Firestone Deluxe single bit (pics added)

[lightsoutcalls]

I don't have a picture of it, but found a single bit axe head in my shop. The head belonged to my dad. I have no idea when or where he bought it. It has some surface rust, but very little damage to the poll. The head is stamped Firestone in the characteristic text of Firestone tires and Deluxe below that in more basic text. I have it soaking in vinegar today and will take it out tonight and brush it down with a brass brush and try to get a picture. If I can remember, I will weigh it and post the weight with a picture.

Any ideas of manufacture dates of Firestone axe heads? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Steve Tall]

Firestone branched out from tires and had Firestone Stores in the 1940s and 50s (at least) with hardware, tools, lawn and garden, sporting goods... They must have had their axes made for them by a major manufacturer (like Plumb, perhaps). Oldjimbo's site speaks highly of a 3 pound Firestone axe.

I've seen Firestone axes stamped Deluxe or Supreme (corresponding to the names of some Firestone tires).

Firestone Store ad from 1949:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qGZgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BHINAAAAIBAJ&pg=3844%2C7387205

 

[300Six]

Firestone branched out from tires and had Firestone Stores in the 1940s and 50s (at least) with hardware, tools, lawn and garden, sporting goods... They must have had their axes made for them by a major manufacturer (like Plumb, perhaps). Oldjimbo's site speaks highly of a 3 pound Firestone axe.

I've seen Firestone axes stamped Deluxe or Supreme (corresponding to the names of some Firestone tires).

Firestone Store ad from 1949:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qGZgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BHINAAAAIBAJ&pg=3844%2C7387205

And where is the 'Firestone 500 tire' axe version that soured me on any of their products forever? USA knowingly 'produces junk' worldwide publicity was like driving a nail into the coffin for promoting domestic products.

 

[Steve Tall]

Yeah, stay away from the Firestone 500 axes.

"In 1973, only two years after the 500's debut, Thomas A. Robertson, Firestone's director of development wrote an internal memo stating "We are making an inferior quality radial tire which will subject us to belt-edge separation at high mileage"...On October 20, 1978, Firestone recalled over 7 million Firestone 500 tires, the largest tire recall to date. Congressional hearings into the 500 also took place in 1978. The tire was found to be defective and the cause of 250 deaths. In May 1980 after finding that they knew the tires were defective, the NHTSA fined Firestone $500,000 USD, which at that time was the largest fine imposed on any U.S. corporation..." (quoted from Wikipedia)

 

[lightsoutcalls]

I didn't know this was the place for corporate rants... I was just wanting to get information about an axe on the Axe, Tomahawk & Hatchet Forum. I don't have any pictures of defective tires, but here are some pictures of my axe head after a 10 hour soak in vinegar.

A total of 4 screws, 8 nails and 2 fence staples were in what was left of the handle. Several still to remove...

Having started with an axe head that I had to wire brush the name to read through the rust, I'm pleased with the start.

 

[Agent_H]

Cool find at the shop. I think those are interesting.

Regardless of the tire issues, the axe is kind of Americana. I drove a 65' Corvair Monza my grandfather rebuilt as my first car- we all know that those were more than suspect- it had Firestone tires on it as well...

Not sure of collector value but it was your Dad's- that right there would be reason enough to to clean it up and use it - or have around to pass on to the next generation.

Steve Tall mentioned above that Firestone branched out in the 40's-50's. That kind of places its approximate production around then?


I'd like to know who made them for Firestone.

This is a boy's axe size.

Would you do me a favor and see if it has their emblem mark under the bit? I'm just curious if the "supreme" and the "deluxe" are both marked this way.

 

[jblyttle]

I didn't know this was the place for corporate rants... I was just wanting to get information about an axe on the Axe, Tomahawk & Hatchet Forum. I don't have any pictures of defective tires, but here are some pictures of my axe head after a 10 hour soak in vinegar.

A total of 4 screws, 8 nails and 2 fence staples were in what was left of the handle. Several still to remove...

Having started with an axe head that I had to wire brush the name to read through the rust, I'm pleased with the start.

I knew it, the smoking gun! I've pulled those things out of tires too, I knew there was a connection!

 

[jblyttle]

BTW Agent_H, it came out great. Thumbs up.

 

[SC T100]

Nice axe, especially since it was in the family previously. It's in pretty good shape for a 60-ish year old axe, with lots of hard steel left in the bit and minimal signs of abuse that can be easily remedied. Good geometry too with that high centerline. Hang it and use it or hang it and put it on the wall as a family item; I don't think you can go wrong either way.