No carpenter of the present day who understands his trade can do without a correct miter-box.  It is the general custom of carpenters to make their miter-boxes entirely out of wood, and use the same until worn out.  If work thus fitted often becomes inaccurate by the wearing out of the miter-box, the workman makes another box.

We need not say that in order to make well-fitting work in all cases of out-of-the-way and odd jobs, such a miter-box is insufficient, and that even in ordinary work it is not entirely reliable. 

For this reason this old style of tool is now being superseded by an improved and adjustable implement, which, notwithstanding it costs more at first, will undoubtedly prove cheaper in the end, as it never necessitates any loss of time by fitting or trimming to make perfect joints. 

It is called the Langdon Adjustable Miter-Box, manufactured by the Northampton Pegging Machine Company, of Northampton, Mass.  It is made of iron, and with fair usage will last for years.  It stands upon legs of some two inches high, and is so constructed that by moving the swinging lever which passes under the machine, the required angle can be obtained with unerring accuracy.  The stops for each angle are positive exact and self-fastening.  A hollow post or tube is attached to each end of the swinging lever for the support of the saw guides.

Each miter-box is provided with a first quality back-saw, (Henry Disston & Sons or otherwise,) 18, 20, 22, or 24 inches in length, manufactured expressly for the same.  The saw runs through iron guides, fitting as closely as is consistent with its easy motion, an enlarged opening being provided for the free passage of the teeth of the saw. 

These saw-guides are nicely adjusted and fitted into the  hollow posts or tubes at either end of the swinging lever, and move together with the saw up and down and with the swinging lever to the desired angle.  The saw guides rest upon screws, by which they can be raised or lowered, according to the varying width of the saw or the style of work required to be done. With a good saw, properly filed and set, good joints, requiring no trimming or fitting, are certain.

These boxes are made so as to admit a board or molding 6 inches wide at right angles and 4 inches wide at miter, or with an extension lever, will admit a board 9 inches wide at right angles and 6 inches wide at miter.  When desired, the box is also provided with an adjustable attachment for making tenons, scarfing, making rustic frames, etc., and when adjusted retains its position, sawing tenons or otherwise, exactly alike until re-adjusted.

Taken as a whole, it is one of the most desirable and long-needed improvements in the outfit of wood-workers which has come to our notice, and we are glad to know that the manufacturers, who have expended no little time and money in perfecting this invention, are finding a ready appreciation of the same by the community.

The Manufacturer and Builder, Vol. 5, May 1873,
(New York: Engineers' & Manufacturers' Publishing Co.)

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