The Davistown Museum


	These photographs are from Henry C. Mercer's 1929, Ancient carpenters' tools together with lumbermen's, joiners' and cabinet makers' tools in use in the eighteenth century, pgs. 2,5,7,11. Mercer forever differentiated the clumsy trade and British felling axes from the more practical, if ugly, American ax with its heavy poll and short bit. The new American ax was in use at least as early as 1750. Mercer notes the double-bitted ax as a later innovation, ca. 1850.

From: Tylecote, Ronald F. (1987). The early history of metallurgy in Europe. Longmans Green, New York, NY. pg. 264.

References

Beaudry, Michael. The axe wielder's handbook.
Collins & Co. Illustrated catalogue of axes, hatchets, adzes, picks, sledges, hoes, wrenches, bush hooks, etc., etc. manufactured by Collins & Co. established in 1826.

Foley, Vernard and Moyer, Richard H. The American axe: Was it better?
Gordon, Robert B. Material evidence of the development of metalworking technology at the Collins Axe factory.
Grismer, Jerome T. and Kendrick, Clyde H. Embossed American axes: A photographic guide.
Heavrin, Charles A. The axe and man.
Kauffman, Henry J. American axes: A survey of their development and their makers.
Kebabian, John S. An American axe.
Klenman, Allen. Axe makers of North America.
Klenman, Allen. Amoskeag Ax Company of Manchester, New Hampshire.

"Amoskeag continued to grow until the Underhill Company bought them out in 1879. This made Underhill the largest edge tool maker in New Hampshire, with 90 full-time axe makers. Because of the wide acceptance and the popularity of the Blodgett Tools, all Underhill labels and advertisements included the statement, 'Successors to Amoskeag Ax Co.'" (pg. 130).
"The year 1889 saw the incorporation of the huge 'Axe Trust' -- The American Axe & Tool Company of Glassport, Pennsylvania, whose idea was to convince 15 of the largest makers in America to join together with the aim of cutting costs and controlling the market. So, in 1890 they convinced Underhill to close and move their machinery to the huge new factory at Glassport. Of course, the Underhill names and labels would continue to be made and sold by American Axe & Tool Company." (pg. 130).
"This continued until 1921, when the Kelly Corporation of Charleston, West Virginia, purchased American Axe & Tool and moved it to their 20-acre property." (pg. 130).
Figure three in this article notes: "This is an Amoskeag broad axe. It is remarkable for being one of the earliest of all cast-steel axes made." (pg. 129).

Marble Safety Axe Company. Marble's specialties for sportsmen.
Smith, H.R. Bradley. Blacksmith's and farriers' tools at Shelburne Museum: A history of their development from forge to factory.
Straffin, Dean. A treatise on the chisel axe.
Tylecote, Ronald F. (1987). The early history of metallurgy in Europe.
White, Stephen W. A checklist of woodworking tool manufacturers in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Wyllie, Robin H. The Swedish axe in North America.
Yeaton, Donald G. Axe makers of Maine.