Dictionary of tools used in the woodworking and allied trades, c. 1700-1970

by R.A. Salaman

Since its first publication in 1975, R.A. Salaman's Dictionary of Woodworking Tools has come to be recognized as a definitive pioneering reference work, one of unparalleled value to craftsmen, collectors, antique dealers and all who are interested in the subject of woodworking tools and their uses. His rich language describes and explains the tools, not only of the more obvious woodworking trades (such as the cabinetmaker, chairmaker, joiner, coachbuilder, cooper, shipwright, plane maker, wheelwright and instrument maker) but of the less obvious trades as well, such as broom and brush makers, tree feller, hoop maker, upholsterer, millwright, coffin maker and window maker. The present edition is a substantial enlargement of the original work, revised and updated by Philip Walker, himself an authoritative historian-collector of tools. 546 pages. Thousands of illustrations. 7" x 10". Soft cover.

Genres: Woodwork, Reference

545 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource on historic tools and their uses. Written in 1975 and drawing on 30 years of research by the author, including visiting numerous workshops to interview people who might remember some of tools that could otherwise have been completely forgotten. Indeed for many tools we know their names. Very useful when trying to identify some weird niche tools (eg. certain types of coopers' gimlets), or simply to flick through. Interesting to read the sections where he struggled to find sufficient information, such as some of the tools used by shipwrights. He's long dead, but it would be interesting to see an updated version drawing on some of the recent research and findings. The book is available in full from archive.org.

[Ray]

Salaman's book is utterly outstand, almost encyclopedic in its attempt to cover all the wood working tools known. In the 1990 to early 2000 was when I bought a copy of the 1989 Revised Edition published by Taunton Press in 1990. It has helped educate me about tools I was unaware of, and it has helped guided my efforts to buy the kinds of tools I wanted to specialize in. If you are a serious tool collector this book will help educate you as to a lot of very good basic knowledge on almost any of the tools you are interested in. It is profusely illustrated with professional drawing of tools that originated for any number of manual or catalogs of the different companies that use to sell these tools.... You will not be disappointed in having this book for becoming more knowledgeable about them.