Gauge, Cutting

Description

Stationary cutting or slitting gauge consisting of a cherry base which appears to have been screwed to a bench, a square cherry stem secured to the base by a wood screw at either end, a movable fence with an iron or steel wear plate set into the bottom and held to the fence by four iron rivets. The fence is locked by means of a steel thumbscrew threaded into a captured square nut; pressure is applied to the stem by an iron pressure plate below that nut that is pushed down by the thumbscrew. A steel cutting blade extends through the stem and is held by a wedge. A beech screw extends up from a tapped hole in the base just below the cutter blade.

Notes

The gauge may have been used to cut veneers to width for oval boxes and lids.