Hi ... I have one tool!

[SJ]

Hi there from Wisconsin ... I'm not a tool afficionado.  I do have more than one tool but not many. 

There is one in particular I'm concerned about now.

Anyone know about J. L. Hommedieu? 

Well, I have a 19" auger with that name on it.  Maybe it's an auger bit. 

Once upon a time I was led to believe it might be special. 

So that's what I'll be asking about.  Hopefully getting photos soon.



P.s., I see an 1830 reference to a J. L. Hommedieu, in connection with augers.

https://books.google.com/books?id=0HwFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA163#v=onepage&q&f=false

[Papaw]

Welcome to Tool Talk!
We will try to get you some answers.

[leg17]

You have one tool.
One more and you have a collection.
Two more and........I better let you find out the hard way.
Welcome.

[bill300d]

excerpt from The History of Middlesex County 1635-1885 TOWN OF CHESTER CT.
BY SAMUEL C. SILLIMAN.

On the site of the property, Ezra and Joshua L'HOMMEDIEU built a factory in 1812 for the purpose of manufacturing gimlets, which business was carried on for several years. About the year 1815, Ezra L'HOMMEDIEU invented the celebrated single-twist ship auger, and manufactured them here until the building, about a quarter of a mile west, which was built in 1790, and known as SNOW & SMITH's Anchor Forge, was purchased, and the business transferred to it. This building is now owned by Russell JENNINGS and used as a part of his bitt making establishment. It is fifty-two feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and two stories high, and is provided with turbine water-wheel. A few feet from this building, Mr. JENNINGS has erected another, one hundred and twelve feet long, thirty feet wide, and two stories high, the machinery of which is driven by a water-wheel over twenty-five feet in diameter.

[wvtools]

Here is a link to the DATAMP website listing for L'Hommedieu's patents if you are interested.  He had several of the early bit patents.

The EAIA Directory listing for him and his company is both lengthy and confusing.  I will try to post a pic of it sometime.  These bits were made by him and/or Watrous & Co.   Most of the ones that I find are marked L'Hommedieu and Watrous and Co.  They are less common than other ship or car auger bits, but they still are not worth much more than regular price for them (10-15) if you can find someone who still uses them

[SJ]

Thanks ...

So not likely as special as I thought?   I guess that's okay -- if it's not worth much then that means I get to keep it.  And it's kinda pretty. 

I'll still try to get back here and post a picture if I ever take one.