Hammer time!

[Private Lugnutz]

Just wonderin' and trying to understand who was doing what, when and where. Figured this was a good place to inquire.

It is. I meant I didn't understand why you were asking about True Temper, specifically, when what you found is not an AF&H hammer. And I only said that as a prelude to asking if you were trying to date it, in order to point out that the marking was definitely not an AF&H era 'Kelly' marking. Again, nice find. And I would think 1920's.

 

[MisterEd]

I meant I didn't understand why you were asking about True Temper

Like so many other early 20th century tool makers, the history is, at best, hazy. Trying to follow the sequence of events and product lines and markings and all the esoterica is often a pursuit of frustration. Postings here like your Rigid Pipe Wrench effort helps to make sense. Knowing how old the hammer is is nice, but understanding a bit more about what was going on is better,

Thanks for some clarification, as usual.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Here is the rest of my hammers I ordered to go with the two posted a few days ago. PowerKraft one is probably the coolest and rarest. Blue Point 16oz that makes two 16oz Blue Point lol I bought one off the truck so it’s not in the collection it’s in the box. Then got a Blue Point 12oz. True Temper 16oz. One has a Stanley head and Craftsman handle. The last one posted is a Blue Point 20oz. I needed that one to complete my set. All the ones I didn’t mention are no brands because there is nothing stamped on the handle or head and we’re included with the other hammers. I’ll probably buy replacement handles for the Blue Point ones but not installing until these break.

 

[MisterEd]

Couple of recently acquired Stanley Striking Tools.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found this at the flea today. For installing and removing clip-on type wheel weights. Bada, the company name on it, had a patent (3,474,877) for a wheel balancer in 1969. They're still made and used, of course, but this one looks early.

 

[four.cycle]

RE: "patent (3,474,877) for a wheel balancer in 1969"

:

 

[genog]

I have several user Ball Peens and no real need for MORE of them, but I couldn't resist picking up three Protos and a Williams
The reason was only because I never knew Proto and Williams sold these types of hammers.
So, the cool factor once again plays here.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yep, has to have cool factor for me these days.

 

[Ton ton]

I have several user Ball Peens and no real need for MORE of them, but I couldn't resist picking up three Protos and a Williams
The reason was only because I never knew Proto and Williams sold these types of hammers.
So, the cool factor once again plays here.

Nice hammers.

 

[rover800]

Hi all first time poster here hope you are all good, picked this fine hammer up a few months back it was in an older toolbox with some sorby and brades chisels.. can any of you fine chaps help me with the ID? i can make out hame sealed? Schofield something? Very nice hammer but im stumped as to who the maker is! Cheers!

 

[Jr5]

My only three. None are vintage (yet) but I’m hoping they one day will be after a lifetime with me Lol. I love them all

 

[RTM]

i can make out hame sealed? !

I’m guessing Flame Sealed is probably a reference to the handle. That name shows up in google books from 1958 to 76.

Dunno about the head

 

[Ton ton]

Hi all first time poster here hope you are all good, picked this fine hammer up a few months back it was in an older toolbox with some sorby and brades chisels.. can any of you fine chaps help me with the ID? i can make out hame sealed? Schofield something? Very nice hammer but im stumped as to who the maker is! Cheers!

Welcome to garage journal!

 

[rover800]

Thanks for the welcome chaps! Rtm i can't see a makers mark on the head unfortunately, The hammer seems old but barely used very odd, i will add some pics of my other hammers here too at some point got some brades and other bits! Cheers all

 

[RTM]

Hey gang, who & what is this hammer? Pulled it out of a flea market, covered in rust. It just came out of the Evaporust bath, with dark tips where it was hardened, and cleaned up pretty well. It even has a name now. LE?TON Anyone recognize the maker.? Unfortunately, there is a divot right where the ? is in the name. Could be Leetonia

The Leetonia Tool Company : Catalog No. 157 : The Leetonia Tool Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

30 p., illus., 27.5 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

I'm guessing its a boiler pick hammer, based on this.

The Atha Tool Co. : Illustrated Price List of Steel Tools : 1912 : Atha Tool Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

248 p., illus., 12.9 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[Outlawmws]

I think you nailed it on page one: Scaling hammer

 

[Mintgrun]

I found this Blue Grass BG47-1 20 oz. hammer and it's now my new favorite.

It is hammer #1 on page #1 of this 1937 Belknap hammer catalog.

Blue Grass Hammers [1937 Catalog Excerpt] : Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

15 p., illus., 28.8 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

The description says it was originally fully polished, even the underside of the claws; so, I may indulge in shining it back up. I did rub it down with 0000 steel w0000l after these photos were taken. They also say that it's forged out of one piece of "extra hammer steel, super heat treated to relieve all stress and strain set up in the forging process. They are first semi-hardened throughout, then the face and claws are individually hardened and tempered." Which differs from the Craftsman that has a different alloy at the face and claw. Both of these hammers ring like a bell if you strike the claws. I've come to judge claw hammers that way.

Here it is beside a 16 oz. Craftsman, for comparison.



I'm a fan of octagonal handles, especially combined with octagonal polls; although I do like that the Craftsman handle and head are a combination of octagonal and round.



The BLUE GRASS branding is a fun detail and they also stamped the model number in the end.





I put it back to work on a deck job the same day I bought it. 20 oz. is very persuasive, compared to 16.

Tom

 

[RTM]

Here is one I picked up a few weeks back, a small ball pein. Dug it out of the TBD pile today, and noticed a few things. First, the handle is faceted (octagonal), which is cool. Then, under the patina and other associated crud, I noticed some green. Finally, I noticed the handle is bowed. I picked it up from my local rust vendor, bucket of tools, who knows what may have been stored on it earlier in life. I didn’t see a name on the head, but post rust removal, something may be there. What are the odds this is a vintage Plomb or Proto? Looks like there may be residue of a sticker on the neck, or maybe just tape. And of course, electrical tape on the handle, the tail end for a change, instead of around the neck.

Wonder if I can steam it back to straight, way too much patina to replace the handle? Weighs in at 7oz with the handle, about a 4oz guessing.

 

[Outlawmws]

It could potentially be SO (or any other brand) with a Proto/Plvmb handle too.

Steam should help you get it straight.

 

[Mintgrun]

This VULCAN DYNAMIC hammer is kind of fun, with the rounded over edges on the head.





Here's another old CRAFTSMAN 16 0z. hammer beside the one above. The steel collar under the head is kind of cool.



There's an even older CRAFTSMAN VANADIUM hammer head in this group awaiting handles.





I believe this is a farrier's hammer.





And a similarly stubby little pickaroon. I have an axe length version, but have never seen another little one like this.



The tip of the point has something added that may be for hardness, or could be a repair, I suppose.



I also wonder whether these notches in the handle are original and what they'd be for.



Oops. I hit the ten-photo limit. More later, I guess.

Tom

 

[Ton ton]

Thank you , mintgrun for the claw hammer pictures.

 

[genog]

Wonder if I can steam it back to straight, way too much patina to replace the handle?

My vote is to leave it alone.
Steam and straighten out that handle

Cool ole tools are cool because of their character.
Your hammer is COOL

 

[genog]

I found a few hammers at the Flea Market this weekend.
Originally, I only wanted the small BP with the green handle just for it's handle, but I just couldn't help myself and bought a few more.
The seller was a real nice ole guy.
It was a pleasure chatting with him....

 

[3jakes]

Never heard of Red Diamond tools.
At the same location found a pliers as well as this hammer.
It was just "too pretty" not to bring home.

 

[Tynee]

I like the looks of that hammer quite a bit. What kind of paint looks to be on that head? I've got a couple hammers I ground all the heavy rust off of, and I'd like to paint them in a very similar fashion to this, but I'm not sure what kind of paint would work best for this finish?

 

[3jakes]

I like the looks of that hammer quite a bit. What kind of paint looks to be on that head? I've got a couple hammers I ground all the heavy rust off of, and I'd like to paint them in a very similar fashion to this, but I'm not sure what kind of paint would work best for this finish?

Gosh, don't know, you see it as I bought it.
I'd guess a gloss enamel "blueish green sumpthin".

 

[Arne73]

Gosh, don't know, you see it as I bought it.
I'd guess a gloss enamel "blueish green sumpthin".

That color is very close to the color of Cleaver-Brooks boilers and equipment.
I'm not saying they're at all related but if you are looking for that color I'd start there.
Nice looking hammer ...

 

[Tynee]

Thanks, Arne.

 

[genog]

Found an interesting Craftsman hammer at today's Flea Market.
Just the head

 

[Mintgrun]

I found this fun little brass hammer yesterday. Way too cute to pass up. It looks like someone may have cut one half of a two faced hammer off, but there aren't any visible cut marks, so maybe it came this way. The only marks that look like they may be original are a couple of "S" stampings. One in each side.





The crack in the handle is due to a big fat screw that someone drove into the end.

 

[Outlawmws]

I suspect that may be either BeCu (beryllium copper - don't grind or wire wheel on it..) or Aluminum Bronze (much safer...)

 

[Mintgrun]

I appreciate your concern and won't be grinding on it. Although, it is (was) tempting to smooth up the face. It'd be nice if there was a test for beryllium. I have a couple of BeCu tools and the color is quite a bit redder than this, due to the copper. I'm not familiar with the color of Aluminum Bronze, but generally assume all bronze shows more copper color than brass. Technically, brass is a type of bronze though, so, what do I know?

Here's a brass Snap-on hammer; since we're on the topic. It's a BH-16, for Brass Hammer 16 oz..



I pulled it out of a scrap metal bin years ago.



Here is a recent purchase that sort of bridges the gap between the two "brass" hammers, in that it has the shape if the first one, with the brand of the second. (If the pointy end was cut off).



The slight angle of the pointy end makes it look like it's been put on the handle upside down. Aesthetically, I'd prefer to see it sloped towards the user, but the lettering implies that it was intentional. It's probably better for reaching into tight places.

 

[Porkis]

I just joined and just started cleaning this up. Thomas Smith & Sons of Saltley Ltd. Snail Brand 1 lb. BP and I'm so excited.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Here is another type of hammer storage rack. Made from a few scraps I had laying around. It is mounted on a swivel pole that is near the center of the shop and within easy reach from my usual work areas. Makes it easy to grab any one by the handle, even the ones in the back row, for quick use. Room for 17 total. Mostly ball peins up front and claws in the back. It doesn't hold them all but a big improvement over the drawer. Ed.

 

[MisterEd]

I presumed that "E.T.W." was Erie Tool Works on this small Ball Pein
The upside-down stamping suggested that the handle had been replaced, but it seems that the "E.T.W." placement was pretty random.

 

[Arne73]

Here's a masons/ bricklayers hammer that my dad broke out of his stash today. We put it to work but I'm always interested in makers marks.mark's. Looks like Evan ***** Tool Works.
Handle definitely needs some work but I'm happy with it.

 

[RTM]

Evansville Tool Works, Evansville, IN, 1898 - 1936 per DAT.

Directory of American Toolmakers, pre 1900

 

[Arne73]

Evansville Tool Works, Evansville, IN, 1898 - 1936 per DAT.

Directory of American Toolmakers, pre 1900

Thanks RTM!

 

[Southern83]

Here is another type of hammer storage rack. Made from a few scraps I had laying around. It is mounted on a swivel pole that is near the center of the shop and within easy reach from my usual work areas. Makes it easy to grab any one by the handle, even the ones in the back row, for quick use. Room for 17 total. Mostly ball peins up front and claws in the back. It doesn't hold them all but a big improvement over the drawer. Ed.

I'll be copying that. That's much better than my hammer drawer.

 

[LeeG]

Here’s my new hammer rack. It Has some room for expansion.



Lee