Saws have been a bit sparse just recently at auction and I have got these two off ebay, something I promised myself that I would not do but they were interesting and cheap. http://www.backsaw.net/cpg/modifyalb.php?album=51 The seller of the Newton saw was thoughtful enough to put an extract on his sales pitch quoting from Simon Barley\'s new book to the effect that although Newton started trading in 1838 and died in 1864 he was probably not producing saws in this period and any saws that he did produce were likley to be later in date. I believe from other websites that Simon Barley is a member of TATHS so Ray may have access to the complete substance of his comments on Newton. The seller was also obliging enough to mention (from which the inference can be taken) that the \"Premier\" mark denotes a second quality saw. It is refreshing to find (and I say this without much irony) that someone tells you when they are selling you rubbish. Actually the seller was an excellent seller who went out of his way to accommodate me and the saw is a decent saw, so apologies all round for the gratuitous comment. The only major problem with it is that the last person to sharpen it probably had an ability similar to mine. One thing that I have noticed is that on the checklist of sawmakers, the listings say Francis Newton (and sons), the sons being in brackets, whereas the saw says Newton only, without the sons. Is this significant for who made the saw and when it was made? The Groves saw truly is a terrible saw which is why I am showing the trade-mark only, and this because I cannot find it in the trade marks shown on this site. It is quite a late saw, the nuts being dome headed and some delightful person has put an iron rivet through the medallion. There was a wonderful example of a Groves saw on ebay about the time I bought this,(split nuts and three medallions on the handle) but it had been overcleaned and went for £34, which I thought was enough money. Thanks for bearing with me. Fred
Sorry about the link, it is so long since I did one that I have forgotten how to do them. I will have another go here. http://www.backsaw.net/cpg/displayimage.php?pos=-292 http://www.backsaw.net/cpg/displayimage.php?pos=-291 http://www.backsaw.net/cpg/displayimage.php?pos=-293 http://www.backsaw.net/cpg/displayimage.php?pos=-294 It is a tortuous way of doing it but I hope that it works.
Hi Fred, Thanks for posting the pictures, I haven\'t done a lot of research on Francis Newton, I am pretty sure they were merchants, and perhaps might not have been saw makers in their own right. Rough dates would be 1849 to 1864, the Francis Newton mark would predate the &Sons, if they in fact changed the mark when the sons joined the business. That style closed handle is very elegant, one of my favourites. Apologies for slow replies recently, I have been helping my son with a project in Austria, but now I\'m back home I can concentrate a bit more on getting the site up to date. Lots of stuff sitting around waiting for me to organize it. Regards Ray