I had a batch of picture frames to make, when I saw this old Framer's
Guillotine on eBay. Managed to get it for about half the price of a modern one,
including shipping.
Compared to a modern guillotine it has two obvious differences; there's a
carrying handle on the top, and also the track the blades slide on is curved not
straight. The carrying handle is a big advantage - otherwise it's all too
tempting to carry it with a hand through the frame, near to the blades !
It's branded "Perkins & Co." with a patent date of 1891. The curved track
must have been difficult and expensive to machine - maybe it's intended to give
a better shear action ?
The two blades are mounted in a Vee formation. Sliding the handle from side to
side moves them against the stops, shearing a thin paring off the end of the
wood.
The blades appear to be later refits, cut down from a single larger blade.
They're made in Sheffield, England, despite the guillotine being American.
