This specimen seems to have had a hard life and is in need of some TLC and restoration. It can properly be called a Model 13, 14, 15 or 16 depending upon whether one uses a 24, 26, 28 or 30-inch saw with it. The saw guides indicate that it is a Size 3, as they will only accept a saw having a six inch depth of cut. (The opening at the bottom of the guide that accommodates the set of the saw teeth is six inches from the slot in the head where the spine slides.)
The bed is 24 inches wide by 6 inches deep. The height of the back above the benchtop is 8 inches, the height of the bed above the benchtop is 3 inches.
The length of the swing arm is adjustable by three inches. This affords a maximum width of cut of 9.5 inches in the “closed” position and 12.5 inches in the “open position. With a six inch depth of cut, this miter box was apparently capable of substantial work.
Judging from the currently available catalogs, it appears that this particular specimen was made sometime between 1876 and 1904. The wording that is cast into the backstop indicates that it was made at Millers Falls, Massachussetts, so it must be newer than 1875. If the 1904 catalog copy is to be believed, the posts into which the saw guides fit would be perfectly circular as of that year, requiring a new, curved style of thumb screw with which to hold the depth stops in place. This specimen has square, flat abutments to which the depth stops would be attached. The depth stops and ornate thumb screws are missing from this piece, unfortunately. Additionally, there is no provision in the back or the bed for the curved arms (for cutting acute angles) that are one of the distinguishing traits of the “new and improved” versions which, the catalog says, were retrofitted into the older, original product late in its life. So on this basis 1904 would seem to be a reasonable upper bound for approximate date of manufacture.
The pitch of the screw threads for the missing thumb screws is 1/4-28.
The wooden bed is obviously missing. It would need to be fairly thin if it is not to obscure the wording on the back plate castings, though I should think that for serious work purposes one would use a reasonably thick wooden plate, and I further suppose it should be of some dark species (walnut or mahogany) to comport with the overall dark look of the japanned cast iron.
Unlike more modern miter boxes, the saw comes to rest on the wooden bed at the end of a cut. It must be raised off the wood surface in order for the swing arm to move right or left. For this purpose a pin and lever of some sort (seen in the catalogs but missing here) would raise the saw guides when the operator squeezed the handle of the spring loaded swing arm. This is apparently one of the improvements mentioned in the 1874 patent application.
It may take awhile to get this piece back into working condition. I’ll update this page and the photo gallery as progress is made.
A Langdon Mitre Box Reference 