The No.5 WINDSOR BEADER

Out of Production!

 

About 100 years ago, in a place called Windsor, Vermont, two different (and apparently, unaffiliated) companies -- Poole, Williams & Co's and Kendall & Vose -- each made two versions of a hand Beader or Molder, what people call today a "Scratch Beader". My Beader is a modified copy of the Kendall & Vose "Type 4." The story of how I got to "No. 5" (and why I got interested in the whole thing in the first place) is best described on another page. The Beaders will be individually serialized with a number on the interior.

Anyway..

Here it is (Double Click any of these images to see a larger version):

The individual parts: (Manganese Bronze Castings, Coco bolo Handles, Brass Cap Screws, Stainless Steel Screws and Hardened Steel Studs, the 12 Cutters are of Spring Steel):

A set of the included one dozen cutters shown as shipped:

For more information about the tool and about using it, plus some examples of some moldings I've made with it, try this page.

Two Sets of Cutters in sets of 12 cutters each are available for $60.00 each set or for $115.00 for two sets in any combination of sets (plus $4.05 USPS Priority Mail shipping). The cutters are made to fit the antiques, Set A includes the profiles included with our No. 5. If you are lucky enough to own one of the original tools most likely it came with only the one or three locked into the tool. As long as the rest of the tool is there (fence, cap, etc.) these sets will give you a functioning tool.

I have some cutters left over from the Poole, Williams No. 2 project. There are two different styles. One after the antique with six different beads, the other a more abstract shape designed with the idea of using it as a scraper or with the edge reshaped to suit. I made the center hole larger than the original to give the cutting edge more up and down travel. Spring steel. $10.00 each, your choice or $18.00 a pair (plus $3.85 USPS Priority Mail shipping). We are planning more profiles for these so watch this space.

We are planning more products related to the No. 5 Windsor Beader so keep a bookmark on this page and please notify us if you change your e-mail address!

If you receive the Beader and it doesn't measure up to what you expect: send it back, I'll refund your money. Remember that the Beader is not an exact copy of the original. The most obvious difference is the antique is made of nickel-plated cast iron and the new one is bronze. The new one is also larger than the original and, because bronze is obviously not as hard as cast iron we've beefed it up in places without changing the basic design or functionality. I'm confident this thing is going to stand up to a lot of use and even abuse but drop anything from a high enough point to a concrete floor and, iron or bronze, it's going to break. Don't ask me how I know this. That said, you spend this kind of money on a tool and you should expect it to last. If it breaks, and there are no obvious signs of abuse, I'll repair it or replace it. You pay to ship it to me; I'll pay shipping back.