haydon was 1912-1924. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy%2 ... prov=sfla1

Great ads, with products that really need reviving. Would you choose the scientific sounding "Tenasitine" or the more memorable "Glood" - which sounds like a mixture of glue and blood to me.

And I do like the ambition of it. Don't all boys dream of making their own davenport? Well, maybe only the dozen or two who know what a davenport is... I wouldn't mind seeing a page or two of that!

Thanks for spotting, buying and sharing.

 

[Trevanion]

And I do like the ambition of it. Don't all boys dream of making their own davenport? Well, maybe only the dozen or two who know what a davenport is... I wouldn't mind seeing a page or two of that!

I think the “How to make a Steam Turbine and a Water Turbine” is a bit ambitious too :lol:

 

[AndyT]

And I do like the ambition of it. Don't all boys dream of making their own davenport? Well, maybe only the dozen or two who know what a davenport is... I wouldn't mind seeing a page or two of that!

I think the “How to make a Steam Turbine and a Water Turbine” is a bit ambitious too :lol:

Naah, it only needs 10 pages, the davenport needs 12!

(If they really can describe how to make the turbines that chapter must be a masterpiece of concision!)

 

[Trevanion]

And I do like the ambition of it. Don't all boys dream of making their own davenport? Well, maybe only the dozen or two who know what a davenport is... I wouldn't mind seeing a page or two of that!

I'm not even sure if you can get Canary wood anymore!

 

[AndyT]

Ah, thanks for that. Not quite as ambitious as I was expecting - my books agree that a davenport has drawers as well as a writing surface, like this



Which would probably be a bit of a tall order. I can see that it must have been a thankless sort of hack-work, writing instructions for making things that would never be followed by 99.9% of the readers. I suspect books like this were often bought by well meaning relatives who just wanted something suitable that was easy to post - but more of that in another thread.

 

[Trevanion]

So I bought a couple of books off an eBay seller (for an absolute bargain price) and he was kind enough to include this book, which isn't really a book about woodworking but it is an interesting read. These early union guys really were pioneers and we have a lot to thank them for that is now law that we take for granted today.

 

[Trevanion]

From the same seller as above, I received this for the princely sum of £0.99 (They were very happy they were going to a good home )

Carpentry and Joinery by M.T. Telling, 1950. It's signed by the previous owner who looks to be a "Glen E Mitchell", I'm not sure what the letters stand for. It also seems to be signed by the author, it's not often I pick up a (seemingly genuine) signed copy of a book. The book has some excellent information inside but it does have a very thoughtful preface and introduction I thought were worth sharing, there’s also a poignant quote from Richard Llewelyn’s “How Green Was My Valley”.

 

[AndyT]

Interesting.

I wonder the owner could have been George Mitchell, author of a similar book on carpentry and joinery, getting some encouragement from an earlier expert?

The British Library catalogue entry shows that he was born in 1929 so would have been 21 in 1950. I can't see what ABICC means either, but a couple of online instances suggest it could be a building qualification.

http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libw ... G.+(George)%2c+1929-&rfnGrp=1&rfnGrpCounter=1&frbg=&&fn=search&indx=1&dscnt=0&scp.scps=scope%3A(BLCONTENT)&vl(2084770704UI0)=any&tb=t&vid=BLVU1&mode=Basic&ct=search&srt=rank&tab=local_tab&dum=true&vl(freeText0)=Mitchell%20carpentry%20and%20joinery&dstmp=1617433130727

 

[Trevanion]

Interesting.

I wonder the owner could have been George Mitchell, author of a similar book on carpentry and joinery, getting some encouragement from an earlier expert?

The British Library catalogue entry shows that he was born in 1929 so would have been 21 in 1950. I can't see what ABICC means either, but a couple of online instances suggest it could be a building qualification.

http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libw ... G.+(George)%2c+1929-&rfnGrp=1&rfnGrpCounter=1&frbg=&&fn=search&indx=1&dscnt=0&scp.scps=scope%3A(BLCONTENT)&vl(2084770704UI0)=any&tb=t&vid=BLVU1&mode=Basic&ct=search&srt=rank&tab=local_tab&dum=true&vl(freeText0)=Mitchell%20carpentry%20and%20joinery&dstmp=1617433130727

I've just had a look through the sellers listings as all the books (A LOT of architectural texts, particularly about Churches in Britain) belonged to his father-in-law from what he said, a couple have a impression stamp on the pages stating "Library of George Mitchell".



Might be the same fella, I found this article about him passing last year:

https://insidecroydon.com/2020/04/20/councillor-alderman-and-teacher-george-mitchell-has-died/

 

[AndyT]

Well, the dates don't exactly tally, but I don't think either source can be expected to be 100% reliable. I think that's the man and you've uncovered one of his mentors giving him some encouragement early in life.

There's a lot of good sense in his introduction too.

You'll have to buy the rest now - how's the archive building coming along?

 

[Trevanion]

You'll have to buy the rest now - how's the archive building coming along?

Oh, you'll have to wait and see Andy!

Having a look around, it seems "A.B.I.C.C." was an old-school form of Carpentry and Joinery Qualification given out by City and Guilds from before the 70s.

It seems a few authors on my shelves have the qualification/accreditation, J. Raymond Foyster certainly did anyway:

 

[Trevanion]

I picked up this old tome the other day, "The New Guide to Carpentry, General Framing, and Joinery" by Robert Scott Burn, not dated but from what I can find online it's possibly from 1868.

Seriously beefy book at 11" tall, 9" wide and over 2" thick with 350 pages of (rather fine) text and a further 150 plates at the back that the text references.













Never seen that style of bench stop before with the levers, interesting design.

















Some funky-looking panels inside too.

 

[AndyT]

Woah, serious library envy is developing down here! Very nice find, in a luxury library binding. Please leave a few for me!

Looking at the BL catalogue for Burns' works, they don't note a publication date but his many other works seem to span the 1850s to the 1870s.

RogerS should have plenty of ideas about what to do with his staircase now...

As for those clever cams for holding work, Roy Underhill did a great video about them - start at about seven minutes in.

[youtubessl]aPp_HmOmtE0[/youtubessl]

 

[Trevanion]

Woah, serious library envy is developing down here! Very nice find, in a luxury library binding. Please leave a few for me!

You've got be quick on the draw, Gringo!

As for those clever cams for holding work, Roy Underhill did a great video about them - start at about seven minutes in.

That's a very clever method of work-holding now that I see it in action, in theory, you could scale this up to work with even larger sections if you wanted. I could see it becoming the next big thing if someone like Veritas or Lie Nielsen made it from fancy aluminium or brass even so that it screwed down to your bench or fitted into a dog hole.

 

[Trevanion]

The Carpenters and Joiners Assistant, by James Newlands, 1862 edition.

A rather poorly-looking copy externally (I think most things that are about 160 years old would be, a really tidy copy will set you back hundreds of pounds), but internally it's practically perfect and intact with no loose pages. An even bigger book than the last, 13" tall by 10" wide and 2" thick, it doesn't actually fit on my shelves!

 

[AndyT]

Another good buy! You'll have seen me post images from an online version before.

Actually, this was one of the books that kindled my interest in older methods of building things. I bought a cheap reproduction copy in a "remaindered books" shop - remember those? - back in the 90s. Published by Studio Editions, printed in Czechoslovakia as it was then. It was the only way to find this sort of book, before the big scanning projects took off when we'd all got web access and were wondering what to do with it.

Anyway, I was able to do enjoy browsing through it, even if I never have needed to build a viaduct or a spiral staircase. I hope you are enjoying it too!