Day 53, Five Squares
A quick one for today, as I'm off to do something rather more important today.
Here are a selection of squares that I have and use. All were garage sale finds, and fairly cheap. They are in varying condition, but all are still (importantly) square, and fufill there purpose of helping me set right angles on my carpentry. The first four are all six inch models, with the last being a 12" model.
The first pair were made by SOHACO, or the Southington Hardware Company. This company was founded in the 1860s, but I believe that both of these squares likely date from the 1930s and 1940s. The top example is clearly a more budget model, and is (perhaps surprisingly) the one I use the most in the shop. Not sure what the wood species is, but it's not particularly beautiful, and the pegs which hold it together seem less refined than the other example.
They both have logos on them, the clearer of which is this one, showing the patent date, which was the
following one, issued to S. Billington. I believe a lot of the hardware stamped SOHACO was actually
made by other manufacturers, but I am not an expert.
The second are a pair of somewhat nicer looking Stanley squares, with brass fittings. The stamping on
both are pretty faint, with the second example showing up slightly better.
The last is a larger 12" model made by DISSTON, who are more famous as manufacturers of hand saws in the 19th and into the 20th centry. I haven't done any restoration on this one. I believe that Henry Disston made squares up until WWII, but this one may in fact be significantly older. I need to do more research.
Happy Saturday. No Kings.