Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: johnsironsanctuary on October 24, 2012, 08:15:52 AM

Title: Mystery name
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on October 24, 2012, 08:15:52 AM

Saw this cool caliper on Ebay.  Anyone recognize the maker name?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Early-6-Locking-Winged-Outside-Calipers-w-Spring-Adjusting-Screw-/350623087523?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51a2c3bba3 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Early-6-Locking-Winged-Outside-Calipers-w-Spring-Adjusting-Screw-/350623087523?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51a2c3bba3)

Title: Re: Mystery name
Post by: lbgradwell on October 24, 2012, 08:40:39 AM

Appears to be "S.H.P. Bingham"; I've never heard of them...

Title: Re: Mystery name
Post by: anglesmith on October 24, 2012, 04:31:01 PM

They are very attractive well made calipers, the double stamped name is puzzling. It would seem very unusual for an owner/maker (apprentice or tradesman) to have such a formal well made name stamp for his personal tools,  But on looking at the photos closely the finish/workmanship (the double stamping also) makes me think that they are more likely to be owner made than made for sale. BTW my guess as to age would  be early to middle 1800s?
In any case I would have liked to have added them to my collection!
Graeme

Title: Re: Mystery name
Post by: rusty on October 24, 2012, 05:28:33 PM

Probably not owners marks, there is a related pair, in the collection of the Davistown Museum, 2 stamped the same makes it lean towards makers mark....

from the site:
"42801T6 Dividers
Cast steel, signed "S H F Bingham Cast Steel".
No SHF Bingham is listed in DATM (Nelson 1999) or in Cope's (1993) American Machinists' Tools; probably a heretofore
unrecorded American toolmaker. Was there an English manufacturer with this name?"

Title: Re: Mystery name
Post by: anglesmith on October 24, 2012, 07:23:17 PM

Thanks Rusty, interesting. I had hoped that there might have been  a photo on the Davistown list, but no. I would think that a  maker would only stamp cast steel on a tool that was for onselling, so that sort of settles it! If they could only talk!!
Graeme

Title: Re: Mystery name
Post by: Branson on October 25, 2012, 07:55:05 AM

Quote from: anglesmith on October 24, 2012, 07:23:17 PM

I would think that a  maker would only stamp cast steel on a tool that was for onselling, so that sort of settles it! If they could only talk!!
Graeme

Yes indeed.  If they were just owner made, the owner would know what steel he used.  Marked "cast steel" means made for sale, and not likely to be one offs.