Over at Jeff Peachey's blog there's been a recent discussion of tool nomenclature. Specifically, when is a bookbinders hammer a blank book hammer or a backing hammer? After much thought and discussion, I have come to the conclusion that the answer falls within the realm of the riddle "Which came first, the chicken or the egg? If you are vegetarian, it's "Which came first, the tofu or the soybean?"
Prompted by this discussion, I unearthed and posted a Hickok Bookbinders Machinery catalog. After some further thought, I dug even farther into the recesses of my shelves and pulled out a Peugeot Freres, Outils Montes catalog of July, 1938. My take on the term "Outils Montes" is along the lines of "High Class Tools". Peugeot Freres, for those who do not know, began as makers of tools and such for the kitchen and the shop. In time, they became makers of such sordid things like cars. There is a company history for those who really want to know more.
Let's talk frame saws. Common enough in Europe, uncommon but gaining in recognition in the United States, the frame saw is typically seen as a simple wooden frame for holding a blade that looks as if it was chopped from a bandsaw blade. What I 'used' to call a frame saw, or even a bow saw, is known to the French as:
Even embalmers have their own frame saw. Although I don't read a lick of French, I can say with certainty that frame saw nomenclature is as confusing as bookbinders hammers names or plane names.
At least with roses there is a genetic trail to follow.
Till next, Gary
