Wooden handled Osborne strap cutter

[bruce johnson]

That Harrison mark as already pointed out is post 1906 or so. The 1/16 markings say later than that, and the flat side on the wood handle says near the end of the wood handle version as as well. Im not sure exactly when but have been told some were made into the 1950s or 60s, or at least sold at that time. The earlier versions had both sides of the handles rounded over and the bars were marked in 1/8ths. 

Double bar gibs can mean two things.

1).The bars were made in different widths (and thicknesses for that matter). The Latta pattern draw gauges has two bar gibs and were narrower. Some of the other versions came with a narrower bar and had two gibs to fill space. Maybe a manufacturing way to use some excess narrow bars. 

2). sometimes that back gib behind the bar is tapered end to end. The broaching on the handle slot is not exactly 90 degrees and a tapering gib will square it up. If you switch that gib end for end or put a flat one in you see the bar really go out of square. Sometimes there will be a little matching mark on the gib and frame to pair them up, sometimes not. 

[Rossr]

2 hours ago, bruce johnson said:

That Harrison mark as already pointed out is post 1906 or so. The 1/16 markings say later than that, and the flat side on the wood handle says near the end of the wood handle version as as well. Im not sure exactly when but have been told some were made into the 1950s or 60s, or at least sold at that time. The earlier versions had both sides of the handles rounded over and the bars were marked in 1/8ths. 

Double bar gibs can mean two things.

1).The bars were made in different widths (and thicknesses for that matter). The Latta pattern draw gauges has two bar gibs and were narrower. Some of the other versions came with a narrower bar and had two gibs to fill space. Maybe a manufacturing way to use some excess narrow bars. 

2). sometimes that back gib behind the bar is tapered end to end. The broaching on the handle slot is not exactly 90 degrees and a tapering gib will square it up. If you switch that gib end for end or put a flat one in you see the bar really go out of square. Sometimes there will be a little matching mark on the gib and frame to pair them up, sometimes not. 

Bruce you are always a wealth of information.  Thanks for the education as always

[Cumberland Highpower]

On 10/28/2021 at 11:04 PM, YinTx said:

I have a lot of these in my collection.  None with the Harrison, NJ mark that I know of.  Those are the "newer" ones after they moved from Newark, NJ around 1906.  So any time after that.

Yours is in nice shape but appears to be missing all the gibs fwiw.

YinTx

I thought the same thing about when they moved to Newark.   However I was looking at a 1922 issue of some old harness makers trade magazine and it had an add for Osborne and stated Harrison, NJ as the location of business.   Did they maintain both locations for a while?

[YinTx]

24 minutes ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

I thought the same thing about when they moved to Newark.   However I was looking at a 1922 issue of some old harness makers trade magazine and it had an add for Osborne and stated Harrison, NJ as the location of business.   Did they maintain both locations for a while?

They moved _from_  Newark to Harrison, so your catalogue would be correct.  Now, they did apparently stamp some of their tools "Newark" after the move, but not for too long.

YinTx