OP Link Handle Co. Inc.

[woody 73]

I must have hit the lottery, either that or the slot machine is coming up all cherries this week.

At the Garage sale this week, I was looking through a garbage dump barrel inside the garage and my jaw dropped down a few inches, as I picked up an almost perfect example (9 out of 10) of a Link handle wood mallet from the 1960's. I do not own any examples of this mallet hammer and I was very happy to find such a pristine example.

Then my next big break came when out of the blue I caught wind of a story from another forum talking about the company History and not only that but I found the man's full name that led me to finding his grave and Family History.

So without further ado the story...

Oliver Perry Link was born in Nashville, Tennessee on Aug. 21st, 1880 and he died in Washington, Co., In. on December 12th, 1956. His wife was Lillian Schuler 1885-1970. As luck would have it I found an owner one of his two children Norman T. Link 1908-2005 and a Daughter Hazel Link 1907- Unknown.

Oliver Perry Link (op) At one time worked for Turner Day & Woolworth (Dates unknown) in their handle factory, before starting his own handle factory in Salem, IN. in 1923. In 1948 he acquired Turner Day & Woolworth. In turn in 2004 they were bought out by Seymour Mfg. Co.

I found some nice examples of their catalogs, some very nice links (they still make nice handles), and a few pictures of a very collectable hammer for you to look for in your next tool hunting adventures.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/link-star-hickory-wood-carpenter-1997547206

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-vintage-handle-information-thread.1323292/

https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/6765401Z:US

https://www.shelllumber.com/link-op-handle-co-inc.html

https://www.rsci.com/o-p-link-handle

https://www.woodlist.us/company-o-p-link-handle-co-in-salem-in-308

https://trademarks.justia.com/owners/o-p-link-handle-company-265400/

https://archive.org/details/LinkHandlesCatalogA

https://archive.org/details/SeymourLinkCatalog151511/page/n27/mode/2up

https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/oliver-perry-link-24-1xgnx6h

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83459098/oliver-perry-link

http://hickoryhandle.blogspot.com/2013/08/seymour-link-handle-manufacturer.html

 

[Leviton]

I found a Link Star LS-2 in almost unused condition. It's pretty hefty. It appears the company only makes wood handles now. Do you have any idea when they stopped making these mallets?

 

[four.cycle]

I'm guessing that what ever this device originally was, it was made prior to the Seymour acquisition in 2004. It may well have started life as a scratch awl that just got "worn down" over time:


Link Hickory scratch awl

 

[RTM]

I'm guessing that what ever this device originally was, it was made prior to the Seymour acquisition in 2004. It may well have started life as a scratch awl that just got "worn down" over time:

I wonder if that's just a Tite-Grip handle someone stuck an awl tip into.

Link Handles for Striking and Edge Tools : Catalog A : Revised October 1967 : O.P. Link Handle Co., Inc. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

12 p., illus., 27.2 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[four.cycle]

^ you're probably correct. first time I've seen any catalog. makes perfect sense. looks just like their No. 2 "Long Ferrule File Handle".

 

[JMP]