Devonshire Oilstone?

Hello,

I am an amateur metallurgist, and have a collection of many natural sharpening stones. In doing research on the subject I have become aware of a number of different types of hone stones that were quarried in the UK. One such stone is referred to as the Devonshire Oilstone, but I have been unable to find any further information on it. I know that the stone was quarried in the Tavistock area, was reputed to be of excellent quality, but was never widely distributed.

 I would like to ask if anyone here knows anything about this particular stone, or the area where it was mined. I don't even know what the stone looked like, so if anyone could provide any additional information it would be most appreciated.

 Similiarly, I would be interested in learning about any other hones/ whetstones that were quarried in the United Kingdom. If anyone could provide me with any information concerning the history of any regions that produced sharpening stones, or point me in the right direction where I could continue my own research, it would again, be much appreciated.

Kindest regards,

Alex

Hi Alex

Welcome to the website, I'll give your topic some thought and get back to you.

Ray.

Thankyou very much for the replies and for the warm welcome. The Devonshire Oilstone is given a cursory mention in this article http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvement/workshop/Turning-Mechanical/Hone-Slates.html but that is the sum total of the information I have.

 In attempting to find out about this particular stone I came across information regarding a whetstome mined in the Blackborough area, and wanted to ask if anyone knows whether or not the Sharpening Stone industry was a  particularly prosperous business in the Devon area.

 Regarding the Rhodonite, would you happen to know what grit rating these stones were equivalent too? I know that applying a specific figure to natural stones isn't an exact science, but my general interest is in high-grit final finishing/ polishing stones.

The Devonshire Oilstone has always interested me, mainly because it is seemingly so elusive, but one of the reasons for my renewed vigour in attempting to find out about this particular variety of hone is because of a correspondence between myself and an Australian gentleman on another forum. He owns a particularly fine stone, that is white in colour which he describes as feeling like marble and being the finest stone he owns, he received the stone in trade from a friend who was given the stone by an Englishman who told him it came from the South of England and was well regarded. I know that the South of England is a pretty broad term, but knowing about the supposed quality of the Devonshire hone this was my first guess, but if the Devonshire stone was a slate as Mr Hilton says I would imagine it may be darker in clour. So widening the search parameters, is anyone aware of a natural stone that fits this description coming from anywhere in the South?

 Finally, I have emailed the Tavistock History Society to see if they can shed any light on the subject, if I receive a reply I will let you know what they say.

 Once again thankyou for the warm reception, and your help thus far.

 Kindest regards,

Alex

Do you know if this slate is still being quarried to make sharpening stones? Also, would you happen to know what colour the slate is/ was?

Thankyou for your input.

Kindest regards,

Alex