Help Identify Wood Chisels with Odd Asterisk Markings Antique Tools

[oldtoolbarn]

Hello Forum. I have been collecting tools for many years, and recently acquired a set of socket wood chisels that have odd "asterisk" markings, with no other identifying marks. This marking seems familiar to me, but I cannot recall the maker. I do know that early Vlchek wrenches has a similar marking, but do not believe that thay manufactured chisels. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

[Branson]

Never saw that mark before.  How does the steel seem?

[oldtoolbarn]

Actually, that is what surprises me. They seem to be high quality solid steel, smooth, with sharp edges. I have been searching several sites and my books, but have had no luck finding this maker. Perhaps they are foreign made? Thanks for any help.

[mikeswrenches]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I've got several hundred chisels and have never seen that mark.  I have a chisel book that Jim Bassett wrote that I will check. 

Mike

[Papaw]

Welcome to Tool Talk! I'm sure we'll get an answer soon.

[mikeswrenches]

I checked Jim Bassett's book and he doesn't show any marks like that.

They look to me like a very high quality chisel.  Finish appears to be very good and the uniformity of the marking indicates that somebody cared.  In addition, it is not real easy to roll marks onto tapered round surfaces.  It is much easier to stamp the blade.  Nice tools!

Mike

[john k]

What that reminds me of, is the Japanese Imperial Mum, /Chrysanthemum, long ago used on Imperial Japanese weapons.   They do look to be of excellent qualtiy.  And the photo is too. 

[oldtoolbarn]

Well, Thanks to everyone so far for your comments and suggestions. Yes, these tools are of high quality, and I appreciate all of the input  that I have received so far. I still welcome more ideas and information from anyone, and will continue the quest. I will also keep the board informed of any updates or new info that I find. This is part of the fun of tool collecting; the research and finding new items that I am unfamiliar with. Thanks for your time.

[oldtoolbarn]

After some deliberation and exhaustive research, I have decided to part with these chisels. I am actually a collector of wrenches and oddball tools, and these do not fit into my collection. I feel that another would appreciate them more than I would. The uniqueness makes me feel that they are definitely worthy of a spot in a woodworker's arsenal. I know that this forum is not a spot to sell items or place advertisements, but the set will most likely be on eBay by tomorrow. I appreciate all of your help, and may actually incorporate a few of your comments into the listing. Cheers to all, and I hope to be a regular contributor to your forums. Thanks! John (oldtoolbarn)

[Papaw]

John, we do have a For Sale section here.
If listed on Ebay, provide us a link to the auction.

[oldtoolbarn]

Papaw, Thanks for your replies. The link to the ebay auction is:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321090134154&ssPageName=STRK:

[scottg]

  I had never seen that mark either. But then there are hundreds of marks on chisels. For only a little extra, any large manufacturer would mark your hardware house brand chisels with anything you wanted.

 It has been a tradition in Solingen Germany to use pictures instead of words, or in addition to the words, when marking tools, for several hundred years.
 Carl Schleipers "eye brand", the Boker "tree",  Hen and Rooster's chickens, the Bruckmann "bridge" etc etc.
  I suspect these chisels are German.

 It appears they are actually from 2 different sets. 4 out of 5 chisels are almost exactly the same length blade. Namely 4", more or less.
  4" were gents chisels.  Small, for the hobby trade.
The last chisels has a 5" blade.
 American professional chisels had 6" blades for generations and 4" for the gentry size. 
   German pro tools always had 5" blades.
   yours Scott 

[dowdstools]

I have seen that mark before, and it was usually on woodworking tools that were also marked WORTH. Worth was a house brand of a hardware store whose name escapes me at the moment. I'll try to make the time to check my notes I've accumulated over the years and get back to ya'll with the hardware store name. I have had chisels, braces, try-squares, and brace bits with that mark. They date to pre-WWII, as I recall, and all seem to be good, solid tools. When I say "house brand", think CRAFTSMAN (Sears), Blue Grass (Belknap Hardware), Diamond Edge (Norvell-Shapleigh), Keen Kutter (Simmons Hardware Co.), etc. - tools that were made by a major manufacturer and marked with the store's brand.

Lynn

[kxxr]

Here's that mark again. This photo is from a garage sale haul over on GJ.

[wvtools]

Dowdtools is correct.  Worth tools were a store brand made by Pexto.  I have an old Worth catalog and the order form is marked Peck, Stow, and Wilcox Co.  Most of the Worth tools I have seen have Worth and the asterisk, but I have seen ones with just the asterisk.

I thought I saw another store brand recently with the asterisk, but I cannot remember what is was.  Perhaps Pexto made more than one brand  with the asterisk.