The Art of Fine Tools

Taunton Press, 1998. Hardcover. Fine Condition/Near Fine. Firmly bound, clean unmarked pages; a few small dings to the rear of the jacket.The author begins his book with this simple, declarative statement: "A well made tool is a thing of beauty that's as much a pleasure to look at as it is to use." Making use of scores of private tool collections generously made available by private collectors and museums around the United States, the author doesn't merely write evocatively about a breathtaking variety of inventive and finely crafted tools, he also photographed them individually and in groupings that evoke nothing less than classic still lifes, as objects of art and craft. And that they are, without a doubt: silver measuring tools, ivory and gilt rulers, forged-iron double-calipers, cast-iron and brass levels, and jewellery-like plumb bobs made of exquisite materials like scrimshaw, brass and fine steel. Hand planes of dizzying variety and configurations, designed for dozens of particular and exacting tasks, and made of rosewood, brass, steel and ivory; cast-iron hammers with heads shaped like fish; drills and augers, axes and saws, and chisels; a bone-handled gouge; quirky and unusual combination tools; human-powered scroll saws and many more are described and pictured in delightful detail. This is truly a tool-lover's dream book. --Mark A. Hetts 240 pages. Quantity Available: 1. ISBN/EAN: 9781561582631. Inventory No: dscf11279. . 9781561582631