Does anybody recognise this mark? CJ Johnson

[PuzzledWafer8]

Apologies if this isn't the place for such questions, I'm very new to this!

I recently acquired this old woodworker's brace and am keen to find out about it if possible.  It looks similar to some Fenton & Marsden braces Iv'e seen... but I know little about them.

It's marked CJ Johnson on the chuck, but no markings elsewhere and the pad emblem has been replaced with an old penny coin.

Any info' would be much appreciated.

[boginspro]

What a lovely tool. Christopher Johnson, I think, have a look at this link    ----  https://www.hawleysheffieldknives.com/n-fulldetails.php?val=j&kel=355

[Kalfred]

Hello, I agree, fantastic item to own. but are we sure  the maker is the "Christopher Johnson" concern? Christopher Johnson marks on items are often associated with  "C.J" in a flag. 

These are marks on the blades of a "blood letting" phleam.

Could the marks on the brace be a "C&J Johnson" maker and not the Christopher Johnson we know as a cutler?

Kalfred

[Arif]

On 03/03/2021 at 16:43, PuzzledWafer8 said:

Apologies if this isn't the place for such questions, I'm very new to this!

I recently acquired this old woodworker's brace and am keen to find out about it if possible.  It looks similar to some Fenton & Marsden braces Iv'e seen... but I know little about them.

It's marked CJ Johnson on the chuck, but no markings elsewhere and the pad emblem has been replaced with an old penny coin.

Any info' would be much appreciated.

A thing of beaty

[Arif]

Just now, Arif said:

A thing of beauty

 

[MartinR]

Possibly an absolute red herring, but consider that workmen often marked their tools with punches.  It's just possible (no more than that) that Johnson owned it rather than made it.

[Kalfred]

Arif's notification on this post has rekindled my interest in the maker of that pictured carpenters brace. In 2021 I suggested it might not have been made by C.Johnson & Co. I now have a suggestion for an alternate "Johnson". 
On line there are "tools" carrying the name "C.F.Johnson" of  Sheffield. This firm may or may not have been the maker of tools but was a supplier of "joiners tools" and other accessories. "Graces Guide" offers addresses for  "C. F. Johnson" of
           20 Bank Street, Sheffield (1921); 
           Orange Street, Sheffield (1938);
          15 to 17 Carver Street, Sheffield (1951).
In 1951 they were describing themselves as "Wholesale Factors" and even using their own branding as "Gramophone Brand" from 1938 . 
Here is a  Mark showing the Gramophone.

Also a C. Johnson & Co chisel with the expected "flag".

 

Kalfred
 

 

[tozzin]

On 07/03/2021 at 15:42, Kalfred said:

Hello, I agree, fantastic item to own. but are we sure  the maker is the "Christopher Johnson" concern? Christopher Johnson marks on items are often associated with  "C.J" in a flag. 

These are marks on the blades of a "blood letting" phleam.

Could the marks on the brace be a "C&J Johnson" maker and not the Christopher Johnson we know as a cutler?

Kalfred

Heres a couple of photos, one shows the entrance to what was Christopher Johnsons Western Works, they occupied the factory from 1854 to 1955 when it was sold to Wostenholm, in turn John Donnelly and sons rented three floors of the vast building I worked for Donnellys for around three years in the early sixties, John Mulcrone was the real Donnelly and lived on Prince of Wales Road.