Got another treadle saw .. The Star saw - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Pop · 09-16-2008, 04:24 AM

This will surely have to be my last one. Found this one about 3 weeks ago and couldn't let it get away. It was pretty much complete. The only real missing piece is the leather bellows for the dust blower assembly. I made one for my MF 387 saw from old glove leather so making one for the new saw won't be too hard. This will be my Fall/Winter project and I plan to document the restoration with pictures and babbling during the whole process for those interested. I'll be re-plating the pieces that were originally nickle too like I did for the first 2 saws. It will probably take me a couple months for this one due to more deterioration of the spine and neck. I'm loosing some feeling in the hands and fingers too because of the compressed discs from the deterioration in the neck. Worth a chuckle at times when I go to do something and find the tool or whatever I had in my right hand may not be there anymore. Anyway.... here it is now.... hope it comes out as nice as the MF 387 did.

greatdane2 · 09-16-2008, 04:48 AM

Good luck, that looks like a great project. Please keep us posted on how you do it. How old is it.
Some body posted a site the other day that lists old woodworking tools. A dream place to visit.

Alan.

Pop · 09-18-2008, 03:20 AM

Time frame is typically around 1887 period. My other 2 are about the same time. They fun to do and can be quite a challenge at times but the finished products are worth it when you see the look on folks faces when I take them along on my Model A truck to car shows.

Been to that particular site a few times to drool over some of the nice stuff.

Trout · 09-18-2008, 04:56 AM

bring on the restoration....

nice job on the pattern, if I get up early on saturday and do some work on the boat maybe Mrs.Trout will let me work on it...
she told me no new project until I get the boat ready to go for the fall fishing season...

thanks again
Trout

marshall · 09-18-2008, 09:22 AM

Hey PoP : this is so cool to see these old saws, Thank you for this. I guess you could your exercise when you scrolled stuff back then !!! Marshall

Pop · 09-19-2008, 02:32 AM

For those who didn't get to see the first 2 saws, here's a picture of the two together in my get-away-room.

P4100069.jpg

The one on the left is a New Rogers. Shown in my 1887 Millers falls tool catalog for $3.50. Sometimes it was also given as a gift to an excellent shop student in schools. A similar saw called the Cricket Saw was also available for $2.50 The difference being the finish on the table being paint instead of Nickel and the blade holders were not a quick release type. By quick release I mean the upper blade holder flipped forward to take tension off the blade for changing instead of having to unscrew the wing nut at the back of the top arm to lower tension.

The one on the right is a Millers Falls #387. Shown in my Millers Falls #35 tool catalog from 1915. This was comparable to the New Rogers saw offered inthe 1887 catalog. It had better blade holders, nickle plating on a lot of the hardware and a "Pratt's Rubber Positive Blower" to remove dust. In 1935 Goodell Pratt and Millers Falls combined forces in one company.

How would you like to do the fretwork and scrollwork we don now with saws like these or the two in the next picture?

Fretsaws.jpg

The board hanging above them was called a fretboard. It acted like a vise to clamp work to and gave you the 'v' slot to use for support while you did the fret work. My $100 Delta scrollsaw looked pretty good after using these.

greatdane2 · 09-19-2008, 03:21 AM

My grandfather in Scotland made a lot of clocks using those types of tools.

Alan.

marshall · 09-19-2008, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pop

For those who didn't get to see the first 2 saws, here's a picture of the two together in my get-away-room.

Attachment 10288

The one on the left is a New Rogers. Shown in my 1887 Millers falls tool catalog for $3.50. Sometimes it was also given as a gift to an excellent shop student in schools. A similar saw called the Cricket Saw was also available for $2.50 The difference being the finish on the table being paint instead of Nickel and the blade holders were not a quick release type. By quick release I mean the upper blade holder flipped forward to take tension off the blade for changing instead of having to unscrew the wing nut at the back of the top arm to lower tension.

The one on the right is a Millers Falls #387. Shown in my Millers Falls #35 tool catalog from 1915. This was comparable to the New Rogers saw offered inthe 1887 catalog. It had better blade holders, nickle plating on a lot of the hardware and a "Pratt's Rubber Positive Blower" to remove dust. In 1935 Goodell Pratt and Millers Falls combined forces in one company.

How would you like to do the fretwork and scrollwork we don now with saws like these or the two in the next picture?

Attachment 10289

The board hanging above them was called a fretboard. It acted like a vise to clamp work to and gave you the 'v' slot to use for support while you did the fret work. My $100 Delta scrollsaw looked pretty good after using these.

Hey PoP : I was just wondering what one of these old saws is worth, and how hard are they to find !! Marshall

Wood Dog · 09-19-2008, 03:50 PM

Thanks for posting those photos PoP......looking forward to your pictures on the restoration project. Hope you are not hurting too bad when doing the job.

Pop · 09-19-2008, 03:55 PM

I don't mind sharing the cost of these. I'm always hoping more folks will get into restoration of old tools rather than have them thrown out for lack of knowledge and interest. I found every one either on eBay ot at local auctions. The first two I paid between $75 and $125 for. At their current condition I would suppose they might bring between $250 - 350. It all depends on interest at the time. The last one I paid the highest for at $300 but considering it was 90% complete and in super physical shape, it could bring up to $500 or more in the future. My kids will love this when I'm gone. Had some contact and help for info from a fellow at the NC Woodworkers site who has about 8 or more treadle saw he's restored or cleaned up and boy are they nice. The one I missed I regret not bidding more for was a treadle lathe/scroll saw combination sold by Millers Falls intheir 1887 catalog called a Companion saw. It was early in my start of collecting treadle powered saws and went for $320. I could kick myself for not going farther in my bidding. I even had my wife's OK to do so.

companion lathe-saw - 1887.jpg

How about that price? $8.50. Remember though that was quite a lot of money in 1887. Wouldn't that have been a super piece to have. DUH..... won't let one get away again.