Jacobeen Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 I recently shared 4 days of peace and fettling with my brother-in-law down Melbourne (Australia) way. He had inherited a range of tools from his very practical father and grandfather. Of course there were Stanley and Record planes, Disston, Spear & Jackson saws, Stanley and Ward mortise chisels and to the point 5 Thos Smith & Sons paring chisels. Tho advertising reveals a broad range of spanners, hammers and axes, I was hoping to get some information on the range of chisels manufactured and hoped the centenary book, Margaret 'Snailbrand' or J.L.C. might be able to give more info or resources. Happy to post photos should they be of interest. Jacobeen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 Sounds like a wood working forum would suit your needs better than a blacksmithing forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobeen Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 Thought the significance of paring chisels marked "THOS. SMITH & SONS O'SALTLEY L/D, probably marketed in Australia, could have been at least interesting to parties studying company history and might have provided information about these heirlooms. Jacobeen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 Welcome to IFI Jacobeen. I always suggest reading this to get the best out of the forum. READ THIS FIRST Are you located in Australia? There are a great bunch of smith's here from down under. https://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/7176-oz-roll-call/If you have done any reading here, you probably know we love pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobeen Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 Thank you and have perused that post. Will be going back to continue restoration work and may well find more snails among a very large collection of spanners etc. Jacobeen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Sanders Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Hi I worked in the forge in coleshill I learnt to stamp ( make forgoing son the hammers) at this forge I worked there from 1979 - 1981 the first time and then 1986-1989 the second started on 800lb board hammer ended up on one of the 3000 lb board hammers Dennis Sanders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 Welcome aboard Dennis, glad to have you. If you'll put your general location in the header you might be surprised how many members live within visiting distance. Will you tell us more about Coleshill, maybe share pictures if you have any? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliott72 Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 Hi there. We have discovered a large amount of documentation regarding the Smith family and Snail Brand. Scrapbooks, wills and genealogy etc.. I dont know if this would be of any interest to you.. ? Regards.. Elliott.. https://photos.app.goo.gl/itETTuga1pMDp25N8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaradaysRider Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 I have a "Thom Smith & Sons of Saltey LB" tool & tbh, I cant tell if its for blacksmithing or mining. Its a double-sided/headed "pick" but theyre in opposing directions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaradaysRider Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 Can we see a picture of the entire hammer with a size key? Lots of other industries out there besides smithing and mining... I even have a mill wheel dressing hammer on the wall in my shop... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaradaysRider Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 I thought I had, my apologies & thanks for the reply. Theres a reason Im leaning towards a 'smithy'; I grew up to the sound of hammers hit steel less than 50m away. 350mm (14") long. Thanks again, Patrick One more.. Have a good day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaradaysRider Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 To Thomas Powers, you came in all knowledgeable, wanting to see a picture & then being condescending. So what is it? Why I hate forums.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 Rider: Condescending? I don't see anything in Thomas' post even vaguely in that tone. Some of us here can be a little abrupt at times. Particularly when someone asks a question that they could answer themselves with a little research. I don't see that in your query or anything negative in Thomas' reply. For a very large proportion of time I find almost everyone here pretty gracious and generous with their knowledge and time. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 You might be able to find a definitive answer here. https://archive.org/details/ThomasSmithAndSonsOct1904 Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalApe Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Hi I am interested in Snail Brand tools and wondered if anybody has any information what years the snail logo changed design. I have seen various Snail designs and it roused my interest. Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 You might have better luck on an old tools forum than a forum dedicated to blacksmithing and only a bit on the old tools we tend to use. (For instance as a smith I have over 100 ; but have never made a list of the brands of them. A tool collector will know the brand of everything!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Welcome aboard, glad to have you. Posting a pic or two might get some response. I know nothing about "Snail" tools but may have one or more. I'm far less interested in brand, age, etc. than utility so I don't look unless I have a reason. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Burgess Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Late to join the conversation.... Has anyone scanned the Centenary book(let) and produced it as a PDF for wider dissemination??? Can anyone confirm if Thomas Smith used the Cutty Sark brand name on their axes??? The possibility of the Cutty Sark logo cane up as a reply on a Facebook group, Billhook Junkies - one of many devoted to the history of edge tool making.... https://scontent.fbrs4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/161244954_3844074895669083_1838775447387349135_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=dbeb18&_nc_ohc=TGT_5n0cqLgAX_dSn6G&_nc_ht=scontent.fbrs4-2.fna&oh=fbdaea790724229a9907ab0b54b78b2c&oe=60797B46 Bob Burgess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Lawson Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 I have an Original paper weight fro Smiths O Saltley Birmingham it has a blacksmiths angel on it with " The Original Stampers 1848". Sorry could not attach photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrey92 Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 Hi, I’m a coin collector and have in my possession a 1896 1 pence that is counter stamped with the markings of Thomas smith & sons of saltley. Very interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 Welcome aboard from 7500' in SE Wyoming. Glad to have you. You don't mention what country your one pence coin is from. I suspect the UK but it could be elsewhere in the British Empire. Counterstamping for advertising purposes was of questionable legality since it was, technically, defacing legal tender. Specially struck advertising tokens were more common. There was a shortage of small change in late 18th and early 19th century Britain and a number of private firms, including iron works, privately struck some very nice half pence ond one pence coins. These are known as "Conder" tokens after an early cataloger of the various varieties. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 19 Share Posted May 19 And you're announcing this on a blacksmithing forum as your introductory post because? Are you looking to sell this and maybe more coins? How many other sites have you posted this to and what exactly makes a defaced pence, "Very interesting?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 Easy, Frosty. This may just be someone who was looking for info about the firm, chanced upon our little community, and thought the information on this page was interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 I suppose so. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.