New to this. Help?

[Dieselsmoke1]

Hello guys and Gal's. I'm new to the axe collecting sport. I've found a few that seem pretty desirable.. Norlud hatchet and a homesteader. Looking for info on the newest. The best I can read is oLmCanAa. The capital letters are in cursive also underneath it says personally guaranteed by ??? Lee president.

 

[DarthTaco123]

A photo of the newest one would be Good to help with ID. Norlund axes were made by Mann sometime starting in the 60s I think, most of their value lies in nostalgia and how they were marketed. Homestead was a line made by Collins for a very long time.

 

[Steve Tall]

OLMCAHAA

LCA Omaha
Personally Guaranteed By H.J. Lee, President

Lee Clarke Andreesen Hardware Co.
Omaha, Nebraska

According to this source, the company with this name began operating in 1888. The three principals (Lee, Clark, and Andreesen) were formerly partners in the earlier incarnation, "Lee, Fried, & Co." that was formed in 1881.

[The company later changed to become Lee Coit Andreesen Hardware Co.,
where John Coit was president from 1917-1924, according to his obituary.]

Henry J. Lee was listed as president of the company in 1896 (according to one source), but the overall timespan of his presidency was not clear.

An example from an old auction listing:

 

[DarthTaco123]

Steve Tall may not be the hero we all deserve, but he's the hero we need.

 

[Hickory n steel]

OLMCAHAA

LCA Omaha
Personally Guaranteed By H.J. Lee, President

Lee Coit Andreesen Hardware Co.
Omaha, Nebraska

Reported to have been in business from 1914-1924.

An example from an old auction listing:

That Michigan you've got there is nice, it's similar in shape to my homestead.
Most Michigan's I see have narrower polls, mine I a little longer and curvier.

 

[Steve Tall]

Steve Tall may not be the hero we all deserve, but he's the hero we need.

LOL!

By the way, I updated my post with a correction to the company name.
The company was Lee Clarke Andreesen Hardware Co. during the time that H.J. Lee was president.

 

[Steve Tall]

Mr. Clarke retired from the company in 1899, and the company then became Lee Glass Andreesen Hardware Co., with Mr. Lee as president again, according to a biography of Henry J. Lee, which had his photo:

from Illustrated history of Nebraska, Volume 1, by J. Morton, A. Watkins, G. Miller, 1907

[As mentioned earlier, the company later changed to become Lee Coit Andreesen Hardware Co.,
where John Coit was president from 1917-1924, according to his obituary.]

 

[Dieselsmoke1]

Thanks guys that's the one. Another question is if it will change the value if I restore it or should I leave it?

 

[Hickory n steel]

Thanks guys that's the one. Another question is if it will change the value if I restore it or should I leave it?

It's an old axe of which there were millions made , so Most of them have more value in their use than they do monetarily.
If the embossed stamp on the L C A H.co is in nice shape it can be worth more though.

If all you do is take a wire wheel and remove the rust you shouldn't hurt them, IMHO you should only restore an axe to functionality and never try to polish them all shiny.
( don't soak them because it removes the patina which is the history and identity of the axe )

If your not gonna hang them yet, just remove the rust with a wire wheel/ cup, then oil them up and rub them down with beeswax.
The oil helps cut through the beeswax so it can easily coat the head , in the end your left with a protective coating that won't get oil on whatever it touches and it will come right off when you go to use it.

I hope your new axes turn out great, and I know everyone would like to see them when they're done. Good luck and happy hanging 👍