OldTools Archive
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42292 | <eugene@n...> | 1998‑04‑29 | If I Had a Hammer |
Well, I do. It's old. It was my grandfather's. I don't know what it's intended for. It's 2 lb., with a head that looks rectangular from the side, about 1 1/2" by 5". from the top it looks more like a wedge. One end is pointed, but not sharp, the other is somewhat rounded. My best ever ASCII art : ' (for those of you who's inferior mail readers don't have zoom capability, that's an apostrophie) The catch is, the hole for the handle is an oval, only about 3/4 x 1/2. With such a small handle what's it for? I have done some bashing with it, as if it's a sledge hammer, but that handle isn't likely to take much of that. Or is it a wedge with a handle? Knowing my grandfather's interests is no help. He was interested in everything. TIA for any ideas. Gene David Sexton |
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42347 | <eugene@n...> | 1998‑04‑29 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
Thankyou to those who had suggestions today. It gave me a starting place to look for illustrations, etc. Cross-peen it's not, according to Webster's 1910 edition. Webster says the peen of one of those runs crosswise to the handle. This one is parallel with the axis of the handle. Esther's blacksmithing lead might be close. The 1902 Sears reprint shows a horseshoer's turning hammer of the same weight and relatively light handle - but again, it's 90 degrees off. The fact that this one shows no sign of ever bashing into iron doesn't mean much. We don't know if the man ever used it for it's intended purpose. ( And my auto body tools aren't bashed up either.) Probably more interesting - Webster's 1910 includes cross-peen. American Heritage Dictionary of 1992 comes no closer than "cross-dress". Such is our American heritage. Gene David Sexton |
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42316 | Billy Patton <bpatton@a...> | 1998‑04‑29 | RE: If I Had a Hammer |
The spiking moll's I have had in my hand , I have friend who own a track build/repair business, come in a variety of shapes. But the most common trait, the long head and rather delicate shaft, as compared to a regular sledge. Some have something that will have a spike on one side and the hammer head on the other side. I this is referred to as a one man moll. It allows the user to start the hole for the spike. None , I think , are used to pull spikes. The handle is small because of the fact that it is will hit only the spike, rail or the tie. Not much abuse from another direction. But if memory , HA I have kids!, serves me there are several different shapes and sizes. -----Original Message----- From: James Foster [SMTP:jaf@M...] Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 1998 1:01 PM To: bpatton@a... Cc: 'eugene@n...'; oldtools@l... Subject: Re: If I Had a Hammer I bought a three tools at auction that were from a railroad (a shovel, pick, and hammer, all stamped with railroad IDs). I had assumed that the hammer was a spike hammer. It looked like a mid weight sledge with relatively small faces, though they're longer (from eye to face) than other sledge hammers I have. Both faces are the same. I _think_ they were octagonal but don't really remember. So is what I have a spike hammer, or just a general purpose tool? As to the original question, could this be a blacksmiths hammer of some sort? Billy Patton wrote: > > Could it be a spiking moll, ala railroad? > > -----Original Message----- > From: eugene@n... [SMTP:eugene@n...] > Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 1998 11:30 PM > To: oldtools@l... > Subject: If I Had a Hammer > > Well, I do. It's old. It was my grandfather's. > I don't know what it's intended for. It's 2 lb., with a head that > looks rectangular from the side, about 1 1/2" by 5". > from the top it looks more like a wedge. One end is pointed, but not > sharp, the other is somewhat rounded. > |
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42350 | scott grandstaff <scottg@s...> | 1998‑04‑29 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
eugene@n... wrote: > > Thankyou to those who had suggestions today. It gave me a starting > place to look for illustrations, etc. Well, I'm voting for cross peen if it's a hammer. With a skinny handle though, and since it's not sharp, it just might be a fuller. You know, the smith swings the glowing work over to the anvil and positions the tool (punch, chisel, swage, fuller). These are handled chisels of various shapes. At a nod or word the striker (apprentice) swings the sledge. Check out my really all time favorite Galoot maximus book. Colonial Craftsmen by Edwin Tunis. Change your life it will. Scott >-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Scott Grandstaff, Box 409, 63742 Applegate Dr., Happy Camp, CA 96039 * scottg@s... PageWorks: http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/ |
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42348 | James Foster <jaf@M...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
eugene@n... wrote: > > Thankyou to those who had suggestions today. It gave me a starting > place to look for illustrations, etc. > > Cross-peen it's not, according to Webster's 1910 edition. Webster > says the peen of one of those runs crosswise to the handle. This one > is parallel with the axis of the handle. > > Esther's blacksmithing lead might be close. The 1902 Sears reprint > shows a horseshoer's turning hammer of the same weight and relatively > light handle - but again, it's 90 degrees off. > I didn't quite get the original description. From what you're saying here it sound like a straight peen. |
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42394 | Eric Breitenberger <eric@g...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
Alan wrote: >How about a piton hammer? > >For those of you not crazy enough to climb up sheer rock faces, this >is a galootish tool used for driving pitons (essentially big iron, >steel, or rarely aluminum nails of various shapes) into cracks in a >rock wall, as protection from falls while rock climbing. > >If there's a maker's mark with a C in a diamond, then I'm sure you've >got a piton hammer. Otherwise, heck, it was worth a try. I don't think it's a piton hammer, for two reasons. A piton hammer usually doesn't have a skinny shaft - if anything they're on the fat side. Most climbing hammers I've seen also have metal tangs reinforcing the shaft/head assembly. Also, a piton hammer usually has a stubby spike on the back, rather than the wedge Eugene described. The spike is used for pounding on pins (pitons) in confined locations where the head is too large. It's also handy for "gardening" (cleaning dirt out of cracks), and is also great for putting through the eye of pins and levering them out when they're already loose. Piton hammers are great galootish tools. That's why I've got three of 'em (not counting any of my ice hammers). My first one was an old Stubai, which I subsequently replaced with a Chouinard around 1980 (that's the diamond C mark - Yvon Chouinard is the climber who founded Patagonia clothing). This is truly one of my most cherished tools, both for its quality and for the memories I associate with it. My last piton hammer I acquired in a strange way just last summer. I was well up the Canwell Glacier in the Alaska Range and came across a bunch of junk melting out of the ice. It was apparently the garbage dump for a Japanese expedition from the late '70s. Amongst the dead batteries and socks we found a cool little ladle, a tea kettle, a snow shovel, and a strange little piton hammer. -Eric (just say, there's more than one way to acquire old tools, etc.) |
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42389 | Jimlemon <Jimlemon@a...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
Isn't there something called a Warrington or Worthington pattern hammer, or something like that? Seems to ring a bell, and description sounds similar. Jim |
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42374 | alan ferrency <alan@l...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
Here's an interesting thought I came up with this morning. Unfortunately I didn't pay attention when you mentioned any maker's marks on the hammer, they'd have easily proven or disproven this wild theory. How about a piton hammer? For those of you not crazy enough to climb up sheer rock faces, this is a galootish tool used for driving pitons (essentially big iron, steel, or rarely aluminum nails of various shapes) into cracks in a rock wall, as protection from falls while rock climbing. The practice of using pitons has fallen into disfavor except under certain circumstances in certain locations. It did a real good job of destroying the rock. If there's a maker's mark with a C in a diamond, then I'm sure you've got a piton hammer. Otherwise, heck, it was worth a try. Alan |
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42435 | <eugene@n...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
Eric B wrote: > Alan wrote: > >How about a piton hammer? > I don't think it's a piton hammer, for two reasons. A piton hammer SWMBO agrees. Says she's been there, done that and its not a piton. > My last piton hammer I acquired in a strange way just last summer. I > was well up the Canwell Glacier in the Alaska Range ... > -Eric (just say, there's more than one way to acquire old tools, I'll just stick to the local garage sales, thanks anyway. Geez, who would have thought that question would enlighten me about the Patagonia shirts my niece keeps sending my way. Gene |
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42401 | NLutz10449 <NLutz10449@a...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
In a message dated 98-04-30 13:19:41 EDT, Jimlemon@a... writes: > > Isn't there something called a Warrington or Worthington pattern hammer, or > something like that? Seems to ring a bell, and description sounds similar. > Jim A hammer that rings a bell is called a clapper. Erik von Sneidern |
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42438 | <eugene@n...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
GG's I'm going for the blacksmithing tool myself. Especially something you would strike with another hammer. This one doesn't show signs of that, but maybe it was used by my grandfather for something else. Kinda like some of the flea market iron I drag home and use for whatever I need at the moment. My own guess is Esther was right (again) Gene (going to dream tonight about tools falling out of the melting edge of a glacier) |
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42440 | <eugene@n...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
> GG's > I'm going for the blacksmithing tool myself. Especially something > you would strike with another hammer. This one doesn't show signs > of that, but maybe it was used by my grandfather for something else. > Kinda like some of the flea market iron I drag home and use for > whatever I need at the moment. > > My own guess is Esther was right (again) > > Gene (going to dream tonight about tools falling out of the melting > edge of a glacier) |
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42404 | NLutz10449 <NLutz10449@a...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
> > Thankyou to those who had suggestions today. It gave me a starting > place to look for illustrations, etc. > > Cross-peen it's not, according to Webster's 1910 edition. Webster > says the peen of one of those runs crosswise to the handle. This one > is parallel with the axis of the handle. > > Esther's blacksmithing lead might be close. The 1902 Sears reprint > shows a horseshoer's turning hammer of the same weight and relatively > light handle - but again, it's 90 degrees off. > > Gene > snip-- (message sent to Gene on Wed.) My vote is for the blacksmith's hammer. I have a distinct image in my mind of the exact hammer you describe. My father owns a set of 19th century blacksmithing tools, and the hammer is there. It was used to cut iron by striking it with the wedged end. Erik von Sneidern |
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42403 | Chris Dunn <a065117@U...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
NLutz10449 wrote: In a message dated 98-04-30 13:19:41 EDT, Jimlemon@a... writes: Isn't there something called a Warrington or Worthington pattern hammer, or so mething like that? Seems to ring a bell, and description sounds similar. Jim A hammer that rings a bell is called a clapper. Erik von Sneidern I thought a clapper was the gizmo that allows old folks to turn off their ligh ts w/o getting up ...... Chris 8^) |
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42408 | Daniel Indrigo <daniel.indrigo@C...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
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42447 | NLutz10449 <NLutz10449@a...> | 1998‑04‑30 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
>Are you sure you strike the iron with the wedged end? I have this vague >recollection of watching someone use such a device but the wedge is placed against >the iron and the other end is struck with another hammer. that would explain why >the handle isn't very substantial, it wouldn't need to be if it were used in this >way. Absolutely. What you say is correct. I didn't word it right in my posting. The wedge-shaped hammer is stationary and struck with a slightly bigger hammer that looks more like a sledge. You wouldn't have much accuracy if you swung the wedge. Unforturnately I don't know the names of the different hammers. The tools were always in the cellar or garage when I was a kid. I've seen blacksmithing, but I've never done it myself. Erik von Sneidern |
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42466 | Gary Roberts <groberts@s...> | 1998‑05‑01 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
At 8:44 PM -0500 4/30/98, NLutz10449 wrote: >>Are you sure you strike the iron with the wedged end? I have this vague >>recollection of watching someone use such a device but the wedge is placed >against >>the iron and the other end is struck with another hammer. that would explain >why >>the handle isn't very substantial, it wouldn't need to be if it were used in >this >>way. > >Absolutely. What you say is correct. I didn't word it right in my posting. >The wedge-shaped hammer is stationary and struck with a slightly bigger hammer >that looks more like a sledge. You wouldn't have much accuracy if you swung >the wedge. Unforturnately I don't know the names of the different hammers. >The tools were always in the cellar or garage when I was a kid. I've seen >blacksmithing, but I've never done it myself. > >Erik von Sneidern > You know, this is really a very UPSETTING thread. Gary Roberts groberts@s... Boston, MA...Antique tools, Art Pottery, Hong Kong cinema, what else is there? |
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42494 | Louis Michaud <louis_michaud@U...> | 1998‑05‑01 | Re: If I Had a Hammer |
At 21:44 30/04/98 EDT, you wrote: >the wedge. Unforturnately I don't know the names of the different hammers. If the tapered end is sharp, beveled, it could be a "set" used to cut metal. A hot set for cutting hot metal has a sharper angle. The cold set is blunter. If the edge is rounded, has a radius, then it could be a "fuller" used for "drawing out" hot metal (to thin, spread, or taper it). Its a "top fuller" if used with a "bottom fuller" (same radiused edge) set in a hole (hardie) in the anvil. Both set and fuller have handles in the same axis as the edge. Boatbuilding is dangerous: it leads to handtools, furniture making, metal working, and smithing. Now I have to take up sewing to make sails, and I don't have any excuses since I was given a sewing machine. Beginner in everything, accomplished in none of the above! What's next, pottery to make my own seagoing toilet !!??? Louis |
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