Category: The Anarchist’s Tool Chest

In ruder and more simple times, before labor is much subdivided, the whole stock of knowledge existing in a country will be scanty, but it will be more equally diffused over the different ranks, and each individual of the lower orders will have nearly the same opportunities and motives with his superiors, for exerting the different powers of his mind.

The rude mechanic, residing in a small town, is forced to bestow his attention, successively, on many objects different from each other. Not finding constant employment in one branch of manufacture, he exercises several, and furnishes himself with many of the tools requisite for each; he probably makes part of his own clothes, assists in building his own house and those of his neighbors, and cultivates, or directs his wife and children in cultivating, a small patch of ground, on which he raises part of his provisions.

As he must buy the materials, and sell or barter the produce of his labour, he is also, in some respects, a merchant; and, in this capacity, he is led to the observation of character, as well as to some speculation respecting the most advantageous times and places, for making his little bargains.

When we add, that he is likewise trained to arms, for the purpose of assisting in defending the town of which he is a citizen, we must see that his situation, and consequently, his character, will be very different from that of a mechanic, in a more advanced society.

In this manner, all the members of a rude nation, being forced to exercise a great number of unconnected professions and individually to provide for themselves, what each stands in need of, their attention is directed to a variety of objects: and their knowledge is extended in proportion. No man relies upon the exertions of his neighbor; but each employs, for the relief of his wants, or in defence of what belongs to him, either the strength of his body or the ingenuity of his mind, all the talents which he has been able to acquire, all the faculties with which nature has endowed him….

Unlike the mechanics of a commercial nation, who have each permitted all of their talents… to lie dormant and useless; but who combine, like the wheels of a machine, in producing a complicated system of operations, the inhabitants of a rude country have separately preserved, and kept in action, all the original powers of man….

— John Millar, “An Historical View of the English Government: From the Settlement of the Saxons in Britain to the Revolution in 1688” (1803). Thanks to Jeff Burks for exhuming this one.

From R.C., Carroll, Iowa.— In answer to the subscriber from Virden, Ill., in a former issue, as to where he can “secure” trimmings for a tool chest. I would say that they could be taken from another fellow’s chest late at night by the skillful manipulation of a crowbar and a screwdriver; but should he be willing to purchase them he can do so at a hardware store, a place where they keep for sale ten-penny nails, gimlets and gasoline stoves. Such an establishment can be found on the front street of any well regulated town, the entrance to which – the store not the town – is generally designated by a washing machine and a scoop shovel.

Or any school boy can locate the place for a nickel.

I would advise him to use iron handles, as crickets and grasshoppers often eat a rope handle. The hinges, which should also be of iron in preference to leather, as the contraction and expansion of the leather during dry and wet weather might seriously affect the working of the lock. Hinges should be placed on the opposite side of the lock, which ought to be a combination. As the correspondent failed to sign his name to his letter of inquiry, he is evidently absent minded, in which case it would be well to have the combination in large letters on the top of the chest, then wrap the whole thing well with a clothesline, securing both ends of the line – not the chest – in a Marquis of Queensberry knot sealed with green wax. Any further information desired by the subscriber will be cheerfully furnished. If other subscribers wish information of any kind, I hope they will make their wants known.

— From Carpentry and Building, October 1899 issue. This gem was dug up by Jeff Burks. Both Jeff and I would like to buy R.C. of Carroll, Iowa, a much-deserved beer. 

From C.E.W., Kansas. City, Mo.— I inclose sketches of a tool box in reply to the correspondent recently making inquiry in regard to work of this kind. This box has, in my opinion, one advantage over all others, as a man can get any tool from it without moving any other. There is no waste room; the chest is light and strong and can, therefore, be readily moved about. The drawers can have faces made of hard wood and carved, if desired, as they are protected by the sliding panel in front. When the lid is raised the panel can be pulled up so that the drawers will open. A pin in the top of the panel flush with the top of the box securely locks the panel down when the box is closed. The box should be made of trunk stuff – that is, three pieces of wood glued together with the grain running different ways. Each piece should be 1/8 inch thick, thus making a total of 3/8 inch, which is sufficiently heavy. Slides for the drawers are glued to them on the inside, and the corners, of 1-1/8-inch oak, are plowed so as to let the front panel slide. The top cap is cut in 1/2 inch and glued.

Fig. 1 shows a general view of the box with the lid raised and the front panel partially broken away, showing the front of the drawers. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken through the middle of the box, while Fig. 3 is a top view of one of the front corners.

From D.F.M., Syracuse, Neb.—I am interested in tool chest construction just now, and send my plan, shown in Fig. 4. for the boys to comment on. It rests on casters and the bottom drawer is 9-1/2 inches deep inside. Under the lid at the front is a saw rack, while at the back is a similar space for plans, details, &c. In the center is a solid tray, with two of the same size beneath, which slide out at the ends each way and can be made full length or cut in two. The ends are made with rail and stile like a door. The drawers are held solid with flush bolts. A strap of iron or brass extends through to the outside and catches the bolt. The lid can be made deep enough for a drop leaf and makes a nice place for paper, T square, &c. The owner of a chest can put as much work on it as he desires.

— Carpentry and Building, March 1901. Thanks to Jeff Burks for digging up these two letters. Much more from this series on chests to come.

From G.H.J., East Woodstock, Conn.— In answer to “C. C. S.” of Kansas City, Mo., I send photograph and sketch of a chest which I made of black walnut. dovetailed, and it may prove of interest to the correspondent in question. The chest is 20 x 30 inches and 18 inches deep, inside measurement. It has three drawers at each end, and the front side is a saw till 5 x 30 inches, outside measurement, which lifts out. The drawers are 10-1/2 x 15 inches and 2 inches deep, so partitioned as to suit the tools. The cover shown in Fig. 2 is 1-1/2 inches deep inside; the top has raised panels inlaid with 26 different kinds of wood. The panels have a border 1/4 inch wide and 1 inch from the edge all around. It is put in on a miter and has an emblem In the center of the middle panel, as shown. Fig. 3 is a photographic view, showing the chest with the cover raised and indicating the position of some of the tools.

— Carpentry and Building, January 1901. Thanks to Jeff Burks for digging up this letter. Much more from this series on chests to come.

From W. C. A., Detroit, Mich. — In the December number of Carpentry and Building, “C. C. B.” has Introduced the subject of tool chest construction, and In order to try and save it from the fate of former inquiries on that subject I will give the readers of Carpentry and Building my ideas of this phase of carpenter work. With the ordinary sliding tray or “Grandpa” chest only one side of the chest can be utilized; or, if both sides are used, then the tools must be dumped out on the floor every time one of the trays Is moved. The only solution of the problem is to put in drawers. In the September number for 1896 “D. T. C.” illustrates this, as well as “N.L.D.” in the August number for 1897. The latter correspondent has been requested to send drawings of his Improved large chest, but so far as I can discover he has not done so. In the May number for 1898 “Down South” says he has some original ideas on tool chest construction, and, although he has been asked, still, he has not sent his plans for publication. In behalf of about 75 percent of the wood butchers of the United States, all of whom are going to build the best chest in the world some time, I ask that both “N. H. D.” and “Down South” send in their plans.

I send a sketch, Fig. 1, of an idea that I am slowly developing as to what I consider a tool chest ought to be. It is to be noticed that there is one large drawer at the bottom and two smaller ones just above lt. The cover is made deep enough to hold the saws, squares and level. One tray and several partitions in the top should accommodate the planes and larger tools. A chest constructed on such a plan as this will have no waste room, and it will make a small, compact chest. I have planned this chest to be 18 x 30 Inches inside, with paneled ends and cover. The details of construction and partitions I leave for discussion. I hope the readers will take up the subject and not drop It until a perfect chest Is the result.

Note.—The suggestion of our correspondent is a good one and opens the way for a most excellent discussion of the subject of tool chest constructlon. We hope our practical readers will devote a part of the long winter evenings to preparing letters and sketches showing their ideas of what constitutes a satisfactory tool chest.

— Carpentry and Building, January 1901. Thanks to Jeff Burks for sending the letter. More from this series to come.