1897 (Estimate) Bevel Gauge Restoration Project
tmbridge Jul 28, 2016
In my travels, I came across this well-used bevel gauge and decided to buy and restore it.
I really liked this tool because one of the original owners (maybe the original?) etched their initials and last name into it: S.Z. RICE as you can see in some of the pictures.
I did some amateur research and I believe this gauge dates back to the late 19th century but I'm not 100% sure at all. If anyone has any more information about when this tool was made, please let me know!
I cleaned up the wood and brass and it looks as good as new.
After - Cleaned the brass with a lemon juice + baking soda paste
After - Sanded with 1600grit.
After - Polished the brass with leather strop and honing compound
After - Cleaned the wood with Murphy's Wood Soap and applied Olde English Dark Wood Restore
After - Notice the previous owner's name marked into the wood and brass. I love that stuff in vintage tools
Before restoration.
Before restoration.
 Bevel Gauge Restoration Project){kind=link}
It looks almost exactly like the Stanley I just picked up and restored, but the Stanleys don't have nails to hold the brass. Definitely looks like the same era. Check out this page: http://www.oldtooluser.com/typestudy/stanno25tbevtypestudy.htm
Also the stamp on the bottom brass was so faint that I almost didn't see it. It took some very careful cleaning and polishing to make it readable without accidentally sanding it off.
@gruman, thanks for the info! I think I found the same page you linked during my research and I largely based my estimate on the data on that page. I did look for a stamp in the brass on mine before I started the restore but couldn't find anything so either it was never there or wore off before I acquired the tool. Also, notice the nut/fastener difference -- the Stanleys have one long wing whereas mine has a double winged nut.
I also found some by the Star Tool Co. that have the pins in the brass: http://www.tias.com/8600/PictPage/1922854156.html and it seems like the Goodell Pratt Toolsmiths also used pins: http://www.jonzimmersantiquetools.com/tools/bevel_18_a.jpg. The Star Tool Co. one also has the owner's name engraved like mine but maybe that was just more common at the time and not specific to any company.
Oh very cool! I wouldn't get too held up about the fastener being different - mine's been replaced by a wing nut and flat washer.