Jack Black VS Tablezilla!

Jack, I'd love to tag along on your travels...we share so many like interests:thumbup: the knives and variations of (love the glass saw) the tools...I'm a sucker for tools, odd and common. Really like that unique hammer second from the right:cool: Pardon my not knowing but what special task is that hammer intended for?

And....sorry I haven't reached out via PM for sometime, so busy, but a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my friend:)
 
paulhilborn said:
Jack, I'd love to tag along on your travels...we share so many like interests:thumbup: the knives and variations of (love the glass saw) the tools...I'm a sucker for tools, odd and common. Really like that unique hammer second from the right:cool: Pardon my not knowing but what special task is that hammer intended for?

And....sorry I haven't reached out via PM for sometime, so busy, but a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my friend:)
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Happy New Year Paul :) Wouldn't that be fantastic?! :) :thumbup: Paul, the first time I BOUGHT one, I didn't know what it was for! :D It's a glazing tool, used by cobblers and leather-workers :thumbup:
 
Hey jack awesome little pile you have there. I know it's not a knife but that pie server you have there what do you know about it? I zoomed in on it and can see some detail would you be willing to give us some better pictures of it from what I could make out it is very well made and detailed. Things that are made well and ornate with engravings interest me I love craftsmanship. To me it shows the heart and soul of the maker thanks in advance.
 
gonebad395 said:
Hey jack awesome little pile you have there. I know it's not a knife but that pie server you have there what do you know about it? I zoomed in on it and can see some detail would you be willing to give us some better pictures of it from what I could make out it is very well made and detailed. Things that are made well and ornate with engravings interest me I love craftsmanship. To me it shows the heart and soul of the maker thanks in advance.
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Thanks Keith, I believe it was made (or at least plated) by Arnold E Williams & Sons Ltd of Birmingham, England in the 1950's. I actually saw a similar item on sale a few weeks later, but I doubt it weighed a quarter of this one. It's close to midnight here, so I hope this crop of the photo above will suffice for now, but thanks for your interest, and I'll try to take some more photos tomorrow :thumbup:

 
As always Jack a most interesting table. :thumbup: You have a great eye for things from the past.
 
you do have a problem, Jack. fortunately, it's a good problem to have!

I'd put my money on you in this scrap, though.
 
Thanks Keith, I'll try to ensure it doesn't collapse on me! ;) :thumbup:
 
Jack, I always appreciate it when you invite us into your kitchen; it's invariably informative and entertaining! :thumbup::thumbup: A couple of examples from this thread are the Ampoule knife and the knife stands. I'd never seen (or even heard of) either before. The glass-cutting blades were a treat. The items that look like "double jacks on steroids" (jacks as in ball and jacks games) are knife stands? Can you explain their intended use (or is it exactly as you showed in your photo)?

My data-free impression (which may be totally inaccurate) is that you find more pen knives (blade on each end) than jack knives (blades on same end). Do you think that's true, and if so, is that a preference of yours when you're "on the hunt", or are there more pen knives than jack knives in Yorkshire? Another data-free impression of mine is that in mid-America, jack knives outnumber pen knives by a significant amount.

- GT
 
Jack = Magpie lol

I just love your Table, I hope you never clear it totally as then what would we do with that spar hour looking through all those magnificent old things?

I am very much like you my friend and just love the good ol' stuff!

Magnificent viewing my friend!
 
5K Qs said:
Jack, I always appreciate it when you invite us into your kitchen; it's invariably informative and entertaining! :thumbup::thumbup: A couple of examples from this thread are the Ampoule knife and the knife stands. I'd never seen (or even heard of) either before. The glass-cutting blades were a treat. The items that look like "double jacks on steroids" (jacks as in ball and jacks games) are knife stands? Can you explain their intended use (or is it exactly as you showed in your photo)?

My data-free impression (which may be totally inaccurate) is that you find more pen knives (blade on each end) than jack knives (blades on same end). Do you think that's true, and if so, is that a preference of yours when you're "on the hunt", or are there more pen knives than jack knives in Yorkshire? Another data-free impression of mine is that in mid-America, jack knives outnumber pen knives by a significant amount.
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Thanks GT, you're very kind. Knife rests were used to keep gravy-soiled knives off the tablecloth - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife_rest - some folks still use them! There are lots of designs, but what appeals to me about these is their simplicity. The poor didn't use them, and wealthier folk would have had silver or at least silver-plate, but these are just plain steel :)

There have always been far more penknives around here than jacks GT, they were the pattern most carried here, and for a long time. A lot of patterns produced were made mainly for export I think. I am sure you are right about jacks significantly outnumbering penknives in mid America too my friend :thumbup:

Campbellclanman said:
Jack = Magpie lol

I just love your Table, I hope you never clear it totally as then what would we do with that spar hour looking through all those magnificent old things?

I am very much like you my friend and just love the good ol' stuff!

Magnificent viewing my friend!
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Thank you very much Duncan :) :thumbup:

brianv said:
You never cease to amaze, Jack!
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Thanks Brian :D :thumbup:
 
The time: Many decades into the future!
The place: The Oxford English dictionary.
The Term: Jack's Table!
The Definition: A motley pile of very interesting and unusual cutlery-related items, usually found in a kitchen!
 
waynorth said:
The time: Many decades into the future!
The place: The Oxford English dictionary.
The Term: Jack's Table!
The Definition: A motley pile of ...
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.. Wait, is that a hand under there? Did it just move?!


Or, Jack's Table: where they found Jack, almost too late.

In all seriousness, Jack, I admire not only your consistent pursuit of knives and implements, but your faithfulness in highlighting and describing your discoveries for us. I usually find myself as interested in the ephemera as the knives, and hammers always, but of course the cutlery holds the lasting appeal in this midst (including, why is that old junk items are often so more appealing than newer ones of similar 'value'?].

Thank you!

~ P.

[Still backing Tablezilla in this affair.]
 
Jack Black said:
Thanks GT, you're very kind. Knife rests were used to keep gravy-soiled knives off the tablecloth - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife_rest - some folks still use them! There are lots of designs, but what appeals to me about these is their simplicity. The poor didn't use them, and wealthier folk would have had silver or at least silver-plate, but these are just plain steel :)

There have always been far more penknives around here than jacks GT, they were the pattern most carried here, and for a long time. A lot of patterns produced were made mainly for export I think. I am sure you are right about jacks significantly outnumbering penknives in mid America too my friend :thumbup:
...
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Thanks for the info about knife rests, Jack. I was under the mistaken impression that the device was used to display knives somehow. I suppose my lack of familiarity is a sign of my "inelegant" upbringing; when we wanted to keep gravy or jelly or whatever from our knives off the table, we just rested the knife on the edge of the plate!

Thanks also for your input on my musings about the population sizes of pen knives compared to jack knives. I think the regional differences are fascinating, and would be pleased to find a "theory" that accounts for the differences. Ever since I became aware of the plethora of pocket knife patterns, I've yearned to find data that show the relative popularity of various patterns.

- GT
 
My pleasure GT. I was brought up in a house partly-furnished in 'Fablon'-covered orange crates, so we didn't get to see a lot of knife rests either! :D I think they came into fashion among the rich at the time when people had until recently carried their own eating cutlery. When this began to change (and for a long time you were apparently well-advised to take your own), the hosts of dinner-parties would only provide one set of cutlery, as opposed to the multiple sets which only came much later. So when the plates were cleared away by the servants between courses, knife rests were provided to spare the fine tablecloths. Apparently, during this period, people laid their cutlery in the centre of the plates to indicate they had finished eating, as today, but with the handles inwards.

Try looking at the different style of billhooks sometime GT, every English town or region had its own unique shape once! :D I look forward to your theorising my friend :)
 
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