I started on this project and within weeks discovered that this subject cannot be totally dealt with on this page. There are simply too many tools, too many slightly different tools and too many entries in the catalogues to be able to actually put everything down on paper and keep all the tools in line and subject together.
Therefore the best that I can do with this subject is show all the pages that dealt with Coopers’ Tools over the years and let you sort it all out as to whether your tool fits this description. Sorry!!
So we start with the first indication that Wm. MARPLES made tools for the Cooper Trade in the 1846 Price List:
From there we go to the 1862 Catalogue entries:
Then to the 1873 entries:
The 1888 Catalogue entries are next:
1897 Catalogue entries:
I am sorry that I cannot make these images larger to make them more easily read…I am restricted in the width by the programme.
1909 Catalogue entries:
The 1921 issues follow:
The 1928 Catalogue entries are here:
1938 entries:
The 1959 Catalogue sees a drastic reduction in tools offered:
ALL of the tools above shown in the 1959 Catalogue were still available up to the November 1963 Price List. The April 1964 Price List shows that none were then available, so when C&J Hampton [RECORD] took over, all the old non-profitable tools were abandoned as per the wishes of the bean-counters.
Coopers’ Straight Spokeshave:
Coopers’ Handled Tap Borer:
Gimlets…Shell and Twist:
1201 Belfast-Pattern Crum Knife:
COOPERS’ ROUND SHAVE:
It is hard to judge from just a description, but this Round Shave may have been listed in the 1846 List but definitely is shown as Item#162E ‘Best London Pattern Round Shave‘ in the 1888 Catalogue. In 1897 the number has changed to #162, and in 1909 it changed to #1207 with this number enduring until the last listing shown in 1938.
Only the #1206 Round Shave is shown in 1959.
COOPERS’ COMPASS:
Why Coopers needed a special compass is not known but they first appear in the 1873 Catalogue and at sizes by individual inches of 5-24. Numbered 1123
In the 1888 Catalogue the range seems to be somewhat diminished to: 8;9;10;12;14;16;18;20 inches.
In the 1897 Catalogue the range was again reduced to 8,9,10,12,14,16,18 inches . Item # 1164. The number changed to # 3330 in 1909 and this number lasted until 1928 in the same sizes. In 1938 there are no listings so we can assume that the product line was dropped c.1935?
Below is a nice example of a 10 inch Cooper’s Compass:
