A few months ago I was home visiting my family and my grandmother mentioned that she had found an firemans axe of my grandads that needed a new handle. So being a member I started trolling this forum for information and what it led me to was a whole world of finely crafted Americana and also reinvigorated my appreciation for vintage tools. My grandfather was a carpenter/housebuilder as well as a fireman and I have all of his old hand tools. So when I went to get the axe I thought I would look around for the old single bit and double bit I used as a kid. Here is what I got I'm going to have to rehang all of them but I know thats going to be fun.
First the firemans hand ax (their is no maker mark)
Next the single bit, Its an old True Temper. I had to cut the handle off as it was shredded anyways, but i kept it to try to reuse.
Next his the double bit Plumb.
Check out how he tightened the head. Turns out four washers 3/8ths cut washers worked perfect. except for where the handle was broke in the middle
These lead me to go ask to dig around my other granfathers house. Who had an amazing tool collection that I never knew existed. I found a full set of Bluegrass Wrenches, Bluegrass CrossCut Saw and all kinds of planes, and gouges. The funny thing was he had a Doctorate in Industrial Technolgy and taught in the Army and as a civilian high school tech programs. He was a millwright so he almost never used the woodtools but man did he have an eye for some sweet ones. Anyways back to the point my grandma was cool enough to give me all fo his old Delta gouges and two sweet double bit True Tempers.
The bottom line is I got to know my grandfathers a little bit better and they both passed several years ago. I can't wait to get these finished. Thanks again for all of the great info here. -Jason
First the firemans hand ax (their is no maker mark)
Next the single bit, Its an old True Temper. I had to cut the handle off as it was shredded anyways, but i kept it to try to reuse.
Next his the double bit Plumb.
Check out how he tightened the head. Turns out four washers 3/8ths cut washers worked perfect. except for where the handle was broke in the middle
These lead me to go ask to dig around my other granfathers house. Who had an amazing tool collection that I never knew existed. I found a full set of Bluegrass Wrenches, Bluegrass CrossCut Saw and all kinds of planes, and gouges. The funny thing was he had a Doctorate in Industrial Technolgy and taught in the Army and as a civilian high school tech programs. He was a millwright so he almost never used the woodtools but man did he have an eye for some sweet ones. Anyways back to the point my grandma was cool enough to give me all fo his old Delta gouges and two sweet double bit True Tempers.
The bottom line is I got to know my grandfathers a little bit better and they both passed several years ago. I can't wait to get these finished. Thanks again for all of the great info here. -Jason
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