Australian Wood Review – June 2019

76 Australian Wood Review

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

T

he origins of Bridge City Tools go

back 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.

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

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

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.

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).