One of the things I’d like to explore with this blog, as well as showing individual hand tools, is to to give an insight into some the British manufacturers responsible for making them.
I found this ‘Drabble and Sanderson’ 8″ dovetail saw on an auction site, 17ppi, and marked ‘Warranted’, ‘Sheffield’ and ‘Cast Steel’. The tool making industry of Sheffield is well documented, but I wanted to find out more about Drabble and Sanderson.
Several listings popped up on the internet, mostly marking Drabble and Sanderson as having premises at Steelhouse Lane, Sheffield (around 1825), then Ebenezer Works (around 1837) and finally the same works address, at Russell St. Maybe someone has more information about this?
Then, in the way that one does on the internet, some idle noodling around led me to this amazing account by ‘Brit’, on lumberjocks.com. It documents the breaching of Dale Dyke reservoir on March 11th, 1864. A local disaster which affected many people including Thomas Wilkinson and Robert Howden of Drabble and Sanderson. The other links listed by Brit are also worth reading. The internet is sort of amazing like that.
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5 replies on “Drabble & Sanderson (Sheffield, UK)”
Hi
Just read your article on the 8″ Drabble & Sanderson saw and found it an interesting insight into the past. i too collect and use old tools as they don’t make them like they used too. You may be able to shed some light on a saw i have just acquired from the local junk shop for a som. Actually it was priced up at £2 but as i only had £1.60 in change that’s what i paid “bargain”
Any how the saw a 8″ Drabble & Sanderson just as yours in the photo. But with the exception of some script stamped into the blade reading. Made expediently for William Marshal of Oxford street Manchester. It would be great if you have any further information on the providence of this saw.
Thanks
Alex
Hi Gary,
I was just doing some idle noodling myself and came across this blog post referencing my blog post. LOL. Thanks for the shout out. Love the site. Keep up the good work.
Take care,
Brit (Andy
Have Drabble & Sanderson Rip Saw – stamped Drabble & Sanderson London in small almost insignificant case on the blade.
On the handle there are 3 characters – W(a star logo)S in bold – stamped both sides of handle which is far more dominant than the small Drabble & Sanderson stamp.
P. Collett owner stamp also appears on both sides of the handle.
What is perhaps interesting is the “London” stamp.
Blade starts with 3.5 tpi at the handle and steadily opens to 5 tpi at the far end – although a Rip the teeth angle were for some time sharpened more towards a Panel Saw and not so far laid back as a cross cut saw.
Rip Cuts through thick stock very well.
I ended up here exactly as you ave done seen a Drabble and Sanderson 7 inch dovetail saw for sale on ebay but for 45 pounds so I wont be purchasing. I like to find out what I can about makers so thank yours was my first site, No need for any more research. Don
Thank you so much for this post and the link to Brit’s post too. Whilst clearing my parents’ house I’ve found a 9 inch D&S saw and wondered about its history. It must have been passed down from one of my grandparents. I am really interested in history and have now got sidetracked to the accounts of the Sheffield flood which I confess I had not heard of before. The dilemma now is what to do with it.