Early Tools of New Jersey and the Men Who Made Them, by Alexander Farnham. 190 Pages. Clothbound. Sometimes our focus as collectors seems unduly fixed on the prominent manufacturers who came to dominate the market and whose products are consequently very well known. Many beginning collectors, who naturally gravitate toward Stanley tools because of the large amount of information available, are unaware of the rich history of manufacturing before the scale of production that national distribution made possible had the effect of bringing a sterile homogeneity to those hand tools still being produced. In his masterful historical account of the many specialized toolmakers of Nineteenth Century New Jersey, Alexander Farnham has provided the means for collectors to focus on the distinctive and varied products of literally hundreds of manufacturers. Illustrated with photographs and early advertising and thoroughly indexed, this book carefully examines the many makers of tools of every sort. A superb reference. This book produced a flood of additional information and examples, which are documented in Search For Early New Jersey Toolmakers. UNAVAILABLE (BK-0027)
