| The Davistown Museum |
| Center for the Study of Early Tools |
| Scattered throughout The Davistown Museum are tools by important manufacturers who are also the subject of |
| information files compiled by the museum. This is a listing of our holdings for: |
| Thomas H. Witherby |
| | Status | Location |
| Historic Maritime IV (1840-1865): The Early Industrial Revolution |
| Woodworking: Edge Tools |
| 42801T17 | Drawknife | bio | DTM | MH |
| Forged iron, steel and wood, 11 1/2" long, 6 1/8" wide blade, signed "TH Witherby Razor blade". |
| This is an excellent example of one of America's most famous manufacturers of edge tools. T. H. Witherby's working dates begin in 1849. He |
| later became Witherby Tool Co. and then Winsted Edge Tool Works (Nelson 1999, 873). |
| 42604T8 | Framing chisel | bio | DTM | MH |
| Forged iron and steel, 11 3/4" long, 2" wide, signed "T. H. WITHERBY" "WARRANTED". |
| This tool has an obvious welded steel cutting edge. |
| 63001T4 | Socket chisel | bio | DTM | MH |
| Forged iron and steel, 11 3/8" long, 1 1/2" wide, signed "T H Witherby Warranted". |
| This is an extra long example of the work of one of the most important American edge tool manufacturers of the early and classic periods of |
| the Industrial Revolution. Thomas H. Witherby began making tools in Millbury, Mass., in 1849 and later became the Witherby Tool Co., c. |
| 1868 and around 1890 the Winsted Edge Tool Works (Nelson 1999, 871 - 873). |
| Woodworking: Edge Tools - American Made Cast Steel |
| 032203T10 | Framing chisel | bio | photo | DTM | MH |
| Forged iron and cast steel, 16" long including a 4 3/8" handle, signed "TH WITHERBY" " Warranted". |
| Thomas H. Witherby began the manufacture of edge tools in Millbury, MA, in 1849, and along with the Buck Brothers and the Underhill clan, |
| was one of the preeminent manufacturers of American-made edge tools after the Civil War. The Witherby Tool Co., and later the Winsted |
| Edge Tool Co., continued using its founder's mark until as late as 1890. |
| The Industrial Revolution (1865f.): Other Factory Made Tools |
| Miscellaneous Tools |
| 51606T9 | Linemans' pliers | bio | DTM | MH |
| Drop-forged steel, 7 1/4" long, signed "Drop forged steel Witherby No 1517". |
| These early 20th century pliers show some evidence of handwork both in the ground surfaces on the handles and in the double lines |
| separated smoothly from serrated handle surfaces. Soon all such tools would be completely machine-made without any sign of handwork, |
| even handwork with electric grinding tools. |
| Woodworking: Edge Tools |
| 31808SLP16 | Corner chisel | bio | photo | DTM | TT |
| Drop-forged iron and steel, 11 1/4" long, 1 1/4" wide blade, signed "WITHERBY". |
| 31808SLP6 | Drawshave | bio | photo | DTM | TT |
| Drop-forged steel, wood, 15 1/4" long, 10" long blade, signed "WITHERBY" and "10". |
| 110611T2 | Drawshave | bio | DTM | TT |
| Forged iron and steel, wooden (ash) handle, 14" long cutting edge, 5" long handles, signed "T.H. WITHERBY" and "T. ERSKINE" owners |
| mark. |
| This drawshave has a distinct forge-welded steel blade. |
| Woodworking: Edge Tools - American Made Cast Steel |
| 42904T1 | Framing chisel | bio | DTM | MH |
| Drop-forged cast steel, iron ferrule, 12 1/8" long, 2" wide, 4 1/2" long handle, signed "T. H. WITHERBY". |
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