Usually, the mark is on the end of the movable
jaw. There is no room for it on this small example. However, the
date of the patent is incised on the slope of the fixed jaw.
That, and the distinctive shape, are enough to identify this as a
Tarbell.Top Page > Clamps as Products > Makers of Composite Clamps (CC) > Tarbell
Milford Town History identifies Wendell F Tarbell. However, it provides no details beyond his participation in the Town Band in 1890.
This design is sui generis: not the usual all wooden hand screw, but not the usual wood jaws and metal screws. Inasmuchas it has metal wing nuts, I have classified it with the composite clamps. There may be enough other oddities to define a special category.
Brown's National Antique Tool Auction, Catalog 9, lot 146, provides a description.
a cabinet maker's or wood carver's clamp, with double screws, one jaw fixed at end of screws, one jaw movable, with novel arrangement of nuts on screws.
Also riding on screws is wood piece of unknown purpose (to be held in vise?).
I have a copy of the patent for this clamp. However, the examples I have seen do not follow the patent closely.
This clamp was made in a range of sizes. All mine are the same size, but I have been lucky enough to borrow other examples. Thanks to Kimberly MacLoud for the loan of the 4 inch beauty pictured.
Usually, the mark is on the end of the movable
jaw. There is no room for it on this small example. However, the
date of the patent is incised on the slope of the fixed jaw.
That, and the distinctive shape, are enough to identify this as a
Tarbell.
W F Tarbell/Milford NH/ July 17, 1888
The jaws have a distinctive profile, with a scooped out end to accommodate the nut on the terminal spindle.
One jaw is fixed, the other rides the spindles.
The spindles lack handles, but instead have nuts. The terminal spindle has a wood nut, and a metal wing nut, as described in the patent.
The spindles are parallel, not opposed, as in most other clamps on this web site.
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