Tool Talk
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: dimwittedmoose51 on October 14, 2012, 03:23:55 PM
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It's an 8# Sledge head mounted on a really short hardwood handle. Very odd to hold in one's hand, but slight wire brushing revealed a horseshoe logo with"A" inside it and an ATHA underneath. Any clues as to what I have here??
TIA
DM&FS
PS: Now that I found my camera, I'll have to make up for lost time......lol
DM&FS
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You have a true (pre stanley*) ATHA hammer with the old logo :)
You have to take a pictur further back so we can see theentire head to tell you if it's just a sledge or something else (ATHA made lot of different hammers, blacksmith tools etc)
1913, your hammer is 100+ be nice to it ;P
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8-lb. is a nice size to have around. Google ATHA, found quite a bit of info, but a certain Mr. ATHA started a tool company in the 1870s, kept acquiring other tool makers, and was finally scooped up by Stanley in 1913. So the basics are you have a good usable sledge that is at least 99 years old! Short handle? It probably used to be longer!
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A Bosnian gentleman was telling me(at the last flea market last month) that Blacksmith hammers(he is a blacksmith) come in different weights so the blacksmith can "drop" the hammer instead of swinging it with muscle power letting gravity do the work. You don't necessarily think of blacksmiths as being touchy-feely finesse types, but I was proven wrong....again!! He was initially admiring a blacksmith-made draw knife I had for sale and telling me why it was better than the store bought brands. He didn't buy it, but I put it back in the collection after hearing that.....
Back to the topic of the night, here are some photos added of the ATHA hammer. It sure is heavy on the business side and a bit asymmetrical on the back side. Octagonal up front, maybe cuz it weighs 8#????? Nahhhh. Hopefully you folks can narrow down the intended use of this Centurian....
Thanks
DM&FS
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8 pound cross pein sledge. I can't imagine using one with a short handle. Mine (not an Atha) is on a standard long sledge handle.
This is a really good find!
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Sometimes I resist my urge to not wire brush stuff looking for logos and clues to a tool's "roots". Glad I finally got the bug to do this one. The hole for this sledge is certainly a lot smaller than today's 8# hammers, that's for sure. Thanks for the ID Branson.
DM&FS
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That's one pretty cross pein sledge! I think the 8s have more grace than those lighter or those heavier.
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As far as large hammers go, Atha is only second to Heller as a most desired factory brand.
And a very unusual pattern?
Hot property
yours Scott
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I love Atha tools. That's a good hammer for sure!
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Nice find Moose! Here is a poor view of the one I found on the property here while tilling in the garden.
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p534/alphinde/846471584_photobucket_201907_.jpg)
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Nice find Moose! Here is a poor view of the one I found on the property here while tilling in the garden.
(http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p534/alphinde/846471584_photobucket_201907_.jpg)
Sheesh! You don't even have to go to the hardware store -- just pick up a shovel and walk out to your garden! Can we place orders?
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What is the hole for that is next to the handle?
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You have a true (pre stanley*) ATHA hammer with the old logo :)
You have to take a pictur further back so we can see theentire head to tell you if it's just a sledge or something else (ATHA made lot of different hammers, blacksmith tools etc)
1913, your hammer is 100+ be nice to it ;P
Sorry to revive a dead topic, but I'vs recently started collecting Atha hammers for use in my blacksmith shop, and I'm curious how you can differentiate between pre, and post Stanley hammers... I have 4 hammers of various types, and a couple pair of tongs at the moment, and would love to furnish my shop with more 100+ year old tools...
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A friend of mine here in town has a 12# Atha either cross peen or straight peen that's like brand new. He wanted $60 for it last time I saw him. LEt me know if that's not out of your price range and I'll see what I can do.
DM&FS
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A friend of mine here in town has a 12# Atha either cross peen or straight peen that's like brand new. He wanted $60 for it last time I saw him. LEt me know if that's not out of your price range and I'll see what I can do.
DM&FS
Tempting.... But a little steep.... I might throw that at a straight pein (if that included shipping), but I have a 12# Atha cross already.