Levine's "what is this cute little double blade" thread

[screened porch]

Anybody here know what that is? Looks like two adze blades mounted back to back with edges vertical. (But it isn't.)

 

[Steve Tall]

Here are photos from that thread:

Can anyone name this ?

 

[Alan2442]

now that's pretty cool, but i have never seen anything like it

 

[DarthTaco123]

Think I saw you post this on the Axe Junkies group, I'm still not sure. Looks like a boat propeller on a stick to me so it shows me how much I know.

 

[300Six]

Think I saw you post this on the Axe Junkies group, I'm still not sure. Looks like a boat propeller on a stick to me so it shows me how much I know.

Were it to be a boat prop the blades (unfortunately) have no pitch to them! But good call nevertheless. The pictures sure have got me thinking about uses for something like this and no forge or foundry out there would have made one without there being a specific 'end use'. Myself was gonna go with 'manhole lid lifter' but those blades don't jive with that scenario.

 

[Square_peg]

Looks like a one-off tool that some blacksmith forged out of a small sledge hammer. Possibly used for chipping shavings off of blocks of ice.

 

[SC T100]

Ditch or trench cutter?

 

[300Six]

Any chance that this sort of thing might have been used to "break the bead" on old-fashioned split rim truck tires?

 

[quinton]

Any chance that this sort of thing might have been used to "break the bead" on old-fashioned split rim truck tires?

No, simply because I like ice chipper better.

 

[Guitarist7.62]

One side appears to be curved on the top and the other looks flat. I think a carpenter/boat builder tool that when working, can be flipped for a different cut or shape.

 

[BigBuddha76]

Any chance that this sort of thing might have been used to "break the bead" on old-fashioned split rim truck tires?

aka the mankillers? the split rim bead breakers look more like a sledge with a blunt blade

 

[chipinthewoods]

Here it is again;
Has logo stamped ANDERSON DETROIT...

 

[chipinthewoods]

 

[Steve Tall]

I was initially assuming that it was made by Anderson Forge & Machine Company, of Detroit, which would date it to between 1906-1920, according to this source:

The City of Detroit Michigan 1701-1922, by C.M. Burton, 1922, page 599

Edited to add:
Seems more likely to be W.H. Anderson & Sons (the pre-1906 precursor to Anderson Forge & Machine) since they were listed as selling Contractors Tools along with Drainage Tools. Farm and Garden Tools, and Cement Workers Tools, and Quarrying Tools, etc.. The later, expanded Anderson Forge & Machine Co. seemed to be focused on the auto industry.

So my guess is that this particular tool is some type of quarrying tool.

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