T B E 5~~ ~=~ -"~ March, 1986 IISTIILL Number43 M-WTCA.ORG Published by and for the members of the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association IN THIS ISSUE: • Collecting Hummel • Ode to Retirement • Miniature Irons • Marsh Tool Co. • Kentucky Planemakers • Master Framing Rule • Stanley Two-Tones • Plane Iron Patterns • Hitching Hammer • Regular Features CHAFF ... T . from the President write As this is being written, the bright Carolina sun indicates that for many of I G11STIILL us Winter is on the wane and we are on already starting to look forward to warm THE GRISTMILL wants articles of No. 43 Mar., 1986 days at our favorite flea market. From all kinds about tools, makers, Mid-West Tool Collectors telephone conversations with members in users, early industries, etc., Association more Northern climes I am sure that Sum­ photographs, old advertising cuts, Editor ............ .. Tom Ward mer still seems a long way off. and anything relating to M-WTCA Contributing Editors Doc Nissen's Rx for the Winter blahs: member activities. II possible, William Baader John Kebabian - Large spoonful of the memories of material should be typewritten. Ginger Bergdahl Roger Smith Sam Strauss, Jr. a great meeting in Columbus. We'll edit, correct, and provide - Pat on the back for all of you who The Gristmill is the official publication of the first aid when needed. Deadline Mid-West Tool Collectors Association and is spent a good deal of time last sum­ for receipt of all copy is January published quarterly March, June, September, and mer getting ready to set up your December. 15 for March issue, April 15 for The purpose of the association is to promote the great displays. June issue, July 15 for September preservation, study and understanding of ancient - Equal amount of thanks for those tools, implements and devices of farm, home, in­ issue, October 15 for December dustry and shop of the pioneers; also, to study the of you who scout out the garage crafts in which these objects were used and the sales, auctions, estate sales, etc. to issue. craftsmen who used them; also to share knowledge find those surplus tools to bring to and understanding with others, especially where it may benefit restorations, museums and like institu­ our meeting that tempt us to part tions; also, to accomplish this in a spirit of fun and with our $'s. (Where do some of fellowship. you find all that stuff) President ... .... .. Ray Nissen Whole bushel of thanks from your 21 Woodland Circle, Foxfire Village Officers, Directors and other Jackson Springs, NC 27281 members for contributing to our 919-295-4566 tool collecting knowledge and fun Vice President . ..... .. Gale Zerkle by just attending our National 511 Cookston A venue meetings. Springfield, OH 45503 ? - Amount of appreciation to those Address: 513-399-1725 Secretary . ...... ... .. Kerry McCalla who plan and run the meetings. Editor, The Gristmill You will never know the work in­ 3325 Culloden Way P.O. Box 11 volved until you serve as a host. Birmingham, AL 35243 But lest I scare out someone who is Avondale Estates, GA 30002 205-991-0413 considering serving as a host, I Treasurer . .... .. Morris K. Olson can assure you that the thanks and 2825 Jackson Street satisfaction you will receive from ADVERTISING La Crosse, WI 54601 happy attendees very rapidly 608-788-0480 All want ads or for sale ads use makes you forget about the work. Directors the deadline printed above. 1983-86 The above is the cure for the blahs. Address: Jim Austin Dick Opsahl Now we need to consider some preven­ Sam Strauss, Jr. Fred Bair Mike Slasinski tative medicine. I'll prescribe the follow­ Rick Kerns Ray Townsend #4 Sunset Drive Carol Lomax ing: Little Rock, AR 72207 1984-87 Bill Baader Bill Rigler - Promise to help your area Director Ernie Blumenthal Harlow Sternberg in holding an area meeting close Bill Eviston Sam Strauss to home. Moving? Paul Hamler George Wanamaker - Follow thru on that longstanding Harry Ludwig Orland Zajicek E.A. Olson promise you have made to We hope you don't have to 1985-88 yourself to write that article for the move, but ii you do, remember to Mo Arnold William Gustafson Gristmill. advise Secretary Kerry McCall a of Roger Alexander Ann Henley Commitment to have even a better George Alton Ronald Pearson M-WTCA.ORGyour new address, which will en­ Art Clark Roger Phillips display of your favorite tools at St. sure your continued receipt of all John Danielson Bob Schulz Louis. George Elsass MWTCA Tom Witte Many - Moments spent encouraging a mailings without inter­ Hollis Feeser Lester Yoder new collector in their pursuit of ruptions. Don't forget to include Committee Chairmen this great hobby. your new telephone number and Program . .. Peter Cullum area code. Sending your change Gristmill .. ..... Tom Ward The health of M-WTCA was never bet­ Special Publications . .. Roger Smith ter. You, by your participation have of address to anyone other than Whatsit . .. Gary Gergini the Secretary causes qn Auction . I van Risley made it that way. KEEP TAKING YOUR Membership . Ashley Kennedy MEDICINE. unavoidable delay in processing Scholarship ....... Gale Zerkle *** this important information. Marion Henley Award . .. Harlow Sternberg Lile memberships Address Labels Scrapbook COVER: Photograph from Maine, c. 1890. This is Kerry McCalla Eila Arnold Those of you who were in the Board 3325 Culloden Way 909 East 81st St. meeting are aware of the fact that I was probably a lather & sons team of axe helve Birmingham, AL 35243 Indianapolis, IN 46240 makers. The scene is sell-explanatory and in­ somewhat less than lukewarm to this Publications Mailing dicates there were possibly hundreds of such Ann Henley idea. I do believe that if M- WTCA is to "cottage industries" supplying helves to the 808 Fairway Drive (Continued page 19) scores of axe makers in the state of Maine dur­ Columbia, MO 65201 ing this period. (submitted by Roger K. Smith) Page 2 OF GENERAL INTEREST ELECTRIC ARTIFACTS editor's DISPLAYED An exhibit by M-WTCA member WORKBENCH Milan Ramsey of early electrical tools and artifacts was presented during the past summer. The showing centered around An interview of Roy Underhill in the Edison and was supplemented by Nov.!Dec. issue of the magazine, Mother numerous posters, etc. from the Earth News, in which he mentions our Smithsonian Institute and the Ford name as a source of information on tools Museum. and related literature, has resulted in an Housing the exhibit, which ran for avalanche of mail requesting details and some four weeks, were two railway membership applications. cars on a siding adjacent to the Ft. To date I have answered some seventy Wayne, Indiana City Park. ■ such inquiries and they,re still coming. Already, several have joined the Associa­ TOOLS STOLEN tion. We mention this as a reminder that only A Stanley #56 Core Box Plane and a miniscule portion of the populace have CURRY STARS IN a brass spoke shave were allegedly heard, or will ever hear, of the Mid-West BIRMINGHAM stolen before the Arthur Lane auc­ Tool Collectors Association. When they tion at Charlotte, Michigan, Nov. oh, there's no place like do, they come running! Do your neighbor 29, 1985. or the guy you work with a favor by telling Birmingham", or so the song says, These pieces were reported miss­ him about us. and for at least one evening in No­ ing during the viewing period pre­ vember, a huge number of Alabama ceeding the auction. No identifying Woodworkers Guild members agreed. marks were on either item although The Guild is a very active group of the Core Box Plane was described as Before we receive the first male com­ over one hundred woodworking en­ being in poor condition with con­ plaint that the ladies are "taking over the thusiasts whose skills run the siderable rust. Please notify Art in magazine,: we want to ask, "When was gamut from rank beginner to highly Birmingham, Michigan, if you have the last time YOU wrote an article for accomplished cabinetmaker. Month­ usr, information concerning these tools. ly meetings hone these skills with Ginger Bergdahl has the gals working hands-on demos, seminars, lectures, and we have enough photos and stories * * * from them to add more "Women,s Pages,,. training films, etc. Some sixty peo­ ple, one of the largest turnouts ever, This unfortunate incident once We ,re a little concerned because we again points up the necessity for aren ,t receiving other materials at the assembled for the November get­ maximum security and extreme cau­ rate we were a while back. We depend on together and a program which you for good articles; don ,t let us down. featured Mid-West's own inimitable tion anytime tools (or any valuable We can ,t fake all of it! Fred Curry. collectible) are brought out of their Fred covered a number of general boxes. topics including evolution of the We've always enjoyed the brace and the plane before getting trusting, almost casual attitude of If you ,ll remember, Houghton, Michigan M-WTCA.ORGinto the "special pieces" he had most tool collectors, but it's this is where Bob and AM-WTCA prexy Ginger brought from his personal Stanley same trustworthy atmosphere which Bergdahl moved to build their retirement attracts the dishonest. Remember home. The highway marker shown on collection. These included one-of-a­ it can happen to you. Don't let page 7 was erected on U.S. 41 south of kind patent models and other little­ it! ■ town. How far away can you get? known articles which may have never appeared in any catalogue. His impeccable expertise and his toys which are sold at auction.