Throughout its history, TATHS has always provided a service to identify puzzling old tools. Queries can come from anyone - museum curators, collectors, or someone clearing out a relative's shed. Whatever the source, TATHS members like the challenge of identifying and explaining mystery objects! These "Whatsits" have been published in our quarterly newsletter - and still will be - but this section of the website will feature a selection of them, generally with bigger pictures than we can print in the newsletter. If you have any answers, or just guesses that might be helpful, you can add them in the comments. To submit a query, take some photos and email them with your question to our Queries Editor, at queries@taths.org.uk.
Maarten Sjouw would like to find out more about two planes and a drawknife which have irons marked "Iohn Green". The front handles are of a shape similar to a plane from 1769.
Jerome van der Meulen found this tool in a second hand shop in South Africa. It looks a bit like like a horse’s hoof pick, but not quite. Jerome would welcome our help in identifying this.
Dan Putnam recently purchased a small lot of shaves that included this particular example. He believes that it is some type of coach router, but despite searching he has been unable to find any other examples of this type.
Colin Jordan would be interested to know if any members have information about an Asprey's tool box which he purchased some years ago. There are a few items missing and he is keen to know more about them.