A flooring clamp (or cramp) is used for holding tongue and groove floorboards in place whilst laying a new floor. The ratchet handle is used to apply horizontal pressure to hold boards firmly in place until they are secured. “The General and Commercial Directory of the Borough of Birmingham, and six miles round; including Wolverhampton, Bilston, Walsall, West Bromwich” published in 1858 lists William Bissell as an ironmonger in Union Street, Wolverhampton. In the catalogue for the 1862 London Exhibition, three items manufactured by William Bissell were listed, including:- “BISSELL'S PATENT FLOORING CRAMP. The force of this cramp is fully equal to 1 ton. It is adapted to joists from 2 to 4 in. and is the most expeditious and easy in working of any cramp in use.” In the 1864 edition of “Williams's Manufacturers' Directory, for London and Principal Market Towns in England”, page 445, in listings for Wolverhampton, W Bissell is listed as a Patentee of flooring cramps, lifting jacks and proprietor of mortise locks; mortising machines, bench and vertical saw-frames". By 1871 the business was operating as Messrs. J. G. Bissell and Co. and the trademark on this item in our Collection was phased out. This information assists in allocating the provenance of this item to the late 1860s.This item is significant because it is representative of housing construction tools used in the Wodonga District which have evolved into present day tools.A cast iron clamp used to install tongue and groove floorboards. Maker's mark on on side. W. B. BISSELL PATENTEE WOLVERHAMPTONcarpenters' tools, housing construction

Wooden adjustable clamp with two parallel threaded tension screws that run perpendicular to two parallel planks that form the clamp. Tension screws also have one handle each.No visible markingstrades, carpentry, clamp, wooden, clamping, tools, building

Ship carpenters clamp also called a hook end clamp.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, clamp

Clamp, wooden. Large hand made wooden screw clamp, with 2 wooden horizontal pieces and 2 wooden screws. (1 of a pair; see 3074.4) flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, clamp, wooden clamp, hand made clamp, 19th century clapm, woodwork tool

Clamp, wooden. Large hand made wooden screw clamp, with 2 wooden horizontal pieces and 2 wooden screws. (1 of a pair; see 3073.4) L 52 x W 27 x D 4cm flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, clamp, woodworking tool, carpentry tool, hand made clamp, 19th century clamp

Printers clamp.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

G Clamp wooden with wooden screwflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Clamp wooden set of (2) lengths of wood bevelled at one end and standing parallel.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Planking Clamp wooden set 300mm x 50mm Holding mechanism length 190mmflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village