Axe prices in the late 60's

S

Square_peg

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I recently received a Seattle Hardware catalog from sometime in the late 60's. I haven't figured out exactly what year yet. Still, it's fun to look at their offerings and prices. Here's a sample.

Page%202.jpg


There are 9 pages of axes and hatchets. I've scanned them into a single pdf file.

http://cedarriverforge.com/Photo-index/Tools/Seattle Hardware catalog pages/Axes Prices.pdf
 
Interesting to see all those options that were available in "timber country" during the 1960s. Thanks, Pegs.

One brand I was not familiar with was "Stro-Bro" which were said to be made of Swedish steel. Turns out that's the name of a company in San Francisco called Strohecker & Broesamle. Here are some photos from an auction listing:

$_57.JPG


$_57.JPG


As you can see from the stamp, this Stro-Bro axe was made by none other than Gransfors Bruks.

On the company history page at Gransfors Bruks' website, "Strohecker & Broesamle in San Francisco" was said to be "a major customer".
http://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/home/the-history-of-the-company/

Here's a switch: In the price list, the imported Gransfors axes were priced lower than the comparable True Temper and (most of the ) Plumb axes.

Interesting that the only rafting axe on the list is a Stro-Bro brand, presumably from Gransfors.
 
Steve Tall said:
Here's a switch: In the price list, the imported Gransfors axes were priced lower than the comparable True Temper and (most of the ) Plumb axes.
Click to expand...

I picked up on that, too. I had read that Gransfors used to export many axes to the U.S. and that they were considered less than top line American axes. It's interesting to see the price lists that back that up.
 
Used to see a lot of those light blue axes on log trucks and in fire tool boxes around the woods. Never paid much attention to who made them but they weren't really used that much so cheap axes made company sense.
 
I remember buying some Hult's Bruk axes in the eighties that cost more than US axes which had declined in quality by then. I paid around $30-$40 each IIRC. I remember buying a new Agdor five star axe for $100. I still have it, nice axe but the handle is like a club. Ended up never using it so it is a collector item I guess. They were imported or sold by Smith & Hawkin back then.
 
I'm having fun looking into this old catalog. It's almost 1700 pages filled with everything imaginable. I'm finding old logging gear, peaveys, cedar spuds, pike poles. It also has knives and hatchet/knife combos. Western 'Black Beauty' combos ranged from $16 to $19. I wish I had squirreled away a couple dozen of those. It also has stuff like DDT and paraquat. Nasty stuff.
 
Being able to buy a decent axe for $7 in the late 60s is a relative thing. In Canada I remember that gasoline was 39 cents per Imperial gallon (4.546 litres) all during that time. Today's pump price is $1.25 per litre (which works out to $5.68/Imperial gallon). Whereas 20.5 gallons of fuel could be had for $7 in the 60s it'd run you $114.50 to get that same amount today.
 
Wages haven't kept up with inflation. Back in '67 my father bought a large house for the same amount as his annual salary. These days most people spend 2-3 years annual salary on a decent home.
 
Thanks for posting.
It's especially nice to see the price differences between the two Kelly lines, Flint Edge and Woodslasher.
 
"Dreadnought", "Woodslasher", "Rocket Belt Axe"; I feel that of late the marketing departments aren't putting as much pizazz into their brand names.


Hey, my Estwing used to cost under 10 bucks.


"fire hardened hickory"; I don't think I've yet seen that descriptive on an axe on the shelf.
 
Steve Tall said:
Interesting to see all those options that were available in "timber country" during the 1960s. Thanks, Pegs.

One brand I was not familiar with was "Stro-Bro" which were said to be made of Swedish steel. Turns out that's the name of a company in San Francisco called Strohecker & Broesamle. Here are some photos from an auction listing:

$_57.JPG


$_57.JPG


As you can see from the stamp, this Stro-Bro axe was made by none other than Gransfors Bruks.

On the company history page at Gransfors Bruks' website, "Strohecker & Broesamle in San Francisco" was said to be "a major customer".
http://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/home/the-history-of-the-company/

Here's a switch: In the price list, the imported Gransfors axes were priced lower than the comparable True Temper and (most of the ) Plumb axes.

Interesting that the only rafting axe on the list is a Stro-Bro brand, presumably from Gransfors.
Click to expand...

This old thread came up for me earlier today searching for something that brought me to the OP price list. I looked down through the rest of the thread and found the "STRO-BRO" post. As it turns out a few days ago I was looking for information on "STROAX". I think I came across information about the San Francisco company that sold the GB axes. I thought it gave information on when Broesamle came (or went). Knowing that would put the price list in a ballpark. Unfortunately, I went back today to see if I could find that information - no cigar. Maybe I dreamt it. I did have some very spicy sauerkraut last night. :confused:
John Frankl said:
. . .
New old stock cruiser from my brother. He owns a new/used tool store:)

. . .
Click to expand...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1190276-It-followed-me-home-(Part-2)/page5

STROAX: E.W.STROHECKER CO. SAN FRANCISCO
STRO-BRO: STROHECKER & BROESAMLE SAN FRANCISCO

Not mine:
32197899024_270280dac0_c.jpg

33043325125_21bae1a959_c.jpg

33043314695_cdbf264b5f_c.jpg



Bob
 
It looks like STRO-BRO was first used (for axes and hatchets) July 31, 1956, by Robert O. Bossinger Co., d.b.a. Strohecker & Broesamle, according to this search result:


Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office - Page 105
https://books.google.com/books?id=onMbAQAAMAAJ
United States. Patent Office - 1957 - ‎Snippet view
Filed Nov. For Cement and Mortar Mixers and Concrete Surfacing Machine. First use Mar. 10, 1956. SN 19,566. Robert O. Bossinger Co., d. b. a. Strohecker & Broesamle. San Francisco, Calif. Filed Nov. 20, 1956. STRO-BRO For Axes ...


content

content
 
Steve Tall said:
Interesting that the only rafting axe on the list is a Stro-Bro brand, presumably from Gransfors.
Click to expand...
Steve, thanks for your research and contributing posts.
I'm interested in the term you use for the double bit axe. A 'rafters axe'. The catalog page does not use this term. I suspect it is a term for this axe use rather than a given name.
As we've seen video toward this use.? DM
 
Last edited:
Ok, thanks. I didn't go through the pages. Just looked at the first page, model 'A' and thought that was the one he was referring to. I'll go back and look. DM
 
300Six said:
It's pretty easy if you read the wrong description for the illustrated catalogue item!
Click to expand...

:D That, or if they had polls welded/forged on the flat sides of a more substantial eye (to resist deformation) :). And then you'd need to eat lots of spinach before using it! (Unless you are DeadBoxHero!)
 
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