Wooden Clamps are my hobby

Introduction to the Site

Scope

The intent is to present the current state of knowledge about wooden clamps. The focus is on the American industry, from the early 1800s to the present. Some additional information about the industry in Europe is also available.

The site considers

hand screw clamps that are all wooden, both jaws and spindles;
hand screw clamps with wooden jaws, and threaded metal spindles;
bar clamps (to a lesser extent) with a wooden bar, and a threaded spindle in the headstock.

However, except when describing the range of products of a firm, the site does not consider

clamps that use cams, springs, or other mechanisms to apply pressure;
clamps that do not have jaws or blocks to apply pressure.

Those clamps made by craft workers and artisans for personal use are not of interest, in general. The focus is on clamps made or used in factories. The reason is primarily that almost no identification or information is available on particular artisans. IT's just too frustrating to do research.

Structure of the Site

The latest changes include organizing all pages into several Major Sections, and each Major Section is divided into Minor Sections:

Clamps as Products: Who made them (and what they looked like), sold them, used them
More Company Information: histories, models, patents, graphics, and regional connections
Clamps as Things: Care and Handling, Field Guide for Identification, and Prices
Introduction: Me and the Site, News and Research, Research Resources, Links, Policies, Thanks, Email, and the Journal
Services: Search, Register for Updates, Request Links, Join the Mail List

There are now several ways to navigate around the site. All sections are structured as trees. The tops of the sections are kept uptodate, as much as possible. Every page has been updated to use JavaScripts for navigation. This ensures that changes in navigation take effect immediately. However, every page also has enough hard coded connections to allow navigation to any other page.

Each page starts with a bread crumb to the top of site, the major section, and its minor section. Many pages have a Table of Contents at the top, to enable quicker access to points of interest within the page.
Those pages that head up a section end with cross links to the heads of other sections.
Each page ends with a navigation table. Some rows will let you navigate to other pages concerned with more details for a maker/ dealer/ user. Most rows correspond to a major section, and entries in a row to the minor sections.
Within each page may be links to related material of interest.

The navigation table provides links to major pages in the site, and cross links to related pages.

Introduction to the Author

For many years, I collected wooden clamps, and used them on various woodworking projects. Clamps are one of those basic woodworking tools; almost everybody has a few, and wooden clamps have a character all their own. Sometimes I like to use manual tools, and methods, to see how things were done before tools were made of metal, and powered by electricity.

Some wooden clamps I got as gifts, and some I bought in flea markets and shops. I could tell from their condition that some were old, but nobody could really tell me how old. I was frustrated when I went to the library and found there were no reference books on this topic.

So I talked to people, wrote letters, visited museums, joined societies , wrote more letters, read city directories and histories, talked to more people - I've had fun finding out about people and companies that made wooden clamps, an industry that lasted over a century, and which continues (in limited form) to the present.

This web site presents some of the things I've found out about clamps, their makers, their dealers, and their users. It includes information on the patents that some companies used, along with graphics from catalogs and histories. It also has some advice about how to care for clamps in your collection.

I've tried to separate fact, speculation, and opinion, but I'm sure there are places where I've messed up.

If you find things that need correction, if you want to add some information, or if you want to make a suggestion, please Email Me, using the link below.

Introduction to Other Things

If you are interested in old tools, then you probably will be interested in these Societies, and individuals, that deal with old tools. (I'll provide links and email addresses to any organizations or individuals as they get on the Web. Just keep me posted about your favorites - they may become mine too.)

National Organizations

American Regional Organizations

Museums and similar organizations

Magazines

Other Specialty Sites

generic clamp And now for an opinion poll that will lead you further into the site:

I think all wooden clamps are the same

I think every wooden clamp is different

Other Pages

This major section presents an introduction to the site. The subsections are:

last revised and validated