I picked up this little brass backed Howell (stamped Howel) in Melbourne Australia. Unusual to find such an early saw (BSSM 15mm stamp =1800) in a city that was founded in 1835! The interesting thing about this little saw is the name engraved on the tapered brass spine "T.Thallon" in the finest well executed elegant script, also engraved the same into the handle "T.Thallon". John & Thomas Thallon were an important 19th century Melbourne firm that specialised in carving, picture framing & gilding. Some important 19th century art works are well documented to have been framed by J&T.Thallon in 95 Collins St East, Melbourne, including multiple works by Tom Roberts. Please have a look at the label from the rear of a well known artwork dated to 1886 framed by Thallons & look at the font on the label- it matches the engraving on the toe & cheek of the saw. I find it fascinating that this little saw made around 1800, ended up in a Melbourne picture framers workshop & was possibly still in use in the 1880s. It's a well made saw, 11" plate, a heavy brass spine with that rounded bottom end of spine treatment often found on earlier saws, the handle is still tight to the blade- absolutely zero lateral or vertical play, the plate is a paper thin 15 thou & appears to be 19ppi rip, so making fine accurate angled cuts in mouldings would have been no problem at all for this little Howell, so I can see why it was still a highly valued high performance saw 80 odd years after it was 1st sold. At present the plate is in obviously poor shape, the handle has missing & chipped horns, but it is possibly a 217 year old saw, it actually still cuts well believe it or not. I would dearly love to know how this saw made its way into Mr Thallons workshop, but that's just wishful thinking! The gentleman who I purchased it from acquired the saw in a farm clearance sale in Traralgon 160km east of Melbourne. Regards Mari
Hi Mari, Congratulations on finding such a nice early saw with such an interesting story! That spot of gold paint on the front of the handle and the splash of sienna on the rear certainly look like natural hazards of life in a frame shop and serve as added proof of the relationship that the engraved name proclaims. All I could propose is that it likely arrived in Australia after a months-long journey, perhaps under sail, while kept safe in a tight chest. But most important for all of us here is that it's a super discovery of a rare one. Such good luck! David
Thanks for your reply David, I do like the thought of the saw making its way to Australia under sail & safely stowed in a tool chest... Regards Mari
. . . . this may be a usefully similar example of a HOWEL 11" (11 ΒΌ") carcase saw . . . snapped upon a similar-period (under restoration) 8" heavy-back dovetail saw: . . . carcase-saw plate (quite possibly original) rather stouter than 15 thou; toothed at c14 tpi; back marginally tapered; 3/8" stout-shafted fastenings. (edit) included 8"-er because nicely-graduated hang angles in quite similar handles