Hello out there,

Posted last week an question about union spokeshaves tíll now no replies
concerning my question about info on a no 112 union chamfer spokeshave
is it maybe so rare that none of the list members doesn't know anything
about union spokeshaves????????
Also bought last week at e-bay an  stanley spokeshave number 54 with
stanley rule and level co logo.
Haven't received it home yet but is this an good user spokeshave is it
better than the 51??
So i think thanksgiving is over and all you guys and girls have to start
working tommorow so have an nice week and hope to hear from you.

Regards,

Martin Hagen

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Martin asks about a coupla spokeshaves...

a no 112 union chamfer spokeshave is it maybe so rare that none of the list
members doesn't know anything about union spokeshaves????????
Also bought last week at e-bay an  stanley spokeshave number 54 with
stanley rule and level co logo. Haven't received it home yet but is this an
good user 
************************************

Not much help, I'm afraid, but I can tell you that I own and use a Union
#117 spokeshave, and I like it. (It's the twin-blade model, one straight and
one convex.) Oh, and my favorite user is a Stanley 54 (adjustable-mouth
shave, Jeff), so yeah, I think they're real good.

Greg Isola
Alameda, CA
who has suddenly developed a thing for unusual metal spokeshaves

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In response to a query about Union spokeshaves, Jerry explains:

Stanley bought Union's plane business around 1920.  They probably bought
> the spokeshave business too but I'm not sure.  Birmingham may have made
> shaves for Stanley.  Notably, the No. 60  double shave.
*****************************

Not sure if this helps or hurts, but I have a Union 117 double shave AND a
Stanley 60 double shave, and they're two different animals. Ok, they're both
metal twin-blade shaves, but that's as far as any obvious relation goes.
Quite different handles, size, and overall design. On the other hand, I have
what I believe is a quite early Union jack plane that is very Stanley-ish.

Greg Isola
contributing (barely!) to the discourse from Alameda, CA

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"familie Hagen"  wrote:

> Posted last week an question about union spokeshaves tíll now no replies
> concerning my question about info on a no 112 union chamfer spokeshave
> is it maybe so rare that none of the list members doesn't know anything
> about union spokeshaves????????

Well, I haven't seen any replies so I'll comment.  Most of this
information comes from Tom Lammond's spokeshave book and some from an
article in _The Gristmill_.  I hope I don't mis-remember too much.

Union got its start around 1900 when some wealthy investers decided to
start a tool company.  They bought Derby Plane Manufacturing Co. which
had previously bought Birmingham Plane Co.  Birmingham made planes and
spokeshaves and probably other things.  Some of their items were
patented by Ford and Mosher or just Mosher.  I'm not sure if these two
guys started Birmingham Plane Co. or just worked there.  One of Mosher's
patents was for a spokeshave cap iron that had arms which wrapped behind
the shave body to secure the blade (this is from memory).  I think
Martin's Union 112 spoke shave has this feature.

Union used the same numbering system as Birmingham for these shaves. 
Nos. 111 and 112 had champher guides, 113 and 114 did not.  Nos. 112 and
114 had straight handles, 111 and 113 had raised handles.  

Stanley bought Union's plane business around 1920.  They probably bought
the spokeshave business too but I'm not sure.  Birmingham may have made
shaves for Stanley.  Notably, the No. 60  double shave.  

I hope I got that straight!  

Jerry
Griffin, GA

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Gregory Isola wrote:

> Not sure if this helps or hurts, but I have a Union 117 double shave AND a
> Stanley 60 double shave, and they're two different animals. Ok, they're both
> metal twin-blade shaves, but that's as far as any obvious relation goes.
> Quite different handles, size, and overall design. On the other hand, I have
> what I believe is a quite early Union jack plane that is very Stanley-ish.

Thanks for pointing that out.  Union made two styles of double shaves:
the 117 and the 118.  One is about an inch longer than the other and
they have different shaped handles.  However, I shouldn't have mentioned
the Stanley 60.  I re-read Lamond's entry for Union Mfg. and he didn't
make a direct connection between the two.

To clear up another point, Union actually started in 1866 making "gray
iron castings" for other manufacturers.  Around 1900 they bought Derby
Plane Mfg. and started marketing the Union line of tools.  I also
misspelled "chamfer", duh. 

I forgot to write down the patent number for Mosher's patent spokeshave. 
DATAMP doesn't have it, but does have Ford and Mosher's patent for the
funky Birmingham rabbet plane:

http://www.datamp.org/displayPatent.php?number=296207&type=UT

I'll post Mosher's spokeshave patent tomorrow if anyone is interested.

Anyway, Union Mfg. made some cool looking spokeshaves and I like my two
Union block planes.

Corrections are always welcome...

Jerry
Griffin, GA
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The George Mosher spokeshave patent I referred to in a previous message
is:

182320

The URL got really fouled up for some unknown reason.  So looke it up at

http://www.uspto.gov

if interested.

I'll shut up about the Union Manufacturing Company now.

Jerry

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