It is a sad day when, if we live long enough it comes time to set aside one's tools.
One day, some time ago, a patient of mine saw something in my office which led to a discussion about woodworking. I'm afraid (looking back with 20/20 hindsight) perhaps it was less discussion than discourse about my hobby.
A while later a board was left at the front desk, 4/4X3.5"x18". it was rosewood, quarter sawn.
Several days ago, he was in again, and said he'd been the one that left it. After thanking him he asked if I'd like some of his old tools, explaining he'd been a string instrument maker and repairman.
I said I was always interested in tools, even just talking about them.
He said he'd given most of his tools to someone that "said he was a violin repairman" but Mr. Kurt Glaesel had an expression on his etched face that made me feel as though he didn't really think so.
He asked too if I would like some little pieces of ebony. only a fool would have said no.
He handed me a box with a variety of many beautifully made tuning pegs for a number of stringed instruments. Most were ebony, some have little ivory beads imbedded in the ends and a few were a lighter (cherry?) wood.
There were a few small pieces of ebony, none square or true. Each had the stirrings of some piece of a musical instrument within them, none would yield much wood. yet all spoke of a Master Craftsman's touch. They were parts in progress, you see.
He asked if I'd like some finger planes, and apologetically commented that they had need of a little care, since they'd been stored for such a time. I replied I probably would not make the same uses of them as he had done, but "certainly I'd love to have them, thank you."
Today I was told (after he had gone) Mr. Glaesel had dropped by and had left "some toys for you".
There were a number of tools that would probably fall into the "Can you identify" threads, two smaller unusual micrometers that are cylindrically shaped and finger planes of several sizes with one or two having a convex sole.
Some were bronze, others cut from small blocks of ebony and one I think of steel.
All the irons (a heavy name for such little blades) had a radius.
Along with the tools was a "repair manual" for stringed instruments, I don't know if Mr. Glaesel wrote it, but at the bottom of the book it said in a nice big font. "Glaesel" and below his name and Coat of Arms was "String Instrument Division" The Selmer Company of Elkhart Indiana.
It turns out his family have a two hundred and fifty year tradition of violin making. He studied, among other places in Mittenwald violin makers' school.
I think I'm gonna gather a few of the stranger tools and invite him to lunch.
I bet there are some things he might share of his life that would be interesting indeed.
Tom