I have a backsaw in my possession which I strongly believe is of English or British origin, but whose maker is entirely uncertain. The saw is a 12 inch tenon saw filed crosscut at 11 TPI. I don't believe that the saw is particularly valuable or unique, but it is very interesting because the etch is custom made for a Finnish hardware store in the city of Turku (or Ã…bo in Swedish). https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnberg68/sets/72157644804195270/ I have another saw, a ten inch open handled British style saw with another custom made etch for the Stockmann department store in Helsinki. I'm not sure the saws were made by the same company but the typography used in both etches are very similar, one being slightly more condensed. https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnberg68/sets/72157644792598705/ I have already asked around at ukworkshop but the people there didn't have a clue. So I'd be very thankful for any pointers. Neither saw has any makers marks, both have handles made by beech and identical split nuts. Neither saw seems like a very exclusive or expensive saw. I get the feeling that these saws were lesser end saws. The handles are well formed but a tad thin.
Hi Finnberg, I am not going to be of much help as I think that we have an uphill task with this one. The only way that we may get a little further is if someone recognises the style of Crown on the Stockmann saw and can equate it with an English maker. It is a very idiosyncratic crown and so should be recognisable. The most annoying thing about this, is that I have seen that style of Crown recently on a saw on Ebay, but for the life of me I cannot remember which one, or even when. The etch in total is nice but the coat of arms is very elaborately done. I would love to see an image of it as a fresh etch, or even a print from a catalogue. Fred
Hi Kim, The Stockman etch looks similar to that used by Joseph Peace. see picture below and thread http://www.backsaw.net/index.php?option=com_jfusion&Itemid=58&jfile=showthread.php&t=470 The central part of the crest on this handsaw is a bit different from yours, but I also have a 12" Joseph Peace backsaw with the same central English crest as your backsaw (with both English mottos), but without the "Warranted" and "Cast Steel" alongside, and without the crowns. The Ingman saw is a lot harder to place, it has a nicely formed handle in the English style (used by numerous saw manufacturers), but its also possible it was made elsewhere. I don't recognize the etch style
Fred, Kiwi Many thanks for the efforts. I agree that t might be nigh impossible to find out about the maker. I hope I will stumble across more saws with special etches in the future. If you do find out about the crown I'd be delighted to know. Greetings from a scorching hot Finland, Kim
This is not the saw with the crowns that I was thinking of as it has just been posted on Ebay, but there are similarities with the stylised crowns. Perhaps not enough though to be sure. Although the sticky-out bits around the crowns do resemble each other. I can't at the moment transfer the image from my desktop to this site and so I will put the link to Ebay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-t...lectable_ToolsHasdware_RL&hash=item3ce5870955 Fred
Anyone recognise these saws? There is a possibility that this Finnish saw is a Taylor Brothers product of maybe 1880-ish. In favour is the fact that they retailed for literally scores of firms world-wide, in all continents – the evidence is the invoice books of the firm that made the etching transfers for them (James Bagshaw, of Sheffield). Taylors were making not only for firms abroad, but for dozens of Sheffield saw makers, including Joseph Peace. There weren't many etch-making printers in Sheffield, and the Bagshaw invoices are a unique source of how much factoring went on in the saw trade. They also confirm that although Taylors are perhaps less well known than Spear and Jackson and W Tyzack, Sons and Turners, they may well have run close to the productivity figures of those two. And it's a very nice saw.
First of all. My humblest apologies for not having answered sooner. And many thanks for the efforts in finding out about my saw. Barleys, you mentioned Taylor Brothers. I did a search and found this lovely one. http://www.backsaw.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=376&d=1302998344 Here is the handle on my saw: https://www.flickr.com/photos/finnberg68/14255783750/in/set-72157644804195270 The Taylor Brothers saw is clearly older and of higher quality but there are striking similarities in the handle design. Here's the full thread regarding the Taylor Bros saw. Barleys, you also mention etches. Are you saying various manufacturers brought their saws to one place specialized in etching? Cheers, Kim