Toolemera Blog

New Reprint: Cabinet Construction by J.C.S. Brough, c1930

Next up, up shortly, is another book from THE WOODWORKER SERIES of Evans Bros., London, entitled: CABINET CONSTRUCTION. Authored by J. C. S. Brough, which was less of a mouthful than James Carruthers Smith Brough by any means, Brough was the editor of the majority of THE WOODWORKER SERIES books which were published during the early part of the 20th Century.

CABINET CONSTRUCTION was first published under the title DETAILS OF CABINET CONSTRUCTION. This, the slightly later edition (I think, though I could be wrong as to which came first as many titles in this series lack publication dates), is the better production. Larger and more detailed images along with some better descriptions, this edition abely builds on the first two books of the series: WOODWORK TOOLS AND HOW TO USE THEM and WOODWORK JOINTS, both, strangely enough, published by THE TOOLEMERA PRESS.

The files have been uploaded to Lightning Source. The Proof should be in shortly and once reviewed, approved and we're in business. This book will retail at $20.00, an  increase from the previous WOODWORKER SERIES titles due, alas, to the ever increasing costs of materials and of moving things from one place to another. Never fear, discounts will abound.

Soon as the title is ready to sell, I'll yell.

For a taste of the book, here is a Lo-Res preview of the first chapter:

Download BroughCabConstSample.

There are copies of Details Of Cabinet Construction, not Cabinet Construction, available on Amazon and through Google Books. Be aware that these are from the various book scammers who pulled copies of the free access pdf of Details Of Cabinet Construction and issued them as their own productions.

Till next, Gary

It's Almost November!

The good Jewish Boy in me from Queens often forgets that November mean it's Christmas season. That means sales. In these sorry economic times (nothing political meant by that, just a statement of fact), sales are more important than ever.

I have had plans in the works for 2012 to up the ante on Paypal sales, largely as Amazon continues to play havoc with independent publishers listings.

Seeing as it's tinsel season, I plan in setting up a nice sales discount on all the present and future books, which will in all liklihood translate into future permanent discounts of some sort on all Paypal sales. The downside to this is getting into the Paypal storefront and fiddling with the sales parameters which is a total PITA.

But I will do it, because it's the Season To Be Jolly! And To Save Money (yours, not mine)!

I've two or four new books about to go to press which will join the fray. Now that the Stanley Woodworking Tools book is on it's way, along with a handful of other things finished, it's back to the fun stuff like publishing, rehabing old tools and Mitchell fishing reels, lusting over books I can't afford (Battey Langley's book on Trees is at a local shop but it has a few too many 0's in the price) and watching the first snow of the season melt into oblivion.

Announcements of said actions to follow.

Till next, Gary

The Moxon Vise

I've curiously watched the development of the Moxon twin screw vise over the past year or so. Curious because while the current iteration copies the twin screws, the chops are now made of comparatively thinner material.

When you look at the original engraving, which in turn was taken from Felibien who in turn most likely took it from, etc. etc., the chops are robust.

It's always difficult to interpret old engravings. Perspective, if at all present, was often ignored or simply unknown to the engraver/artist. Proportions could be the equivalent of Gulliver's Travels on a bad day.

Even so, the twin screw vise shown in Moxon, which did not carry through to Nicholson or Martin, resembles the Bookbinders press. The square section chop seems to me to be a sensible form for a vise. Instead of a tall and thinner chop, a short but squared profile would prevent any chance of deflection, dampen vibration, provide ample room for clamping to a bench and lots of depth for threading.

Moxon describes the workbench in his inimitable English ( Download Moxon workbench,1) but only briefly discusses the twin screw vise as something to be clamped to the top or side of the bench. Felibien shows an enormously out of proportion twin screw vise behind his bench, which I can only assume meant he was in need of a visit to the Optometrist.

Someday I may be moved to make a twin screw vise if and when I find a need for one. Until then, I hope that someone else has fervently copied the original Moxon pattern and can report on it's functionality.

Till next, Gary

Stanley Woodworking Tools - The Finest Years - Sneak Peek

On to happier climes

I've the proof of Walter Jacobs new book, Stanley Woodworking Tools: The Finest Years, published by the Early American Industries Association. This weekend, at the Brown auction, there will be two cases of the book available at the EAIA annual meeting for sale. The very first time for sale, with Walter in attendance to sign copies.

The proof looks better than I though it would. I was expecting a number of problems with some halftone images but on first look through, all looks good. No, all looks great. Correct that, all looks mahvalous, dahling, simply mahvalous (with apologies to Billy Crystal). Patty MacLeish, the editor of The Chronicle and Shavings as well as the put-to-togetherer of this book, successfully reformatted each and every article, including images, to produce this excellent compilation of Walter's excellent articles, all of which were published in that excellent journal, The Chronicle of The Early American Industries Association.

Ok, so sue me, I'm proud of this book. I'm just the technical advisor, or book producer, or whatever you want to call it. Walter is the author and photographer, Wesley Tanner did the cover, Patty did the hard work, Lightning Source/Ingram does the printing and distribution and I get to advise and critique from a safe distance.

Within a reasonable amount of time, Stanley Woodworking Tools will be available through the Astragal Press, Amazon and pretty much any bookseller anywhere. I have just a few minor details to finish up with the ISBN listing once I double check the proof and we're off and running.

Herewith, an unauthorized, meaning, I didn't check with the Board first, but then they know me, Download Jacobs Sample just to show you what's in store for you.

Speaking of Cycles

I just received in the mail a couple of (that means two) pieces of ephemera from Seybold, the Cincinnati Planemaker. Not that he sent them to me, they were written by him when he was alive. Written to someone else, who is now long passed. Get it?

So of course all of a sudden I'm seeing tons of Seybold plane on Ebay. Sure, there where, in all liklihood tons of Seybold planes there before and I simply didn't pay any attention to them. I prefer to think that, this being The Way Of All Things, my receiving these two hunks of ephemera now means that Sebold items will pop up all over the place for a short while until the Collectibles Force is exhausted.

Once again, I am proven correct in my Theory of the Cyclical Nature of Collectibles.

On a totally different track, if you have not yet purchased a copy of Terry Pratchett's new book Snuff, you have to. Along with Mort, Snuff is, by and away his finest book to date. Only Pratchett can combine bizarre humour, peculiar grammar, made up words and a profound social message in one book that leaves you wondering what just hit you. As for Mort, even if you have never read one of his books, read Mort and be amazed. Not because All Hollow's Eve approaches, but because it will give you a fresh look on Death and the lack of life It faces day to day.

Till next, Gary