Near Mint Pre-War(?) Plumb Belt Axe Find

R

robertnfrappuls

Joined
Jul 18, 2017
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Hi all, I'm new to the world of hatchets/axes, but I have come up with a quite nice example of a small Plumb belt axe. From what I've read, the take-up screw wedge was abandoned in either 1942 or 1948. In any case, I was extremely pleased to find one that had seen such little use as this one has. I thought you all would like to see some pictures.

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The Plumb "take-up" screw was still being advertised in 1953 for hammers. I think that trying to pinpoint the exact year when Plumb stopped using it for axes and hatchets is still mostly speculation, unless we have some evidence other than advertisements that mention it (before Permabond was introduced).

Popular Science, June 1953
 
Are there any other clues on my piece that would help date it?

I notice my handle says "Selected Hickory" where the 1953 ad you linked says "Tested Hickory." Are there any other clues (maybe the sticker style?) that could help date it?
 
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FWIW, this ad from 1945 shows Plumb hammers and a half hatchet with the same script on the handle as the hammer in the 1953 ad:

TESTED PLUMB HICKORY
U.S.A.

Popular Science, November 1945

whereas your hatchet handle says
SELECTED PLUMB HICKORY
U.S.A.

This ad from 1929 shows a Plumb scout axe with
SELECTED PLUMB HICKORY
U.S.A.
on the handle:
Boy's Life, Feb 1929

So, maybe this gives some grounds for speculation that yours would be pre-1945 (based on what the handle says)?
 
dont you just hate it, when these new guys find stuff like that norlund still in the box, and this? where was all this stuff when i was looking for my first axe
 
Well done with regard to the sleuthing Steve. What I find curious (or puzzling) is the use of a conventional wedge plus a screw wedge. I was led to believe it usually was one or the other and not both. Nice find, by the way. Problem with beauties such as this is you're loathe to ever consider putting it to work!
 
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robertnfrappuls said:
Yeah I was actually looking for a nice small camping hatchet I could use. Now I have to find a different one!
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Can't agree with you more on this. Collector value revolves entirely around how old and how little use (which ideally is NOS (new old stock)) an item has had. Your's is definitely in this 'unused-pristine' category. For what this item could generate at auction (if you're not into wall hangers and 'look at me'-type stuff or historical samples) easily ought to get you 1/2 dozen quality-equivalent (but previously enjoyed) versions of much the same thing. Messing with new handle lengths and shapes and innocently beating on spikes and steel tent pegs is a whole lot easier on the conscience when the tool has already 'been there' before.
 
rjdankert said:
FWIW:

Popular Science Plumb April 1943 "selected" on handle
https://books.google.com/books?id=pCcDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA220&dq=plumb+popular+science&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG4Z3C5JXVAhWE5iYKHfWlCHk4KBDoAQgnMAE#v=onepage&q=plumb popular science&f=false


Popular Science Plumb September 1943 "tested" on handle
https://books.google.com/books?id=kCcDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA209&dq=plumb+popular+science&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi7woqY4ZXVAhUBwiYKHffFC6M4HhDoAQgvMAM#v=onepage&q=plumb popular science&f=false

Bob
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Thanks. I know from fountain pen collecting that catalogs and advertisements are often a few months off and sometimes completely fictitious, but I think this helps date mine to pre-1944. I wasn't able to find an advertisement after the April 1943 you show that shows "selected" on the handle.
 
robertnfrappuls said:
Thanks. I know from fountain pen collecting that catalogs and advertisements are often a few months off and sometimes completely fictitious, but I think this helps date mine to pre-1944. I wasn't able to find an advertisement after the April 1943 you show that shows "selected" on the handle.
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You'll be hard-pressed to beat (or even be able to dispute) Steve when it comes to relevant knowledge and his reference library. The take up-screw wedge is the clincher. Plumb went nuts with revolutionary Permabond epoxy beginning in 55/56 and hammers may have continued into the 1950s with leftover stocks of takeup screws but hatchets and axes had seen the end of that method once gov't-mandated war effort expediencies were implemented. I think it's safe to say (also based on overall fit and finish of your's) that it's pre-war. 1922 to 1943 (split the difference and say 1932+/-) is fairly precise compared to usual guesstimates of age.
 
ok now here me out on this, who here has ever bought and used a hatchet in the 1940's ?
If this was my hatchet I think I'd use it.
The grand canyon still exists, the California redwoods still exist, the statue of liberty still exists, I can go to all these places if I really wanted to, but the 1940's no longer exist and to be able to experience a hatchet just as a 10yo boy would who pulled it off the rack in the 1940' is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I'm sure you'll be able to take this one and trade or sell your way into a handful of nice old axes and hatchets, and with those you wouldn't feel guilty about using them.
It's your hatchet though, and I personally see nothing wrong with experiencing it like prop do with vintage wine...ect.
If this isn't going into a museum for all to see, then it should be properly enjoyed by someone through the use it was meant for.
 
I've got a well used 'H Walters & Sons' hatchet and that maker's mark was changed over to 'Walters' already before WWI. Hickory n steel, folks have always had a use for hatchets. "who here has ever bought and used a hatchet in the 1940's?"
 
That's a beauty. Here are my thoughts on using it since it was brought up. There are not many left from the 1940's and plenty of collectors would pay or trade enough to get at least two or three or more nice users. On the other hand many of us pay $150 for a new Swedish axe and use it right away. I would hate to see that decal get rubbed off. I have a couple near new vintage axes I've used. I'm just so careful with them that it's not fun.
 
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