20th Century 32oz Ball Peen

[Jacobs976]

Got this hammer along with the Charles Hall & Co. mattock behind it and was curious on the age so I looked it up. Handle and red paint was someone's home job, even painted the steel wedges and not a spot on the handle or at least what's left of it since it's taken some overstrikes. You can probably guess the issue finding info on it though. I found a few examples of the same marking on some 16oz and a different font with Bridgeport on the other side but generally just a bunch of 20th century brands and not the 20th century brand. Curious if anybody knows about the brand and where the thumper handles came into play. Can't find anything on why the thumpers were made however I do use a 4lb sledge thumper for woodwork.

 

[steaks&anvils]

I found a claw hammer example on the web.

The old ebay listing mentioned "Wilman" as the maker, but I couldn't find much about them. Although there is a "Wilman tools" but they look like a recent resale company.

 

[Jacobs976]

I found a claw hammer example on the web.

The old ebay listing mentioned "Wilman" as the maker, but I couldn't find much about them. Although there is a "Wilman tools" but they look like a recent resale company.

That's part of the trick with old brands. There might've been a wilman brand back then but there's so much overlay with similar or duplicate brands including modern ones it's hard to find the one you actually want. Ran into that issue with the mattock. It's marked with an H in a shield and there was at least 8 different brands using slightly different versions of the marking at some point or another.

Also found on ebay the Bridgeport was supposed to be the mfg and 20th was the series but only one person said it so it's hard to confirm. Also that's the different font I'm referring to, not the one on our pics.

 

[RTM]

Here is a Hubbard catalog, my favorite choice for H In a shield. See the logo on the boxes in the corners of the pages.

Hubbard Tool Catalog : Unit Rail Anchor Company, Inc. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

32 p., illus., 27.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[RTM]

I don’t think this 20th century hammer is the same as yours

Bridgeport Tools : Catalogue No. 25 : Bridgeport Hardware Manufacturing Corp. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

96 p., illus., 22.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Jacobs976]

Here is a Hubbard catalog, my favorite choice for H In a shield. See the logo on the boxes in the corners of the pages.

Hubbard Tool Catalog : Unit Rail Anchor Company, Inc. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

32 p., illus., 27.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Here's my shield. Similar if not basically the same, can't get a zoomed in view so can't tell for sure, but I've seen the actual mattocks are stamped with Hubbard not the shield so far.

I don’t think this 20th century hammer is the same as yours

Bridgeport Tools : Catalogue No. 25 : Bridgeport Hardware Manufacturing Corp. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

96 p., illus., 22.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

That's the only 20th century in the book but looks like the same stamp. I've seen the other font used with Bridgeport on the opposite side but that's the first I've seen my font associated with Bridgeport. They have ball peens in there too but they're marked with a big B on the side for Bullard and only up to 24oz. Don't know if they might've stocked or bought out the brand or something though.

 

[Jacobs976]

Here's another marking on the h in shield mattock. Should make it easier to identify but it's not helped yet. Did find a h in shield mattock that's been sold as a Hubbard but the H looked like it's imprinted instead of rised. Shield looked the same though.

 

[Unk]

Here's a couple of mattocks. Both made by Hubbard. Bridge Tool was a secondary line sold by Shapleigh hardware stores. The Cyclone - I think - was from the Cyclone Seeder Co., which later sold long-handled agriculture tools (according to Google). The Bridge Tool one has been used WAY more than the Cyclone. Notice how much the mattock blade has been worn down.

The Bridge Tool one I picked up at an estate sale a few years ago. The Cyclone one came from my grandfather, to my dad, to me, so it's 3rd generation (at least). I figure these date to the 1920s-1930s, but not sure. Still use both of them occasionally.

 

[Provincial]

The H may be the forging company that made the head for the retailer.

 

[Unk]

The H may be the forging company that made the head for the retailer.

Yep, both were made by Hubbard & Co.