Brace and eyed auger bits were used for boring deep holes into timber, providing space for mechanical fasteners, such as bolts or spikes. Made of iron, the pictured tool comprises a Jennings type, double twist auger bit with a threaded point to draw the bit into the wood. The other end of the shank is shaped as an eye and fitted to a hand brace. Sometimes simple cross-bars were used instead of a brace. The eye design provides greater strength than a standard auger bit. This tool’s cradle further secures the bit, preventing unwanted twisting during use. Since the late 1800’s, brace and eyed auger bits such as this were used for boring holes in fence posts, bridge building and other heavy construction.Bit bolted on and held with hook. Brace probably blacksmith made. Bit commercially made. May have been used vertically. Surface pitted.auger, fencing, brace, blacksmith, tool, tools, farm, farming, churchill island

Cast iron double-springed fence wire strainer, registered and patented in 1916wire, strainer, tool, tools, farm, farming, churchill island

Alexander Mathieson & Sons Ltd ('& Sons', after c. 1890), of the Saracen Tool Works, Glasgow, advertised as 'manufacturers of planes, mechanical, engineering and edge-tools'. They received 'prize medals' at the London, Melbourne and Edinburgh International Exhibitions of 1851, 1862, 1880 and 1886, in their 'quest for perfection in tools'. Mathieson's vast output included specialised craft implements for coopers, ship's carpenters, tinsmiths and wheelwrights. The firm originated when master plane-maker John Manners opened premises in Saracen Lane, Glasgow, in 1792. 4 Alexander Mathieson (c. 1797–1852) took over his business in 1821, which he gave as the foundation date of his firm. He was later succeeded by his son, Thomas A. Mathieson (1822–1899), a prominent Glasgow magistrate and preceptor of Hutcheson's Hospital charitable institution. In 1854, Mathiesons moved to East Campbell Street, and had opened branches in Edinburgh, Dundee and Liverpool by 1876. The third generation comprised Thomas O. and James H. Mathieson (born 1867), the latter being a Glasgow bailie (councillor), whose estate totalled an enormous £150,939 in 1926. Mathieson's hand- and small machine-tools (e.g. bandsaws and beading machines) were exported worldwide, especially their 'heavy duty auger bits used... for boring railway sleepers'. Damaged wooden handle (not original) bit welded on to metal rod, handle welded on to rod,. Surface rustMathieson + (illegible)mathieson, auger, tool, tools, farming, churchill island

The adze is an agricultural tool, similar to an axe, but the blade is affixed perpendicular to the handle. Used primarily for smoothing or carving wood, the adze can also be used as a hoe. The wooden handles vary in length depending on their particular purpose and can be designed for one handed or two-handed use. This adze was made by Australian farming company, Hytest.Adze. Long, slightly curved wooden handle, with a steel arched blade perpendicular to the handle. Hytesthytest, adze, axe, tool, tools, farming, farm, churchill island

Round wooden handle. Large head with metal band at each end. Some paint stains.iron bound, wooden, mallet, tool, tools, hammer, churchill island

The splitter's axe was used to cleave timber apart into shingles or palings. A timber handle or haft would have been inserted through the socket. The cast iron blade was placed vertically into the timber end. The blade was then driven into the timber with a rough mallet while the haft was used to guide the split along the grain. As the timber split, the haft could be twisted to lever the two pieces apart. This tool is sometimes called a froe or frow.Machine made, painted black, cast. No handle. Shows signs of use. Socket warpedchurchill island, farm, tool, tools, splitter, splitter's, axe, paling, shingle

The cutting blade was used to cleave timber apart into shingles or palings. A haft (handle) would have been attached through the socket giving the tool an L shape. The base of the blade is driven into the timber with a mallet forcing timber into two parts along the grain. Twisting the haft then levers apart the two pieces. This can be repeated until several long strips of timber have been cut from a log. Also called a frow or froe. This tool allowed more accurate and controlled splitting over an ordinary axe and required less force.well used blacksmith made. No handlepaling, shingle, cutting, blade, tool, tools, churchill island, farm

An agricultural tool used by loggers, or farmers, the log splitting wedge has been used for thousands of years and was originally made from stone. They were either driven straight into the wood or into a previously made incision with the blade parallel to the grain. Using a sledgehammer or other tool hammered onto the flat end, the wedge is forced deeper into the log until the force splits the timber.well used, slight surface rust. Octagonal shaft to collar then wedge. Top badly burred over from use.splitting, wedge, log, lumber, tool, tools, churchill island, farm

An agricultural tool used by loggers, or farmers, the log splitting wedge has been used for thousands of years and was originally made from stone. They were either driven straight into the wood or into a previously made incision with the blade parallel to the grain. Using a sledgehammer or other tool hammered onto the flat end, the wedge is forced deeper into the log until the force splits the timber.wedge with groove to prevent sticking. Worn top, burred overwood, splitting, wedge, tool, tools, farm, churchill island

The adze is an agricultural tool, similar to an axe, but the blade is affixed perpendicular to the handle. Used primarily for smoothing or carving wood, the adze can also be used as a hoe. This adze is missing its wooden handle, which may vary in length depending on their particular purpose and can be designed for one handed or two-handed use. Rusted, well worn, blacksmith made with bias on blade. No handle. An adze is a tool similar to an axe.adze, churchill island, farm, axe, tool, tools, blacksmithing, smithing, blacksmith

purpose made with large spanner at one end of handle and single claw hammer at other endcombination, spanner, claw, hammer, tool, tools, churchill island, farm

large box spanner #2 cast; socket for extension. Shows screw marks from castingW E CARY LTDbox, spanner, tool, tools, churchill island, farm

Double ended (large/small) # 209 stamp. Has had welded repair on large end209 SHELDON AXLE COMPANYbox, spanner, tool, tools, double, welded, sheldon, axle, churchill island, farm

Square box spanner with hanging loop at other end. Tapered box. Rust and pittingbox, spanner, square, churchill island, tool, tools, farm

This box spanner was used in the early twentieth century to tighten the hubcaps on wire wheels. These were the standard wheels for early models of cars, as the quick detachable hubcaps meant they could be changed quickly. Although they were later replaced by the development of the cheaper pressed steel wheels in the 1920s, their lighter weight meant they were still used on luxury cars. This spanner was manufactured by ‘Wire Wheel Corporation of America’, also known as ‘Houk Manufacturing Company’, who were making wheels in Buffalo, New York, from 1910.Box spanner for wire wheels; tapered handle, hanging loop other end to spanner. surface rustWire Wheel Corp of America Buffalo NY B4-1005/H4.B4.CB4.CB4 5 Abox, spanner, tool, tools, churchill island, farm

The double-ended ring spanner served as a useful, manual tool for maintaining farm machinery. The hexagonal rings would be placed over a nut to secure it, before the spanner was rotated to tighten the nut. The ring design provides greater purchase, or grip on all sides of the nut, which in turn reduces the risk of rounding the nut, or slippage. Early spanners were mostly made from iron and hand-forged using an anvil and hammer. Since the mid-19th century, gravity or powered drop forging techniques were used to compress metal for greater strength. Ring spanners produced in the 20th century are mostly made of chrome vanadium steel.stainless steel, some pitting. One end slightly smaller than the otherdouble, ended, spanner, tool, tools, churchill island, farm

flat box spanner, surface rustJENBRObox, spanner, tool, tools, churchill island, farm

This instrument is a 'McKay Massey Harris Spanner P206'. These spanners were supplied with harvesters and other implements to be used by the farmer to maintain his equipment. The agricultural spanner was often of odd shapes to allow for use in confined spaces or because the one tool could be used for more than one function. Broken one end. Small box spanner and broken open spanner one end, square box spanner with two open spanners at other end. Rusted.1_06combination, spanner, broken, tool, tools, churchill island, farm

hand-made open ended spanner; rustyhandmade, hand, made, spanner, open, churchill island, farm, tools, tool

Blacksmith made box spanner with octagonal collar, attached to long iron handle with rounded end. Made from bar stock with collar extension piece added on1 1/2 box, spanner, blacksmith, blacksmithing, smithing, tool, tools, churchill island, farm

double ended open spanner. One end has angled jaw. Other end rounded (for over shaft) with tabs for locking into placedouble, open, ended, spanner, tool, tools, churchill island, farm

double ended spanner. Box one end; open the otherdouble, ended, spanner, box, open, tool, tools, farm, churchill island

open ended cast spanner. Heavy duty. Handle has 2 small drill holes7/8 [on jaw]cast, spanner, heavy duty, tool, tools, farm, churchill island

Alexander Mathieson & Sons Ltd ('& Sons', after c. 1890), of the Saracen Tool Works, Glasgow, advertised as 'manufacturers of planes, mechanical, engineering and edge-tools'. They received 'prize medals' at the London, Melbourne and Edinburgh International Exhibitions of 1851, 1862, 1880 and 1886, in their 'quest for perfection in tools'. Mathieson's vast output included specialised craft implements for coopers, ship's carpenters, tinsmiths and wheelwrights. The firm originated when master plane-maker John Manners opened premises in Saracen Lane, Glasgow, in 1792. 4 Alexander Mathieson (c. 1797–1852) took over his business in 1821, which he gave as the foundation date of his firm. He was later succeeded by his son, Thomas A. Mathieson (1822–1899), a prominent Glasgow magistrate and preceptor of Hutcheson's Hospital charitable institution. In 1854, Mathiesons moved to East Campbell Street, and had opened branches in Edinburgh, Dundee and Liverpool by 1876. The third generation comprised Thomas O. and James H. Mathieson (born 1867), the latter being a Glasgow bailie (councillor), whose estate totalled an enormous £150,939 in 1926. Mathieson's hand- and small machine-tools (e.g. bandsaws and beading machines) were exported worldwide, especially their 'heavy duty auger bits used... for boring railway sleepers'. Wooden smoothing plane with handle. Adjustable via wedge. Borer holes in handle.Ward blade. Plane made by Mathieson & Son Glasgow Best Guaranteed.plane, block plane, hand tools, carpenter's tools, mathieson, churchill island

Angled blade. Elm? Steel blade. Shaped top of wedge. Circle may be what's left of trade mark. Part of a set. Paint spots. plane, moulding plane, hand tools, carpenter's tools

A Spokeshave is an ancient woodworking tool, used to shape items by gradually shaving back the wood. Originally made from stone, they evolved to have wooden handles with a steel blade, and the type varied depending on its purpose. It could be used for wheel spokes, chair legs, paddles, bows, or arrows, and was an essential tool for farming and homesteads. More modern examples are now made entirely of metal.Cylindrical length of wood, with tapered handles at each end. The centre section has a steel insert with a brass guard strip, and there is a small crack on woodwork.spoke shave, woodwork, hand tools

The wood level has been around for over 100 years and this type is called a spirit level. It gets its name from the mineral spirit solution which is inside the level. The level is used to indicate how parallel (level) or perpendicular (plumb) a surface is relative to the earth. The spirit level is placed on the surface, if the surface is level the bubble in the tube will be in the centre between the lines, if the bubble is either side of the lines then the surface has a slope.Paint spots and wear at grooves. Wood, glass bubbles, brass cover over bubble. Round maker's seal missing.level, carpenter's tools, hand tools, churchill island

This mallet is handmade simply from a red gum block and dowel handle. It is complete and has been repaired with screws. Mallets were used to drive timber pieces together without damaging the work.Wooden mallet, with a long dowel length of wood for the handle, attached to a unshaped block of redgum as the head. Small paint stains, and two screws affixed in either end of the handle. mallet, hand tools, churchill island, redgum

This mallet is of a basic construction. It is a rough shaped head which has been reinforced with rivets. The handle is slim in relation to the mallet head. Timber mallets were used to knock timber pieces together.Wooden mallet, with a rectangular replacement handle affixed to a large block of wood. Two rusted rivets are affixed through the top of the block, which is missing a chunk from one side. mallet, woodwork, carpenter's tools, churchill island