80/60

William Eli Plested (Designer)

This is a small tool sharpener consisting of a zinc roller held in a cast iron frame. It has the words 'Plesteds Patent No. 8727' cast on the back, and was patented by William Eli Plested of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1888. It was designed for sharpening plane irons, chisels and other joinery tools after they had been ground, and required less skill and practice than the use of an oil stone.

MERL ‘Handwritten accession’ form (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Standard museum name: sharpener // Accession number: 80/60 // … // Recorder: DJE // Date: 27.10.80 // Description: small sharpener consisting of a zinc roller held by two side frames of cast iron which are fixed to a square stand. Also held to the frame, by wing nuts, is an iron rest which enables the tool being sharpened to be held firm against the roller which is rotated by a small handle. ‘Plesteds’ Patent No. 8727’ is cast on the back of the rest. // Dimensions: width of rest 9.5 cms stand 15 cms square // overall height 19.5 cms. // Associated information: none particular about this item. // In the patent specification, William Eli Plested is described as a joiner of Manor Park, Aylesbury, Bucks. // References: patent specification No. 8727 ‘Plesteds’ Improved means for sharpening plane irons, chisels and other joiners tools // 18 Jan. 1889.’, Patent specification No. 8727, 1888 – ‘Improved Means for Sharpening Plane Irons, Chisels, and other Joiners’ Tools // I, William Eli Plested of Manor Park Aylesbury Buckinghamshire, Joinder do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:– // My invention has for object to provide a ready and efficient means for sharpening plane irons chisels and other joiners tools after they have been ground, thereby doing away with the use of the oil stone and enabling inexperienced persons to properly sharpen their tools, which has hitherto required great skill and practice and a far longer time than is required when using my apparatus. A sharpening machine constructed according to my invention consists essentially of a roller or cylinder of metal, such as steel, cast iron, or zinc, mounted so as to be capable of being rotated, and of a rest or other suitable means for holding the tool firmly in position whilst being sharpened.’

Aylesbury

1888 - 1888