True Temper Perfect?

Q

quinton

Joined
Nov 4, 2006
Messages
1,224
I have never seen a Perfect without Kelly before. No eye ridges, and hung on a Keen Kutter handle that looks to be original.

 
Quinton, I see a picture or two online but I've not come across just the "Perfect" mark without the "Kelly" as well.

The build looks a lot like your Belknapp next to it?
 
quinton said:
I have never seen a Perfect without Kelly before...
Click to expand...

I haven't noticed one before, either. Some other examples:

vintage-true-temper-perfect-lbs_1_d34b86aba61e9e0d3959b29744df563f.jpg


vintage-single-bit-axe-stamped-true_1_90f5d17104fef60a48da5b19ce81ee34.jpg


True Temper Perfect hammer:

true-temper-perfect-h16-claw-hammer_1_4c231335b3af3081fcc3db0e251e580e.jpg
 
I wonder what the timeline would be for that, maybe immediately after the acquisition of Kelly by TT or at some later date when TT had fully associated it's brand with Kelly's reputation and memory of Kelly was waning? Just thinking...
 
Trying to find clues about the timeline for "True Temper Perfect", I found advertisements or catalogs with "Kelly Perfect" axes during the 1950s and 1960s, but during the late 1940s there were some advertisement references to True Temper axes ("The Perfect, the Flint Edge...") without any mention of Kelly.

Hardware Age - Volume 159, Issues 1-5 - Page 23
https://books.google.com/books?id=nqETAQAAMAAJ
1947 - ‎Snippet view - ‎More editions
True Temper quality and workmanship plus power centered balance places the Tommy Axe, Tomahawk, and Dynamic Hatchet years ahead in sales appeal, utility and value. * 3 TRUE TEMPER AXES: The Perfect and Flint Edge — Precision ...

Farm Journal - Volume 70, Issue 4 - Page 62
https://books.google.com/books?id=jYtRAAAAYAAJ
1946 - ‎Snippet view - ‎More editions
...True Temper Hatchets The Tomahawk, The Tommy Axe, Dynamic Hatchet light, perfectly balance tools for heavy work. * True Temper Axes The Perfect, the Flint Edge –preferred 2 to 1 by expert ...

Unfortunately, these are "Snippet views" without any more details, but searching these two publications for "Kelly" axes brought up no matches.
 
Agent_H said:
Quinton, I see a picture or two online but I've not come across just the "Perfect" mark without the "Kelly" as well.

The build looks a lot like your Belknapp next to it?
Click to expand...
The Belknap came from the same farm, but is a dayton pattern, also with no eye ridges. Both axes look to be of the same age, with no real abuse, just a lot of dings and a slightly worn toe on the Perfect. The Belknap is in better shape than the Perfect, too, I can see the 32 weight stamp on the poll. The feller said the axes belonged to his grandpa, and by the looks of things I'm sure they did, because they looked untouched for many years sitting in the corner of a tool shed built on the side of a barn. Anyhoo, I couldn't pass them up for $5 each.

I also bought a carpenter's hatchet with no abuse, and a full bit. When I hit it with the wire wheel last night I discovered it was also a Belknap with a faint stamp. :)
 
Steve Tall said:
Trying to find clues about the timeline for "True Temper Perfect", I found advertisements or catalogs with "Kelly Perfect" axes during the 1950s and 1960s, but during the late 1940s there were some advertisement references to True Temper axes ("The Perfect, the Flint Edge...") without any mention of Kelly.

Hardware Age - Volume 159, Issues 1-5 - Page 23
https://books.google.com/books?id=nqETAQAAMAAJ
1947 - ‎Snippet view - ‎More editions
True Temper quality and workmanship plus power centered balance places the Tommy Axe, Tomahawk, and Dynamic Hatchet years ahead in sales appeal, utility and value. * 3 TRUE TEMPER AXES: The Perfect and Flint Edge — Precision ...

Farm Journal - Volume 70, Issue 4 - Page 62
https://books.google.com/books?id=jYtRAAAAYAAJ
1946 - ‎Snippet view - ‎More editions
...True Temper Hatchets The Tomahawk, The Tommy Axe, Dynamic Hatchet light, perfectly balance tools for heavy work. * True Temper Axes The Perfect, the Flint Edge –preferred 2 to 1 by expert ...

Unfortunately, these are "Snippet views" without any more details, but searching these two publications for "Kelly" axes brought up no matches.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Steve! You are a dependable, and valued asset to this forum.
 
rockman0 said:
9fjsLAP.jpg

Hung this one on that big stick of hickory I got from you :)
Click to expand...

I remember seeing the picture well, but I just took it there was Kelly there also. I guess I just associate the Perfect stamp with Kelly. I'll have start looking closer now.
 
quinton said:
Thanks, Steve! You are a dependable, and valued asset to this forum.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words. For anyone that's interested, I found those two references on the first page of results for this google books search:

"true temper" perfect axe -kelly -jet -rocket

-kelly : got rid of unwanted results mentioning Kelly (as in Kelly Perfect)
-jet -rocket : got rid of pesky results mentioning the Jet Rocket Scout Axe
 
Steve Tall said:
Thanks for the kind words. For anyone that's interested, I found those two references on the first page of results for this google books search:

"true temper" perfect axe -kelly -jet -rocket

-kelly : got rid of unwanted results mentioning Kelly (as in Kelly Perfect)
-jet -rocket : got rid of pesky results mentioning the Jet Rocket Scout Axe
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips, I did not know how to sort out pesky search results!
 
Thanks, Steve! I used to be a search wizard, but you beat me all to heck.

Quinton, nice find and interesting data. I like the cheaper flint edges and woodslashers, just because phantom bevels strike me as flashy, but the perfects are sure nice!
 
BG_Farmer said:
Thanks, Steve! I used to be a search wizard, but you beat me all to heck.

Quinton, nice find and interesting data. I like the cheaper flint edges and woodslashers, just because phantom bevels strike me as flashy, but the perfects are sure nice!
Click to expand...

Thanks, BG!
I love the whole Kelly True Temper line, and that ol' mule of mine never commented once about the bevels. :D
 
Here's one of my jerseys that appears to be without the Kelly stamp but if you look closely you can see a faint "Kelly works" just below the perfect stamp.
xTMhjb4.jpg
 
quinton said:
I have never seen a Perfect without Kelly before. . . .
Click to expand...
Awhile back I became interested in True Temper markings on axes. Poked around on the internet and lost interest until this thread came along. I decided to look for variations of markings on axes with "TRUE TEMPER" and "PERFECT". FWIW, here is what I've found so far:

TRUE TEMPER
PERFECT

quinton's. Actually not so hard to find on the net.

TRUE TEMPER
PERFECT
KELLY WORKS
29022011976_e0e6a3df4d_c.jpg

Net find.

TRUE TEMPER
KELLY PERFECT
29022026196_fc407d4be1_c.jpg

My axe - and my favorite (3 1/2 # Michigan), warts and all. :)

W C KELLY PERFECT
CHARLESTON W VA USA
TRUE TEMPER (right side)
29022008726_73d97c92c8_c.jpg

Net find.

W C KELLY PERFECT
CHARLESTON W VA USA
REG US PAT OFF
No 210847
TRUE TEMPER (right side)
28437097203_48d1c9bc43_c.jpg

Net find.

Bob
 
BG_Farmer said:
Almost every day, I think it is a blessing that mules can't talk. I am certain it would be bad for my self-esteem :).
Click to expand...

A mule can't talk, but they are smarter than a horse.:)

A Farmer and His Mule

An old hillbilly farmer had a wife who nagged him unmercifully. From
morning till night (and sometimes later), she was always complaining
about something. The only time he got any relief was when he was out
plowing with his old mule. He tried to plow a lot.

One day, when he was out plowing, his wife brought him lunch in the
field. He drove the old mule into the shade, sat down on a stump, and
began to eat his lunch. Immediately, his wife began haranguing him
again. Complain, nag, nag; it just went on and on.

All of a sudden, the old mule lashed out with both hind feet; caught her
smack in the back of the head. Killed her dead on the spot.

At the funeral several days later, the minister noticed something rather
odd. When a woman mourner would approach the old farmer, he would listen
for a minute, then nod his head in agreement; but when a man mourner
approached him, he would listen for a minute, then shake his head in
disagreement. This was so consistent, the minister decided to ask the
old farmer about it.

So after the funeral, the minister spoke to the old farmer, and asked him
why he nodded his head and agreed with the women, but always shook his
head and disagreed with all the men.

The old farmer said: "Well, the women would come up and say something
about how nice my wife looked, or how pretty her dress was, so I'd nod my
head in agreement."

"And what about the men?" the minister asked.

"They wanted to know if the mule was for sale."
 
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