Draw Gauges

[bruce johnson]

There are a lot of ways to cut straps but not many are stronger or prettier than these 100+ year old draw gauges. These are among my favorite tools to refurbish for sure. Somewhere along the line we changed from function and beauty to ease of manufacture and price point on a lot of tools. I'd bet the old guys that owned these oldies first were pretty proud when they got them and I always hope I've honored them.  

[dikman]

That brass one with the wood inlay is almost a work of art itself.

[bruce johnson]

17 hours ago, dikman said:

That brass one with the wood inlay is almost a work of art itself.

The brass handled ones are beautiful. Until the later 1800s they were all brass and wood handles. I've got one going back to the 1830s very similar except no trigger. The triggers were a late 1860s addition. I've got a couple showpiece kind of plough gauges that were my daily users also. I like pretty tools.