Collins -- two 19th C Innovations

[crown & hammer]

The book "Yankee Dreamers and Doers" by Ellsworth Grant has some short histories of Connecticut Firms, Factories. The Collins history is about 5 pages. Not much technical, manufacturing information. 2 things mentioned though, is E K Root in 1830s developed 2 machines/techniques. 1. A machine for punching the eye of the axe out of solid metal and 2. another machine for sharpening the axe by shaving insteading of grinding. I'm wondering if these techniques are common knowledge on this board regarding antique/vintage Collins axes in particular. It was news to me. In part I bring this up in connection with the Collins axe I posted with roughness inside eye.

 

[Steve Tall]

Those innovations, along with improvements to the heat treatment processs, are mentioned in the 1854 publication "The Plow, the Loom, and the Anvil", No. 1, Vol. VII, p. 396:

"Much of the labor saving machinery in use at the works of the Collins Company was invented, patented, and constructed here and is unlike any other in use. The iron after being properly heated is carried to a machine which cuts it to its proper shape forms it and punches the eye to receive the helve. The steel previously cut into the necessary size and shape is welded to the iron under trip hammers and drawn down to a more perfect form. After this another workman examines each axe and regulates the eye and also takes out all the crooks and irregularities of the edge. It is then taken to another shop and by a powerful machine invented at the works shaved down by a cutting operation to a nearly perfect edge and is now ready for hardening."

"The process of properly tempering edge tools is one of extreme practical difficulty. Indeed by the old method it is nearly impossible to arrive at the precise point of temperature and give the requisite hardness without leaving the axe too brittle for general use. This difficulty however has been obviated by the invention of a new plan based upon a principle by which the most unerring results are obtained. Every tool is subjected to a uniform heat produced by means of ovens peculiarly arranged and is regulated by thermometers in the most perfect manner by which the temper is most accurately and uniformly drawn and a fine and permanent cutting edge produced."



Later it's mentioned that the axes were not stamped until they passed a rigorous inspection:

https://books.google.com/books?id=tWFTAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA395&ots=gWdN8PSam0&dq=collins%20axe%20%22south%20america%22&pg=PA396#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[crown & hammer]

Very interesting. Putting aside the "if the axe I have is defective how did it get stamped" question. I noticed the last paragraph mentions each axe is dipped in "asphaltum" That's the thick black coat which was covering my axe head for the most part, preventing its deterioration.

 

[crown & hammer]

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[300Six]

Very interesting. Putting aside the "if the axe I have is defective how did it get stamped" question. I noticed the last paragraph mentions each axe is dipped in "asphaltum" That's the thick black coat which was covering my axe head for the most part, preventing its deterioration.

There will be a simple answer but this could mean somebody looking to 'spirit' one out in his lunchbox developed cold feet and then hastily tossed it out the window in hopes of retrieving it later.

 

[crown & hammer]

There will be a simple answer but this could mean somebody looking to 'spirit' one out in his lunchbox developed cold feet and then hastily tossed it out the window in hopes of retrieving it later.

Yeah anything is possible.

As far as the eye being made this way: Was this unique to Collins Co throughout the period of axe making we're interested in? Did other companies adopt this? Does this create a superior axe head?