Took a hike in the woods with an axe..

Q

quinton

Joined
Nov 4, 2006
Messages
1,224
A Diamond Edge boys axe to be exact. A head that a friend gave me last summer. It was badly rusted, and the words Diamond Edge were about all I could make out. I assume its an old Shapleigh Hardware axe? I slicked the head down, blued it, and hung it on store bough, Link boys axe handle. I like it! I keep it strapped on my, Honda Foreman 450 for firewood and trail clearing purposes when I'm out, and about in the woods here in the holler. The morel to this story is: to the left and right of my Diamond Edge axe.
 
The cached version for that link from Davistown Museum
http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioPlumb.html


Fayette R. Plumb
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1888-1964

Tool Types

Axes, blacksmithing ools, Chisels, Hammers, Hatchets, Picks, Railroad Tools, Stoneworking Tools, Bolo Knives

Directory of American Toolmakers Information

Plumb started off as part of Yerkes & Plumb but began working alone at some point between 1856 and 1897; 1887-1888 seems most likely. The anchor brand became prominent around 1890.

Identifying Marks

FAYETTE R PLUMB, PLUMB, Plumb (scripted on an anchor), ARTISAN'S CHOICE, BLUE GRASS, O-V-B (Our Very Best), DIAMOND EDGE, KNOCKER, SERVALL, PHILA. TOOL CO, QUAKER CITY, HOME THRIFT, POWER STROE, CHAMPION, BOY SCOUT and AU-TO-GRAF.

General Information

During the first World War, they became prominent manufacturers of trench tools (including bolo knives, picks and hand axes) for the Allied forces. Among the top ten most prolific 20th century toolmakers.

Photographs

References

Nelson, Robert E., Ed. (1999). Directory of American Toolmakers: A listing of identified makers of tools who worked in Canada and the United States before 1900. Early American Industries Association.
 
Steve Tall said:
The cached version for that link from Davistown Museum
http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioPlumb.html


Fayette R. Plumb
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1888-1964

Tool Types

Axes, blacksmithing ools, Chisels, Hammers, Hatchets, Picks, Railroad Tools, Stoneworking Tools, Bolo Knives

Directory of American Toolmakers Information

Plumb started off as part of Yerkes & Plumb but began working alone at some point between 1856 and 1897; 1887-1888 seems most likely. The anchor brand became prominent around 1890.

Identifying Marks

FAYETTE R PLUMB, PLUMB, Plumb (scripted on an anchor), ARTISAN'S CHOICE, BLUE GRASS, O-V-B (Our Very Best), DIAMOND EDGE, KNOCKER, SERVALL, PHILA. TOOL CO, QUAKER CITY, HOME THRIFT, POWER STROE, CHAMPION, BOY SCOUT and AU-TO-GRAF.

General Information

During the first World War, they became prominent manufacturers of trench tools (including bolo knives, picks and hand axes) for the Allied forces. Among the top ten most prolific 20th century toolmakers.

Photographs

References

Nelson, Robert E., Ed. (1999). Directory of American Toolmakers: A listing of identified makers of tools who worked in Canada and the United States before 1900. Early American Industries Association.
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You wouldn't have any pic's of the stampings would you, Steve? Again, thanks for your dedication to this forum!
 
"Diamond Edge" was a brand sold by Shapleigh Hardware Co. (prev. E.C. Simmons), and I've seen several references that say that either Plumb made this brand of axe, or that Plumb made axes for Shapleigh. (References: Davison Museum listed above, YesteryearsTools, and Mr. Fayette R. Plumb II)

So I conclude that the Diamond Edge axe stampings would be however Shapleigh (or E.C. Simmons) was having them stamped at the time, such as this example:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...and-other-information?p=15799019#post15799019


The Gopher said:
...

Click to expand...
 
You've got morels popping out of the ground already! If I'm lucky to find some it's usually in late summer. When you find one scout around carefully nearby because there are bound to be more. What we see are only the above ground fruiting bodies; the organism itself can be spread out in a very large patch under the ground.
 
quinton said:
A Diamond Edge boys axe to be exact. . . .
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Here is another mark:
CowCop said:
. . .

. . .
Click to expand...

Advertisement:
25840638684_779be3e23f_c.jpg

Note: this may have been posted on BFC before. If so, I apologize to the OP for not giving credit.


quinton said:
. . . The morel to this story is: to the left and right of my Diamond Edge axe.
. . .
Click to expand...

And what is the mayapple to the story?

Bob
 
300Six said:
You've got morels popping out of the ground already! If I'm lucky to find some it's usually in late summer. When you find one scout around carefully nearby because there are bound to be more. What we see are only the above ground fruiting bodies; the organism itself can be spread out in a very large patch under the ground.
Click to expand...

The largest living organism is a mushroom. Something on the order of 2 square MILES. :eek:
 
300Six said:
You've got morels popping out of the ground already! If I'm lucky to find some it's usually in late summer. When you find one scout around carefully nearby because there are bound to be more. What we see are only the above ground fruiting bodies; the organism itself can be spread out in a very large patch under the ground.
Click to expand...

You're almost 900 miles north of me, no wonder the morel season is late up that way..You need to move down this way, there's a holler for sale right over the mountain.:p
 
quinton said:
You're almost 900 miles north of me, no wonder the morel season is late up that way..You need to move down this way, there's a holler for sale right over the mountain.:p
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True. Frost is just now leaving the ground in open places. The snow in my treed backyard will be gone by the end of this weekend.
 
From a 1929 Shapleigh catalog:
26384433161_ba4a32d6ec_c.jpg


Close up of page 31:
26450567985_6560cc98ed_b.jpg


"In 1918, the company became Shapleigh Hardware Company. They bought the assets of Geller-Ward- Hasner in 1937. After the banckruptcy and closing of Simmons Hardware, they bought its entire stock in 1940. At this time the Keen Kutter and Diamond Edge trademarks were joined. Other items were now marked Shapleigh' Keen Kutter, instead of E.C. Simmons Keen Kutter."
http://www.thckk.org/history/shapleigh-history.pdf

Bob
 
rjdankert said:
From a 1929 Shapleigh catalog:
26384433161_ba4a32d6ec_c.jpg


Close up of page 31:
26450567985_6560cc98ed_b.jpg


"In 1918, the company became Shapleigh Hardware Company. They bought the assets of Geller-Ward- Hasner in 1937. After the banckruptcy and closing of Simmons Hardware, they bought its entire stock in 1940. At this time the Keen Kutter and Diamond Edge trademarks were joined. Other items were now marked Shapleigh' Keen Kutter, instead of E.C. Simmons Keen Kutter."
http://www.thckk.org/history/shapleigh-history.pdf

Bob
Click to expand...

Thanks, Bob for the research.

The Diamond Edge stamp was midway on the head, and I looked hard for the diamond shaped logo but could not see any indication of one. I could also barely make out " forged tool steel" below "Diamond Edge".

I do know the little axe has as good of steel as any I've sharpened, except for maybe a Fayette R. Plumb hewing hatchet that had a certain ring to the steel, and formed the "perfect burr" when I sharpened it.
 
Quinton, something tells me you did not come by those morels by accident. Those are the only mushrooms my wife likes(unfortunately for me).

Steve, I am not at all sure that Plumb made all of the Diamond Edge axes. American Axes states it was several manufactures, but goes no further. I also suspect Champion and Plumb Champion are not the same. I thought Champion was a Kelly brand but can not remember the source of that. Maybe I am just getting senile.
 
garry3 said:
. . . I thought Champion was a Kelly brand but can not remember the source of that. Maybe I am just getting senile.
Click to expand...

Maybe this is the source?
Steve Tall said:
Here's one that's bigger than a boys axe, from an old auction listing:

9904592_1_l.jpg


"Axe, issued and stamped by the W.P.A. and also stamped by the maker, 'Champion Kelly Works'...Size: 30.5" L Blade: 7.5" L Weight: 5lbs "

from http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/9904592
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Steve Tall said:
Another example, from an article in "Sight Unseen", by Jill Singer:

second_portrait-599x400.jpg

"Buchanan-Smith with his original $10 eBay axe. Its name is Champion, and it was manufactured by Kelly Works. "

from http://www.sightunseen.com/2010/01/peter-buchanan-smith-graphic-designer-and-axe-maker/
Click to expand...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1093722-Champion-Kelly-Works-Railroad-axe

Bob
 
quinton said:
. . .
The Diamond Edge stamp was midway on the head, and I looked hard for the diamond shaped logo but could not see any indication of one. I could also barely make out " forged tool steel" below "Diamond Edge". . .
Click to expand...
Ah Ha! The infamous old "Diamond Edge Forged Tool Steel" stamp without the diamond logo mystery axe.

Probably looks close to this:
26486447335_1df3a891fc_c.jpg


Could have had a diamond logo on the right side at one time...
26213587040_1396183ee0_c.jpg

...or maybe not. :)

Bob
 
garry3 said:
... Steve, I am not at all sure that Plumb made all of the Diamond Edge axes. American Axes states it was several manufactures, but goes no further. I also suspect Champion and Plumb Champion are not the same. I thought Champion was a Kelly brand but can not remember the source of that. Maybe I am just getting senile.
Click to expand...

garry, I wouldn't be surprised if some Diamond Edge axes were not made by Plumb. Seems to be exceptions to every "rule" about axe brands.
 
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