Quality of certain lines of axes within manufacurer's catalogues

[Chignecto Woodsman]

Any idea how long these axes lasted for felling or how many the companies purchased for their men? And perhaps what quality of axes the logging companies purchased? I know there was quite a variation in quality of supplies and living quarters, but it might give some idea of how many were being sold to forestry and others to farmers. Were the doubles generally of higher quality?

 

[Curt Hal]

Walters - Black Diamond
Blenkhorn - Chief
Campbell's - XXX

Those are the only ones I know. Generally these were the best steel and build. Sorry I don't know much about the American axes, only have a few Maine axes and don't know the models. I imagine the name does say a lot, a Perfect or True Temper probably did indicate one of their top lines.

Someone else can enlighten us further, and perhaps tell us if "American Axes" by Kauffman has more detail. FortyTwo is probably right, although I don't think marketing back then stretched the truth anywhere near as bad as today.

I have one of these. It's a Campbell's XXX 2 1/4 pound head. It's a bit pitted. I am going to rehaft it very soon. So you say that this piece is built of some of the best steel? i have only been able to find out where it was made and during which time period.

 

[Axe Master '94]

Interesting to me that a Falls City was their second most expensive axe...... More than a Perfect or Black Raven.

 

[Chignecto Woodsman]

I have one of these. It's a Campbell's XXX 2 1/4 pound head. It's a bit pitted. I am going to rehaft it very soon. So you say that this piece is built of some of the best steel? i have only been able to find out where it was made and during which time period.

Where did you find it?

This is from an old advertisement:
"CAMPBELL BROS. CHOPPERS. It is a well-known fact that for the last twenty-five years the Campbells have always taken pleasure in making a display which surpassed by far anything in their line of manufacture by taking first prize, premiums and medals at every Exhibition they have shown at in Lon-don, England, Halifax, N.S., Fredericton and St. John, N.B. . .

Campbell Bros.' main object in this Exhibition was to show and demonstrate the reason why their "XXX" Chop-pers and edge tools of "XXX" brand are superior to ordinary grades of goods, and Wilfred Campbell will be pleased to explain the quality and manufacture of their goods to any who may be inter-ested.

This firm were awarded a very hand-some medal at this Fair,

Campbell & Fowler Saint John, N.B. 1863-1926"

In another thread ("What does a woodsman carry?") I quoted an old woodsman who suggested that Blenkhorn were the best Nova Scotia axes available, and only surpassed by importing Spillers from Maine. If indeed the Campbells were the best of maritime axes then they would be on a similar level to the Spiller, also considered by some today to be an exceptional axe. I will have a double-bit Spiller soon to compare with the Campbell's.

I haven't really figured out what steel they used, but a lot of maritime forges used British cast steels, and it seems some Maine companies did as well from what I've been told (another recent thread suggested some of these steels). It would be interesting to know the steel but I think the forging techniques and the quality of heat treat would be the most important factor. I suppose you could say as well that companies would try and sponsor the best competitive axemen to market their products, but Nova Scotia had some of the best in the world so the New Brunswickers must have had something to take them down a notch. I shouldn't play favourites though...

If you can take a photo sometime I would like to see the axe. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Steve Tall]

Interesting to me that a Falls City was their second most expensive axe...... More than a Perfect or Black Raven.

Not quite. Looks like the $8.50 price for the Falls City includes the $1.75 handles, bringing the value of the heads themselves down to $6.75 which is between the Woodslasher and Flint Edge prices.

 

[Double Ott]

Not quite. Looks like the $8.50 price for the Falls City includes the $1.75 handles, bringing the value of the heads themselves down to $6.75 which is between the Woodslasher and Flint Edge prices.

Steve, Great information on these price lists. THANK YOU for sharing them with us. I have printed these lists off and have put them with my Kelly Axe & Too Co. book by Thomas C. Lamond (deceased) for future reference.

Tom

 

[SC T100]

The Woodslasher is on this list from 1913, at $6.25 per dozen heads, compared to $7.00 for Flint Edge or Black Raven, and $7.50 for Kelly Perfect (for example).

from National Hardware Bulletin, September, 1913

Ok, now I'm confused. Maybe someone can help me out. Are the heads per dozen, or just the other items specified "per Doz?" I ask because those prices seem awfully low using the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator.

http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm

12 heads at $7.50 was roughly the equivalent of $15/head (1913 $7.50 = 2014 $179.00) (and handled axes at today's equivalent of $23ea). Is this maybe wholesale to retailers? If so, I guess that would make a little more sense, with an assumed 50% markup for retail ($30/head, $46 for handled axes).

Am I missing something or were the equivalent prices for axes low then as well? I was under the impression axes back then were closer to $100 or $200 (in today's money) each, but maybe I was just misunderstanding something I read previously.

Edit: here's the thread I was thinking of. Peg mentioned the prices were likely per dozen. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...?p=14083317&highlight=calculator#post14083317

So maybe axe prices (compared to say, Council Tool's standard line), are about the equivalent of what people paid in 1913. I realize there are lots of ins and outs comparing pricing, but my degree says Biology...not finance haha.

Edit again...just saw the "To the Retail Trade" at the top of the document...gotta be wholesale prices.

 

[Steve Tall]

I should have included the top of the list, to make it clear that these were wholesale prices.

And it's implied that these are the prices per dozen, but not explicitly stated, which can be confusing. Note that the prices don't include shipping to the retailer, and the prices are for the "base weights" (heavier heads cost more).

Tom, glad you found this useful.

 

[SC T100]

I should have included the top of the list, to make it clear that these were wholesale prices.

And it's implied that these are the prices per dozen, but not explicitly stated, which can be confusing. Note that the prices don't include shipping to the retailer, and the prices are for the "base weights" (heavier heads cost more).

Tom, glad you found this useful.

Thanks Steve! That makes sense.

 

[Steve Tall]

Here's the 1913 wholesale price list for American Axe & Tool Co. (which can be compared with the previously posted 1913 price list from Kelly).

The Hardware Reporter, April 3, 1913, page 60


Note that the A.A.&T.Co. and Mountaineer brands were the highest priced (at $10 per dozen heads, the same as the competing Kelly Registered) and the only ones with a warranty (similar to the Kelly Registered).

 

[Curt Hal]

Where did you find it?

This is from an old advertisement:
"CAMPBELL BROS. CHOPPERS. It is a well-known fact that for the last twenty-five years the Campbells have always taken pleasure in making a display which surpassed by far anything in their line of manufacture by taking first prize, premiums and medals at every Exhibition they have shown at in Lon-don, England, Halifax, N.S., Fredericton and St. John, N.B. . .

Campbell Bros.' main object in this Exhibition was to show and demonstrate the reason why their "XXX" Chop-pers and edge tools of "XXX" brand are superior to ordinary grades of goods, and Wilfred Campbell will be pleased to explain the quality and manufacture of their goods to any who may be inter-ested.

This firm were awarded a very hand-some medal at this Fair,

Campbell & Fowler Saint John, N.B. 1863-1926"

In another thread ("What does a woodsman carry?") I quoted an old woodsman who suggested that Blenkhorn were the best Nova Scotia axes available, and only surpassed by importing Spillers from Maine. If indeed the Campbells were the best of maritime axes then they would be on a similar level to the Spiller, also considered by some today to be an exceptional axe. I will have a double-bit Spiller soon to compare with the Campbell's.

I haven't really figured out what steel they used, but a lot of maritime forges used British cast steels, and it seems some Maine companies did as well from what I've been told (another recent thread suggested some of these steels). It would be interesting to know the steel but I think the forging techniques and the quality of heat treat would be the most important factor. I suppose you could say as well that companies would try and sponsor the best competitive axemen to market their products, but Nova Scotia had some of the best in the world so the New Brunswickers must have had something to take them down a notch. I shouldn't play favourites though...

If you can take a photo sometime I would like to see the axe. Thanks for sharing.

I got this head from a guy in New Brunswick who bought a farm and found a whole bunch of axes in the barn. I think I got if from eBay. It must have been lying down in water because both sides are quite pitted. The steel is excellent. I have started to work with the bit. I don't want to remove the lettering, so I will have to leave the pitting there and put it on a haft. I have a 20" Wetterlings haft that looks kind of hand hewn. I may combine those two.

 

[Chignecto Woodsman]

Thanks for the photos. I like the pattern and the pitting looks fine. Should make an excellent user.