Replies

1. 
   mwenz | Sep 17, 2006 11:02pm | #1

   Hi Ryan,

   That's a bit of a moving target, I'm afraid. For instance, the different trades typically had similar or overlapping tools, but their chests also had tools specific for their trades.

   Most of the tills in chests like the Seaton chest or Duncan Phyfe's had very similar tools but were fitted out for the specific ones they owned.

   And I almost forgot, the period of the tools also makes a difference to both collecting and fitting out of a chest.

   Take care, Mike

1. 
   RyanC | Sep 17, 2006 11:06pm | #2

   Sorry about that I should have been a little more specific.  I'm wanting to be a set that a carpenter might have.  The tools don't have to be all from the same period...I'm not that picky lol.

        -Ryan

1. 
   lwilliams | Sep 17, 2006 11:32pm | #3

   See Tony Seo's web site:http://oldetoolshop.com/jointer/index.html

2. 
   mwenz | Sep 17, 2006 11:39pm | #4

   Hi Ryan,

   General categories would be chisels, saws, chalk lines, measuring tools, some larger layout squares, hammers of a few sizes, etc.

   Hate to seem difficult, but it would also depend area of work--larger population centers back east tended towards specialization of the trades sooner than say out west, and therefore perhaps if there was trade specialization enters the picture.

   I don't know of inventories or books concerning trade carpenters in any period. Cabinet maker's, yep. So hopefully someone can point you to a general book, but that's where I would start. Pick a period and perhaps a geographical area--it does make a difference on whether just hand tools, specific tools and or electric tools are involved.

   Good luck. Mike

1. 
   RyanC | Sep 18, 2006 12:30am | #5

   Thanks for the help everyone, I'll do my best to put together a decent collection and maybe someday down the road post it here.

       -Ryan

1. 
   mwenz | Sep 18, 2006 01:01am | #6

   No worries Ryan. I hated writing what I did because it seemed so counterproductive. Tony Seo's site hase good lists--but the housewright category is not finished yet else I would have suggested it. But that raises a point. You may want to go to the link Larry submitted to Tony's web site and email Tony to see if the list is done enough to share.

   And he is one of the best sellers of vintage tools around as well.

   Something else which may or may not be of help would be to write to curators at living museums of specific periods.

   One of the problems with building something before what goes in it is that something as simple as a set of chisels can vary in length--not too bad if you account for long ones, but a bummer if it is built too short to hold what you end up with.

   But the general chest a carpenter used back East would be carryable, often looking like an oversized suitcase. In the East many centers in the early 20th century enacted laws that a workman's tools could not protrude from the totes they had when riding public transportation, a common means of travel for the carpenter.

   If you email me, I have pictures of either 2 or 3 of such chests which would give an idea or two for when you make yours. My email addy is in my profile.

   Take care, Mike