midget craftsman hammer, why so small?

[uniballer]

I was looking in an old box for a set of plumb wrenches when I found this, why so small? From craftsman, older logo, whats its specialty?
View media item 22619

 

[jeffmoss26]

That's really cool, I have one from a garage sale that Warner and Swasey made years ago on their lathes, and were given out at an open house.

 

[crewchief888]

machinists, tool & die makers

i still have one laying around somewhere

 

[uniballer]

Explains all the mill ends and cutters in the box.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

A little hammer to whack little things without deformation.

 

[2oolhound]

I had one like that long ago and I don't know how many times I've wished for it back. It's name was Rosebud...
Just kidding about the Citizen Kane reference, I'm talkin adult life here. I was just wanting it a day or so ago, picturing it in my mind but danged if I can remember why. I think anytime you're working with something fragile and need to move something along say like tapping a wrist pin into an aluminum rod where just your hand pressure won't move it and you don't want to bend a rod. Just a light little tap will do it and the bigger hammers don't have that control.

 

[rsanter]

Small nails

Bob

 

[sumner52000]

Nice hammer. I would love to find one.

Citizen Kane- good movie.

 

[Dustball]

That's for playing Don't Break the Ice.

 

[Gort the giant robot]

Rosebud is the name of my small hammer.

Gort..

 

[rusty65]

That's for playing Don't Break the Ice.

Sounds like the right answer to me .

 

[Derrickwade]

My three year old would love to get his hands on that little hammer.

 

[Super Sport]

I have one similar, only it isn't a Cman. It came from my grandfather. It comes in handy on occasion, but certainly isn't my most used hammer.

 

[Tim Kennedy]

Hey Uniballer:
Check to see if the knurled end unscrews from the handle -- my uncle had one similar to that many years ago & I seem to remember if it unscrews there might be a miniature screwdriver & bits inside the handle -- can't hurt to take a chance!

 

[Outlawmws]

Machinist/jewelers hammer; both need small hammers for delicate work.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Machinist/jewelers hammer; both need small hammers for delicate work.

^^^+1

FWIW, ball pein hammers come in 11 standard sizes from 2 ounce to 40 ounce. Some of the sizes aren't particularly common.

At one time, ball pein hammers were identified by number size (like old steel wool or sandpaper) instead of by actual weight. Stanley, Plumb (not to be confused with Plomb), Pexto, Williams, and some of the older hardware store brands commonly used the number system instead of weight marks. If you find a ball pein hammer marked with the number size instead of weight, it will be in the range of 60 to 100+ years old.

Standard head weights and number sizes as follows:

2 oz = 7/0
4 oz = 5/0
6 oz = 4/0
8 oz = 3/0
12 oz = 2/0
16 oz = 0
20 oz = 1
24 oz = 2
28 oz = 3
32 oz = 4
40 oz = 6

Collect them all!

 

[Murphy4570]

i suppose a 16oz hammer is overkill for tack nails.. i suppose
.

Hogwash, I use a 5lb sledge for all my hammering needs.

 

[Outlawmws]

^^^+1

FWIW, ball pein hammers come in 11 standard sizes from 2 ounce to 40 ounce. Some of the sizes aren't particularly common.

At one time, ball pein hammers were identified by number size (like old steel wool or sandpaper) instead of by actual weight. Stanley, Plumb (not to be confused with Plomb), Pexto, Williams, and some of the older hardware store brands commonly used the number system instead of weight marks. If you find a ball pein hammer marked with the number size instead of weight, it will be in the range of 60 to 100+ years old.

Standard head weights and number sizes as follows:

2 oz = 7/0
4 oz = 5/0
6 oz = 4/0
8 oz = 3/0
12 oz = 2/0
16 oz = 0
20 oz = 1
24 oz = 2
28 oz = 3
32 oz = 4
40 oz = 6

Collect them all!

You mean like this?

And the company logo:

Yep, it's a 4 oz.

But I also have quite a few outside those standard sizes (Not marked though) ...

(1, 5, 10, & 14)

 

[logixjock]

I carry one similar to that in my pouch at work, beats using a crescent for a hammer and doesn't make the pouch so heavy. It's a finger killer sometimes though.

 

[WWIIjeep]

You mean like this?

And the company logo:

Yep, it's a 4 oz.

Here's my Williams 5/0 (4 oz) on the right, and on the left, the Filson 4 oz I carried in my tool belt for 31 years. The wear on the side of the head is from sliding it in and out of the holder all that time.

But I also have quite a few outside those standard sizes (Not marked though) ...

(1, 5, 10, & 14)

I'm sure there are other sizes. What I listed was what I found in a 1918 wholesale hardware supply catalog. There were also different number size sequences used by some manufacturers for tack hammers and nail hammers.

 

[rodm1]

Gun Smith and Tool & Die.

 

[jetmech09]

Machinist hammer

 

[5lima30]

That would be good size hammer for gunsmithing!

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have several other small hammers (thanks Outlawms for starting the hammer obsession!)

 

[fatfillup]

I may be wrong, but wasn't making a small hammer often a project for young machinists in school. I have seen several that appeared to be made as a training project, ie, they weren't perfect. Think the same thing with small brass hammers too.

 

[barney rubble]

Blackhawk used to make one they called a gasket making hammer. It was great for making gaskets by laying the material on a housing and pecking around the edges. The edge of the housing will cut the gasket as you do it. I have made several odd ball gaskets over the years like that.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have several other small hammers (thanks Outlawms for starting the hammer obsession!)

Who? Me? You were buying hammers before I posted about them!

 

[WWIIjeep]

I may be wrong, but wasn't making a small hammer often a project for young machinists in school. I have seen several that appeared to be made as a training project, ie, they weren't perfect. Think the same thing with small brass hammers too.

Yes. They were common projects in junior high and high school industrial arts metal shop classes. Small ball pein hammers, brass hammers, tinner's and riveting hammers. I still have both of the ones I made in 9th grade machine shop class. And now they qualify as antiques.

 

[jeffmoss26]

LOL, well you made the thread so I did not feel alone with my hammer-collecting!

 

[Mickey O]

why so small?

To make it easier for you to pack it up and ship it to me.

 

[camarotoolman]

Gun smiths like the little ones.

 

[Kevin54]

Quite a few of the older toolmakers always had small hammers like that in their toolbox. Very handy for tapping around different setups they were working on. A lot of times the small hammer like that is way handier than a regular small ball peen hammer. Many also had just a knurled piece of brass for tapping setups.

 

[Provincial]

Quite a few of the older toolmakers always had small hammers like that in their toolbox. Very handy for tapping around different setups they were working on. A lot of times the small hammer like that is way handier than a regular small ball peen hammer. Many also had just a knurled piece of brass for tapping setups.

A small block of lead is very useful, too.

 

[Thumper]

Blackhawk used to make one they called a gasket making hammer. It was great for making gaskets by laying the material on a housing and pecking around the edges. The edge of the housing will cut the gasket as you do it. I have made several odd ball gaskets over the years like that.

Bingo !!........that's what I use mine for.....

 

[jetmech09]

I may be wrong, but wasn't making a small hammer often a project for young machinists in school. I have seen several that appeared to be made as a training project, ie, they weren't perfect. Think the same thing with small brass hammers too.

I made a small brass hammer just like the OP's. Second machine shop project.

 

[crewchief888]

I may be wrong, but wasn't making a small hammer often a project for young machinists in school. I have seen several that appeared to be made as a training project, ie, they weren't perfect. Think the same thing with small brass hammers too.

Yes. They were common projects in junior high and high school industrial arts metal shop classes. Small ball pein hammers, brass hammers, tinner's and riveting hammers. I still have both of the ones I made in 9th grade machine shop class. And now they qualify as antiques.

we had a choice of several small projects when i was in HS metals, and machine shop classes.

my sheet metal toolbox is long gone, i still have the machinists hand vise i made, my mom still has the scroll work/gas welded napkin holder i made.

btw i graduated in '76

1976 not 1876
i'm not really old...

 

[bigcaddy]

That hammer looks like its the perfect size for naughty children's fingers as they grab tools off of the workbench


Outlaw,

Why don't you post a pic of that big old hog of a ball peen that i sent you. I almost wish i hadn't given it away but i'm sure ill find another.

 

[Outlawmws]

That would be this one:

The little guy is a 1 oz, and the other one is 16 vs. 48 oz...

And a group shot with one each of the other sizes I have of ball peen Hammers.

More pics here in the Hammer time thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143435

 

[uniballer]

Hey Uniballer:
Check to see if the knurled end unscrews from the handle -- my uncle had one similar to that many years ago & I seem to remember if it unscrews there might be a miniature screwdriver & bits inside the handle -- can't hurt to take a chance!

I tried, did not. not tring with plies but looks like it would, but shook it and heard nothing.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hey Uniballer:
Check to see if the knurled end unscrews from the handle -- my uncle had one similar to that many years ago & I seem to remember if it unscrews there might be a miniature screwdriver & bits inside the handle -- can't hurt to take a chance!

I tried, did not. not tring with plies but looks like it would, but shook it and heard nothing.

Your talking about this type where THIS:

Becomes THIS

I'd like to find a set in Phillips, and one with a BP head on it... Not sure either were ever made.