CARPENTER & INVENTOR HANDWRITTEN LEDGER Log Book/Diary Fitchburg MA RARE 1837
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:19787930 | Year Printed: 1837 |
| Subject: Americana | Topic: Historical |
| Original/Facsimile: Original | Binding: Hardcover |
| Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Manuscript |
VERY RARE, ORIGINAL 19TH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT LEDGER FROM A NOTED MASSACHUSETTS WOODWORKER AND INVENTOR. This important early volume dates from 1837-1877 and was kept by carpenter Tyler Younglove (1806-1878) of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Author invented the "Younglove Rule", a wooden log-measuring device that earned a legendary local reputation. The popular device was later made and marketed by author's son, carpenter George Tyler Younglove (b.1847), under the company name of "G. T. Young...love". (Scroll down below description for more pictures.)
"The Younglove Log Rule is mentioned in the 'Woodsman Handbook' and also in 'Graves' 'Forest Mensuration'...the Younglove Rule had at one time been the only one in use in this section of the State (Fitchburg, Mass.) and that even up to the present time saw mill owners and people selling logs throughout this locality claim that the Younglove Rule is the only one to be used...The Younglove Rule was originated by Tyler Younglove, who was born in Fitchburg...He was a carpenter by trade and worked for many years in a local saw mill and lumber yard. About 1840 he worked out this rule and in later years, together with his son, manufactured calipers and sticks for measuring sawed lumber. After his death, his son conducted the business enlarging it to some extent and made scale sticks and calipers of all kinds. He died a few years ago, and with him died the secret of his log rule...According to [grandson of Tyler Younglove] Mr. Wm. K Younglove, his father would never impart the secret of making this to anyone, and often boasted that it would die with him. Since his death, there have been no more Younglove Calipers made...". (see Forestry Quarterly, 1914, Vol. XII, p. 395).
Fascinating handwritten volume chronicles Tyler Younglove's life in and around Fitchburg for a period spanning some forty years. It was during this time that author invented the Younglove Rule, and many entries throughout ledger pertain to his carpentry activities. Book also contains the names of numerous parties with whom author dealt, both individuals and businesses. Entries include numerous activities such as repairing saws, sawing wood, finishing seats, mending windows, making and heeling shoes and boots, keeping horses, repairing flywheel, surveying, work and board, paid pew rent, etc. Also numerous commodities such as bottles of brandy, baskets of coal, quarts of boiled cider, pounds of feathers, feet of hemlock, oak and white birch wood, feet of rafters, cords of wood, lumber, plane irons, chests, windows, blinds, paint and oil, quail paper, pew seats, butter, veal, yards of cloth, etc. Author also occasionally makes mention of other nearby communities with entries such as "Labor on Cunningham house in Lunenburg", "Six days work Leominster", "Goods at Worcester", etc.
Names found throughout ledger make for a treasure trove of local history and genealogy. Among names found here include other members of the Younglove family such as John, Ira, Albis and Hannah Youngblood. Also Percy Atherton, Alvah A. Beckwith, Alvah A. Beckworth, Charles Brigham, Enoch Caldwell, T. C. Calwell, S. Melville Caswell, Eli Carleton, William Carleton, F. H. Colburn, Samuel S. Crocker, Alvah Crooker, N. F. Cunningham, Franklin H. Damon, Charles Derby, Mary Ann Derby, Abel Eaton, Stilman Edgell, Alonzo P. Gudridge, Thomas Hail, Albijaik Hartswell, Walter Haywood, Samuel Hunt, Martin Johnson, John L. Joslin, Alphius Kimball, Homer Lathrop, Benjamin D. Leverett, Charles Livermore, Abel Marshall, John B. Marshall, Moses Marshall, Flint McIntire, T. J. Myers, William D. Newton, Samuel E. Nye, Joseph Peats, Joseph Pierce, Porter Piper, Elizabeth A. Polly, Adaline E. Pond, John D. Pratt, Barney Pratt, Lauren Pratt, Solomon C. Pratt, John Pritchard, R. B. Richardson, Benjamin Safford, Nelson Sargent, Sanford Sawyer, Benjamin Snow, Phineas B. Spaulding, James F. Stiles, Daney Stone, George Stone, John H. Wheeler, and Cyntha Willis. Also many local businesses such as A. A. Beckwith & Co., Beckwith Lumber, C. D. Bond & Co., Crooker & Vinten, Fitchburg Lumber Co., Hawley Brothers, Haywood & Come, Heywood & Comee, Newton Green & Co., Parkherst & Brown, Samuel Willis & Co., S. W. & G. Putnam, and Whitney & Harskins. An historically significant early chronicle of a noted Fitchburg carpenter and inventor.
Fitchburg is situated on both the Nashua River and a railroad line. The original Fitchburg Railroad ran through the Hoosac Tunnel, linking Boston and Albany, New York. The tunnel was built using the Burleigh Rock Drill, designed and built in Fitchburg. Fitchburg was a 19th-century industrial center. Originally operated by water power, large mills produced machines, tools, clothing, paper, and firearms. The city is noted for its architecture, particularly in the Victorian style, built at the height of its mill town prosperity. A few examples of these 19th century buildings are the Fay Club, the old North Worcester County Courthouse and the Bullock house. As the city is one of two shire towns, the Northern Worcester County Registry of Deeds, established in 1903, and the county jail on Water Street were two county facilities located in Fitchburg. The city is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.
Along with the city of Fitchburg, Worcester County today also comprises the cities of Gardner, Leominster, Southbridge, and Worcester; the towns of Ashburnham, Athol, Auburn, Barre, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boylston, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Grafton, Hardwick, Harvard, Holden, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Lunenburg, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westborough, Westminster, and Winchendon; and the villages of Baldwinville, Chapinville, Cherry Valley, Cordaville, East Douglas, East Millbury, East Princeton, Farnumsville (also called South Grafton), Fisherville, Fiskdale, Gilbertville, Hardwick, Ironstone (also known as South Uxbridge), Jefferson, Leicester Center, Linwood, Manchuag, Morningdale, North Grafton, North Uxbridge, Oakdale, Old Furnace, Otter River, Pitcherville, Rochdale, Rockdale, Saundersville, South Ashburnham, South Lancaster, Spindleville, Stoneville, Union Chapel, Upton-West Upton, West Sutton, Whalom, Wheelockville, Wheelwright, Whitinsville, and Winchendon Springs.
Condition: Rare book remains in good overall condition (see pictures). Early ledger bound in original leather-backed marbled boards; cover worn, mild toning, scattered minor staining, etc. Volume contains about 91 pp. of manuscript entries plus some additional blank pages in back plus several additional manuscripts, documents, bill heads, etc.; and measures approx 10.5" tall x 8.5" wide x .75" thick. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.
Payment and Shipping: Please see our feedback and bid with confidence. Never a reserve and very low opening bid as always. For international shipping quote, please contact us. Bidders with no established feedback must contact us before bidding. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax or include dealer tax resale number. Payment must be received within 3 days after close of auction. Thanks for your interest!
"The Younglove Log Rule is mentioned in the 'Woodsman Handbook' and also in 'Graves' 'Forest Mensuration'...the Younglove Rule had at one time been the only one in use in this section of the State (Fitchburg, Mass.) and that even up to the present time saw mill owners and people selling logs throughout this locality claim that the Younglove Rule is the only one to be used...The Younglove Rule was originated by Tyler Younglove, who was born in Fitchburg...He was a carpenter by trade and worked for many years in a local saw mill and lumber yard. About 1840 he worked out this rule and in later years, together with his son, manufactured calipers and sticks for measuring sawed lumber. After his death, his son conducted the business enlarging it to some extent and made scale sticks and calipers of all kinds. He died a few years ago, and with him died the secret of his log rule...According to [grandson of Tyler Younglove] Mr. Wm. K Younglove, his father would never impart the secret of making this to anyone, and often boasted that it would die with him. Since his death, there have been no more Younglove Calipers made...". (see Forestry Quarterly, 1914, Vol. XII, p. 395).
Fascinating handwritten volume chronicles Tyler Younglove's life in and around Fitchburg for a period spanning some forty years. It was during this time that author invented the Younglove Rule, and many entries throughout ledger pertain to his carpentry activities. Book also contains the names of numerous parties with whom author dealt, both individuals and businesses. Entries include numerous activities such as repairing saws, sawing wood, finishing seats, mending windows, making and heeling shoes and boots, keeping horses, repairing flywheel, surveying, work and board, paid pew rent, etc. Also numerous commodities such as bottles of brandy, baskets of coal, quarts of boiled cider, pounds of feathers, feet of hemlock, oak and white birch wood, feet of rafters, cords of wood, lumber, plane irons, chests, windows, blinds, paint and oil, quail paper, pew seats, butter, veal, yards of cloth, etc. Author also occasionally makes mention of other nearby communities with entries such as "Labor on Cunningham house in Lunenburg", "Six days work Leominster", "Goods at Worcester", etc.
Names found throughout ledger make for a treasure trove of local history and genealogy. Among names found here include other members of the Younglove family such as John, Ira, Albis and Hannah Youngblood. Also Percy Atherton, Alvah A. Beckwith, Alvah A. Beckworth, Charles Brigham, Enoch Caldwell, T. C. Calwell, S. Melville Caswell, Eli Carleton, William Carleton, F. H. Colburn, Samuel S. Crocker, Alvah Crooker, N. F. Cunningham, Franklin H. Damon, Charles Derby, Mary Ann Derby, Abel Eaton, Stilman Edgell, Alonzo P. Gudridge, Thomas Hail, Albijaik Hartswell, Walter Haywood, Samuel Hunt, Martin Johnson, John L. Joslin, Alphius Kimball, Homer Lathrop, Benjamin D. Leverett, Charles Livermore, Abel Marshall, John B. Marshall, Moses Marshall, Flint McIntire, T. J. Myers, William D. Newton, Samuel E. Nye, Joseph Peats, Joseph Pierce, Porter Piper, Elizabeth A. Polly, Adaline E. Pond, John D. Pratt, Barney Pratt, Lauren Pratt, Solomon C. Pratt, John Pritchard, R. B. Richardson, Benjamin Safford, Nelson Sargent, Sanford Sawyer, Benjamin Snow, Phineas B. Spaulding, James F. Stiles, Daney Stone, George Stone, John H. Wheeler, and Cyntha Willis. Also many local businesses such as A. A. Beckwith & Co., Beckwith Lumber, C. D. Bond & Co., Crooker & Vinten, Fitchburg Lumber Co., Hawley Brothers, Haywood & Come, Heywood & Comee, Newton Green & Co., Parkherst & Brown, Samuel Willis & Co., S. W. & G. Putnam, and Whitney & Harskins. An historically significant early chronicle of a noted Fitchburg carpenter and inventor.
Fitchburg is situated on both the Nashua River and a railroad line. The original Fitchburg Railroad ran through the Hoosac Tunnel, linking Boston and Albany, New York. The tunnel was built using the Burleigh Rock Drill, designed and built in Fitchburg. Fitchburg was a 19th-century industrial center. Originally operated by water power, large mills produced machines, tools, clothing, paper, and firearms. The city is noted for its architecture, particularly in the Victorian style, built at the height of its mill town prosperity. A few examples of these 19th century buildings are the Fay Club, the old North Worcester County Courthouse and the Bullock house. As the city is one of two shire towns, the Northern Worcester County Registry of Deeds, established in 1903, and the county jail on Water Street were two county facilities located in Fitchburg. The city is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.
Along with the city of Fitchburg, Worcester County today also comprises the cities of Gardner, Leominster, Southbridge, and Worcester; the towns of Ashburnham, Athol, Auburn, Barre, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boylston, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Grafton, Hardwick, Harvard, Holden, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Lunenburg, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westborough, Westminster, and Winchendon; and the villages of Baldwinville, Chapinville, Cherry Valley, Cordaville, East Douglas, East Millbury, East Princeton, Farnumsville (also called South Grafton), Fisherville, Fiskdale, Gilbertville, Hardwick, Ironstone (also known as South Uxbridge), Jefferson, Leicester Center, Linwood, Manchuag, Morningdale, North Grafton, North Uxbridge, Oakdale, Old Furnace, Otter River, Pitcherville, Rochdale, Rockdale, Saundersville, South Ashburnham, South Lancaster, Spindleville, Stoneville, Union Chapel, Upton-West Upton, West Sutton, Whalom, Wheelockville, Wheelwright, Whitinsville, and Winchendon Springs.
Condition: Rare book remains in good overall condition (see pictures). Early ledger bound in original leather-backed marbled boards; cover worn, mild toning, scattered minor staining, etc. Volume contains about 91 pp. of manuscript entries plus some additional blank pages in back plus several additional manuscripts, documents, bill heads, etc.; and measures approx 10.5" tall x 8.5" wide x .75" thick. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.
Payment and Shipping: Please see our feedback and bid with confidence. Never a reserve and very low opening bid as always. For international shipping quote, please contact us. Bidders with no established feedback must contact us before bidding. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax or include dealer tax resale number. Payment must be received within 3 days after close of auction. Thanks for your interest!
