Odd T. Dixon Plough Gauge Blade

[amuckart]

I recently picked up an old Dixon plough Gauge on a local auction site for a pretty good price and when I got it I found its rather unlike either of the ones I have at the moment. The main difference is that the height of the roller is adjusted solely by a screw, there's no secondary fixture to hold it in place once it's height adjusted.

The blade is the most interesting bit though. Instead of there being a milled slot in the blade there is a piece that has appears to have been forge welded from two parts, leaving a slot for the blade, and then riveted in place.

I'm wondering whether the blade has been repaired by an enterprising owner at some point in the past or whether this is a really early way of making the slot. It would surprise me if this was a normal way of doing it since it's rather a labour intensive way of doing the job and I'd be surprised if the blade predates the use of a mill to cut the slot. If it's a repair, it's really rather well done.

[oldtimer]

I recently picked up an old Dixon plough Gauge on a local auction site for a pretty good price and when I got it I found its rather unlike either of the ones I have at the moment. The main difference is that the height of the roller is adjusted solely by a screw, there's no secondary fixture to hold it in place once it's height adjusted.

The blade is the most interesting bit though. Instead of there being a milled slot in the blade there is a piece that has appears to have been forge welded from two parts, leaving a slot for the blade, and then riveted in place.

I'm wondering whether the blade has been repaired by an enterprising owner at some point in the past or whether this is a really early way of making the slot. It would surprise me if this was a normal way of doing it since it's rather a labour intensive way of doing the job and I'd be surprised if the blade predates the use of a mill to cut the slot. If it's a repair, it's really rather well done.

It looks to me that someone has made a repair with an arc welder, and "forgot" to grind off the surplus metal from the weld. A nice auction find!

/ Knut

Edited June 11, 2012 by oldtimer

[amuckart]

1339421561[/url]' post='252099']

It looks to me that someone has made a repair with an arc welder, and "forgot" to grind off the surplus metal from the weld. A nice auction find!

/ Knut

It's definitely not machine welded, the pictures might be hard to make out but in hand it is clearly a separate piece that is riveted in place on the blade.

[Trox]

I Knut is right, it is repaired. Here is my J. Dixon plouge with a T. Dixon blade. It is a common issue with all old plouge knifes.

Trox

It's definitely not machine welded, the pictures might be hard to make out but in hand it is clearly a separate piece that is riveted in place on the blade.