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268882 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2019‑07‑13 Whatsit Tool At Waterloo Village - Scorp?
Assembled Galoots:

I recently spent a pleasant day at Waterloo Village, which is a preserved Morris
Canal town, now owned by the State of New Jersey and run basically as a museum.
It’s nice place, staffed mostly with volunteers.

At the Carpenter shop, the docent pointed out this tool and said they’d been
unable to identify it:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/146046409@N.../albums/72157709602315861

I promised that I’d post it to the Porch, and revert with any information we can
come up with.

No maker’s marks which I can see.

It didn’t appear to be a heat-branding iron, which was my first guess.

It appears to be more like a scorp than anything else.

Can anyone ID it?  If a reference can be provided, so much the better.

The mere fact that it is resident in a canal town museum is not proof that it
was ever used in Waterloo Village, as this site was previously privately owned
and operated as a Living History museum which accepted donations. Therefore, it
may have no connection whatsoever with Waterloo Village.

Looking forward to your responses.

John Ruth
Metuchen, NJ



Sent from my iPhone
268883 curt seeliger <seeligerc@g...> 2019‑07‑13 Re: Whatsit Tool At Waterloo Village - Scorp?
> I promised that I’d post it to the Porch, and revert
> with any information we can come up with.
Wow. Looks way too long to be used as a scorp. Could it be a hook tool for
turning?
268884 Mike Rock <mikerock@m...> 2019‑07‑13 Re: Whatsit Tool At Waterloo Village - Scorp?
When you find out for sure, I have two of them.  One handled, the other 
not.  One reference I got at the 1976 ABANA conference was to do with 
whale bone corset making and similar duties.
Alex Bealer and one other......  wrote 'Last of the Mountain 
Men'......Harold Peterson....  both said the same.
268885 David Nighswander <wishingstarfarm663@m...> 2019‑07‑13 Re: Whatsit Tool At Waterloo Village - Scorp?
Not an identification but more of an observation of tool designs being used for
multiple purposes. This item looks a great deal like a hook tool that I made
many years ago when I first began to turn bowls.
It let the cutting edge run against the wood at a 25 to 30 degree angle when
hollowing out the bowl. Sliced instead of scraping. No tearout.
It didn't require as much effort to use as a bowl gouge either.
Just had to watch so it didn't dig in.


On Jul 12, 2019 11:27 PM, Mike Rock  wrote:

When you find out for sure, I have two of them.  One handled, the other
not.  One reference I got at the 1976 ABANA conference was to do with
whale bone corset making and similar duties.
Alex Bealer and one other......  wrote 'Last of the Mountain
Men'......Harold Peterson....  both said the same.

On 7/12/2019 9:52 PM, John Ruth wrote:
> Assembled Galoots:
>
> I recently spent a pleasant day at Waterloo Village, which is a preserved
Morris Canal town, now owned by the State of New Jersey and run basically as a
museum.  It’s nice place, staffed mostly with volunteers.
>
> At the Carpenter shop, the docent pointed out this tool and said they’d been
unable to identify it:
>
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/146046409@N.../albums/72157709602315861
>
> I promised that I’d post it to the Porch, and revert with any information we
can come up with.
268887 "Ed O'" <edo@e...> 2019‑07‑14 Re: Whatsit Tool At Waterloo Village - Scorp?
I have seen a few of them over the years.  As I recall they were being sold as
tools used for making wooden clogs.  For final finishing of deep interior
portions.  Usually attributed as being French.

Here's a kit showing one in the upper right as well as other places:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-museum-quality-Sabot-Sabotier-clog-maker-
tool-lot-antique-collectible-wood-/382402159946?nma=true&si=KCaYfoFJbCwAFNPRnzw8
pmTob1s%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557">https://www
.ebay.com/itm/Rare-museum-quality-Sabot-Sabotier-clog-maker-tool-lot-antique-
collectible-wood-/382402159946?nma=true&si=KCaYfoFJbCwAFNPRnzw8pmTob1s%253D&orig
_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


Ed O'

-----Original Message-----
From: OldTools [mailto:oldtools-bounces@s...] On Behalf Of John Ruth
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2019 10:53 PM
To: oldtools@s...
Subject: [OldTools] Whatsit Tool At Waterloo Village - Scorp?

At the Carpenter shop, the docent pointed out this tool and said they’d been
unable to identify it:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/146046409@N.../albums/72157709602315861
268889 Mike Rock <mikerock@m...> 2019‑07‑14 Re: Whatsit Tool At Waterloo Village - Scorp?
Ed,
Thank YOU!!!  After 43 years I finally know what my two 'gizmos' are 
for.!!  They even have the angle of the cutting edges right, so it can 
work on both sides at different angles.

:)))
268915 james rich <jameslrich3@g...> 2019‑07‑16 Re: Whatsit Tool At Waterloo Village - Scorp?
Would make a good Bottle Opener !

Recent Bios FAQ