Historical information
This set of taps and dies tools was owned by Frederick William McDowell (Fred) (1880 to 15-6-1967). He was a wheelwright by trade. He made and repaired vehicles such gigs, buggies, jinkers, sulkeys, spring carts and farm wagons. His workshop was on the corner of Cramer Street and Raglan Parade in Warrnambool., previously the site of Fotheringhams, and after McDowell's, and still in 2023, occupied by Reece Plumbing Fred's workplace prior to retiring was at Bryant & Waterson's in Kepler Street, opposite the Criterian Hotel, making rubber tyred horse-driven farm wagons.
This Wiley and Russell hand operated, thread cutting Die and Stock, or Die and Tap, set’s patent carries the description
“The taper-headed screws adjust the size; the four side screws hold the cutters firmly in the holder. Marketed as the Wiley & Russell LIGHTNING SCREW PLATE.
The taper-headed screws are carried over from the J.J. Grant October 21, 1871 patent (no. 120,266). This patent was improved by Smart's Oct. 21, 1884 patent (no. 306,783).”
Dies are used to cut external screw thread, stocks are the tools that hold the dies in place with countersunk adjustable screws, and taps are the tools that make the internal threads. The tools would be used by farriers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights sailing and steam ship engineers for making new, or repairing old, threads in metal.
WILEY AND RUSSELL Manufacturing Company
The company Wiley and Russell was established in 1872 by Solon Wiley and Charles P Russell, whose uncle founded the J. Russell Cutlery Co. The company began with the purpose of manufacturing thread cutting tools in Green River U.S.
Significance
This tap and die set is an example of tools used by blacksmiths, farriers, wheelwrights and engineers on sailing and steam ships.
It is also an example of early U.S. made engineering tools.
Physical description
Tap, Die, Die Stock set of industrial tools, fitted inside original timber box with three instruction labels attached inside lid. The set is the “Wiley and Russell LIGHTNING SCREW PLATE Pat. Aug. 5, 1884”. The lid has three metal hinges and is secured by two metal hook and eye fittings. This set of Whitworth standard threads has metal die and stocks (seven), and taps (three - the case has provision for four more die). The manufacturer’s details and the sizes of the threads are impressed into the tools. The paper labels have instructions and a diagram for the use and care of the tools. Tools have a protective oil coating. Made by Wiley and Russell Manufacturing Co. of Greenfield, Massachusetts, U.S., c. 1884; the tools were patented in August 1884, U.S. Patent 303,060.
Inscriptions & markings
“Wiley & Russell MFG.CO, Greenfield, Mass, Pat Aug 5 1884.” “WHIT. STD.”
Subjects
- flagstaff hill,
- warrnambool,
- shipwrecked coast,
- flagstaff hill maritime museum,
- maritime museum,
- shipwreck coast,
- flagstaff hill maritime village,
- great ocean road,
- tap and die set,
- 1884 engineering tools,
- wiley and russell mfg co,
- lightning tap and die set,
- tap, die and stock set,
- screw thread cutting tools,
- taps and dies,
- stocks and dies,
- lightning screw plate,
- cutters,
- j.j. grant,
- patent no. 120266,
- solon wiley and charles p russell,
- wiley and russell,
- j. russell cutlery co,
- green river u.s,
- whitworth thread,
- fred mcdowell,
- frederick mcdowell,
- wheelwright,
- gig,
- buggy,
- jinker,
- sulkey,
- spring cart,
- farm wagon,
- 2-wheeled cart,
- horse cart,
- horse cart parts,
- jinker buggy,
- transport,
- vehicle,
- horse drawn,
- horse jinker,
- bryant & waterson
References
- Screw Cutting Die. U.S. Patent 303, 060 Directory of American Tool and Machinery Parts
