Brass and Steel Fusee Engine

Description:

Brass and Steel Fusee Engine, Germany, c. 1775, with a large looping bent steel spring and pivoted cutter mount with scrolled thumb-hold and flattened thumbscrew fasteners throughout, (lacking turned wood and brass handle),lg. 10 1/2 in.

Note: Leupold and Leutmanns of Germany published a tool catalogue in the first quarter of the 18th century and showed a predecessor to this fusee-cutting engine there (Crom #2, figure 908A). This tool is shown in figure 908 in the same volume, and it is mentioned that this kind of engine was generally found around Augsburg, in Southern Germany, an area known in the 18th century as a watch, clock, and horological tool center.
Estimate $500-700

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