Scrimper's Fretworking Site

In the early days of fret-working, sawing was usually carried out with just a simple hand frame. Treadle machines were available from the 1890's but certainly in the UK they were out of reach for most fret-workers, for example in 1912 the Hobbies Imperial treadle machine cost just over £2.00, this seems quite a low price but you have to take into account that in 1912 the average working man was only paid around £67 per year, around £1.29 per week. Two companies dominated in sales of fretwork tools and supplies; Hobbies Ltd and The Handicrafts Company. Most of their customers would have used a hand frame, and both companies offered a good choice of such saws.

This page is devoted to hand frames, cutting tables, fretwork drills and fretwork outfits.

Hobbies Hand-frames and outfits

Hobbies Telescopic hand frame

The telescopic hand-frame was first offered by Hobbies in 1910. The frame was described as strong and light but also rigid. The saw also featured a quick blade tension release cam, and was adjustable from 12 inches (305 mm) to 22 inches (559 mm)

The 'Telescopic was sold for 4/- (20 pence) in 1912.

In 1912, the frame was offered between 2/- (10 pence) and 3/- (15 pence) depending on the length chosen. For an extra 9d (4 pence) you could have a nickel plated, polished frame with a superior polished handle!

Hobbies standard lever frame was described by themselves as "the most popular Hand-frame in the world, a tool of which any worker would be proud."

Two features made this saw a success; the first being the quick tension clamp on the top blade holder, which made blade changing and internal cuts so much quicker. Secondly the long screw in the handle connected to the lower blade holder, operated by the small knob at the bottom of the handle, which moved the blade holder up and down, allowing shorter or broken blades to be used, rather than throwing them away.

The frame was available in sizes from 12 to 20 inches (305 mm to 508 mm) .

It is important to hold the saw correctly, for a good smooth cut, the saw must be held as near as vertical as possible, otherwise a bevel cut will occur, resulting in a different and distorted pattern on the back of the work.

Hobbies Lever frame

Later, lever frames were given a more rounded appearance.

Hobbies outfits from 1912

Hobbies outfits from 1926

Above and left

Perhaps the strangest fret-machine you ever did see, was this one is from 1912. I have never seen one, and cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to work. I suppose it's like using a treadle machine, only using the hands rather than the feet.

Using a modern, electrically driven machine, at least you have two hands free to guide the work, rather than just one with this (unless you had a 'slave' to turn the handle). Although, with a hand-frame, you only had the one hand free so perhaps one soon got used to it.

1937 Coronation

On May 12th 1937, the coronation of King George the VI took place. Never one to miss an opportunity, Hobbies dutifully offered a special coronation outfit, complete with a design for a model of the coronation chair. They also offered several coronation related designs, such as the ones shown below:

The chair shown above is one that I made from the original Hobbies plan back in the 1980's.

Handicrafts Hand frames and outfits

Handicrafts also sold a range of fretsaws and outfits, although unlike Hobbies, they did not have a factory to make them and certainly in the early days, sold mostly tools imported from other countries such as Germany. Despite the fact that Hobbies proudly 'boasted' that all their saws were of British manufacture, from their own factory. A considerable selling advantage in the years after WWI.

The Saws below are from Handicrafts 1914 catalogue

Handicrafts boxed outfits

Handicrafts offered some beautifully designed outfits, although as mentioned above they imported many of their tools, unlike Hobbies who manufactured in their own factory.

Next Page. Treadle Machines

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