Object number
51/424
Description
The bow saw has a blade which can be adjusted to the angle of the cut desired, and is also known as the 'frame saw', 'sweep saw' or 'web saw'. This bow saw has a narrow coarse-toothed blade with a wooden frame, twisted cord and toggle stick. It was found by the donor in Admington circa 1946.
Physical description
1 bow saw: metal [blade] & wood
Archival history
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This one man instrument has its narrow blade strained along the margin of the frame rather than in its centre. It was and still is preferred to the open hand saw in some parts of the world (e.g. France and China), due to the adjustable character of its blade. The craftsman is able to adjust it according to the angle of the cut desired. The bow saw is also known the FRAME SAW, SWEEP SAW and WEB SAW. Its origin is unknown but a bow saw was illustrated in a book printed in Venice in 1482. // It consists of a very narrow blade with the teeth slightly raked to cut one way. This blade is fitted to two arms which are at right angles to the blade. Parallel to the blade is the central brace or frame fulchrum [sic] which is fitted to the arms by a loose mortice joint. At the margin of the frame, joining the two arms is a wire or cord strand, in the centre of which is fitted a piece of wood for twisting the cord or wire and thus tightening or slackening the frame over the blade. // This bow saw whose origin is unknown, has a blade .75 inches wide and 19.5 inches long. This is fixed to the two arms, one of which is 19.5 inches and the other 14.5 inches long. The arms are joined at their margin by a strand of wire 19.5 inches long and a twist stick in the centre of the wire is 8 inches in length.'
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\35 series negatives\Scans\35_532.tif - High resolution image
