Anyone ever heard of Denike Matthews?....

[Mike Langford]

Hello, This is my first post. I found you guys while searching for some info on some carving chisels!

Last Saturday I bought some carving chisels and such from an 88 yr old gentleman who was selling all his carving stuff on Craigslist....

Included were 11 chisels that are marked "DENIKE-MATTHEWS" and they appear to be well made....The story the old gentleman told me was, about 20 yrs. ago he attended a carving school run by Mr. Denike Matthews in Oakland, New Jersey

He said that Denike had a tool company (he didn't know the co. name) in Newark, New Jersey, make up these chisels for him to sell at his school.....

Has anyone (especially you Joisey guys) ever heard of Denike Matthews and/or his carving school (remember this was 20 yrs ago...)

Does anyone else have a set of Denike carving chisel?

Does anyone know which tool company made the chisels?

Any and all info will be greatly appreciated....I'm curious to know if anyone else is familiar with Denike Matthews!

DM-1.jpg DM-2.jpg

Here's a pic of some of the other stuff I got from the old gentleman....
DM-3.jpg

I don't carve yet! but I think I may have found a place here to get some fine learnin'....

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[Tom Ellis]

Welcome Mike,
I am not familiar with the gentleman, but it looks like you got some very good tools. It looks like they may have costom ordered from the Pfeil company, which generally say swiss made on the handles. The small palm tool are possibly Ramelson, and the six by the mallet look like they could be walnut hollow. I am sure you will hear more positive identification on them, but this may be a start.

Enjoy the site, and happy carving. Tom

[Mike Langford]

Thanks for the reply Tom

Yeah, I'm familiar with Pfeil - the first seven chisels in the lower left corner are Pfeils, the next one is German made (haven't looked at it good yet) and the last three on that row are Lamp Brand from Wood Carvers Supply,Inc.

The five chisels in the upper left are (from L to R) one Henry Taylor, two Buck Bros., and two SCVLPTVRE ASSOCIATES (from Spain)

The knives in the upper right corner are (L to R) a R.Murphy aluminum & walnut handle w/6" blade, a plastic handled Warren, and a no-name(?)

I do believe you're right about the palm handle ones being Ramelson (best I could figure from searching the net) I'm not sure about the ones you say are Walnut Hollow....could be

And lastly I think the saws are X-acto......

I mostly was curious as to the quality and history of the Denike Matthews!

[Just Carving]

Ramelson is the company that is located in Newark NJ. The Denike-Matthews tools look similar to the 9 inch tools that Ramelson sells. The palm tools are made by Ramelson but sold under Ramelson's name, with Ramelson on the handles, or no-name on the handle, which have been sold by General Tool, for one company that I know of.

U.J. Ramelson Co. Inc.

There is a school in Wayne NJ called American Wood Carving School.

American Woodcarving School Home Page

Michael Denike founded the school in 1974.

About Us

Oakland is about 15 minutes north of Wayne.

Maybe either one of these contacts will help you.

Bob L

[Mike Langford]

Thanks Just Carving, I think you may have found the school!

I've emailed them with my question(s) and hope they can provide some info....

....I let you know what I've learned.

Since Ramelson is in Newark, they very well may be the ones who made the chisels for the school!?

[Ed Redwine]

Hi Mike and Welcome to the forum. I don't know what you paid on Craigs List but you have some high dollar tools there. I dare say your probably got a bargain. Hope you get started soon. It's a great hobby.

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by Ed Redwine

Hi Mike and Welcome to the forum. I don't know what you paid on Craigs List but you have some high dollar tools there. I dare say your probably got a bargain. Hope you get started soon. It's a great hobby.

Ya, especially the Pfeil tools...... all I have are Pfeils. Quality tools at a quality price.

[Mike Langford]

UPDATE: - I emailed the American Woodcarving School that Bob (Just Carving) kindly led me to and here is the reply I received back....

Mike,

Yes these are form the American Woodcarving School. Mike DeNike was the founder. I’m still working on who Mathews is.
They’re made by Ramelson in Newark, NJ. They still make the same set, but your tools are a better quality than the new tools.
Mr. Denike recently passed away. I’m waiting for his daughter to call me back.

Jerry Cetrulo

So, that's good info (especially the better quality part ) and thanks again to Bob for giving me a place to start! He was even correct on who made the chisels!

Thanks to everyone who replied....

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Originally Posted by Ed Redwine

....I don't know what you paid on Craigs List but you have some high dollar tools there. I dare say your probably got a bargain....

Ed, I could tell you how much I paid, but then everyone would accuse me of taking advantage of an 88 yr old man and stealing his tools.... (I will say it was a HUGE bargan!)
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[Just Carving]

Glad to be of help.

Hey--Livin in Joisey all my life was good for sumtin! Whaddya know!

Bob L

[Iowa Carver]

I believe the tool company was formerly known as Harmen Tool Company. Ramelson is what they do business as today, don't know the story.. if Harmen was sold to Ramelson or what, but I do know that Ramelson's quality has taken a big dive as of late. Many shops and dealers report problems with them and some won't carry them any more, my club has had many problems and no longer sell them etc. To bad, they were a good tool company with a huge selection of sweeps and sizes.

Neat story on the tools and the school!
Corey