Vintage E.A Berg tools

[Adrian Wilson]

I don't have any of their lathe tools, but as a cabinetmaker I have quite a few bench chisels made by Berg and other vintage Swedish makers based in the town of Eskilstuna. I love them; great steel. I have around 100 'good' shop chisels, and the Swedes are overall my favourites. There is a good Facebook group devoted to Swedish chisels. Berg eventually became Bahco, and then Sandvik, and the lathe tools survived at least into the Bahco years.

Anyone have any? I only found one reference in the archives. I know it is all about HSS now, and these would be carbon steel, but being Eskilstuna steel, they might be almost a separate category. Or not; maybe just like other 'continental' tools. . I find the handles elegant, and though I mostly do straight cylinders now, I have a handle to make, and some more coming up, so I'm going to make one. I have one on a tool that came down to me in a somewhat similar style that is comfortable




Some of the actual tool shapes are pretty unusual, like this one..... different views of the same tool. I'm not sure what to make of it, re: purpose. Some shapes are ore conventional, but there may be other unusual ones out there too.






Anyway I'm just curious, if anyone has any thoughts or experiences.

 

[john lucas]

That tool is similar to Keith Thompkins V Skew. It has the ease of use of a spindle gouge but cuts like a skew.

 

[John Tisdale]

Thanks - looking forward to following this thread.
The manager of the local Woodcraft in Plano, TX took courses under Tage Frid - will run these pics by him

 

[Alan Weinberg]

tang makes me think it’s for spindle work . . . wicked looking.

 

[Adrian Wilson]

tang makes me think it’s for spindle work . . . wicked looking.

Bahco bought Berg in 1959, and then soon after some of the other Eskilstuna makers. They seem to have continued making lathe tools for a while under the Bahco brand, then Sandvik bought them around '91. This is a set branded Bahco. There doesn't seem to be much written about the Berg lathe tools in English (lots of bits are murky even about the more common bench chisels). Some good detail shots in here https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/set-nos-berg-bahco-turning-tools-box-418889803 I don't know enough about the history of turning over there during the 50's to 70's (?), but at a GUESS yeah, I would think spindles.



This is a set of Berg bench chisels I own, just because. Love these things. They were made in lots of styles; highly sought after among Bergheads.

 

[Adrian Wilson]

That tool is similar to Keith Thompkins V Skew. It has the ease of use of a spindle gouge but cuts like a skew.

I had to look it up, but I see what you mean. Yes, very similar. V-Skew

There is a funny review embedded on the page.....