Eagle Saw co. handsaw

Discussion in 'Forum: Saw Identification and Discussion' started by piercerw, Jan 21, 2009.

  1. piercerw

    piercerw New Member

    Messages:
    2
    Dear Fellow Members,
    I am new to the site and let me say I really enjoy it. Very easy to navigate and a great source of info. for a \"saw nut\" like me.
    I aquired a saw some time ago and was hoping someone could help me with identification. The saw in question is a croosscut \"panel\" saw. The medallion is marked Eagle Saw co. with an eagle with a shield clutching three arrows and a branch. the handle has split nuts. I gently cleaned the blade and could not find markings of any kind. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

    Russ
     
  2. ray

    ray Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    671
    Hi Russ,

    Welcome to the site, saw nuts are especially welcome. I did a quick search and I think you have a saw made by William Conway (Conaway) 1855 - 1866

    Eagle medallions are a common feature, from Disston and Atkins and others. I would think it\'s a good indication that we are looking at a US maker.

    The split nuts on an American saw would be consistent with an 1860\'s date.

    This is the EAIA directory entry for William Conway,

    [​IMG]

    Regards
    Ray

    Larger Image: http://www.backsaw.net/cpg/albums/userpics/Conway.jpg

    Edit: Here is a reference to William Conway\'s premises at 402 Cherry Philadelphia.
    http://www.wkfinetools.com/hUS/saws/McNieceW/history/history-mcNieceW-3.asp
    And some further details of (what I presume to be the predecessor firm) , Union Saw & Tool Co
    http://www.wkfinetools.com/hUS/saws/JohnsonConaway/JohnsonConaway.asp

    I have been looking for some confirmation that Eagle Saw & Tool is the successor to Union Saw & Tool Co
    apart from the same address, non-overlapping sequential dates.

    I can speculate that in the 1860\'s a company called the \"Union Saw & Tool Co\", may have found their sales in the south of the country suffering a bit, maybe this is just a name change to gain wider sales

    Any chance of a picture?

    Regards Ray
     
  3. piercerw

    piercerw New Member

    Messages:
    2
    Ray,
    Thanks for the info. and the site. I\'ve posted a couple pics of the Eagle Saw in the gallery. I wanted to attach them here but wasn\'t sure on how to do it. I drive nails for a living, not computers. Thanks again for your time and hope the pics help.
    Russ
     
  4. ray

    ray Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    671
    Hi Russ,

    Nice looking saw, I am intrigued by the medallion, which shows the arrows in the
    dexter talon, rather than the sinister talon?

    I have posted a query on the old tools list to see if anyone knows why this might
    have been done..

    http://swingleydev.com/archive/index.php#recent

    Regards
    Ray
     
  5. ray

    ray Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    671
    Hi Russ,

    I found some more information on the left/right reversal

    Quoting...

    Eagle Reversed

    Some early U.S. Army colours, such as the National Standard of the 1st Regiment,
    dating from the 1790s, show the eagle reversed from that in the Great Seal of
    the United States, in that the arrows are in the eagle\'s right talon, and the
    olive branch in the left talon on the flag. I had heard the speculation that
    this was because the colour was a war flag, and therefore the emblem of war (arrows)
    took precedence over the emblem of peace (olive branch). I have never seen any
    contemporary evidence for this theory. In addition to the flags, a friend has
    studied U.S. silver coins for this period, and that up to 1807 the eagles were
    in the same configuration. Devereaux Cannon, 15 November 1999

    from:-
    http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us^ar.html


    I can imagine a Philadelphia firm that was called \"Union Saw and Tool Co.\" that
    subsequently changed to \"Eagle Saw and Tool Co\" would not have been unaware of the
    significance of placing the arrows in the right talon, especially during the height
    of the civil war. I think the reversal may be a deliberate political statement.

    Interesting..
    Regards
    Ray
     
  6. wiktor48

    wiktor48 Most Valued Member

    Messages:
    97
    Ray et al,

    I have a bit more info on this saw and manufacturer, but the whole picture is far from being clear.

    Sometime ago I posted an article by Philip Baker on Jackson Saws (http://www.wkfinetools.com/contrib/pBaker/jacksonBSaws/jacksonBSaws1.asp). At the end of the article Philip shows a saw stamped Jackson with medallion just like yours.

    At a time this article was written, Philip theorized that this is a saw made by Jackson of Monroe, NY. However, this was only a speculation and there is no material to substantiate this theory.

    I have been researching Jackson of Monroe and gathered a bit of data - I am still working on this. In any case, Jackson of Monroe began manufacturing of saws in 1813 and so far the records stop there. I am waiting for some additional data and will put it all together in an article.

    The Eagle Saw Manufacturing Company was operating in the New York area and their saws, in large quantity, were produced in Sing Sing prison, New York, in late 1850s. The company behind Eagle Saw Manufacturing was Platt & Holroyd. No farther info is available at present.

    In the mean time, about a month ago I received limited information on Eagle Saw Manufacturing Company that confirms involvement of Platt & Holroyd. Further info is coming soon.

    It is rather mystery at this point how one of the saws from Philip Baker is stamped and has Eagle Saw Co. medallion.

    Stay tuned...
    Wiktor [​IMG]