Ice Tongs by T.B. SCHAFFER blacksmith

[patack2]

Good morning,
I could use some help, please. I believe this tongs are made by T.G. Schaffer (the mark is barely visible. For ice? logging? I am trying to find information on T. G. Schaffer. I believe he was from K.C. MO. Closed they measure about 16". Iron? The expanse is amazing, approximately 14"
Any help or info would be appreciated.
Many thanks.
In case the photos don't load, here is the Flickr url where you will see various photos.https://www.flickr.com/photos/141487416@N04/51011329928/in/dateposted-public/

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Did a little looking on genealogy sites. Theobalt B. Schaffer ran a small shop making ice tongs at 1014 East Nineteenth St. in KC. As of 1927 he was selling between 3500 and 4000 pairs a year and shipping all over the country.

He died in 1942 at age 87.

Several of his children went to college on the proceeds of his one man operation.

 

[patack2]

That is amazing information! And, that's a LOT of ice tongs. I wonder where they all are now. I could only find one or two. I am blown away with this info. Many thanks, Captain.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

That is amazing information! And, that's a LOT of ice tongs. I wonder where they all are now. I could only find one or two. I am blown away with this info. Many thanks, Captain.

Many of them are probably hanging on the walls of Cracker Barrell.

 

[wrenchguy]

To me they look too good to be hand forged, maybe he assembled the factory made parts.

 

[patack2]

However he made them, he certainly made a lot of them!

"walls of Cracker Barrell" Now, that's funny.

Thank you, both, for your help.

 

[patack2]

btw, they were probably cast and wrought

 

[Captain Spaulding]

To me they look too good to be hand forged, maybe he assembled the factory made parts.

Sounds from the newspaper article that he made everything from raw steel stock. Unfortunately copyright prevents me from posting it.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

“Tongs are made from bar steel. Bars are cut to length, forged, fashioned and assembled in his plant”

Also interestingly, he started as a wagon maker and shifted to tongs when the automobile impacted the wagon business.

 

[patack2]

Such great information. Thank you, so much, Captain. I love history!