Later, I found a No. 80 scraper:
Recently, I found a scraper file made by the same firm:
The Skarsten Manufacturing Company was started in 1934 by Anders Rasmussen Skarsten, who emigrated to Britain from Norway. An entry in the London Gazette of that year indicates that his company produced "chrome plated castors and hardware specialities." In 1937, he patented a paint scraper in the U.K., and a year later in Canada:
This became the company's primary product.
1951 |
The company eventually added awlscrews (a combination screwdriver and brad awl--I'd love to have one!) and then plastic letter plates, with most production being exported.
1951 |
Although the scraper above is stamped "London," the company was always headquartered to the north of the capitol in Welwyn Garden City, founded in 1920 as one of Sir Ebenezer Howard's planned cities which was intended to combine the benefits of city and country with the disadvantages of neither. As an aside, one of the city's attractions is an old Roman bath, preserved in a steel vault underneath the A1(M) Motorway. The city warns, "You can't take a hot bath any more - the boiler went out about 1,800 years ago when the Romans left!"
Welwyn Garden City. The Official Handbook. 1962. |
Crickey, I live in Welwyn Garden City and work just around the corner from Hyde Way. I can just about remember Skarsten as a kid. Now sadly gone rebuilt as office complex.
ReplyDeleteOne of those names I remember but sadly now gone. I just done a bit of research and ended up here after seeing one of the files on ebay. Shame coz we dont seem to make anything much here anymore.
ReplyDeleteI am actually trying to learn how to work my awlscrew right now.
ReplyDeleteHey, let us know how that turns out!
ReplyDeleteHaving acquired a used Skarsten No. 62 scraper recently I became interested in its history.In every post that I have read the poster refers to Welwyn Garden City as the place of Manufacture, but the model 62 that I have is clearly stamped on the blade as being made in:Corby England. I did a bit of research and I came across the website listed below. Well worth a visit for those wanting to know more about Skarsten MFG.
ReplyDeletehttps://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00351722/filing-history
Thanks for the additional information!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know how or where to buy spare scraper blades, 35mm 62mm and 80mm.many thanks for this interesting piece about Skarsten
ReplyDeleteI live in Luxembourg. I bought some Skarsten-compatible blades made by "HaWe Werkzeuge" (HaWe Tools) in Hornbach, a chain of home improvement stores. I tried to check it online but couldn't find it.
ReplyDeleteFinally found it: https://www.hornbach.lu/de/p/ersatzklingen-fuer-holzschaber-35-mm/3665143/
ReplyDeleteAvailable in packs of 5, in sizes: 35 mm and 62 mm.
Interesting blog, just restoring my No62 scraper, marked as being made in Corby,England, need to find some blades,
ReplyDeleteJust found a small red wrapper containing some un-used but rusty No. 35 Skarsten Scraping Hooks. I threw the hooks out because they were rusty, but will try to retrieve them tomorrow
ReplyDelete