Michael Schaefer Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 So we all know that Paul Seller's predates Chris Schwarz professional work by a few years, but I found Paul's recent blog posts where he is effectively building an anarchist's toolchest rather interesting. https://paulsellers.com/2014/09/mere-toolboxes-speak-in-depth-on-vernacularism/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nod Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 This is interesting. One, because I'm a fan of Paul Sellers. Two, as my neighbor was clearing out her father's workshop after his passing, I came across a similar chest in the shop. Frankly, I'm quite sure it belonged to the previous owner/builder of the home (1937-1980'ish). I was in love with the large tool chest and it's sliding tills/drawers, but unfortunately, it was in such wear and water damage that it was not to be salvaged. I'm not sure if i need such a box personally, but I find the trend to be quite interesting, and fun to see everyone's interpretation. thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rozaieski Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 I've been working with Chris on stuff for the magazine for years, and he'll be the first one to tell you that he did not invent the tool chest. This style of tool chest has been in use for hundreds of years. Chris' book just repopularized what is in fact an ancient design. In fact, the main theme of the book really isn't about the chest at all. The tool chest is just a small piece of the bigger message. As for Paul Sellers' chest, he's just copying an antique one in his collection. While he is probably aware of Chris' book, I'd be willing to bet that he hasn't read it. Like I said, people were building these chests long before Chris chose to write about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CStanford Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 ... and people were also writing about these tool chests long before Schwarz began writing about them... Tool chests predate Sellers and Schwarz by 'just a few years.' Here's one by a master craftsman and built entirely by hand as is all of Konovaloff's work: http://tonykonovaloff.com/?page_id=12 I don't know how much 'anarchy' was involved in building it but I do know it took a lot of know-how and hand tool skills. Here is Konovaloff's article in FW on his chest (requires membership) this article appeared twenty three years ago this month (and has not been bettered in my opinion) in the Oct 1991 issue of Fine Woodworking: http://www.finewoodworking.com/woodworking-plans/article/a-cabinetmakers-tool-chest.aspx And then there's this book: http://www.tauntonstore.com/the-toolbox-book-jim-tolpin-070394.html And you haven't seen a fine tool chest until you see the late Jim Kingshott's chest featured in his dovetailing video: http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/dovetailswithjimkingshottdvd.aspx As somewhat of an aside, and from Tony's site, John Brown's unedited article on handwork. The edited article was originally published in Fine Woodworking: http://tonykonovaloff.com/?page_id=1064 Back to chests: and all of this is not to mention the treatment of chests by Bernard Jones, Percy Wells/John Hooper, and Charles Hayward, which along with the Konovaloff article (which is also in the Taunton book) essentially define this historic form. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Schaefer Posted October 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 I mostly found the fact that Sellers was building the chest quite fascinating and rather meant it at a joke that it was an 'anarchist's chest.' I started following Sellers before I even knew about Schwarz. Cstanford, thanks for the links. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CStanford Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 As far as I can tell, an 'anarchist's' tool chest (to use the book title to identify the form, and to exclude the novella that goes along with) is nothing more than a very simplified version of a cabinetmaker's chest. Charles Hayward has two such plans in two different books of his. In addition to the 'real deal,' Ernest Jones also shows a simplified version in one of his books as well, as do John Hooper and Percy Wells. Just for the record and all that jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weithman5 Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 i like these tool chests. i also like the wall mounted ones. i am a ways away from building either but.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CStanford Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 I mostly found the fact that Sellers was building the chest quite fascinating and rather meant it at a joke that it was an 'anarchist's chest.' I started following Sellers before I even knew about Schwarz. Cstanford, thanks for the links. Understood. Glad you like the links. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted October 9, 2014 Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 ... and people were also writing about these tool chests long before Schwarz began writing about them... And you haven't seen a fine tool chest until you see the late Jim Kingshott's chest featured in his dovetailing video: http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/dovetailswithjimkingshottdvd.aspx Cstanford, Would you recommend Kingshott's video as a good one for someone to learn to cut dovetails? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CStanford Posted October 10, 2014 Report Share Posted October 10, 2014 Yes, definitely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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