(Bob Edwards)

Here's how they were doing it by the early 19th century:

http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/a-m_file_cutter.JPG

http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/...le_cutter2.JPG

Not sure of the exact date, but early 1800's, possibly before.

A wonderfully wrought device; seems to be a direct replacement of hammer and
hand. Do you have any history--who/where/how is it known to have been used for
files (other than that the toolbit seems right)?

IMO, file making was one of the trades able to be kept as secret as possible
(at least the heat treating aspect), so as to delay the changeover to machine
technology, but that machine says different.

The hand cut method would have used the same curved chisel, but perhaps with a
second bit attached that you could set in a previously made cut to set up the
next cut.
The file maker's hammer has a short, curved handle for a break-of-wrist sort of
stroke.

Frank Morrison