Hatchet restoration

[nickzdon]

Finally got around to tackling a few heads in my 'head box.' Here's a nice little hatchet with beautiful bevels. I sharpened and polished the bit to accentuate them. Unfortunately, the stamp is unreadable. My guess is it dates from the early 1900s. Anyone else recognize these bevels? Manhattan Axe Co. made an axe called the Ideal Ridge with similar bevels, but that's all I've found that's close.

 

[Operator1975]

American Axe and Tool Co





Nice work!

 

[M3mphis]

Looks like an AATCo.

 

[M3mphis]

Damnit!!!!! Beat me to it.

 

[Operator1975]

Damnit!!!!! Beat me to it.

There can only be one highlander......

 

[nickzdon]

Looks like an AATCo.

American Axe and Tool Co

Yeah, Manhattan was an AATCo brand.

 

[M3mphis]

Beautiful BTW.

 

[Square_peg]

Great resto, Nick.

 

[Operator1975]

Yeah, Manhattan was an AATCo brand.

If this is true, it was technically someone elses brand seeing AATCo absorbed 14+ other companies.

I see no reference to Manhattan in the 1894 catalog I have of AATCo. Whats that mean? Nothin.

 

[M3mphis]

I have one of those, as well. Now I'm feeling inspired to get it hung.

 

[nickzdon]

If this is true, it was technically someone elses brand seeing AATCo absorbed 14+ other companies.

I see no reference to Manhattan in the 1894 catalog I have of AATCo. Whats that mean? Nothin.

True. They're in this one: http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id1.html

The Ideal Ridge in this catalog has similar bevels, but is a Michigan pattern, while mine is a Dayton. Go figure. Chalk it up to another axe history mystery.

 

[Operator1975]

True. They're in this one: http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id1.html

The Ideal Ridge in this catalog has similar bevels, but is a Michigan pattern, while mine is a Dayton. Go figure. Chalk it up to another axe history mystery.

No offense but I find that sites info usually incorrect. However I don't know about "The Manhattan Project"

 

[nickzdon]

No offense but I find that sites info usually incorrect. However I don't know about "The Manhattan Project"

None taken, but it does show that the Manhattan Axe Co. was sold/rep'd/owned by AATCo. No idea on the year of the catalog though.

 

[Operator1975]

Cool. Always good to get discussion out there.

That being said, why are we talking about Manhattan anyway? Is that what it says on your hatchet? I can't read it, but your imprint looks very similar to mine, and if it is different and says Manhattan, then you have a unique specimen indeed.

 

[nickzdon]

Cool. Always good to get discussion out there.

That being said, why are we talking about Manhattan anyway? Is that what it says on your hatchet? I can't read it, but your imprint looks very similar to mine, and if it is different and says Manhattan, then you have a unique specimen indeed.

My initial thought, before posting this thread and seeing the original stamp, was that it was from Manhattan due to the similar bevels I found in the AATCo catalog. But it'd be a good idea to clarify that I may have been wrong about that. I believe that your stamp and mine are the same. Besides, I've got an affinity for axe companies based in Manhattan.

What does the bottom line on your stamp say? I can't quite make it out.

 

[Operator1975]

Let me go pull it out of the pile.

 

[Operator1975]

It says PAT APL 1700

 

[Operator1975]

Here are some of the AATCo samples -









I would assume that PAT APL means patent applied for and the 1700 some sort of reference number, but I am not sure. I bet Steve can dig in and get a better answer.

One of my favorite manufacturers due to the short length of their life and then also all that they absorbed, and with that transformed the axe industry.

Just imgaine if that would of never happened, and Kelly didnt buy them out - would it of all played out the same in the end? Interesting no doubt.

 

[Square_peg]

Here are some of the AATCo samples -

Love the look of that claw hatchet. I notice that the tempered hammer poll has resisted pitting the same as the bit.