Boone, NC and un-embossed axes

[PhilipWimberly]

I'm in the Boone/Blowing Rock/Banner Elk area of NC right now. I haven't spent much time here, but I've never been anywhere that I've seen as many "vintage" axes for sale. (Old tools in general, but wow! The blade tools on hickory are abundant!) For anyone interested, they are from $20 to $60, with a few over $100. Most old handles, if not original. 99% have been de-rusted. Precious few with any markings or embossing. If they are marked (less than 5%), virtually all are Plumb or True Temper...an occasional Collins and I can remember seeing one really trashed Sager Chem 1943 saddle axe.
I wonder if anyone knows why so many are here? The "mountain" setting surely lends to this, but I've been to lots of "mountain" areas and never seen anything like this.

But the question I've been meaning to bring to this group for a while is about old axes without embossing. Why do they exist? When I find one that is pretty clearly not modern...maybe double bit or hewing...or maybe obvious from the handle and hang) with no indication of the maker, I wonder why?
If all of the "good" axe makers embossed even their lower products, why wouldn't other makers do this as well? It seems safe to assume that some of these would have been equal to or even better tools than the embossed brands. Is it just as simple as to say that some companies didn't understand marketing? That seems unlikely to me. Did the Kelly's, Collins, Plumb, Sagers of the world sometimes produce their axes without embossing? Would that imply that these are their lowest quality products?
I suppose some could actually be one-off handmade tools by a person who needed one, could run a forge and made his own, but that wouldn't explain the vast number of unmarked tools

 

[catspa]

I’m no expert, but my guess is that somewhere during the American progression from “everybody uses an axe every day” to “hardly anybody uses an axe ever”, axe mfgrs realized that embossing, or even stamping, was an expensive feature that really didn’t gain them much. Especially when they had to produce the same product under several different brands, and compete with offshore products. Paper (and then plastic) labels swept the field.

Fact of life: Axes (and tools in general) are produced for retail sale. After that, they drop from mfgrs’ radar. Us axe nuts are the only ones interested in old axes, and we are not a retail market segment.

Looks to me like unless embossing technology advances to where it can be done for 14 cents per unit, we’ll be doing without it for the foreseeable future.

Parker

 

[PhilipWimberly]

I’m no expert, but my guess is that somewhere during the American progression from “everybody uses an axe every day” to “hardly anybody uses an axe ever”, axe mfgrs realized that embossing, or even stamping, was an expensive feature that really didn’t gain them much. Especially when they had to produce the same product under several different brands, and compete with offshore products. Paper (and then plastic) labels swept the field.

Fact of life: Axes (and tools in general) are produced for retail sale. After that, they drop from mfgrs’ radar. Us axe nuts are the only ones interested in old axes, and we are not a retail market segment.

Looks to me like unless embossing technology advances to where it can be done for 14 cents per unit, we’ll be doing without it for the foreseeable future.

Parker

Right. But what about the old ones that are not embossed?

 

[catspa]

Maybe they’re not as old as we think they are, or maybe they were made by one company and marketed by another. Hard to say unless there’s some clue.

Parker

 

[PhilipWimberly]

I think I'm not quite asking what I think I'm asking. Maybe this: I'm under the belief that there was a time when almost all axes were embossed. Besides individuals hand forging a single axe for themselves and a few possible outliers made by axe manufacturers, virtually all were embossed. Even the ones made by 1 company and sold by another (i.e. Lakeside, Bluegrass etc) almost all had some embossing.
Is this true?
Is it reasonable to guess that if there is no embossing, then the axe was made more recently?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I think I'm not quite asking what I think I'm asking. Maybe this: I'm under the belief that there was a time when almost all axes were embossed. Besides individuals hand forging a single axe for themselves and a few possible outliers made by axe manufacturers, virtually all were embossed. Even the ones made by 1 company and sold by another (i.e. Lakeside, Bluegrass etc) almost all had some embossing.
Is this true?
Is it reasonable to guess that if there is no embossing, then the axe was made more recently?

The problem is your fundamental presumption is incorrect. Most axes with complex designs are not even embossed, but are rather wax-resist acid etched. Struck maker's marks are typically debossed rather than embossed. Acid etching was typically only done on premium models. Most axes produced under a manufacturer's own branding had a maker's mark struck in (debossed) alongside a paper label or decal. However, manufacturers often produced private label under a hardware store's own brand, including small ma and pop shops. This was done so that a manufacturer could sell to two stores in the same town, or even right across the street from one another, without pitting the two firms head to head with each other. Maker's marks were omitted from these models, and a paper label only was used, with the branding and name of the hardware store's choice. These labels were often generic with the same "frame" to the label and just the hardware store's chosen name and branding swapped out via their own printing block module. Some larger stores may have had their own fully custom labels applied, or in the case of Lakeside, Bluegrass, Van Camp, Craftsman, etc. even opt for their own custom etch or hot stamp, but those were more expensive by a good margin and the cost of the tooling had to be amortized across larger runs of tools. It is not reasonable to guess that unembellished heads were made more recently. Most axes throughout history were not embellished, including during the "Golden Age" of American axes. Paper labels were much more common, and even some axes didn't have those, either, and had only a hot stamp with the maker mark like many axes today.

 

[catspa]

I just think this because I think it, but generally, yes. I see many more unmarked axes than marked ones. I figure they’re either American made from the paper label era (post WW2 - 60s), or foreign made imported in the last 40 yrs. Sometimes there are clues, but it’s hard to prove.

I think there are relatively few 100 yr old or older axes left, at least in my area, and the embossed or stamped ones for sale are expensive. I’m a user, not a collector, so I usually pass on those and buy an unmarked one in good or repairable condition.

Parker

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I just think this because I think it, but generally, yes. I see many more unmarked axes than marked ones. I figure they’re either American made from the paper label era (post WW2 - 60s), or foreign made imported in the last 40 yrs. Sometimes there are clues, but it’s hard to prove.

I think there are relatively few 100 yr old or older axes left, at least in my area, and the embossed or stamped ones for sale are expensive. I’m a user, not a collector, so I usually pass on those and buy an unmarked one in good or repairable condition.

Parker

To be clear, paper labels were commonly used from the mid-1850's onward. The entirety of the Golden Age of axes was rife with paper labels.

 

[PhilipWimberly]

The problem is your fundamental presumption is incorrect. Most axes with complex designs are not even embossed, but are rather wax-resist acid etched. Struck maker's marks are typically debossed rather than embossed. Acid etching was typically only done on premium models. Most axes produced under a manufacturer's own branding had a maker's mark struck in (debossed) alongside a paper label or decal. However, manufacturers often produced private label under a hardware store's own brand, including small ma and pop shops. This was done so that a manufacturer could sell to two stores in the same town, or even right across the street from one another, without pitting the two firms head to head with each other. Maker's marks were omitted from these models, and a paper label only was used, with the branding and name of the hardware store's choice. These labels were often generic with the same "frame" to the label and just the hardware store's chosen name and branding swapped out via their own printing block module. Some larger stores may have had their own fully custom labels applied, or in the case of Lakeside, Bluegrass, Van Camp, Craftsman, etc. even opt for their own custom etch or hot stamp, but those were more expensive by a good margin and the cost of the tooling had to be amortized across larger runs of tools. It is not reasonable to guess that unembellished heads were made more recently. Most axes throughout history were not embellished, including during the "Golden Age" of American axes. Paper labels were much more common, and even some axes didn't have those, either, and had only a hot stamp with the maker mark like many axes today.

Really helpful and interesting

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The way things worked back then were just way different as a production model. When placing an order for a company's products you actually picked not just the model and quantity, but the house brand you wanted it marked as, and the finish, which included both the finish of the metal, color of the paint, paint scheme, etc. Certain models were available under certain brands and with certain finishes, and you would tell them what combo you wanted. They would then produce to suit.

 

[mc556]

I visit that area from time to time but ironically have never really looked around. I take it you’re just hitting the local antique stores ? I had a pretty nice collection ( all users ) up until we had a house fire. I found a few heads but most were burred into the basement collapse.
It’s about a 2 hour drive normally as long as it’s to game day this time of year.
I’m surprised to hear of your finds. I’ve scoured the areas south of Boone and find a few here and there. Mostly ones that have been used up. Ohio in Amish county ( Berlin) has hundreds for sale . The downside is they are expensive. Most were marked $80-$200 I did score a pristine late 18th century goosewing for $250. Ive hewn several fireplace mantles with it.
I feel a short road trip may be in order soon so thanks for sharing. Don’t worry I’m not greedy. I buy a couple here and there. I love to rehang for use on my property or gifts not resale.