Hammer time!

[LesserSon]

RTM - another thought - I was dismissive of Masonic connection also because a machinist hammer doesn’t seem relevant to symbolic ceremonial reenactment. I would more expect a mason hammer.
I did, however, search for lodge #34, and came up empty in PA (a handful in other states). I did see a couple mid-Atlantic FOP #34s, but a machinist hammer seems even less relevant to that organization.
As a lifelong PA resident, the keystone symbol is so pervasive, I doubt its connection to almost any specific organization, including manufacturers. And as you pointed out, seems unlikely a forge mark would be repeated so haphazardly. And I don’t doubt Stanley made their own hammers - didn’t they buy out Atha for that specific purpose?

 

[Ton ton]

A friend asked how many hammers I have, and I said, "It depends..." So to settle it, I gathered them in four batches, the peens (cross, straight, and ball), the claws, the rocks, and the mauls. Categories aren't totally pure.

Nearly all of these have been picked up at consigment centers, ebay, and the ReStore Habitat shops. Most have needed a good wire-wheeling plus sanding down the handles (or replacing them). Then I usually refinished the handles with stain and two coats of shellac (plus wax sometimes).

The peens (among which are two Warringtons):

the claws (the one with the 16d nail is a Cheney Nailer):

the rocks (the one on the right is a Maydole):

the mauls, mallets, and miscellaneous:

I like the claw hammers and splitting maul. Nice collection.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And I don’t doubt Stanley made their own hammers - didn’t they buy out Atha for that specific purpose?

Yes, in 1914. It's funny how conglomeration came in waves or phases, though. Atha was founded by a German immigrant and was a typical NJ father & sons blacksmithing and hand-forging enterprise until they expanded through acquisition, buying Emmett Hammer Company, for one, and their drop forging equipment.

 

[LesserSon]

At the risk of entering politico-economic territory, my takeaway is that most innovation occurs at the entrepreneurial / sole proprietor / mom&pop level, and conglomerates profit mainly by buying them out as owners reach retirement age with few or no involved heirs or otherwise encounter disasterous personal financial setbacks.
I don’t think efficiency of scale in partial monopolies really equals the horrific waste of bureaucratic middle management that characterizes conglomerates.

 

[jeffmoss26]

the keystone does have some Masonic connection (source: I am a Mason)

 

[LesserSon]

No doubt, but the keystone is not endemic of Masonry. And if, as seems likely, this machinist hammer acquired the stamps locally in Pennsylvania - the Keystone State, where that particular design of keystone is ubiquitous - the connection to Masonry is likely no more direct, and probably far more removed, than the state’s nickname deriving from a Masonic metaphor.

 

[LesserSon]

BTW, obviously, I acknowedge the keystone IS an invention of masons, but NOT of Masons. The symbolic value of something MUST follow its practical value as a real object, and not precede it. The origins of Masonry may be shrouded in the dim past, but they most certainly are more recent than the origins of masonry.

 

[RTM]

the keystone does have some Masonic connection (source: I am a Mason)

So, does a #34 inside the keystone shape mean anything in the Masonic world (that you are allowed to tell us without breaking rules?)

 

[LesserSon]

Wait - I think I’ve got it:
If you pound 1/3 of a Keystone Light (chilled to 34°, of course), you will only consume 34 calories, and you will never get hammered.
That may be a tip from Keith Stone himself.

 

[jeffmoss26]

So, does a #34 inside the keystone shape mean anything in the Masonic world (that you are allowed to tell us without breaking rules?)

Not that I know of

 

[steaks&anvils]

Today I bought ($15) this nice PEXTO raising hammer or it's a dishing hammer, I couldn't find a definitive name. It had just arrived at the used tool store today! The owner actually thought of me when he saw it and luckily, I came in today.

It is a bit rusty. Weighs just under 2lbs as is, so I think the head is about 1.5lbs. Faces are great! Surprisingly, no dings, scratches or rust just "use" is evident. Handle is not original, is very loose, cracked at the eye and it has lousy balance.

I will remove the handle and give it a soak in Evaporust. Then re-handle it with a shorter handle that fits my hand/arm length better. Also it will be shaped like the riveting/tinners hammer I included as an example.

The riveting hammer has had the face rounded (removed some damage). It is marked "Bell Systems" and is made by Stanley. The handle is not attached or finished yet. I was waiting to have a few handles to do a batch of at one time. Also waiting for HOT weather so the BLO I want to use will cure nicely.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmmm, that's a new one on me! Not often I see a style I haven't seen before!

 

[steaks&anvils]

Hmmm, that's a new one on me! Not often I see a style I haven't seen before!

Thanks Outlawmws, that's real praise! I have seen this style from a few manufacturers as an auto body, silversmith or blacksmith (heavier models) hammer, but I can't find a new example. It must be out of style?

I took the handle off. The head does weigh 1.5lbs. It's a bit heavier than I like, but I won't complain!

I put it in the evaporust (in a tupperware) and left it in the sun all day. It was 95 degrees today, so I think it got hot enough. My evaporust is old and not full strength, but it did fine.

The faces are in great condition, not pitting, just stains. I will sand them back to nice domes and then polish them to a nice bright finish.

I have to praise PEXTO on the quality of their finishing. The eye hole is a nice oval that is uniformly conical and very nearly smooth! These are the best pictures I could get.

 

[KnurledNut]

No doubt, but the keystone is not endemic of Masonry. And if, as seems likely, this machinist hammer acquired the stamps locally in Pennsylvania - the Keystone State, where that particular design of keystone is ubiquitous - the connection to Masonry is likely no more direct, and probably far more removed, than the state’s nickname deriving from a Masonic metaphor.

And here all this time i thought those were Starbucks cups...silly me...

 

[CS454]

Scrotchbrited and rewrapped my 48oz bluepoint....well enjoyed. 2XL gloved hand for scale.

 

[steaks&anvils]

Not my hammer, I found this cool picture on the web. It is a "mosaic hammer and anvil" for tile/stone mosaics (think Roman floors).

Great shape to it.

 

[CHRIII]

Here's a Mohawk hammer that was my dad's. The third picture is from the Mohawk hammer site. They were made by Henry Cheney Hammer Company of Little Falls, New York which was in business from 1854-1954. There is supposed to be the trade mark on the handle, but either wear or handle replacement has removed it.

 

[LesserSon]

Picked up a small riveting hammer today. Turned out to be Warner’s & Noble Cast Steel (Middletown CT), ca1849-1884. Isaac Warner is sometimes credited with inventing and producing the first claw hammers.

 

[Ton ton]

Picked up a small riveting hammer today. Turned out to be Warner’s & Nobel Cast Steel (Middletown CT), ca1849-1884. Isaac Warner is sometimes credited with inventing and producing the first claw hammers.

Thanks for the claw hammer history.

 

[LesserSon]

Yes, but it isn’t true as stated. Wikipedia shows an illustration of a claw hammer from 1514. I think I recall another smith being credited with introducing the adze eye to claw hammer heads. That may be another exageration.

 

[mervyn]

Favorite one is the fiberglass handle Estwing on the left. Brother gave me that one over 20 years ago. He’s gone now.
Ball peen was Dads. They all have stories.

Forgot this one. Front end hammer.

 

[Ton ton]

Favorite one is the fiberglass handle Estwing on the left. Brother gave me that one over 20 years ago. He’s gone now.
Ball peen was Dads. They all have stories.

Forgot this one. Front end hammer.

I like the wood handled claw hammers.

 

[vwpieces]

This was my Favorite Hammer and I have had it for about 30 Years. Been cracked for almost 10 years and today it fell off a ladder and completely split. Tried to glue it once before with wood glue and the split came loose pretty quick. I couldn't get it clean enough or get the glue in deep.





This time it will get done right and revived better than ever.

Cleaned it as good as I could.


Glued it up and clamped


Sanded and refinished.





Crack is almost invisible.
Think we're Good for another Thirty


Oh, for the Finish it has about 10 coats of the cyanoacrylate glue, wet sanded with 2000 grit and buffed.

 

[Fatboy148]

Bob Smith to the rescue (again)!

I love his instant set accelerator.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice work.

I like to go old school on old hamners.

 

[mervyn]

The handle on mine has seen better days as well.

 

[RTM]

Ah, the joys of the internet. You can pull out some silly little thing, punch it into google, and dang if somehow it doesn't lead back to GJ. I've been researching a mish mosh of tools and things coming out of this toolbox, and found a little red leather sleeve, with some scriptish lettering on top, figured it held a ruler, or a pencil or some such thing. Get out the magnifier, it says Artamount, in goldish script, under the broken flap that holds the whatever in the case. So, Off I go, googling Artamount, get lotsa junk in Image view, add in leather holder. Well dang, there is one of those little hammer screwdriver deals with the red leather holder. One of those little hammer things that I tossed in the hammer drawer yesterday. So next I google Artamount leather hammer, see a bunch. Try just Artamount Hammer, and the 7th or so link brings me here, where four.cycle bought on a few years back. Small world

Here's mine, a bit faded, and little bits of corrosion. Any clue what the notch under the hammer head does? Wrench, teeth flosser?

 

[steaks&anvils]

Ah, the joys of the internet. You can pull out some silly little thing, punch it into google, and dang if somehow it doesn't lead back to GJ. I've been researching a mish mosh of tools and things coming out of this toolbox, and found a little red leather sleeve, with some scriptish lettering on top, figured it held a ruler, or a pencil or some such thing. Get out the magnifier, it says Artamount, in goldish script, under the broken flap that holds the whatever in the case. So, Off I go, googling Artamount, get lotsa junk in Image view, add in leather holder. Well dang, there is one of those little hammer screwdriver deals with the red leather holder. One of those little hammer things that I tossed in the hammer drawer yesterday. So next I google Artamount leather hammer, see a bunch. Try just Artamount Hammer, and the 7th or so link brings me here, where four.cycle bought on a few years back. Small world

Here's mine, a bit faded, and little bits of corrosion. Any clue what the notch under the hammer head does? Wrench, teeth flosser?

saw set.

 

[steaks&anvils]

edit: added company name. I searched by "artamount advertising"

Artamount, inc N.Y.C.

Here is a good web-stolen picture of a notch on an Artamount hammer. The listing I swiped this picture from made no comment on there being screw drivers in it , nor was it shown dissembled, but they did say multi tool. Odd.

I added "vintage" and "multi tool" to my search and got a few hits.

I googled around a bit hoping someone else had a description for the notch, no luck. But they did state that it was an "advertising" gift. Vintage swag I guess.

Your notch looks kind of rounded/cone shaped inside? or is that just a photo angle issue?

Does it work as a bottle opener?

 

[RTM]

It is definitely curved inside, but the radius is much larger than the hammer head. Will check it out against a beer bottle tomorrow.

 

[2oolhound]

I know it's a ball pein but I wonder if the notch would help pull a nail.

 

[steaks&anvils]

I know it's a ball pein but I wonder if the notch would help pull a nail.

Good thought, but the hammer is small (5in or so?) and the company made advertising office give away items.

 

[RTM]

Does it work as a bottle opener?

I think we have a winner. Its on the stronger part of the shank, not the tubing, so it may work. The cut is about 1/2" radius. Can't open it yet, too much work left.

 

[LesserSon]

Yeah, I’d only grip it by the head to open bottles - not the “handle.”

BTW, don’t get too hammered using it that way, LOL.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Broke the handle on my favorite ball peen which led me to look for my spare handles…I have a lot of hammers!

 

[Outlawmws]

Jeff, your slacking - that's not a LOT of hammers!

 

[Ton ton]

Jeff, your slacking - that's not a LOT of hammers!

You have to start somewhere. LOL.

 

[jeffmoss26]

for one guy it is!

 

[CS454]

for one guy it is!

I don't even see a 16 pounder in there...c'mon.

 

[Wheelingit]

Found this in a heap of old junk. cleaned and painted it. Weighs a ton.