Page 76 - Australian Wood Review №103 2019

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
A New Generation
High quality Bridge City Tools are now made from on a stocked rather
than a produced-to-order basis. Review by Raf Nathan.
he origins of Bridge City Tools go
Tback to 1973, when its founder
John Economaki was an industrial
arts high school teacher. A batch of
squares for the school were delivered
but were out of true 90° by up to
1/4". In response, John designed a try
square for his students to make as a
project using wood and brass.
Around ten years later Bridge City
Tools was operating as a woodwork
toolmaking business and this early
design became the basis for the
production version of the TS-2 square.
Bridge City’s functional tools made
with rosewood and brass were just so
desirable, and Economaki was able
to design them so well. That, coupled
with good marketing and advertising,
sold the product. By 1992 sales were a
comforting $4 million annually.
76 Australian Wood Review
The range grew to include most
measuring and marking tools as well
as limited edition planes. Around 12
years ago BCT started making tools
using less traditional and more state-
of-the art methods and materials.
Aluminium and stainless steel and
a more architectural design evolved
the style.
Recently the company and its designs
were bought by Harvey Industries
of China, with John Economaki
remaining as head of design and
research. The owner, Jack Xu has
been steering Harvey as a new face of
specialist woodwork tool and machine
equipment which in fact makes
woodworking machinery for a number
of other companies. With BCT now in
their stable, Harvey Industries have
a strong base from which to move
New generation
Bridge City Tools rear
l–r: large multi tool
($209), mini block
plane ($229), mitre
square ($169); front
l–r: small multi tool
($189), mini mitre
square $35, 200mm
try square ($139).
forward with new hand tool re-releases
and innovations now available on a
stocked rather than a produced-to-
order basis.
Recently I was able to trial a few of the
new releases and was impressed with
the build quality. As an added bonus
all tools arrive in impressive
presentation boxes.
The large AS-24 T-square (or
adjustable square as it is named), has a
full 610mm span on the blade and fixes
to a two-part aluminium fence. One
part of the fence holds the blade at a
fixed 90° whilst the other fence can be
loosened and tilted to any angle.
It locks at the selected angle very
securely with a camlock lever. It can
only be used at one angle so to make