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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
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    843

    Default The shop made tools of the late John Gliddon

    All,

    This may not be one of the more usual posts on this forum, but, this is something I'd like to share.

    By way of this forum, I recently become the new custodian of a number of tools, taps, dies, cutters, drills and stock materials from the estate of a Mr John Gliddon. He was a much loved and respected friend of a fellow forum member here. I never met John, but he sounded like someone you'd want to know.

    I asked permission to mention his name here with some pics.

    Being an engineer, John enjoyed making models and so he had tooling for such. It also seems that, being a gentleman of the old school, and no doubt, enjoying his hobby in times when there were not cheap tools-aplenty coming from all corners of the east, he made many of his own tools. I gather a number of them are apprentice-style exercises - but as I understand, John was an electrical engineer, not mechanical or fitting.

    My reason for wanting to share this is just how inspiring a thing it is. Certainly, I find it inspiring, especially when I am actually now using quite a number of the tools he made and enjoying their utility. Some are way better than my present bought ones.

    Many are purposeful in outlook but the fit and the attention to detail is great - and above all, they do their job well.

    The tapping tools are wonderful to use. The collection of g-clamps have been pressed straight into action. The thin v-blocks are very handy. The small vice is beautifully made and has already gained some use. The surface gauge is very well made. Even the hand-held 'pistol' hacksaw has come in handy.

    I hope seeing his tools live on makes him happy somewhere, because it darn sure makes me happy to use them. I mean that.

    So John, if you're listening somewhere in the great workshop of the here-after, thanks for the tools and the inspiration mate.

    Some pics of some of the tools:


    MVIMG_20180930_145535.jpgMVIMG_20180930_145544.jpgMVIMG_20180930_145603.jpgIMG_20180930_145634~2.jpg

    MVIMG_20180930_145335.jpgIMG_20180930_145350~2.jpgMVIMG_20180930_145357.jpg
    MVIMG_20180930_151432.jpgIMG_20180930_151450.jpgMVIMG_20180930_151458.jpg
    IMG_20180930_151649.jpgIMG_20180930_151701.jpg
    MVIMG_20180930_145925~2.jpgMVIMG_20180930_150200.jpg
    MVIMG_20180930_150550.jpgMVIMG_20180930_150613.jpg
    MVIMG_20180930_145202.jpgMVIMG_20180930_145205.jpgMVIMG_20180930_145220.jpgMVIMG_20180930_145232.jpg
    MVIMG_20180930_145804~2.jpgMVIMG_20180930_145847.jpgMVIMG_20180930_145907~2.jpg
    MVIMG_20180930_150851.jpgMVIMG_20180930_150945.jpg
    MVIMG_20180930_151233.jpgMVIMG_20180930_151237.jpgMVIMG_20180930_151244.jpgMVIMG_20180930_151315.jpg
    MVIMG_20180930_151806.jpg
    MVIMG_20180930_150835.jpg

    Greg.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Bundoora, Melbourne.
    Posts
    212

    Default

    Thank you for this post Greg, I'm sure john would be pleased his work is going somewhere where it's appreciated. Amazing stuff!
    -Scott

  3. #3
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    7,182

    Default

    Thanks for the pics.
    Lots like a bunch of tools nearly all suited to metal bluing!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    843

    Default

    Good call Bob, I have been thinking about giving the peroxide/salt boiling water thing a go. As it happens, John stored these in a metal container with oil in the base and a bunch of oily rags all over to keep them good, so no rust anywhere despite how old they might be.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    4,779

    Default

    Respect!

    Simon
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    N.W.Tasmania
    Posts
    1,407

    Default

    Thank you very much for taking the time to photograph and show us your new tool collection Greg. Although not highly ornamented, they are beautifully made non the less, and a joy to appreciate. It is really nice to see that they are in the hands of someone who finds them so inspiring and will give them the love they deserve whilst in your custody.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    StrayAlien,

    Thank You so very, very much for this post.
    Well made hand tools always fascinate me. The tools in this particular collection, even more so.

    John Gliddon was clearly a man of the times of the fifties and sixties. I stand in awe and envy of his skills.



    Grahame

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Sydney, NSW
    Posts
    1,249

    Default

    HI,

    Nicely made tools. The tapping handles are awesome.

    What are the Hex clamps used for? Holding think material?

    Ben.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bwal74 View Post
    HI,

    Nicely made tools. The tapping handles are awesome.

    What are the Hex clamps used for? Holding think material?

    Ben.
    Hi Ben,
    They are made to attach to a 600mm square.

    A typical application is using the square over some wooden stair
    rails to quickly and accurately mark out the morticed grooves to insert the wooden stair treads.

    Grahame

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by StrayAlien View Post
    Some pics of some of the tools:
    Some of the tools?
    If those shown are some, how many more are there?

    I for one would love to see some more, please! If it is not too much trouble. Pleeeeaaase!

    Grahame

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Riddells Creek, Vic.
    Posts
    831

    Default

    I wonder if these tools are actually shop made, as in, made in a home machine shop, or made as part of a first year apprentice training program? They are the same type of things that I made during my first year, although the designs are slightly different.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9

    Default Awesome Tools

    These are great tools Greg, thanks for taking photos and sharing. They indeed are very inspiring! John probably would be happy to know that his tools have been put to good use. Cheers.

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