Photo Index - H. B. Smith Machine Co. - Knife Setting Gauge

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
H. B. Smith Machine Co.
Lowell, MA; Smithville, NJ

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Other
Machine Size:	--
Submitted By:	Dave Potts

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Knife Setting Gauge
Date of Manufacturer:
Serial Number:
Last Updated	11/4/2006 11:43:58 PM

Comments:

A similar nickle-plated brass (german silver)gauge was seen on a famous on-line auction site several years ago. I bid high and was quickly out-bid by another bidder and was not able to reconsider raising my threshold in the seconds that remained. For at least 3 years I've mentally re-lived that auction. I've sent an occasional email to the buyer offering to buy it from him (he's a railroad collector), but was never sent a reply. I seem to recall that the original item went for something in the $100 neighborhood.

A week ago my regular searches on that same electronic auction turned up a similar knife setting gauge. This was missing the adjustable brass shoe, but seemed in good shape otherwise. A work-related conference pulled me out of state for the auction end, so plans were made for New Jersey's anvilman to make the final bids. Strategies were discussed, thresholds were etablished, timelines were drawn in the sand, and cell phone numbers set-up for speed dialing. In the end, the gauge went to us for $10.50.... Wow!

The other images in this entry are from a magazine except I received with a small batch of New Jersey Mechanics, Smithville's monthly newspaper/journal, and this nation's first trade journal. There is a 1901 patent date listed on the reverse side of the page in an ad for a different Smith machine, so this gauge was available after the turn of the last century. The ad also state that the gauge sells for $1 each.

Photo 1:

Comments: Both sides of the gauge as received
Source: My Kodak

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Photo 2:

Comments: Ad art of this same gauge
Source: unknown publication, circa 1901

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Photo 3:

Comments: Knife setting gauge in use
Source: unknown publication, circa 1901

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