Old (really) NJ made Jersey Rockaway axe head ID?

ry%3D400


from "A Visitor" in this thread:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/william-mckinnon-rockaway-unknown-cleanup.955589/



The following is from an old posting (link broken) at a genealogy site:

Notes for William McKinnon:
From "Industries of New Jersey", 1883. Sent by Robert J. Fridlington, Dept. of History,
College of N.J., Union, NJ.

...about his McKinnon Axe Company, Rockaway, NJ....
The business was established in 1845 by Mr. Wm. McKinnon, who conducted it successfully and
won a reputation for his productions placing him in the front rank among the leading makers
of the best axes in the country. In 1868 (?) his sons, William and Walter McKinnon,
succeeded to the business, and have from that time continued it and carefully guarded and
maintained the old standard reputation which made the name of the McKinnon axes famous in
all business centres.

(Quote, Fridlington) - "I also have a McKinnon axe - two of them, as a matter of fact. One
is a felling axe (which the McKinnons called a "chopping axe") of the distinctive Rockaway
pattern that became so famous. It is a fine, hand-forged piece, made by your great
grandfather. The other one is a broad axe, made by McKinnon Brothers. By the way, I am
trying to find out if the "Rockaway" pattern is still being made. The last authenticated
date that I have is 1937, when the Warren Axe and Tool Co. of Warren, Pa. was making them.
That was forty years ago, of course, but several people have told me that someone is still
making them. Unfortunately, tool manufacturers are not very good about responding to
inquiries of this sort." (from letter dated 6/1/1977 to Dorothy Lord Moore.)
 
Information from another thread: William McKinnon's son died in 1907, ownership then passed to a corporation named The McKinnon Rockaway Axe Company, and the manufacture of axes continued.


content


from
A History of Morris County, New Jersey, by Henry Cooper Pitney, 1914


From the same thread:

The company started making axes in 1845, and by 1860 they were only making 500 axes per year. In 1909, the company was reported to employ only 5 people.

Compare this with the Collins company, which began around 1826. By 1871, more than 15 million Collins axes had been produced! (Thats over 330,000 Collins axes per year, on average.)
 
I scrutinized that head and couldn't make anything out of it. Until Steve posted the archival picture of a legible Wm. McKinnon Rockaway NJ stamp. Gotta hand it to you Steve; you are good (as in; amazing) and you hit that nail right on the head!
 
Last edited:
300Six said:
I scrutinized that head and couldn't make anything out of it. Until Steve posted the archival picture of a legible Wm. McKinnon Rockaway NY stamp. Gotta hand it to you Steve; you are good (as in; amazing) and you hit that nail right on the head!
Click to expand...
I saw McKinnon NJ which I didn't recognize, but he did, luckily. I was relying on the collective wisdom and was rewarded. Steve Tall, as usual, is more than carrying his weight.
 
If McKinnon was the originator of the Rockaway pattern the outward appearance of these would have been his 'trade-mark' (speaking of which; where did this term come from?). It would seem to me incorporating those generous ears, when hand forging, must have involved skill and considerable extra work. Maine 'wedges' would have been much easier and faster.
 
I think that axe is a keeper. An industrial directory published 1920 lists the McKinnon Rockaway Axe Co as having only 5 employees. Here's a link to a photo showing their factory with an axe being hammered:

https://www.facebook.com/1905907880...41829.190590788010119/294806947588502/?type=3

The caption for the photo is:
Rockaway Borough Historical Committee
January 16 ·
William McKinnon had just started power to a polishing wheel when 'the ear of his rubber boot got caught in the key of a revolving pulley' and he was pulled into the machinery. He survived but the injury contributed to his death 5 yrs later. Below: axe shop employees JH Blanchard and Harry Young.

The following link shows a "then and now" photo of the location of the McKinnon axe factory:
https://www.facebook.com/190590788010119/photos/pcb.295372280865302/295371877532009/?type=3

This link shows a McKinnon broad axe and an advertisement for the company:
https://www.facebook.com/190590788010119/photos/pcb.201635543572310/201629313572933/?type=3
 
Figured out how to link directly to those old photos mentioned earlier:

16105537_295371877532009_6191500208044234892_n.jpg


15977606_294806947588502_7227477368985281540_n.jpg



More from the Rockaway Borough Historical Committee:

A blacksmith's shop is shown on this site on an 1827 map of Rockaway village.
In 1845 the elder William McKinnon came to Rockaway and took over operation of the smithy. At some point he began making axes. By 1860 most of his business was making edge tools (such as axes).
After the elder McKinnon died in 1873, his sons continued making the "Rockaway axe." The factory stood until the early 1920s, when it was destroyed by fire.

15977711_294266254309238_7137749902839715659_n.jpg


After William McKinnon's death in 1905, one of his sons is said to have continued the family business for some time.
There appears to been trouble with other axe-makers trying to capitalize on McKinnon's name, so the name "McKinnon" and the phrase "genuine Rockaway" were copyrighted.

15977313_294266940975836_5462616300542291398_n.png





16114350_294266650975865_2380829890851098871_n.jpg





William McKinnon and his brother Walter took over the axe factory when their father (also named William) died in 1873.
When Walter left the business, the younger William expanded the plant. The business had several employees including James Harvey Blanchard.
In 1900 William was accidentally caught by the belt of a polishing wheel and was pulled into the machinery, severely injuring his shoulder. He continued operating the business, but died in 1905 apparently due to effects of the injury.

15976937_294266737642523_2075455352248668360_n.jpg



from Rockaway Borough Historical Committee
 
Entirely the opposite of 'aiming to be prestigious' (by virtue of being expensive) 'Hardcore'-brand hatchets, William McKinnon had the sense to manufacture extra meat into the toe of his choppers. He must have known they'd experience hard use, and abuse, and that their owners would use them until they were entirely 'spent'. Rockaways (appearance-wise) always struck me as lesser version of a Jersey but now that we're getting a history lesson (thanks Steve) perhaps the actual situation was the other way around. 1845 was a very long time ago! What came first: the chicken or the egg?
I'm growing to love the way proud regional manufacturers of tools ensured that there was a distinctive "signature" to their goods, stamp or no stamp. Much the way current hockey/baseball and football logos are used to catch the eye. Only, tool makers did it by making the visual appearance distinct or entirely unique.
 
jblyttle said:
I saw McKinnon NJ which I didn't recognize, but he did, luckily. I was relying on the collective wisdom and was rewarded. Steve Tall, as usual, is more than carrying his weight.
Click to expand...
Steve Tall shall switch his nickname to "As Good As Collective Wisdom" :-)
 
SteveTall, you are to tools and their historical significance, cultural impact and industrial growth in North America, simply indispensable.
Have you ever made a trip to Lowell MA.?

The Mill's and museums and working machinery there amaze me!!
Thank you.

Now I need to go back to finish reading the links you posted :thumbsup::)
 
Miller '72 said:
SteveTall, you are to tools and their historical significance, cultural impact and industrial growth in North America, simply indispensable.
Have you ever made a trip to Lowell MA.?

The Mill's and museums and working machinery there amaze me!!
Thank you.

Now I need to go back to finish reading the links you posted :thumbsup::)
Click to expand...
Thanks, but it's more like I have above-average skills at finding information online. Someone like Old Axeman is a better fit for your description.

No, I've never been to Lowell MA, but if I'm ever in New England I'll have to check it out.
 
Steve Tall said:
Thanks, but it's more like I have above-average skills at finding information online. Someone like Old Axeman is a better fit for your description.

No, I've never been to Lowell MA, but if I'm ever in New England I'll have to check it out.
Click to expand...

I hear ya, although there is a lot to be said for solid research and an above accurate researcher.

I whole hearted agree that Old Axeman has more than earned any praise I could bestow.
For myself, the many posts I have read and reread by Old Axeman contain the simple facts and information that can only be drawn upon from years of practiced experience.
I am always appreciative to view, read and readily absorb all I can from you Old Axeman, Thank you.
 
Steve Tall said:
Figured out how to link directly to those old photos. . .
Click to expand...
In case this might help others.

I have a desktop running Windows Vista (no longer supported) so I don't know how this works for others. In my case getting pictures off the net (eg Facebook) is simply to copy the image and paste in the BFC editor. This is one of the features I really like about the new BFC software. You don't have to mess with URLs. Also (hint, hint) I posted an attaboy on the tech forum to let them know my appreciation of the upgrade.


Bob

BTW, I really liked the picture of the trip hammer - had to save it.
 
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