19th Century 7" Grinding/Sharpening Stone

[Shreckmeister]

Has anyone seen another of these small hand crank sharpening stones
anywhere?  I'd be curious to know what era this is from.  It came from
a farm in western Pennsylvania.  The stone looks smoother than the
larger wheels you see and I'm thinking this would have used for
smaller tools with finer edges like draw knives etc.   Also wondering if
the box was just there to house the wheel or if you might have put
water in it when in use.  Opinions welcomed.

[J1776]

I've seen something similar,... very nice.

[david50]

my grandpa had one of these and one of the bigger ones that you sit down at,i still have the wheel of the big one. as for time period,i would say late 1800's-early 1900's.

[Collector]

You need water while in use and the ability to empty the water immediately and let the stone dry thoroughly, when not in use.  It appears in your photograph, that there is a M/F vertically slotted 'gate,' for just that purpose, to the right of the stone.

I used one, like yours, only larger with a foot pedal. while working on a farm, as a kid, back in 1960. Technology just simply hadn't replaced it yet and there are undoubtedly, today, places on this planet in which this tool/device would represent, for them, a 'state of the science.'

Nice find by-the-way.  Should clean-up very nicely.

  

[heinz]

Suskat, your stone shows good maintenance.  Dressing tools are avaiable to keep the stone edge square and sharp.  A crefully dressed stone would be common in a cutler's shop, not so common on a farm tool shed where the squared edge is not so important. 

[Shreckmeister]

This stone is very smooth compared to the stones I've seen on the
wheels that you sit at.  It also seems to be a softer stone.
What type of stone would it be?