CXLII. These are the forms of the double Screws, mentioned before in the Joyners Bench, numb. 139. they are made of Spar, the Screws are fitted with holes or Screw Boxes in the Spars fit to receive them, which being turned, the two pieces are drawn together so hard, that they hold firmly any thing set between them.
In the Sinister Base is set the form of a Plain Iron, (such Plains I mean) as are to plain Boards smooth; for other Plain Irons are cut with squares and half rounds and after the form of an [character of an “S” on its side] according to their Operations.
— From Randle Holme’s “The Academy of Armory, or, A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon” Book III, Chapter VIII, Plate 2.
CXLI. In this quarter in the chief part of it are the fashion and forms of two sorts of Joyners Mallets, made and used by Joyners, the one square, the other Bevil wrought; Of this see more numb. 76. and chap. 9. numb. 4.
In the Base, is a thing called the Sawing Tressel, or a Tressel, which Joyners and Carpenters use to lay large and great pieces of Timber upon, when they have occasion to cut them into Tenants, or for other kinds of peecings, or if they purpose to cut it into lesser or shorter pieces: It is two pieces of Joyce set Salterwise, whose Angles will hold any thing fast being put between the two upper ends.
— From Randle Holme’s “The Academy of Armory, or, A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon” Book III, Chapter VIII, Plate 2.
CXL. In chief lyeth that which is called the Bench Screw, it is made of Wood, the out part flat, which lieth or is nailed to the Bench side, the other part opened by degrees or steps wider and wider, to fit Boards of all thicknesses that shall be put between the Bench and it, through the higher Tang or Lip is put a Wooden Screw, the same being screwed through the hole, its end holds the Board fast to the Bench side.
That in the Base is called the Glew Pot, it is commonly made of good thick Lead; that by its substance it may retain a heat the longer, that the Glew Chill not, (as Work-men say when it cools) when it is to be used: It hath a strong Bended Wyer put through two holes in the sides of it, by which it is transported and carried from one place to another. A. 3 such B. born by Glew pott.
— From Randle Holme’s “The Academy of Armory, or, A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon” Book III, Chapter VIII, Plate 2.
CXXXIX. In this quarter is set forth the form of the Joyners Working Bench, with all the Appurtenances belonging thereunto, as First, the Plank or Board for the top, in which are made several round holes for the Bench Hook and the Hold Fast, as they have occasion to hold the Work on it.
The Bench Feet, those of the Workmans side being made full of holes, in which are Pins put for the Board or other thing to rest upon, while its edges are to be wrought, either by shooting with the Plain, or otherwise, which Pins are to be removed to higher or lower holes, as the breadth of the Board shall require.
The Bench Screw, set on its higher side, to screw Boards to the Bench side, while their edges are plaining or shooting, that they shake or tremble not, but remain steady while they are in working.
The Hold-Fast, which is to keep the Work fast upon the Bench while the Joyner either Saws Tenants, or or cuts Mortesses, or doth any other Work upon it.
The Bench Hook in it, which is to stay or hold Boards, or any other Stuff that is laid flat against it, while they are Trying or Plaining.
The Double Screw, is sometimes fixed to the side of the Bench, and sometimes the farther Check is laid an edge upon the flat of the Bench, and fastned there with an Hold-Fast, and sometimes two are fastned to the Bench, to hold fast some sorts of Stuff, that are to have their edges wrought.
The Mallet, it is always to rest only on the Bench, because of its continual use.
— From Randle Holme’s “The Academy of Armory, or, A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon” Book III, Chapter VIII, Plate 2.
The last few days I’ve thrown up (probably a poor choice of words) on this blog a lot of excess tools that I’m selling. To balance the Karmic scales, as they are, I’m trying to give something back. And that something is excerpts from Randle Holme III’s “The Academy of Armory, or, A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon.”
This enormous 17th-century three-book work is partly an explanation of healdic symbols, but it also is an encyclopedia of the 17th-century world.
Peter Follansbee introduced me to Holme a few years ago on his blog and I’ve read snippets of it on some academic web sites that Managing Editor Megan Fitzpatrick has access to through the University of Cincinnati.
But this week, Megan did a bad thing. She checked out the entire 1972 reprint of Holme’s work by The Scolar Press Limited from the library for me, and I have been chugging through it in between 4th-grade volleyball games, editing magazine copy and waiting for glue to dry.
Here’s an odd fact about me: I always learn new material better if I type it in, and I really would like to have the full text of Holme’s sections on woodworking at my fingertips because I already see some interesting things in there that relate to Joseph Moxon and Richard Neve’s works.
So in my spare time, I’m typing in the parts of the text that interest me. And I decided to post them on the blog because it’s frustrating how difficult this information can be to come by (I cannot find this on GoogleBooks, and the 1972 reprint is difficult to find).
Why am I not providing comment or context? Because I’m still digesting things. You are getting this at the same speed that I am. But the bottom line is that it will be here for you to come back to when we’re all ready to discuss it.
All of the Holme entries are tagged “The Academy of Armory” at the bottom. So you can get to it at any time using the categories on the left side of your screen.
