Top Page > Clamps as Products > Makers of Wooden Clamps (WC) > Hood, and Hood & Rice

This page contains pictures and descriptions of

Known Forms

There are three known forms, of which only the latest is common. These will be identified as

  1. Early
  2. Middle
  3. Late
It is difficult to assign dates to these forms. Examples of early and middle forms can be seen at R I Tool Makers

Examples

Jaws

The following 2 images provided courtesy of RI ToolMakers. earliest known stopped jaw (image courtesy of RI ToolMakers), following Benjamin's patent
earliest known through jaw (image courtesy of RI ToolMakers), following Benjamin's patent Early forms were fully convex.

Later forms have clear rounded transitions, but the inner and outer faces are parallel.

spindle handles

The following 2 images provided courtesy of RI ToolMakers. Handles of Early Hood Spindles, (image courtesy of RI ToolMakers) Early forms lacked the three rings found on the later form. Otherwise, the shape is the same for early, middle, and late forms.
Handle of Middle Hood Spindles, (image courtesy of RI ToolMakers) This middle form has the three rings on one handle, but not the other.

Handle of Late Hood Stopped Spindle

There are several things to note about this late handle.   The first is the presence of three lines around the center of the handle.   The second is the very slight barrel shape to the handle.

This example has lathe cut threads, and the lathe was set up so that the cutter withdrew at the end, leaving an ever shallower groove at the end of the threads.   I have examples of hand cut late models as well.

through spindle handle

Handle of Hood Through Spindle This example has the three line decoration, and the waist, characteristic of Hood.  

end of through spindle

End of Hood Through Spindle The tip is conical, with an abrupt transition to the threads.  

This example has a prominent central pit where it was held by the lathe while the handle was formed.   Other examples lack this feature, due to changes in operating equipment.

Maker's Marks

Early form has: description to follow

Middle form has: description to follow

The later form is more graceful. William Hood's Scroll Mark, model 10 Hood and Rice Scroll Mark

Hood's Scroll Mark (L)

The company name is in the scroll, over "VALLEY FALLS/ R.I.", and the model number.

Hood and Rice's Scroll Mark (R)

The company name is in the scroll, over "VALLEY FALLS/ R.I.", and the model number.

last revised and validated

Copyright © 1996- Wooden Clamp Journal