~AUDIO~---images---comment---transcript---notes---links---site navigation
Sorry, I haven't yet recorded this document.
audio---images---~COMMENT~---transcript---notes---links---site navigation
Here is a letter to Will from his father-in-law, W.J. Farmer, who is writing about manly things like rip saws, dado heads, and emery wheels. I don't understand a bit of it, and I keep thinking of how Jane Austen never wrote a scene involving only men because she could not know how men talk to each other when there are no women around. So when I read this letter I'm utterly charmed because I feel I'm eavesdropping on a scene that Jane Austen would have loved to write, if only she could have.
audio---images---comment---~TRANSCRIPT~---notes---links---site navigation
October 3 1922
My dear Will,
A letter from Kathleen rec'd this morning advised your return. Some swank to run 300 miles on a stretch! I congratulate you upon the endurance test. I have been having an endurance test on my own acct with "Flexway". I wasted much time in the endeavor to find a firm to manufacture the plant on royalty [???], that being the Billingsley Companys prime wish. I waited nearly three weeks on Vickers bit + finally they returned my papers with thanks. I then realized that the field was probably too small to permit of the manufacturing policy being actuated with success + with the conditions laid down by the Billingsley Co. I am now waiting on some people who are rather enthused + who I feel confident will work well upon an agreed basis, provided the way is not blocked by another American wood working machinery firm whose productions they handle. A letter is now on the high seas making enquiry to which a cable answer will come next week + then I hope to send you some good news. I have not yet written the Billingsley Company preferring to hold off until there is something definite to report.
The ground is covered in a degree by a competing machine, of which I shall send particulars in due course, in the "Elliott Electric Combination Woodworker" which will Rip, Cross-cut, Bore, Trench Surface up to 6" wide, Cut simple and compound mitres +c. It is fitted with a 2hp motor from which other machines can be driven. It is not flexible or portable but I can see it would be an easy matter to mount it on 4 wheels to move from place to place. During last week the makers say they booked orders for 11 machines + they can deliver in from 8 to 10 days.
It has 12" dia Rip-saw 12 " dia Cross cut saw 2 on a side cutters One 7/8 " wide dado head with knives [???]. One solid 1/4" wide Dado head one drill chuck's [???] to take 5/8" dia shank + one Emery wheel. It can use 1 3/4" wide Dado head + circular saw - up to 14" dia. These details will give you a fair idea of the machine. Its space is 5', x 3'9", x 4' high. They publish a list of over 530ases [???] in the U.K. since May 1919.
The Elliott woodworks must be know in the U.S. and Canada - probably you came across it on your journey.
In the last event I may offer the Flexway to the makers of "Elliott" - they are located in Halifax Yorkshire, but I shall not have occasion to do this unless the Am. firm referred to block the way.
We return from here on Oct 28 - meanwhile are quite well.
Mauretania is due at Southampton tomorrow. Hope soon to meet your brother.
Sincerely
Daddy
My dear Will,
A letter from Kathleen rec'd this morning advised your return. Some swank to run 300 miles on a stretch! I congratulate you upon the endurance test. I have been having an endurance test on my own acct with "Flexway". I wasted much time in the endeavor to find a firm to manufacture the plant on royalty [???], that being the Billingsley Companys prime wish. I waited nearly three weeks on Vickers bit + finally they returned my papers with thanks. I then realized that the field was probably too small to permit of the manufacturing policy being actuated with success + with the conditions laid down by the Billingsley Co. I am now waiting on some people who are rather enthused + who I feel confident will work well upon an agreed basis, provided the way is not blocked by another American wood working machinery firm whose productions they handle. A letter is now on the high seas making enquiry to which a cable answer will come next week + then I hope to send you some good news. I have not yet written the Billingsley Company preferring to hold off until there is something definite to report.
The ground is covered in a degree by a competing machine, of which I shall send particulars in due course, in the "Elliott Electric Combination Woodworker" which will Rip, Cross-cut, Bore, Trench Surface up to 6" wide, Cut simple and compound mitres +c. It is fitted with a 2hp motor from which other machines can be driven. It is not flexible or portable but I can see it would be an easy matter to mount it on 4 wheels to move from place to place. During last week the makers say they booked orders for 11 machines + they can deliver in from 8 to 10 days.
It has 12" dia Rip-saw 12 " dia Cross cut saw 2 on a side cutters One 7/8 " wide dado head with knives [???]. One solid 1/4" wide Dado head one drill chuck's [???] to take 5/8" dia shank + one Emery wheel. It can use 1 3/4" wide Dado head + circular saw - up to 14" dia. These details will give you a fair idea of the machine. Its space is 5', x 3'9", x 4' high. They publish a list of over 530ases [???] in the U.K. since May 1919.
The Elliott woodworks must be know in the U.S. and Canada - probably you came across it on your journey.
In the last event I may offer the Flexway to the makers of "Elliott" - they are located in Halifax Yorkshire, but I shall not have occasion to do this unless the Am. firm referred to block the way.
We return from here on Oct 28 - meanwhile are quite well.
Mauretania is due at Southampton tomorrow. Hope soon to meet your brother.
Sincerely
Daddy
audio---images---comment---transcript---~NOTES~---links---site navigation
1.
THE PRODUCE BROKERS COMPANY, LIMITED
Here what WJ's obituary says:
1933-09-02 OBITUARY FOR WJ FARMER
Later he became connected with the London naval stores trade, and was with the Produce Brokers Company, one of the leading naval stores houses of Great Britain. Representing it he came to to Savannah when it opened its branch here, and continued to manage its affairs in Savannah for a number of years.
2.
Some swank to run 300 miles on a stretch!
I think it must be that Will drove a car 300 miles. But surely he took a train for his trip up to Massachusetts. So I am confused, but maybe another letter will clarify things for me.
3.
Will mentions Flexway in a letter to Kathleen a couple of months before this one. But what is it?
1922-08-21 LETTER FROM WILL TO KATHLEEN
I think I will try some more places with the Flexway.
4.
Billingsley Company
No luck.
5.
The ground is covered in a degree by a competing machine, of which I shall send particulars in due course, in the "Elliott Electric Combination Woodworker"
The best that Googling could do for me was a Dominion Supreme Elliot Universal Woodworker.
6.
It has 12" dia Rip-saw 12 " dia Cross cut saw
dia = diameter. I had to Google to figure that out, so Google's good for something after all.
7.
One solid 1/4" wide Dado head
Merriam-Webster says a dado is:
a power-saw tool made up of two circular saws of equal diameter and one or more chippers and used for cutting flat-bottomed grooves.
8.
Mauretania is due at Southampton tomorrow. Hope soon to meet your brother.
The Mauretania sailed between New York and Southampton. Will mentioned in an August letter Fred's upcoming departure for his second missionary stint in Angola:
1922-08-27 LETTER FROM WILL TO KATHLEEN
I don’t know yet which way I will go but think it likely that it will be the northern route. Fred is coming with us. He sails for England on Sept. 20th, and from Southampton for Portugal on Oct. 6th.
But as of October 7, WJ and Annie had not met Fred in London: Will's mother-in-law wrote:
1922-10-07 LETTER FROM ANN FARMER TO RUTH AND KATHLEEN
Received a letter from you Babs, so far Fred has not turned up
THE PRODUCE BROKERS COMPANY, LIMITED
Here what WJ's obituary says:
1933-09-02 OBITUARY FOR WJ FARMER
Later he became connected with the London naval stores trade, and was with the Produce Brokers Company, one of the leading naval stores houses of Great Britain. Representing it he came to to Savannah when it opened its branch here, and continued to manage its affairs in Savannah for a number of years.
2.
Some swank to run 300 miles on a stretch!
I think it must be that Will drove a car 300 miles. But surely he took a train for his trip up to Massachusetts. So I am confused, but maybe another letter will clarify things for me.
3.
Will mentions Flexway in a letter to Kathleen a couple of months before this one. But what is it?
1922-08-21 LETTER FROM WILL TO KATHLEEN
I think I will try some more places with the Flexway.
4.
Billingsley Company
No luck.
5.
The ground is covered in a degree by a competing machine, of which I shall send particulars in due course, in the "Elliott Electric Combination Woodworker"
The best that Googling could do for me was a Dominion Supreme Elliot Universal Woodworker.
6.
It has 12" dia Rip-saw 12 " dia Cross cut saw
dia = diameter. I had to Google to figure that out, so Google's good for something after all.
7.
One solid 1/4" wide Dado head
Merriam-Webster says a dado is:
a power-saw tool made up of two circular saws of equal diameter and one or more chippers and used for cutting flat-bottomed grooves.
8.
Mauretania is due at Southampton tomorrow. Hope soon to meet your brother.
The Mauretania sailed between New York and Southampton. Will mentioned in an August letter Fred's upcoming departure for his second missionary stint in Angola:
1922-08-27 LETTER FROM WILL TO KATHLEEN
I don’t know yet which way I will go but think it likely that it will be the northern route. Fred is coming with us. He sails for England on Sept. 20th, and from Southampton for Portugal on Oct. 6th.
But as of October 7, WJ and Annie had not met Fred in London: Will's mother-in-law wrote:
1922-10-07 LETTER FROM ANN FARMER TO RUTH AND KATHLEEN
Received a letter from you Babs, so far Fred has not turned up
audio---images---comment---transcript---notes---~LINKS~---site navigation
LINKS TO OTHER RELEVANT PAGES IN THIS WEBSITE
DOCUMENT LISTS FOR PEOPLE:
- WILL: DOCUMENTS ----- Incoming
- FRED: DOCUMENTS ----- Related
- KATHLEEN: DOCUMENTS ----- Related
- FARMERS & GRAYS: DOCUMENTS ----- WJ , Annie
audio---images---comment---transcript---notes---links---~SITE NAVIGATION~
WHERE AM I?
WHAT ARE THE PREVIOUS PAGE AND THE NEXT PAGE?
WHERE CAN I FIND THIS DOCUMENT IN OTHER LISTS?
- COMPLETE DOCUMENT LIST BY DATE
- DOCUMENTS BY WHERE THEY WERE WRITTEN ----- United Kingdom
- DOCUMENTS BY SOURCE ----- Barbara