How old are our tools?

[Doug Sheridan]

When was the first recorded use of: diamond shears, jacks, wooden blocks, newsprint, glory holes, blow pipes, etc.?

Is there a fact book or source for this information?

[Rosanna Gusler]

blow pipe 50 bc according to grahm stones abbreviated history of glass pages in 'firing schedules for glass' rosanna

[Brice Turnbull]

A related question - does anyone here know when tubing (pipes) were first made out of a metal that can withstand the heat glass needs to be maleable?

That is to say, how long did it take after viable pipes were produced for someone to stick them in goopy glass?

In my glass-centric world I've figured it was within 50 years or so, and would be interested to see if I'm right or not.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Scott Benefield informed me at one point that we know so much about Italian tools and their names because they were carefully described in police and court records from the 15th century in which they were used as instruments of mortal mayhem.

Beyond that, reading Herodotus" Histories" describes glass being formed under a cauldron on the beach trickling from a fire made on Natron blocks . No mention of blowpipes or millifiori either.

[Greg Frankhouser]

Theophilus "On Divers Arts" is a good Medieval reference, for the tech used in many fields. But what you want might be earlier.

Might want to email Rakow Library at Corning

Oh and if you need to know if X tool was used at X time, many wills have been preserved along with the court records. Any Trade tools would be specifically mentioned due to the great value.

Oh, and I know that Optic molds were used in Britain/ trade goods found in Britain, around 1050 AD, but I'm sure someone will bring up an earlier reference.

Greg

[Charles Friedman]

Ceramic blow pipes where used for a thousand years before the metal blow pipe where ever made.

[Greg Frankhouser]

I'm very curious about the ceramic blowpipes. Bibliography please , if you have time.

I know how I would make them, but I wouldn't EVER make them. Maybe our forebears had thicker pads on their hands, or more need to feed their kids...

Greg

[Rob White]

I read somewhere, can't remember right now, where the early blowpipes were ceramic heads with iron handles.

There was a British site on recreating a roman glass blowing shop which they ran for one summer a couple years ago, though I can't find it quickly right now.

Rob White

[Brody Shaw]

right here Rob..

http://www.romanglassmakers.co.uk/index.htm

What I think is neat are the pics of Bill G. ...check out the nice rails of their benches :)