BOW SAWS [TURNING SAWS]:
Details on this type of saw can also be found in the year by year catalogues under ‘SAWS‘.
These saws were always called ‘Turning Saws‘ in all MARPLES catalogues up to 1965, when the term ‘Bow Saws‘ was first shown.
The 1846 List shows these ‘Turning Saws’ as being available in a Beech wood frame in 1o”-20″sizes and as being quite fancy in their design. They had Boxwood handles and Brass Collars. The front handle was introduced as being quite rounded and the rear handle as being elongated Round. This handle shape [if we are to believe the catalogue pictures] endured up to 1965+. As was usual at this early time [1846], no numbers were associated with the saw.
Saw numbers and dates across: 1897; 1909; 1921; 1928; 1938; 1959; 1965
1873 Listings:
The saws are now listed with item #523 and #524….the latter having Boxwood handles. At this time the name ‘Bow Saw‘ was reserved for an Iron Framed ‘Lancashire Style’ hacksaw Item # B1345 for cutting metal.
1897 Listings:
By 1897 the numbers had changed from #523 to #691; #524 to #692 and #693 being a London Pattern Octagonal Boxwood handle variety.in sizes 10″-22″ [The listing states ‘sizes up to 10″ but those sizes are not stated]. The Bow Saw for cutting metal was re-numbered to #1460.
1909 Listings:
At this time the Wire stretched Turning Saw is first seen. #691 became #2400 , #2400A was the wire stretched variety. #692 became #2401 , #2401A was the wire stretched variety. #693 became #2402 and #2402A was the wire stretched variety.
1921 Listings:
By 1921 the listing of both #2402 and #2402A had been removed. [These were the London Pattern Octagon Boxwood handled variety]
1928 Listings:
Only now is the term ‘Turning and Bow Saws‘ listed. Listed are #2400; #2400A; #2401 and # 2401A
1938 Listings:
Listed are #2400; #2400A; #2403 and #2403A The listings of #2403 and #2403A are noted as now being made of just ‘Beech’, not of ‘Best Beech’, [i.e a lesser quality and price] . Item #2401 [Boxwood handle] is no longer available.
1959 Listings:
Listed are Items #2400; #2400A; #2303 and #2403A . The picture [below] still shows a totally round and short front handle and this was certainly in effect in 1952 as I have a WD↑ 1952 marked example. Item #2400 and #2400A [Best Beech] are shown as being available in 8″-24″ lengths.
Item #2403 and #2403A are shown as being available in 8″-16″ lengths.
Below is a 2400A 12″ size:
1965 Listings:
By 1965 the only listing is for #2400 ‘Best Beech throughout‘ and only available in 10″ and 12″ sizes. They are now only called ‘BOW SAWS‘ and no wire stretcher option was available, only ‘twine strained’. The picture also still shows the front handle as being totally rounded, not elongated rounded.
1973 Listings:
The M2400 ‘Best Beech’ twine strained is the only offering in 10″ and 12″ sizes. The picture now shows both handles as being elongated round.
Price changes over time: Best Beech 12″ size frame.
1897-1921 5/- each; 1928-1938 7/- each; 1959 27/- each; 1961 31/- each; 1962 32/6d each; 1964 35/- each; 1965 36/- each; 1966 38/9d each; 1969 53/6d each
Types:
Type:1
This would be the first issue noted in the 1844 price sheet and shown as being quite fancy in the 1861 catalogue. The same cut is shown in 1873, but is now first numbered 523. It is doubtful that you will ever come across an example of this early form. The front handle is only slightly shorter than the rear handle.
Type 2:
This is the shape and figure generally seen and it has a small rounded front handle pinned through to the front brass blade holder. The rear pinned handle is an elongated round handle. The handles do not, at this stage, have brass rings separating them from the frame. The impressed mark is to be found at both ends of the middle Beechwood stretcher on the side frames. The short Beechwood tightening arm, through the twine, may be straight sided as shown. It is not a good idea to drill a hang hole in the frame at the point of maximum stress , as you will see here!
Type 3:
This saw differs from Type 2 in that the handles are not ‘pinned’ in place, but are only joined to the brass blade holders via a brass dowel portion of that casting. You can now see that part of that casting contains a round brass plate that forms a contact point between handle and frame. The frame is again marked on both ends of the middle Beechwood stretcher, with a different MARPLES mark. The short Beechwood tightening arm may be slightly tapered as shown.
Type 4:
This is the last style manufactured and it has a white nylon washer in each handle assembly as shown. The middle stretcher shows the only MARPLES mark in Black .
Below is a #2400A showing the thick ‘wire’ in place of the usual twine.
Below is a 10″ London Pattern Boxwood Handled Turning saw. These appeared around the 1890s in sizes less than 10″and up to 22″ as Item #693 and changed to #2402 in 1909. They are not listed in 1921.
Below is an 8″ example of #2402:
It appears that Bow saws [ #M2400?] were available until at least 1987.
COMPASS SAWS:
Saw numbers and dates across: 1897; 1909; 1921; 1928; 1938; 1959; 1965
There were many Item# changes and length changes to Compass saws over the years as can be seen in the chart above. [0 = available; — = not available]
Length changes are here:
1897: #1322 10-20″
1909: ‘Henry’ #2616 10-18″ Curved handle #2617 12″
1928: ‘Henry’ #2524A 10-16″ and ‘Best’ #2524 10-20″
1938: Both ‘Best’ and ‘Henry’ were 10-16″
1959: ‘Best’ #2594 was in 10-16″
Below is the listing of 1938:
Below is a photo of an 18″#2524 c.1928
As you can see, a Compass saw blade was included with the ‘Nest of Interchangeable Saws‘. However, you will usually find only the Table saw blade attached to the handle as this was the most popular and the other blades were ‘lost’. The blades were inserted by loosening the 2 handle bolts and slipping in the saw blade, which had a slot cut as shown below:
These ‘Nest of Saws’ were available starting c.1909 and were produced up to c.1970. In 1909 they were numbered as #2630 Best Quality with #2631 being Medium Quality. There was a number change in 1928 with only best quality being available as #2525.1/2 . In 1938 the best quality is #2595 with a Cheaper quality to be had in #2595C, and this was echoed in 1959. But in 1965 only #2595 was available and nothing is shown in the 1971 Catalogue. In the 1965 Catalogue below it is noted that the edges only of the handle are polished.
KEYHOLE SAWS:
Saw numbers and dates across: 1897; 1909; 1921; 1928; 1938; 1959; 1965
Below is the 1928 Catalogue entry for #2440 Beechwood handled Keyhole saw with a saw from that era:
The 2 saws shown below are a bit of a mystery to me. They do not have pictures in any Catalogue, but I believe may be Amateur or Children’s saws.
The larger one at 8 inches is the older and displays a more refined detailed handle than the younger 6 inch example. Any information on these saws would be gladly accepted!!
