HISTORY IN TOOLS 



75 



It is too often supposed that because some thousands of 

 years have passed in the history of a tool, therefore we must 

 now be in possession of far better forms than those of past ages. 

 This is true in many cases, but by no means always. The forms 

 of the chisel were perfected 2,500 years ago ; and the beauty 

 of work in the bronze age chisels (fig. 10) with perfectly even 







9. 



B 



? 11 



ASSYRIA 



9 to 14. — Bronze Age inventions of Italy ; not used by Egyptians. 

 15 to 19. — Forms not used by Egyptians. 



blades, dished octagonal flanges to the tang, or square sockets 

 ribbed on the outside for strength (fig. 13), has never been 

 exceeded. In other tools there has been an actual loss of good 

 design. The Egyptian form of the Roman shears has one leg 

 detachable for sharpening (fig. 36) ; it was held in place by 

 two slots engaging T-shaped pins, it could be detached in a 

 second, and yet was quite firm. Such a facility for sharpening 



