HAMMER DESIGNS Been Identified by Archeologists by Bob Garay As the First Tool

NUMBER 131 APRIL 2004

   A Journal of Tool Collecting published by CRAFTS of New Jersey   

The hammer stone has HAMMER DESIGNS been identified by archeologists By Bob Garay as the first tool. Made by Homo Habalis, a forerunner to Homo hole in the wood Sapiens, and dates about two mil- handle and wedge Fig. 3 lion years ago. This first hammer the stone into it. was held in the hand and used for (Fig. 3) Of course early man discovered other materials pounding, grinding and cutting. suitable for hammers as antler and bone was adapted A relatively high specific weight for simple hammers where making a hole could be pro- and hardness give it much more duced with arrow like drills spun between the hands. impact power than wood. This There were various techniques to attaching the hardness is also what restricts its hammer head to a handle, but with the advent of metal use as a hammer, because it casting around 4000 BC a hole was supplied in the splinters easily. The stone was The author uses a ham- hammer head allowing for a wood handle. Iron could either chipped or ground into the mer stone to chip rock. not be completely melted in antiquity as the necessary desired shape depending on the temperature of more than 1500°C could not be kind of stone: Fine sandstone, limestone and the like achieved. The porous mass of brittle iron, which was were ground serving as grinding stones and the like, the result of the smelting in the charcoal furnaces, had while flint was generally chipped and used for cut- to be worked by hammering in order to remove the ting. Some materials like granite could only be worked impurities. Carburizing and quenching turned the soft with spherical hammer stones made of diorite, a stone wrought iron hammer head into harder steel. Iron im- of even greater hardness. Thanks to their roundness plements are generally less well preserved than those and composition these hammer stones rarely splin- made of copper or bronze. But the range of these early tered. Applied with measured force they were used to hammers covers most of today's craftsman's activities. slowly pulverize and shape the work piece. When early colonists came to this country It was over a million years before a handle was from their homelands they brought their tools with adapted to this hand held stone to make a compound them, the hammer included. But hand wrought iron tool. (Fig 2) Very rarely was a hole made in the stone nails were difficult to make in quantity, and expensive hammer head for assem- when bought. Thus, there just wasn’t much of a de- bling as this was a rigor- mand for the typical claw hammer. Wood was plentiful ous chore. Imagine us- and as a result woodworkers used wood joints and eas- ing a reed drill with ily made wooden pegs called trunnels for assembly. sand abrasive to grind Wooden hammers ranging in size from the small hand away at the stone to pro- held mallet to the large commander duce a hole. It was Fig.2 (Fig 4) which was used to nudge to- much easier to make a April Issue Contents Continued on page 4 Hammers Designs - by Bob Garay……..…..….….…....1, 3 - 8 Fig. 4 President’s Corner …………………………….………….……....2 Tool Wizard ….………………………….……………….……….3 April 4 - CRAFTS Meeting February Meeting - Section Liners and Lining Rules.…...….…9-10 HOST Masonic Lodge, Highbridge, NJ Kean Kuttin’s – The Kushmaker ……………….…..……….11-12 Philip Alcock—Wood Sculpture Tool Events ………………………………………………..……12 THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 1 Collectors of Rare and Familiar Tools Society of New Jersey

President……………………....….GREG WELSH, Califon PRESIDENT’S Vice President…………………….BOB GARAY, Hopatcong Secretary………………………….DON KAHN, Hackensack CORNER Treasurer…………………………JACK WHELAN, Murray Hill

The purpose of CRAFTS of New Jersey is to encourage in- The last time I wrote to you I mentioned that our terest in early trades and industries, and in the identification, study, preservation and exhibition of tools and implements website had a new webmaster. Well if you have used and made in New Jersey as an integral part of our herit- had a chance to check it out you had to notice the age. great changes in it. This years auction list is on in its entirety, as well as almost three hundred photos Membership in CRAFTS is open to anyone who shares the of auction lots. above interests. Annual dues per person or couple are fifteen dollars for the membership year of July 1 through June 30. Membership fees may be sent to the Treasurer: We know that not everyone has a computer or John Whelan, 38 Colony Court, Murray Hill, NJ 07974 Web TV, but if you have a friend with one please (write check payable to CRAFTS of New Jersey). ask them to pull up the site and take a look at it. You will be impressed!! CRAFTS of NJ meetings are held at the HOST Masonic Lodge in High Bridge, NJ. Take I-78 to Route 31 exit at Clinton. Go north on Rte. 31 It appears that April is going to be a very busy two miles to second traffic light at the High Bridge exit. Turn month with all the tool auctions. It seems that there right and go about half a mile to Dennis Ave. Turn left, then will be something for all levels of collectors at one straight to the Masonic Lodge (on the left). or another of the sales. I know that I have my eye Tailgate sales in the parking lot begin at 10 A.M., meeting starts at 1 P.M. on a few of the items and will be attending as many The TOOL SHED of the sales as I can. Published five times a year for members of CRAFTS of New Jersey. Editor: Dave Nowicki, 240 Woodlyn Ave. Glenside If you are attending our sale and would like to PA 19038. EMAIL - [email protected]. help we can always use runners. Please make your- Articles, especially about early tools and trades, are encour- aged and may be sent to the Editor. self known to me that day or before if you can help out.

CRAFTS April Calendar of Events Phil Stanley’s presentation at he last meeting was certainly very informative. At one time I had a sec- April 4th - CRAFTS Meeting tion liner and thought it was just a part of something April 17th - CRAFTS Auction and Tool Sale more complex. Regrettably I think it went in a box- lot at one of our sales. Sometimes we just don’t get CRAFTS Website - http://craftsofnj.org the information in a timely enough manner!!

Till next issue good tool hunting. Greg

THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 2 Dear Tool Wizard,

I am new to the tool collecting world and also not very knowledgeable about flea market buying. At a recent flea market I experienced what I considered a breach of etiquette. Please tell me whether I am right or not.

At a table full of tools and knives, I saw a lovely little plane that I wanted. There was nothing marked on the plane so I asked the dealer how much it was. He gave me a price, and I hesitated to respond as I thought it was a little higher than I was willing to go. But, I never put it down, nor did I say I wasn’t interested.

A gentleman (and I use the word loosely) that was behind me spoke up almost immediately telling the dealer that he would pay the full price. Is this OK?

Mary Beth Gordon (address withheld)

Dear Mary Beth,

Please don’t consider this guy as the average tool collector. With the exception of one or two really aggressive collectors (or a shill), I don’t know anyone who would do this, particularly to a lady.

You never mentioned how it turned out. I can tell you that it doesn’t always work out to the boobs benefit. Sometimes the dealer is put off by this aggressiveness and ignores him. It may even help you make up your mind. If you still want it at full price, you have it in your hands, and the dealer will certainly recognize you before the boob. And you don’t know whether you would have gotten it for less anyhow. Do not let this incident discourage you; it doesn’t happen that often.

THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 3 Continued from page 1 gether barn beams mer. (Fig. 8) A hammer I recently were dominant. A found seems to borrow a tech- metal hammer would nique used by early axes. It is a increase the chance socketed hammer head with the of splitting the piece handle firmly driven and riveted into which the wood- into the socket. (Fig. 9) en peg was driven 18th century claw hammers were The first patented hammer and have a tendency similar to Roman claw hammers. in the United States to approach to mushroom the this problem was by Solomon An- A Cooper’s bung pegs soft heads. Of course metal hammers were still derson from South New Berlin, startle mallet has the used by the blacksmiths and other metalworking crafts- New York, with his wrap around head secured in a men. claw. (Fig. 11) He states that this wedged mortise. It is well recognized that the claw hammer as curved claw attached to a ring we know it today was first used during the Roman around the handle will prevent the times. This is well docu- handle from breaking or loosening. mented by artifacts Not many examples of this hammer found in museums. I am are found today and when they are sure it had the same seen in tool auctions they usually Fig. 11 problem then as ham- sell for around $1000. Fig. 6 mers of the early nine- The most successful ham- teenth century had, the mer modification of modern times is the adze eye ham- head flying off the han- mer head invented by David Maydole. He was a black- dle or the handle break- smith in Norwich N.Y. who made and fixed many dif- ing. This problem was ferent types of tools. He adapted the eye from the adze the source of inventive which has a wider opening at the top of the head and craftsmen developing narrows as it extends thru the head. By also extending solutions. the head further down the One of the earli- handle he produced a ham- Fig. 12 est solutions was using Fig. 7 mer head that was stronger metal straps or flanges and would not become that attach to the wood loose. (Fig. 12) He never handle for reinforce- Fig. 8 patented this invention but ment. These could be used it in his very success- part of the hammer head ful hammer manufacturing business which he started in (Fig. 6) or separate 1845. The business was continued by his family after flanges (Fig. 7) that go his death in 1892. At that time it was the largest ham- thru the hammer head mer manufacturer in the country with 115 employees. with the handle. They In 1942 the company received its largest order when often were riveted to the wood handle just a bit down the Navy purchased 100,000 hammers for use by their from the hammer head. But the holes going thru the shipyards. A fire destroyed handle at this location weakened the handle and often the Maydole factories in caused it to break at the rivet hole. Attaching a new 1957 and the business never handle was difficult using this recovered. Many Maydole Fig. 13 metal reinforcement. adze eye hammers can be found today, but Another technique of finding a non– adze eye Maydole claw hammer is rare. stopping the handle from com- As one of the two main functions of the claw ing apart from the hammer hammer is to extract nails, head is to make it all one piece. there have been many patents Fig. 14 Different manufactures were designed to complete this en- very successful with this design deavor. Some make practical such as the Perfect Handle sense while others were over hammer and the Estwing ham- Fig. 9 designed and doomed to the

THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 4 rare or never seen category. out long nails without Some patents add small second- Fig 15 bending them. (Fig. 20) ary claws on the ends of the Of course if you main claws. Patent No. 83,897 have a double claw ham- filed Nov. 10, 1868 by William mer, inventors have to go Zimmerman was one of the first one better and invent a to do so. (Fig. 13) Edwin triple claw hammer. A Fig. 21 Duryea in his 1893 patent has a triple claw hammer was small auxiliary claw under the patented in 1901 by C.I. primary large claw. (Fig. 14) Yonge. (Fig. 21) Anoth- Charles Blydenburgh in 1896 er triple claw hammer is patented a separate supple- Fig. 16 patented to Hachig A. mental claw that slides into a Ayvad of Hoboken N.J. recess in the head behind the in 1930. His hammer is Fig. 22 main claw. (Fig. 15) Of course not similar to the Cheney adze hammer but all secondary claws are under the has two small claws on the side of the adze claw with main claw. J.T. Hall in 1916 pa- a nail pulling in the middle. (Fig. 22) Hachig said this tented a small starting claw on top hammer was unique because it could get at nails in a of the hammer head and facing the corner that regular claw hammers same way as the main claw (Fig. could not. Not to be outdone J.N. 16) He said this was to minimize Fig. 17 Jarrell in 1941 patented a four strain on the hammer handle when claw hammer. It has three step-up starting extraction. Two months claws leading up to the main claw. later W.F. Charley patented a similar starting claw Thus large nails can be pulled out design but turned the claw around to face the opposite in stages. (Fig. 23) Of course not direction of the main claw. (Fig. 17) all hammers used claws to extract Fig. 23 A hammer that nails. W.A. Day in 1911 pa- attracts many collectors tented a toothed eccentric cam is the two-claw hammer. on the side of the hammer There is much discus- head to trap and pull the nail sion about where the out. (Fig. 24) Others used the Fig. 24 first two claw hammer classic pinchers used on the originated. It is often Fig. 18 old large slide pullers. The said that the Shaker Hammer George Capewell designed in 1896 is one of craftsman forged the first dou- the more collectible of these hammers. (Fig. 25)There ble claw. The one that most col- are many other designs inventors came up with for lectors often see is one patented extracting nails and finding anything other than a sim- by George F. Voight In 1902. ple single claw is always a treat. (Fig. 18) This hammer was made by the Double Claw Fig. 29 Fig. 25 Hammer Co. of Brooklyn, N.Y and has the patent date stamped on the side of its head. Before this in May 1899 W.W. Brownell of Lake Placid N.Y. patented a similar double claw for Another area of creative inventions for the the same purpose of gaining more leverage. (Fig. 19) claw hammer is starting the nail. Some have become An interesting double classics such as the 1871 patented Cheney ball- claw is another one pa- bearing system (Fig 26) fit into the claws of his ham- tented to W.W. Brownell mers. Holding nails in 1903. It is an auxiliary with different attaching claw that attaches to the mechanisms under or handle of any regular with the claws are nu- Fig. 20 Fig. 26 claw hammer for pulling merous. While others Continued on page 6

THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 5 Continued from page 5 have a slot on the way to riches. One of the highly the side of the sought after combination hammers hammer to hold is the Thayer patent combo ham- the nail head. mer. Patented in 1862, John Thayer Josiah Clark of Boston claimed that his com- was the first to Fig 27 pound tool in its compactness of- patent this idea fers a graduated scale on the handle with a metallic plate bar, a screwdriver, two different attached to the side of claws and of course a moveable his hammer head with hammer head to adjust leverage. a slot and spring hold- (Fig. 32) ing the nail head. Rob- Many inventors thought to ertson’s Bill-posters combine the hammer with the hammer (Fig 27) uses wrench. A.W. Park of Norwich, something similar to Connecticut was the first in 1860 to Fig. 32 this type of attachment Fig. 28 to hold his nails for reaching up out of reach. In 1862 George Mills and Jackson Hanscom from Boston perfected this design by making a tapered socket intergal as part of the hammer head. In 1860 Charles Carlisle patented a nail holding device by Fig 33 using a angular lever to hold the nail in place just combine the claw hammer with the monkey wrench under the hammer head. and screwdriver. Byron Boardman’s patent of 1866 (Fig 28) Many inventors improved on this design by installing a cam jaw patented various mechanisms to hold insert to grip curved objects better. (Fig 33) Many the nail either under the hammer inventors combined head or just above it. In 1866 W.G. pliers with hammers Ward patented an attachment to fit Fig 29 un- but the standard is der the hammer head. It was a the cobblers pliers small metallic block or (spring with the dominant socket) that could be bolted on hammer head. Other and acted as a seat to hold the combination ham- Fig. 34 nail. (Fig 29) In his patent draw- mers had insertable ing he included a one-armed man tools such as screwdrivers, chisels corkscrews, and using his patented hammer attach- drills, stored in the handle. (Fig 34) A cleaver in- ment. (Fig 30) Of course necessi- vention was patented by Allen Lake an employee of ty being the mother of invention the L.S. Starrett Tool Co. He put a magnifying glass this one armed person probably in the center of the hammer head to help machinists came up with many cleaver in- punch center marks in fine layouts. Finding one of ventions. Lastly, in 1871 Gottlieb these hammers stuffed in a drawer of an old ma- Young modified the hammer head chinists tool chest is a rewarding find. to allow for a nail to sit on top of Of course how can one talk of collectible the hammer head. It is secured in hammers without mentioning the rare beauties of place by a sheet metal spring Fig 30 the sport. Two of the earliest hammers I collected holder. (Fig 31) were cigar box As the Age of hammers with Invention found many their fancy re- inventors trying to in- lief work and vent the better mouse- ebony wood trap, combining differ- Fig 31 handle. (Fig ent tools into one was 35) Their Fig. 35

THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 6 graceful design signed a revolutionary new hammer design with their and diminutive “Weight Forward” creation. (Fig. 40) Estwing states size intrigued me. that this design “puts the power and weight up front for I also hunted for easier, more efficient nailing. It has a smooth, continu- the 1901 patented ous face to claw radius for easier nail pulling, a shock- Charles Hennig Fig. 36 reduction gasket and comfort grip reducing shock, and decorated ham- the world's strongest fiberglass handle.” It takes a bit mer. (Fig. 36) getting used to but is very comfortable. With its finely ornamental re- Collecting hammers is a very rewarding aspect lief work and nickel-plating it of tool collecting. It is often one was sure to stand out in my overlooked by the flea market Fig. 41 collection. Next on my hit list seller. It is not uncommon to of ornamental hammers was come upon rare finds like a the 1928 patented bronze goats French cobbler’s hammer (Fig. head hammer, designed by Fig. 37 41) or a coopers hoop driver hammer. (Fig. 42) It is a very simple task to fix a broken handle with a correct replacement or wire wheel a rusty head. There is a very Fig. 38 Fig. 42 good market for blacksmith hammers and farriers hammers for the modern day user who knows a good old tool. A Heller or Atha blacksmith hammer will be a cherished addition to any hammer rack. (Fig. 43) Often a stone workers hammer is the prize of an early toolmaker Mitteldorfer Straus of New York City. (Fig. morning of flea marketing. 37) Of course if one is talking about beauty, lets not These older hammers are leave out the ornately lathe turned gavels and carvers still used today by sculp- mallets of exotic wood. (Fig. 38) tors and demand a good These finely turned hammers show price. (Fig. 44) Some- not only the skills of the craftsman times you will find some- Fig. 43 but also the beauty inherent in the thing that is really odd woods used. and lacks any known pur- Even with all the advance- pose. The hammer below ments in hammers over the years (Fig. 45) is one such they are still being redesigned. hammer that I still have Manufacturers are redesigning for not found out its purpose ergonomics making a more com- yet. This will keep you Fig. 44 fortable and user friendly hammer. on edge until you can Carpenters who swing a hammer learn its function. There are so many more hammers to all day develop elbow problems talk about as the designs are as rich as their history. I due to the vibrations emitting from Fig. 39 hope you will send in a picture of any rare finds you hammering. The new “Anti-Vibe have discovered and let the Tool Shed publish it so all hammer by Stanley has a tuning our readers can learn more about this fascinating area fork in the handle to deaden the of tool collecting. vibrations. (Fig. 39) Estwing manufacturers has de-

Fig. 40 Fig. 45

THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 7 Accountant’s Lining Rules 24,1875 by Henry Richardson of Brooklyn, NY (patent Draftsman's Section Liners #166938 entitled “Improvement in Rulers). The next step in rule development was to add graduations to mark the Guest Speaker - Phil Stanley intervals at the side and use the edge to mark the lines. CRAFTS Meeting - February, 2004 Further variations provided a means to raise the blade By Dave Nowicki from the paper to avoid smearing the line after it was inked in. Phil Stanley is the author of the well known book on Stanley Rules, Boxwood and Ivory, Stanley traditional True Lining rules provided the means to keep rules 1855 - 1975. When I purchased Phil’s book I was a lines parallel by using a roller or rollers to move down the neophyte collector who needed all the help he could get. page. The sim- This volume served to fill a huge gap in my knowledge of plest of these rules. Not only did it cover the vast number of rules that were solid rods, Stanley produced over the course of 120 years but also an either round or explanation of the machinery, materials and various sometimes other scales that were used in rule production. Boxwood and shapes such as Ivory continues to be a valuable reference in my library. octagonal were used to control When Phil told me that his presentation would spacing. Fur- focus on Section liners and Lining rules I wondered what ther improve- in the world he was talking about. Obviously here was ments add addi- another major gap in my tool knowledge. tional attach- Simple Lining Rules ments, multiple The second from the top has octago- Lining Rules rollers, metal end nal ends which provide 5/16” spacing caps, etc. An Phil opened his presentation by noting that prior example of this is Appleton’s Lining Rule which consists to about 1830 Ac- of a mahogany roller attached to a fixed rosewood cylin- countants ledger books were blank and did not contain the various grids and columns that were needed to en- ter their accounts. Each page of the ledger had to be lined by the accountant before use. In the simplest form Appleton’s Lining Rule either a graduated or an unrequited ruler would have been used and the lines would be spaced by eye. In addi- der which would slide down the page and hold position tion to wood, hard rubber was also used to make rules when pressure is added by the user. which made them slightly flexible. Phil showed an inter- Westcott’s Rule added rubber washers to the roll- esting rule where four inches of one side was composed er, between the common rule and a second metal stick. of short segments joined to the remainder of the rule by a felt backing allowing it to conform to the page as it curves toward the center. This rule was patented on August

The rule and stick slide while rolling and pressure on ei- (Continued on page 9) Richardson’s Flexible Rule THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 8 (Continued from page 8) consisted of a wood stick with one fixed and one adjusta- ther fixes it in place for ruling a line. The second metal ble stop. It was used with a separate triangle and after stick has a cylindrical back edge and allows the user to the stop was set for the proper spacing the draftsman roll the edge away from the paper after the line is drawn. would alternately move the gage and triangle after each The rule below is marked Westcott Jewell Co. line was drawn. Seneca Falls, N.Y. and has the same idea but goes a bit further by using a maple rule and a second maple stick One of surrounding a steel roller with rubber washers and a cy- the most elabo- lindrical back edge on the bottom stick. rate Section Lin- ers was the Bos- tock and Pancoast instrument patented on August 6, 1887 by Ed- ward Bostock. It is similar to an accountants Lining rule but the blade is mounted on a protractor head. The bottom piece slides vertically on a brass tongue pro- truding from the bottom of the protractor and a thumb Other types of Lining Rules added scales to screw sets the amount of travel. According to Phil the space lines vertically and provided mechanical sliding maple rule and the bottom piece may have been manu- parts to enhance vertical spacing. According to Phil the factured by Stanley. Other examples have been marked market for Lining Rules ended about 1925 since all ac- with the Stanley name. count books were lined by that time. Next came the sliding arm Section Liners. On Section Liners these the base sits on paper and is located by points on the bottom. The drawing arm is attached by a protractor Phil Stanley’s began with an explanation of Sec- to a stepping tion Liners and how they were used by Draftsmen to or sliding draw a mechanism. series The Liner of below is equally mahogany spaced and is prob- diago- ably English nal or Europe- lines on an. Other a me- improve- ments would allow the use curved templates to draw parallel curved lines and culminate with permanently mounted Section Liners that were all but automatic in providing diagonal lines. chanical drawing. This allowed the Draftsman to illustrate the various components of a cross-sectional view. Phil Stanley provided a most interesting presen- Also, a second application of these diagonal lines is to tation and certainly increased my knowledge of these illustrate the devices. I’m threads on a sure others in rod or bolt. attendance felt the same way The since many simplest and stayed to ask one of the ear- questions and liest was get a closer Nagle’s Ruling view of the Gage which rules Phil

THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 9

THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 10

THE KUSHMAKER by Frederic Charles The interview with the kushmaker was held in the Captain’s quarters with no one else present. During World War II there were many “Tell me son, what do you need to fulfill your things that were in confusion because of the mission?” obvious situation of War. This is a story about one of the them, that concerns a rare hands-on John Dixon was no fool, and had been in craftsman. the Navy long enough to know how to do things. So far, he had been treated like a king, by both John Dixon, Seaman 1st class, had only a his mates and the officers. Everyone knew that he month left until his discharge, and he was was not able to discuss his mission with them, transferred to a battleship in the San Francisco and they carefully avoided it. But he was given dry dock that was being refitted. He was to finish no work details as he needed the time to “study”. his time on the ship and be discharged before it So when the Captain posed that question as to left port. He presented his papers to the proper what he needed, he gave him the answer. officer aboard the battleship, and was assigned a section under a veteran Chief Petty Officer. “Just two things sir, a furnace that will allow me to heat a special metallic bar to 2150 Closer observation of his transfer orders degrees Fahrenheit, and a high speed escalator showed his occupation as KUSHMAKER. “Eh, from the lower foundry deck to the upper sea Dixon, your orders say you are a kushmaker,” deck. I need to reach it in 8 seconds-- no more.” said the puzzled Chief. Dixon replied, “That’s correct Chief.”A pause, --- “Are you good at it?” The Captain, not quite realizing the size of the task, readily agreed. And for weeks the “Best there is.” reconstruction of the bowels of the ship went on, along with the rest of the refitting. A special The Chief, not wanting to show his furnace was taken on, but it proved unable do the ignorance as to what the hell a kushmaker was, job, and another one had to be ordered. Day after scurried off to question some of his mates. No day everyone watched the progress of the one knew. The next step was the Lieutenant. He operation including Seaman Dixon, who on didn’t wish to appear green to his men, so he regular intervals voiced an objection to some posted the question with, “It’s something new. individual part that he said was just not good I’ll get the full details later.” enough.

And so it went up the line, all the way to Finally, Test Day came. The entire the commander of the ship Captain Henry section in the area of the escalator stopped work Buckhalter. It was now an issue amongst quite a to see the event. The furnace was lit, the special few of the personnel, both commissioned and tongs held the precious piece of metal as its non-commissioned. And when the Captain was temperature was raised to white hot. Dixon, told that the kushmaker aboard his ship might be holding the tongs with his specially made gloves there for some secret mission, the Captain stood stepped on the escalator and was whisked to the tall and proclaimed, ”If we were selected for this sea deck. Alas! It took 14 second. Heads hung mission, we will damn sure show the Admiral low, orders barked and everyone got back to that he picked the best ship. Bring me that work. kushmaker.” (Continued on page 12)

THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 11 (Continued from page 11) TOOL EVENTS Days later the test was run again but only to fail once more at 11 seconds. Frustration set in, and the  officers were taken to task. “The next time I witness this test it damn sure better be within 8 seconds,” was the March 26 & 27 - Martin Donnelly 2-day Antique ominous bellow of the Captain. Tool Auction Indianapolis, IN www.mjdtools.com Lady Luck cooperated, and the next test was a  huge success. Smiles and congratulations were everywhere. Dixon was hailed as an absolute genius, and April 2&3 - Brown 24th Annual Antique Tool if a decoration could have been given for whatever it was Auction and Dealer Sale Radisson Inn, Camp Hill, that he did, the Captain would have presented it. BUT, PA the big day was yet to come. The Captain invited every Brown Auctions 27 Fickett Road Pownal, ME 04069. high ranking officer anywhere near the ship to attend the www.FineToolJ.com/Browns demonstration of the completion of the mission. 

They constructed a special bleachers for the” April 4 - CRAFTS Meeting 1PM brass” to be close to the kushmaker when he emerged onto HOST Masonic Lodge Highbridge, NJ the sea deck. At exactly some naval hour (that had some  historical importance) the bell chimed and the demonstration started with the heating of the metallic bar. April 17 - CRAFTS Auction Then the lightning-like ride up the escalator to the sea Flemington Elks Club, Rt 12. Flemingtion, NJ deck with Dixon holding the white hot bar directly in front Tool Sale - setup at daybreak of him. Two Marines were placed in front of Dixon and Auction preview at 7:30am another two behind. Auction begins at 9:00am  Dixon reached the deck with 1 second to spare! He rushed to the railing, holding the still white hot bar April 23 & 24 - Martin Donnelly 2-day Auction over the side, flanked by the four Marines. Holiday Inn, Everett Tpke. Nashua, New Hampshire Then, he released the bar!! www.mjdtools.com 

It took forever to hit the ocean waves. But when it May 12 - David Stanley Auctions did, all that was heard was KUSHHHH. 1000 lots - Leicestershire, England

www.davidstanley.com ***********************************************  Yes, it’s a WWII wild yarn. Another ending to the story has the angry crew throwing the kushmaker May 13, 14, 15 - EAIA Annual Meeting overboard (as well you might do to me.) Doubletree Hotel, Wilmington, Delaware Registration May 12th at 5:30pm

May 12 - 2pm-5pm - Tailgating on hotel lot 

May 14 - Martin Donnelly Antique Tool Auction Doubletree Hotel. Wilmington, Delaware 300 lots - 8:00 p.m. www.mjdtools.com

THE TOOLSHED—APRIL 2004 12