Help Id'ing old German Axe

S

Scego

Joined
Jul 14, 2012
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2
Recently brought home my Grandfathers splitting axe ( Or at least that's what he used it for) for a refurbishment, re-handle and to put it back into use.
It's been soaking in vinegar the last few days but I took it out to uncover its maker. (& not a bad hamon line)

The only information I can find out is its maker, Smalcalda, and not much at that.
Smalcalda is a town in central Germany, formerly part of East Germany, which is the other marking I can interpret.
And I presume 4 1/2 is the weight.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/82632797@N04/7568554726/ http://www.flickr.com/people/82632797@N04/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/82632797@N04/7568565334/ http://www.flickr.com/people/82632797@N04/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82632797@N04/7568577256/ http://www.flickr.com/people/82632797@N04/,
Has anyone any idea about the other markings? The "WTW" before Smalcalda, or "TGL" ?
Or even the company itself? Approximate date of forging, when it went out of business, quality of metal, absolutely anything really

Bascially, has anyone any information that can add to the character of my grandfathers axe?
 
SWEEEET !! I love tools that have a family heritage linked to them. An angle grinder with a course wire cup brush on it would work wonders on your Grandfather's axe. I would also file or use flap wheel on an angle grinder on the mushroom on the poll. That axe has a lot of life left in her.

Sorry I can't help you identify her.
 
Made by
VVB Werkzeugmaschinen und Werkzeuge
(the trademark is WMW, evidently for WerkzeugMaschinen und Werkzeuge)
at Schmalkalden in the former East Germany.

WMW_Kombinate.jpg


Company information from Wikipedia (with help from Google Translate):

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FVVB_Werkzeugmaschinen_und_Werkzeuge

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werkzeugkombinat_Schmalkalden&prev=/search%3Fq%3DWerkzeugkombinat%2BSchmalkalden%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dubuntu%26hs%3D7B7%26channel%3Dfs%26prmd%3Dimvns&sa=X&ei=wqkBUKCSA4aprQHhq-yxDA&ved=0CFAQ7gEwAA


Some other tools by the same company. Like the axe head, the wrench also has the mark TGL, but I didn't find any explanation for it.

Werkzeuge_aus_dem_Werkzeugkombinat_Schmalkalden.JPG
 
Steve Tall said:
Made by
VVB Werkzeugmaschinen und Werkzeuge
(the trademark is WMW, evidently for WerkzeugMaschinen und Werkzeuge)
at Schmalkalden in the former East Germany.
Click to expand...

Thanks Steve, that's what I was looking for.
Its great to be able to know where it has come from when people ask and especially when I'm using it

Double Ott said:
SWEEEET !! I love tools that have a family heritage linked to them. An angle grinder with a course wire cup brush on it would work wonders on your Grandfather's axe. I would also file or use flap wheel on an angle grinder on the mushroom on the poll. That axe has a lot of life left in her.

Sorry I can't help you identify her.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to try and fix the poll with a sander and file, failing that, I'll have to find meself a dremel or angle grinder.
Hopefully I'll remember to update this thread with a picture of the finished product.
 
Hi there Bailz here from Lakes Entrance Victoria Australia I’ve just picked up one of these exact tomahawks I’ve been collecting axes for a few years but don’t know a real lot and now as I’ve got a few I’m starting to look and see what I’ve got amongst them and what they would be worth this is as I picked it up and am wondering how and if or if not to clean this up without taking away any of its value as an antique and what would it be worth if anybody could help me with that please as I have a lot of axes and old wooden handled antique tools I’ve stooked away over the years to one day resurrect them I’m new at this and am sorry if I’m in the wrong place I just thought that this axe is complete and original handle by the looks of what I’ve seen but I I haven’t seen one with the steel part at the back going thru to the top of it is this original and if so should it be laying flat against the handle in last photo or is is sitting of it as a spring effect as when tight in handle it tightens up against the nail screw things tight should they be hit into the handle ?? I hope my photos help you resurrect yours sorry if I’ve wrong guys
 
Bailz said:
Hi there Bailz here from Lakes Entrance Victoria Australia I’ve just picked up one of these exact tomahawks I’ve been collecting axes for a few years but don’t know a real lot and now as I’ve got a few I’m starting to look and see what I’ve got amongst them and what they would be worth this is as I picked it up and am wondering how and if or if not to clean this up without taking away any of its value as an antique and what would it be worth if anybody could help me with that please as I have a lot of axes and old wooden handled antique tools I’ve stooked away over the years to one day resurrect them I’m new at this and am sorry if I’m in the wrong place I just thought that this axe is complete and original handle by the looks of what I’ve seen but I I haven’t seen one with the steel part at the back going thru to the top of it is this original and if so should it be laying flat against the handle in last photo or is is sitting of it as a spring effect as when tight in handle it tightens up against the nail screw things tight should they be hit into the handle ?? I hope my photos help you resurrect yours sorry if I’ve wrong guys
Click to expand...
Also should I keep the paint on it or clean it off and how or what should I do to the handle I was thinking a light sand to smooth off any major imperfection dents in timber and a coat or two of linseed oil or should I not light sand it thank you if anyone can help as I have a fair few I want to restore and not sure how far to clean them up I don’t want to wreck them for their looks etc
 
Bailz said:
Also should I keep the paint on it or clean it off and how or what should I do to the handle I was thinking a light sand to smooth off any major imperfection dents in timber and a coat or two of linseed oil or should I not light sand it thank you if anyone can help as I have a fair few I want to restore and not sure how far to clean them up I don’t want to wreck them for their looks etc
Click to expand...
I’m not sure photos came thru
 
Wtf is an id'ing thread without a picture that works.

Everyone please just use imgur.

flickr and any other image hosting website is slow
 
Hello. I just got old second hand Smalcalda axe for 15 Euro here in Ireland. I intend to restore it and was interested in markings on it too. It's handy enough already to find some explanations here. Yet the TGL marking was not explained. Basically it's a quality reassurance mark (Soviet Unoion also had such mark on quality products). TGL stands for "Technischen Normen, Gütevorschriften und Lieferbedingungen", Google translates it to "Technical standards, quality regulations and delivery conditions". Products with marks like these meant good standards and reassured consumers of its quality. German wall colapsed in 1989 and with it the manufacturing standards. It's safe to say that your grandfather's axe was made that year or earlier

Hope this helped. Would love to see the pics of your grandfathers axe tho.
 
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