| The Davistown Museum |
| Center for the Study of Early Tools |
| | Center bits |
| This collection of center bits was found in a single carpenter's tool chest, yet all have different manufacturer's |
| marks. This illustrates the wide variety of sources for cast steel center bits and other edge tools in the mid-19th |
| century. This particular grouping has a surprising number of Philadelphia makers; perhaps the tool chest in which |
| these were found originated in the Philadelphia area. All DATM (1999) references below are from the Directory |
| of American Toolmakers by Robert Nelson. | Status | Location |
| | Special Collection |
| Other Woodworking Tools |
| 41203T3J | Center bit | DTM |
| Cast steel, signed "Spears & Jackson". |
| Another well known Sheffield, England, manufacturer. |
| 41203T31 | Center bit | DTM |
| Cast steel, signed "J. BEE CAST STEEL". |
| DATM (Nelson 1999, 993) indicates James Bee, 1814, is a foreign maker of braces and bits. |
| 41203T3H | Center bit | DTM |
| Cast steel, signed "W. Greaves & Sons Steel Works". |
| A famous and prolific Sheffield, England, manufacturer. |
| 41203T3G | Center bit | DTM |
| Cast steel, signed "__ Wells & Co Cast Steel". |
| DATM (Nelson 1999) lists a T. E. Wells with working dates from 1850 - 1854 in Philadelphia, PA. |
| 41203T3F | Center bit | DTM |
| Cast steel, signed "Stortz & Son". |
| DATM (Nelson 1999) lists this company's working dates from 1853 - 1972 in Philadelphia, PA. |
| 41203T3E | Center bit | DTM |
| Cast steel, signed "Walter & Co. Cast Steel". |
| This company is not listed in DATM (Nelson 1999); probably a Sheffield, England, manufacturer. |
| 41203T3D | Center bit | DTM |
| Cast steel, signed "Thiele & Quack". |
| DATM (Nelson 1999, 782) list this company as making bits and dies with no location or date. |
| 41203T3C | Center bit | DTM |
| Cast steel, signed "Bagshaw & Field". |
| DATM (Nelson 1999) lists this company's working dates from 1881 - 1931 in Philadelphia, PA. Walter Bragshaw was working |
| in Philadelphia as early as 1866 (pg. 47). |
| 41203T3B | Center bit | DTM |
| Cast steel, signed "H. Boker". |
| DATM (Nelson 1999) lists this company's working dates from 1837 - 1969, no location given. Most Boker tools were imported |
| from Germany (pg. 98). |
| 41203T3A | Center bit | DTM |
| Cast steel, signed "J Booth & Son". |
| DATM (Nelson 1999) lists this company's working dates from 1850 - 1854 in Philadelphia, PA. |
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