The most beautiful tool I've ever owned...came from a "Free" pile this afternoon

[amecks]

I bet the original owner paid a good amount of his hard earned salary for that beautiful bit box.  He probably treated it like his pride and joy.

Al

[Bulucanagria]

I don't know which scores the highest, the box of auger bits or the brace.  Sheesh!  Who cares who made the brace?  No matter which maker produced it it's fully brass bound with a solid brass pad.  Only one brace is more pricey -- the ultimatum or signature brace. 

After I get over the envy of your find, I gotta say that I'm really, really glad you got this haul before the junkers!

Actually, the augur set is pretty common. There are several that have sold on Ebay for $60-$100 that are in much better shape than mine. Besides the beat up label the top of one latch is missing and one box joint has disengaged, although it's fully intact. I figure that it's worth around $40.

Your comments on the brace are interesting to me. I did a cursory search for "wood brass brace" on Ebay and was deluged with a ton of results that were all over the place. I didn't delve into them too deeply due to time constraints and the fact that I'm not really inclined to sell it because, in my mind, it's a ten on the "Holy crap look at that isn't it beautiful" scale!

I bet the original owner paid a good amount of his hard earned salary for that beautiful bit box.  He probably treated it like his pride and joy.

Al

I agree. You don't keep throwaways in a finely crafted cabinet like that. These were the tools of someones craft, the means by which he fed his family and put a roof over their head.

[RedVise]

So, that's a multi level auger bit box ???  Oh my !!!  That's nice !!!

Brian

[Charles Garrett]

It's called Curbside Thrift Shop,  Ranks right up there with Dumpster diving.   Chuck Garrett

[rusty]

Staley;T&W Staley; Maw & Staley is a Sheffield edge tool maker...(early 1800's)

[Bulucanagria]

Staley;T&W Staley; Maw & Staley is a Sheffield edge tool maker...(early 1800's)

Really? Do you think that bit could really be that old? That would be something indeed.

Speaking of age, could anyone speculate on the age of the brace itself?

[Branson]

> Speaking of age, could anyone speculate on the age of the brace itself?

Hard to say.  The earliest drawing I've seen is a plate from 1812 as I recall, and I have another drawing from a German export catalog of circa 1842.
But the style was made for many, many years, and I don't know an end date.  The earliest were Sheffield made though the pattern soon enough was adopted in other countries. 

The brass pad might help in dating this one -- it was not on the earlier examples.

[Bulucanagria]

> Speaking of age, could anyone speculate on the age of the brace itself?

Hard to say.  The earliest drawing I've seen is a plate from 1812 as I recall, and I have another drawing from a German export catalog of circa 1842.
But the style was made for many, many years, and I don't know an end date.  The earliest were Sheffield made though the pattern soon enough was adopted in other countries. 

The brass pad might help in dating this one -- it was not on the earlier examples.

Thank you.

[scottg]

Lordy mamma, light my fuse

    That is a nice brace at any price.  The shocking keeper of the lot.

   The small bits are old, and rockin too!

The Russell Jennings augers? In the nice box? 
      I can't read the box label?

Anyway its a mixed set.
   The single twist bits?  with --no pole-- up the middle?     Like the biggest augers?
  One twisted ribbon?
  Those are Jennings pattern

The smaller ones with a stick up the middle?  Are Irwin pattern.

  Look and see if there is a #3.
  That is always the hardest size to find.   
    yours Scott

[Bulucanagria]

Lordy mamma, light my fuse

    That is a nice brace at any price.  The shocking keeper of the lot.

   The small bits are old, and rockin too!

The Russell Jennings augers? In the nice box? 
      I can't read the box label?

Anyway its a mixed set.
   The single twist bits?  with --no pole-- up the middle?     Like the biggest augers?
  One twisted ribbon?
  Those are Jennings pattern

The smaller ones with a stick up the middle?  Are Irwin pattern.

  Look and see if there is a #3.
  That is always the hardest size to find.   
    yours Scott

Thanks Scott, both for your information and for your enthusiasm!

[bear_man]

Talk about the "Jennings Pattern" bit reminded me of part of a page I cut-and-pasted from a vintage hdw. comp. catalog.  Sorry, I don't have the date of the catalog at my mental fingertips.  Too, I've yet to go through all my auger bits to see if I agree with Strelinger's rap on the two patterns, but I thought youse might be interested in it.  Too, check the pricing of one of each; say, the 1/4" dia.

[rusty]

Page is from the 1897 edition.

>Strelinger's rap on the two patterns

The commentary in the catalog is as much fun as the tools Chas is quite a character ;P

[Batz]

Very nice, enjoyed the original  pictures. Congratulations on you find. It's nice it has gone to someone who appreciates  this.

Batz

[John Hough]

Some long gone craftsman is breathing a sigh of relief (after several rotations in the grave) to see that his hard-earned, treasured tools have been rescued from the landfill.  Ya done good on many levels - nice gets!

John 

[Bulucanagria]

Thank you Batz & John Hough. I feel lucky to have had these things find me. They will be treated with respect, I assure you.