I got off work early today, so I ran around to all the rummage sales I could find.... A very unsuccessful day, as only the first sale yielded anything at all I spent more on diesel than on other people's junk :P
But, in that first stop, I saw an interesting, and very nice looking ball pein hammer... I must have 20 ball peins and never use more than 3 of them, but this one still caught my eye... I could tell right away it was a good hammer, and when I saw the fancy font on the makers mark, I knew I had to have it... I couldn't read it at the time... I thought it said Hephasteus, which seemed apropos for a hammer... But once I got it home and cleaned it with soap and water, it clearly says Mephisto, how cool is that? The company is even still in business! A living anachronism, making caulking tools for cast iron plumbing! That is so cool.
http://www.mephistotools.comI sent them an e-mail, asking if they could provide me with any age information based on the makers mark, or style, etc... Will let you know if I hear anything back.