Antique Woodworking Tools
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assisted by Robert Lesage,
with foreword by David Linley
.jpg) Jacket with photograph by James Austin[1] | |
| Author | David R. Russell assisted by Robert Lesage, with foreword by David Linley |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | James Austin |
| Cover artist | James Austin |
| Language | English |
Release number | 1st edition |
| Subject | Industrial archaeology, material culture |
| Published | Cambridge |
| Publisher | John Adamson in association with Bernard J. Shapero |
Publication date | October 2010 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 528 |
| ISBN | 978-1-898565-05-5 |
| OCLC | 727125586 |
| 684.08207442783 | |
| LC Class | TT186 .R87 2010 |
| Website | antiquewoodworkingtools.co.uk |
Antique Woodworking Tools: Their Craftsmanship from Earliest Times to the Twentieth Century is David Russell's account of the history of woodworking tools illustrated profusely with items from his extensive collection of British, continental European and North American hand tools. Planes are given special attention and British makers, among them Holtzapffel, Norris, Mathieson and Spiers, are discussed in depth.
A wide array of edge and boring tools provides a broad survey of hand tool-making from prehistory to today. Writing in The Times, Huon Mallalieu encapsulated the function of the book: "Over the past 35 years [David Russell] has amassed probably the world’s largest collection of antique woodworking tools from the Stone Age to the 20th century ... The catalogue not only lists and lavishly illustrates 1556 items, but also makers’ stamps and associated material ..."[2]
Structure
After looking at a range of tools from prehistory to the Romans, the book examines in detail more recent hand tools by function: from saws to drills and braces; from rules and gauges to bevels, squares and levels. Much of the book, however, is devoted to an extensive selection of wooden and metal planes and highlights their manifold functions. These planes are arranged within chapters on continental European, British and American models, with some of the great British makers from the eighteenth to the early twentieth century discussed in depth. A short chapter focuses on spurious and altered items, drawing the reader's attention to some of the pitfalls of collecting vintage tools.