Kelly Columbian Axe! The pictures are finally in! Page 2

Brian Rust said:
That is very possible. When I picked up the axe it was so covered with rust I could barely see the bevels. But with the little cleaning I did to it there isn’t really any pitting. There are a lot of marks more on one side then the other. I will say I took a file to the edge and then just went straight to a strop but the steel was very very hard still. I’m not sure how much of the tempered still is left but there is some on the edge I know. A vinegar bath could reveal this but I’m not sure if I want to do that or not. I like the look. What do you guys think?
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Was there any paint left before cleaning?
 
Brian Rust said:
On the Columbian there was no paint. Is that what you were referring to?
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According to 1938 catalog Kelly perfect had blue bevels, Columbian crimson.. Just curious if true temper was consistent when it comes to colors. Also 1938 Columbian had only label , crimson bevels and no etchings. Your axe is probably from different period
 
Yes I believe mine was sometime around 1899. I do not believe it had paint because it came with a “Full Polish”. It is possible. After looking at yours closer I think it is the later columbian. The bevels and even the ware marks look close to the same. I bet it is. Too bad they didn’t etch it.
 
crbnSteeladdict said:
According to 1938 catalog Kelly perfect had blue bevels, Columbian crimson.. Just curious if true temper was consistent when it comes to colors...
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Kelly was so serious about the blue-colored phantom bevels of the Kelly Perfect, they made it part of their trademark (shown below at end of post). This trademark (blue-colored phantom bevels on a polished head) was one of the trademarks assigned to Barco in 1987. (Barco evidently let it go "dead" since then, but still offers their version of the Kelly Perfect.)

I wondered if the Kelly Columbian trademark (more likely a trademark, not a patent, despite what the label says?) had a similar specification with crimson-colored phantom bevels, but the trademark notice from May 4 (No. 29,972 "Columbian Axe" had no mention of a crimson color.

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from Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office


YesteryearsTools shows these designs:

Columbia%3AColumbian%20Con%209-filtered.jpg

"The etching design (above left) was registered as
No. 26,531 on January 12, 1897. Both the COLUMBIA and the COLUMBIAN brands were used, perhaps to appeal to different markets."

So, the Columbia (not Columbian) Axe was registered in January of 1897, while the Columbian (not Columbia) Axe trademark was registered in May of 1897.

The Columbian Axe trademark was re-renewed in 1947 by The American Fork and Hoe Co. (maybe there was some advantage to re-renewing it under the same company name that had previously renewed it, instead of assigning the trademark to the new company name True Temper?), so the Columbian could have still remained as part of their post-WWII lineup of axes.

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from Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, Volume 602


--------------------------------------------------
Kelly Perfect design trademark:
--------------------------------------------------
THE TRADE-MARK CONSISTS OF A REPRESENTATION OF PORTIONS OF THE HEAD OF AN AXE IN THE FORM OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED LOBES WHICH ARE, AS SHOWN BY THE LINING IN THE DRAWING, COLORED BLUE, THE BALANCE OF THE AXE HEAD BEING POLISHED.
ImageAgentProxy

Goods and Services (EXPIRED) IC 008. US 023. G & S: AXES AND HATCHETS. FIRST USE: 18890000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 18890000
Mark Drawing Code (2) DESIGN ONLY
Design Search Code 14.05.05 - Axes; Hatchets; Tomahawks
29.03.03 - Blue (single color used on a portion of the goods)
Serial Number 71215010
Filing Date May 28, 1925
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Registration Number 0210847
Registration Date March 23, 1926
Owner (REGISTRANT) KELLY AXE AND TOOL COMPANY CORPORATION WEST VIRGINIA CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA
(LAST LISTED OWNER) USM CORPORATION CORPORATION ASSIGNEE OF NEW JERSEY 426 COLT HIGHWAY FARMINGTON CONNECTICUT 06032

Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Prior Registrations 0027371
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE REPRESENTATION OF THE AXE APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN.
Description of Mark THE TRADE-MARK CONSISTS OF A REPRESENTATION OF PORTIONS OF THE HEAD OF AN AXE IN THE FORM OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED LOBES WHICH ARE, AS SHOWN BY THE LINING IN THE DRAWING, COLORED BLUE, THE BALANCE OF THE AXE HEAD BEING POLISHED.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 12C. SECT 15.
Renewal 3RD RENEWAL 19860323
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
 
Wow Steve, I must say I need to take some more researching lessons from you... you are very good at this! So judging the font/script on the etching of the columbian and shape/size do you think mine is from the early models? Also there was an older catolog posted on this forum talking about the ratings of the kelly Perftect, hand made, Flint Edge etc.... which was the catolog from 1899 I believe and it says “crimson bevels”. From what I have read and from handling/cleaning the axe along with pictures or stamps/etchings from Kelly in that period I think I have the early model. I would really like to hear what you think. Thank you for your input sir!
 
Also, from what yesteryear says the label on the top right would have been a paper label (since it is in color) and there would have been an etching above it. Which also makes me think it’s an earlier model. It has the state it was made under the kelly columbian but I have never been able to completely make it out since most of it is just gone. And the picture my wife so graciously sent me did not show the little marking left below the kelly stamp. If I had all of it I would know for sure.
 
Brian Rust said:
Wow Steve, I must say I need to take some more researching lessons from you... you are very good at this! So judging the font/script on the etching of the columbian and shape/size do you think mine is from the early models? Also there was an older catolog posted on this forum talking about the ratings of the kelly Perftect, hand made, Flint Edge etc.... which was the catolog from 1899 I believe and it says “crimson bevels”. From what I have read and from handling/cleaning the axe along with pictures or stamps/etchings from Kelly in that period I think I have the early model. I would really like to hear what you think. Thank you for your input sir!
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I don't really have a good estimate about just how early yours would be. There isn't an exact match to any known stampings, is there? Is there any etched design remaining on yours, or is it just some stamped lettering? From the looks of it, at least, I think it's a safe bet that it's from before the 1938 catalog.

The catalog you mention from 1899 was actually a price list from 1913, if I recall correctly.
 
Okay I am sure you are right about that catolog. I do not recall exactly when it was. And you can see “KELLY COLUMBIAN” marked on the head. And not in the pictures but there is some markings of, what I would assume the city and state of origin, below that. I can not tell what it says though. It is very faint and missing a lot. I thought if I could know what it said then I could put together a better timeline since I would know what facility Kelly was at when the axe was made. Not an exact date but at least a range. Am I correct to think this way? I am still learning so forgive me if I ask too many questions. Thank you again sir!
 
Okay, I found the "patent" (that's what it's called) dated January 12th 1897. The number is 26,513 (not the 26,531 given at YesteryearsTools). No mention of "crimson" in this summary, and the full details seem to be missing at the google patents site.

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26,513 AX JAMES P. KELLY, Alexandria, Ind. Filed Aug 29, 1896. Serial No 604,334. Term of patent 14 years.
Claim -- The design for an ax having the ornamental surface pattern described, the several portions thereof being of contrasting colors, substantially as shown and described.

from Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, Volume 78
 
Brian Rust said:
Okay I am sure you are right about that catolog. I do not recall exactly when it was. And you can see “KELLY COLUMBIAN” marked on the head. And not in the pictures but there is some markings of, what I would assume the city and state of origin, below that. I can not tell what it says though. It is very faint and missing a lot. I thought if I could know what it said then I could put together a better timeline since I would know what facility Kelly was at when the axe was made. Not an exact date but at least a range. Am I correct to think this way? I am still learning so forgive me if I ask too many questions. Thank you again sir!
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Yes, if the stamping or embossing indicates Alexandria, then I think it was made before the company relocated to Charleston in 1904 (according to YesteryearsTools). However, the designs shown at YesteryearsTools that have Alexandria are the Columbia (not Columbian like yours). So I don't know what to make of that.

I think that yours might shown part of the J.P. stamping (before Kelly), and part of the PAT'D on the line below, but I don't know what else, judging from the photo.
 
Sorry I didn’t see your last comment. I am still “getting the hang” of this forum stuff. Did u see what I did there haha. But that is very interesting to me. I have not seen a lot of axes with “JP KELLY”. Have u?
 
D2_B32476-6_FB5-4_B60-_B76_E-3_CFFC79_D4376.jpg


Looking closely at the enlarged photo, it does look (to me) like it says J.P. before the KELLY, and on the next line, before the PAT it looks like W VA (not IND), so I think it was made in Charleston (1904 at the earliest, and before AF&HCo bought the company in 1930).
 
Wow thank you Steve. I really appreciate all your input. Last question, what can I do to preserve what is left of the stand? Should I just clean it good and leave it., Or is there anything That you have done to actions in the past to preserve this area? My assumption was to just clean it the best I could and leave it.
 
Steve Tall said:
D2_B32476-6_FB5-4_B60-_B76_E-3_CFFC79_D4376.jpg


Looking closely at the enlarged photo, it does look (to me) like it says J.P. before the KELLY, and on the next line, before the PAT it looks like W VA (not IND), so I think it was made in Charleston (1904 at the earliest, and before AF&HCo bought the company in 1930).
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Tall Steve Strikes Again! Amazingly Gifted talent to educate and inform!
I have a "JP Kelly Columbian" - going by what Steve has posted. I can only *just* read "P Kelly Columbian" as it is stamped up high towards the poll and misuse and abuse has rolled the edge of the poll over to distort the start of the wording. A badly abused head (not by me, though).
 
OldBinOz said:
Tall Steve Strikes Again! Amazingly Gifted talent to educate and inform!
I have a "JP Kelly Columbian" - going by what Steve has posted. I can only *just* read "P Kelly Columbian" as it is stamped up high towards the poll and misuse and abuse has rolled the edge of the poll over to distort the start of the wording. A badly abused head (not by me, though).
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This time the 'comments' panel comes up OK for me - previous error must be because I am typing upside down.
Forgot to quote the weight: 61 ozs - nominal 4 lbs. The walls of the eye appear to be different thicknesses - the side with lesser material has bulged slightly.
 
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