H.M.M. square

[jmk89]

I have recently acquired a nifty little square made by H.M.M. Limited in England. The one that I have has some dark drab green paint on the handle - does anyone know whether this is a colour that the maker used (like Record blue) or is it possible the result of some earlier restorer?

Cheers

Jeremy

PS I haven't worked out how to include pictures but if you want to see a picture of another example of the square there is one at www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=53504

[paulchapman]

Hi Jeremy,

I have one of those little squares somewhere. Definitely no sign of it ever having paint on the handle.

Cheers

Paul

[Alf]

Dunno, Jeremy - bit difficult to tell with mine after the amount of cleaning it needed!



Cheers, Alf

[jmk89]

Thanks for that, Paul and Alf.

Do you know anything about HMM Limited (which I assume is the company that acquired the patent rights from the inventor of this square, Harry Millward, in which case it is likely to be a Birmingham firm of the immediately pre-war (WWII) period since the patent specification grants the patent to Harry in 1938 and gives a Birmingham address for him)? I am a frustrated historian as well as being a frustrated woodworker...

[Alf]

Just a guess, but I'm wondering Henry Millward Manufacturing Limited, or something like it...? It wouldn't be the first innovative tool of that era that was made on a small scale by the inventor - the Tec Tool is another one f'rinstance.

Cheers, Alf

[paulchapman]

One possibility, Jeremy, (as suggested on the Aussie forum) is that it was painted in an attempt to discourage thefts. Most tools that I have seen that were ex-school had paint slapped all over them. Bit pointless really as people would still nick them and just scrape the paint off ;D

Don't know anything about HMM I'm afraid.

Cheers

Paul