Q: This set of antique drafting tools was given to me in 1953 when I started art school. The wooden box is lined with velvet and has a silver plate on top that reads "H.W. Bennet, manufactured by Benj'n Pike & Sons N.Y." There are no dates shown. Can you tell me how old the tools are and the possible value? A: Benjamin Pike was an optician who opened a shop in New York in 1798. The name of his business changed after his sons joined him. It was called Benjamin Pike & Sons from 1841 to c.1843 and from 1850 to 1867. The company made barometers, compasses, surveyor's instruments, and other scientific instruments. Some of the instruments sold by them were made by other companies. The company went out of business in 1916. H.W. Bennet may be the store that sold the instruments or the owner of the set.
8 comments:
Hello, the person asked for the possible value and you did not respond and now I'm curious.Thanks
AND THE VALUE IS . . . ?
I'm also curious about the possible value of the drafting set.
Really...everybody wants to see the value, silly people. I was reading along and noticed right away the value wasn't listed. Duh...that's one of the most important things to know for a collector.
me too!
Me too, because I have my dad's old drafting set and I would like to know a value of this set, as well.
I, too am curious about its value.
I have my dad's, which I will now pull out of a box. It's in a leather case, with a velvet lining.
The drafting set maker, H.W., Bennet, was not found. We have seen a similar set by a different maker, with only ten tools, for $315. The larger set by Bennett was in a special box so it could be worth twice that or even more if there is some fame attached to H.W. Bennet. Those who use the drafting tools should price old sets against the price of similar new tools. The old ones should bring a higher price. If the box is attractive add another 25%.
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