Plumb hatchet

[trapperdjh]

ked up a Plumb hatchet today that had patent applied for on one side.It appears old and has been abused just curious as to the age because I have never seen the pat applied for before. Thankyou Dae

 

[Steve Tall]

It could be from the late 1940s, if it's like the one pictured below:

Sept 10, 1948 was the date that Plumb got the copyright (and registered trademark?) for "Here's the new Plumb National axe". The earliest ads I've found were from 1948, proclaiming the National Axe as "new".

Hardware Age - Volume 162, Issues 8-9 - Page 23
https://books.google.com/books?id=y5ETAQAAMAAJ
1948 - ‎Snippet view
HERE'S THE NEW PLUMB NATIONAL AXE Choppers in all sections of the country were consulted in designing the PLUMB National AXE. Plumb took their preferences and combined them with modern science to produce a practical axe design that ...

Successful Farming - Volume 46 - Page 88
https://books.google.com/books?id=8I3mAAAAMAAJ
1948 - ‎Snippet view - ‎More editions
Now, at last, America has one National Pattern Axe. These feats of nature inspired the four outstanding features of the Plumb National Axe. If Falls True -- like a falcon in flight The Shearing Cut is like a beaver's bite...

I'm thinking that the stamp "Patent Applied For" is regarding the National Axe design. If a patent was subsequently awarded to Plumb for this design, I haven't found it yet, so maybe Plumb didn't succeed in getting a patent.

Sorry, I'm not well enough versed in difference between patent, copyright and registered trademark. Whatever, 10 Sept 48 does mean something and a 'Patent Applied For' stamp vs no such stamp must have some significance. Below is a shot of another National that is at auction, and an October 1951 ad for them.

And here's another thought. The fact that the paper sticker shown on the handle in the 1951 ad says 'springy hickory' etc and there is no physical stamp underneath (such as is the case of the non-Permabond National axe that I have, and a few others I've looked at) might indicate (of interest to the originator of this now lengthy thread (that began with an NOS hatchet!)) that gold paint outlined wood stamps pre-date a factory changeover to paper decals.

 

[trapperdjh]

Thats exactly what it is.Thanks alot Dave

 

[300Six]

Enjoy using the little fella! Quite a few folks on here (myself included) are enamoured with that design. It's rare to be able to date an axe with some degree of certainty but the Plumb National with a stamp such as yours post-dates those very few Nationals out there having a 'Plumb Victory' stamp on them (1947?) and pre-dates those without any 'Patent Applied For' stamp. Seeing as the pattern copyright was awarded on 10 Sept 48 I suspect it's fairly safe to say your's was made in 1948, and before Sept 10th of that year.