I was at the Smithsonian Museum last weekend and asked where the H.O. Studly tool box was and they couldn’t tell me where it was. Does someone out there know where at the Smithsonian this tool box can be seen?
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See: http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00088
"That man's grandson, Peter Hardwick, loaned the chest to the Smithsonian in the late 1980s and later sold it to a private collector in the Midwest. The current owner loans the chest to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. from time to time."
Do you know if the posters of the Studley tool chest are still sold antwhere? I I remember seeing one once. Ed
I saw that poster a few years ago available at Bridge City Toolworks
http://www.bridgecitytools.com/
I believe that it was a enlargement of a FWW backcover, no idea which issue though. (edit: July, 1988)
I wonder if Taunton still has any copies?
I saw that toolbox on an episode of New Yankee Workshop last season. Norm featured the case and said it was now in a private collection.
Edited 3/3/2004 3:11:48 PM ET by jtsharp
Contact Lee Valley ToolsOn a hill by the harbour
Thank you.
Any luck Ed?Steve
Steve, I called Lee Valley and no luck there. Poked around on the web and no luck there. Looks like messing around ebay to get a copy of this poster. Some info on the web said it takes three people to lift the Studley box. Building my own (2) Tool Chests for handtools and hoping to keep them somewhat portable. Hanging on the wall on French cleats.
Hey Steve, you know a lot about planes, right? I've got this Sweetheart era Bailey style 5 1/2 that I have completely restored to hardware store new condition. It has the unusual size 2 1/4 wide inch iron and I have an extra iron for it. It's really one of my favorite planes. The question is - I had to sand the tote and knob down to bare rosewood to get rid of paint and scratches and accomodate some filing to fit my hand. I put one thin coat of Watco Teak Oil on them yesterday - I wonder what I should topcoat it with? I have some shellac which I can mix very thin and I have some tried and true varnish which I can mix down very very thin. They look all right as is right now. Maybe just another coat of watco, let cure for 3 days, wax and buff? Gee I hate experimenting on a tool I like. Not very good at finishing and I hope I don't mess this up. Ed
Ed,
Wouldn't mind having one of those posters myself, if you find a cache of them, let me know please? H.O. Studley must have sold his soul to put that box together. Are you using two doors or one door for your chests? Been thinking about doing some myself for a while, looks like planning is a bear.
I wouldn't say I know a bunch about planes, but I do know that some of the latter Stanley stuff was finished in some thick crap, laquer I think, and it looks bad. If I was doing it, I'd try just the Watco or some other oil, wax and buff if you like them shiney. I've used BLO thinned with turpentine on my old wood molding planes for quite a while, and I think that might get the look you're going for, with a bunch of coats. If Mike Taylor is cruising around here, he'd know of course. Speaking of him, if whatever you do turns out not to your liking, his repro handles are great, and reasonably priced.
5 1/2 is a nice size isn't it? I didn't even own one till a couple of weeks ago, but now it gets more exercise then the #5's. Maybe just the "new" toy mentality. I also like the extra weight. Sounds like you've got one of the best, enjoy!
Steve
Wilco on the posters, Steve.
Thanks for advice on the plane - going with oil only from here, I think. One door on the tool cabinets. I probably shouldn't post a photo of something half-finished but what the hey - at least you can see what I did. The philosophy was to build the cabinet carcases, hang them on the wall, fit the tools in, then finish them. Now it looks pretty messy but fairly placid on the work bench but believe me there is a massive level of "handtool survivor" going on at the floor level to decide who gets in and who gets left out. It's like one big handtool immunity challenge going on down there. You can see that I've fitted a grand total of two tools so far. Today I'm working on chisels. I've got a good idea about the planes and will go from there as real estate diminishes. They weigh about 25-30 lbs empty and estimate 80 lbs or more with tools. I want to be able to lift them on and off cleats on the wall without back surgery.
Now I feel a bit ashamed for even including a photo in the same thread as H.O. Studley, especially a poor-quality one, but Studley, if you are up there, you're the man! I am bowing low with forehead to the ground chanting "We're not worthy,...we're not worthy,..."
But I think these chests will work for me.
Have a good day.
I've been looking for one of those posters for a while. No luck yet. I'd be interested in one also.Tom
Douglasville, GA
Nice start Ed. How do you hold the planes, does the top holder swivel? I guess the main reason (besides time) that I haven't done something similar is that "handtool survivor" (LOL) issue. Which ones go the nice chest which stay on shelves, in boxes, under the bench, on the wall ect. Always wondered if Mr. Studley had some tools that woudn't fit that he still used all the time.
I bought an 150 year old tool chest full of tools this fall. It's about 3' by 4' by 2' deep. Huge old thing, very cool, but it just sits in my shop because its a pain to get tools out of. It belonged to a carpenter I'm guessing. Kind of interesting how the work you do dictates the tool box that works for you. IMHO, the toolbox is a more personal thing then even the workbench.
Have a good evening.
Steve
Yes the top holder is like a post and beam and the beam swivels like a barn door latch. The bottom holder is like a cup - like a horseshoe with a plate over it.
I share your feeling about toolboxes and I build a lot of them, mostly open tote style with dovetailed corners, drawers in the bottom and trays that fit inside.
Wow - a 150 year old box full of tools. I feel like some day, in some small, dusty Mississippi town in an antique store or at an estate sale I'm going to hit the motherlode of handtools. It's out there, waiting to be discovered, I'm sure, because not many folks around here have much of an interest in collecting them. Somewhere there's that MIB, never-used Millers Falls type 209 with a $20 price tag attached!
It would be in the American History building, but it might be off view. My sister works over there so I'll find out where it is. By the way, when they cleaned it I went over and got to check it out first hand. Needless to say, it's very cool.
It's been returned to its owner at this time.
The box is on display at the American History Museum, first floor, by the east escalators.
No, it's not.I work there.
The last time it was here was 2001, for an exhibit called Piano 300.After the exhibit closed, it was packed and shipped back to its owner.
My sister works there and said it was still up. Guess she was mistaken. If you work in the shop over there I probably know you. I'm across the mall at another museum.
Interesting. Yeah, I work in the shop here.Which one are you in?
Best of luck,
jackplane
A little interesting history....
Studley was actually is middle name, he dropped his last name, Hungwell at age 19. Similary, his grandson - a Mr. Hardwick, changed his name from Harddick at the same age though obviously many years later.
Who could blame them?
Edited 3/5/2004 5:07:41 PM ET by BossCrunk
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