Collins display at 1876 Centennial and 1976 Bicentennial

The Smithsonian made a 28-minute movie about the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, presumably filmed at their 1976 exhibit location. Some glimpses of the Collins display (from 1976) can be seen between 2:00-2:10 and at 25:00. The film can be watched using the link below.

Celebrating a Century: The 1876 Philadelphia Centennial
by Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications
Publication date 1976
https://archive.org/details/celebratingacenturythe1876philadelphiacentennial
 
Steve are you local? Great find! I have always wondered how they displayed the collection in 1976 and if there where other items included that I did not know about. I’m trying to view the video on my phone and can’t really tell if the first time stamp is the Collins display but the last one looks like it has all of the pieces to the collection. The display case could possibly be the one in the Canadian hardware store? If I ever figure out this photo posting thing I will start posting pics. Never dreamed it was so important to others...I usually get a look of eyes rolling in the back of peoples heads when I say “want to see my axe collection?” Lol. So that everyone knows I am going forward with Old Axemans suggestion and have contacted some of the owners of parts of the collection. I’m pretty sure the original 1876 collection had around 1000 items and it was split throughout the years. In 1976 part of it was loaned to the Smithsonian and on display for some time. I have all that paperwork on exactly what was loaned and what was returned and the time period info I just have to go through it. As for the other parts that are out there I’ve heard a lot of rumors and truths. Obviously the Canton Museum has a portion of it. I have also heard that when on display in 1876 some items including the weapons ( knives, swords, machetes, etc.) were stolen? Not sure how true that is? As for the rest I have a pretty good idea where it is and that part is not going anywhere anytime soon.
 
C&Co. Legitimus said:
...If I ever figure out this photo posting thing I will start posting pics. Never dreamed it was so important to others...I usually get a look of eyes rolling in the back of peoples heads when I say “want to see my axe collection?” Lol...
Click to expand...

CCL, You maybe never dreamed it was important but then you posted here :)
I'm sure if you emailed pictures to a member here, they would post them for you (as yours) or email you the hosting links to insert into your comments at your leisure.
 
I'm in the Pacific Northwest, but this type of history is way more interesting than what was taught in school.

This reference says that Tom Perry bought the Collins property in 1967 for only $64,000 (and I'm guessing that price included everything, including the exhibition axes). He is credited for reviving Collinsville. By 2011, however, "The factory buildings are now mostly empty and decaying. Nobody knows what will happen to the dilapidated buildings", according to the reference below:


"A flood in the 1950s that heavily damaged the mills might have been a good excuse to innovate while re-building, but the Collins Company did not. By 1966 the leadership was ossified. A Hartford Courant article reported on the dilapidated state of the run-down industrial slum... What revived Collinsville? In 1967, Tom Perry bought the factory for $64,000."

"...In late ’90, developer Rusty Tinley bought the factory to create “@Collinsville,” a mixed-use complex featuring housing and retail. “He was like the Music Man – but the trombones never arrived.” Tinley was unwilling to continue short-term leases with the mill’s occupants, but also could not get his proposed redevelopment off the ground."

PLACEMAKING NETWORK
COLLINSVILLE CONNECTICUT – THE PRESERVATION OF PLACE
Seminar by David K. Leff
September 26, 2011
Notes by Peter Papesch, AIA and Natasha Rocca Devine
https://www.architects.org/sites/default/files/Placemaking Notes-Collinsville_092611.pdf
 
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C&Co. Legitimus said:
Steve are you local? Great find! I have always wondered how they displayed the collection in 1976 and if there where other items included that I did not know about. I’m trying to view the video on my phone and can’t really tell if the first time stamp is the Collins display but the last one looks like it has all of the pieces to the collection. The display case could possibly be the one in the Canadian hardware store? If I ever figure out this photo posting thing I will start posting pics. Never dreamed it was so important to others...I usually get a look of eyes rolling in the back of peoples heads when I say “want to see my axe collection?” Lol. So that everyone knows I am going forward with Old Axemans suggestion and have contacted some of the owners of parts of the collection. I’m pretty sure the original 1876 collection had around 1000 items and it was split throughout the years. In 1976 part of it was loaned to the Smithsonian and on display for some time. I have all that paperwork on exactly what was loaned and what was returned and the time period info I just have to go through it. As for the other parts that are out there I’ve heard a lot of rumors and truths. Obviously the Canton Museum has a portion of it. I have also heard that when on display in 1876 some items including the weapons ( knives, swords, machetes, etc.) were stolen? Not sure how true that is? As for the rest I have a pretty good idea where it is and that part is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Click to expand...

This is great to read and fantastic news to hear. Well done sir, I hope it works out to keep it together and more.

Steve Tall said:
I'm in the Pacific Northwest, but this type of history is way more interesting than what was taught in school.

This reference says that Tom Perry bought the Collins property in 1967 for only $64,000 (and I'm guessing that price included everything, including the exhibition axes). He is credited for reviving Collinsville. By 2011, however, "The factory buildings are now mostly empty and decaying. Nobody knows what will happen to the dilapidated buildings", according to the reference below:


"A flood in the 1950s that heavily damaged the mills might have been a good excuse to innovate while re-building, but the Collins Company did not. By 1966 the leadership was ossified. A Hartford Courant article reported on the dilapidated state of the run-down industrial slum... What revived Collinsville? In 1967, Tom Perry bought the factory for $64,000."

"...In late ’90, developer Rusty Tinley bought the factory to create “@Collinsville,” a mixed-use complex featuring housing and retail. “He was like the Music Man – but the trombones never arrived.” Tinley was unwilling to continue short-term leases with the mill’s occupants, but also could not get his proposed redevelopment off the ground."

PLACEMAKING NETWORK
COLLINSVILLE CONNECTICUT – THE PRESERVATION OF PLACE
Seminar by David K. Leff
September 26, 2011
Notes by Peter Papesch, AIA and Natasha Rocca Devine
https://www.architects.org/sites/default/files/Placemaking Notes-Collinsville_092611.pdf
Click to expand...

Steve as always I am amazed at your research and this in particular, Collins, axes, my backyard, history I knew, history I didnt...
Thank You Steve.
Thank you C&CO. for sharing on the forum...still hoping for a peek before you part ways with the axes lol!
 
Miller '72 said:
This is great to read and fantastic news to hear. Well done sir, I hope it works out to keep it together and more.



Steve as always I am amazed at your research and this in particular, Collins, axes, my backyard, history I knew, history I didnt...
Thank You Steve.
Thank you C&CO. for sharing on the forum...still hoping for a peek before you part ways with the axes lol!
Click to expand...
If you manage to schedule the meeting, do not forget to mention that you bringing with you your cousin Vinny from New Jersey :)
Btw I went to yard sale: guy had a lot of nice axes for sale. There was something special about Legitimus Montreal Pattern. I kept grabbing it and putting it back on the table; what a satisfying feeling to hold it in my hands. It was 4.5 lbs and the eye seemed xxlarge. I was convinced, full size haft would be too small for it. I spent 2 hours talking axes with him (quality time), but end up buying just some rusty Jersey.
 
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Steve Tall said:
The Smithsonian made a 28-minute movie about the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, presumably filmed at their 1976 exhibit location. Some glimpses of the Collins display (from 1976) can be seen between 2:00-2:10 and at 25:00. The film can be watched using the link below.

Celebrating a Century: The 1876 Philadelphia Centennial
by Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications
Publication date 1976
https://archive.org/details/celebratingacenturythe1876philadelphiacentennial
Click to expand...

A photo from that film, at 24:59, showing the Collins display (presumably at the Smithsonian in 1976):

Collins_1876ExpoMovie_Smithsonian.PNG


from
Celebrating a Century: The 1876 Philadelphia Centennial
by Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications
Publication date 1976
https://archive.org/details/celebratingacenturythe1876philadelphiacentennial
 
crbnSteeladdict said:
If you manage to schedule the meeting, do not forget to mention that you bringing with you your cousin Vinny form New Jersey :)
Btw I went to yard sale: guy had a lot of nice axes for sale. There was something special about Legitimus Montreal Pattern. I kept grabbing it and putting it back on the table; what a satisfying feeling to hold it in my hands. It was 4.5 lbs and the eye seemed xxlarge. I was convinced, full size haft would be too small for it. I spent 2 hours talking axes with him (quality time), but end up buying just some rusty Jersey.
Click to expand...

Marissa Tomei, what can I say about Mona Lisa Vito...forget about it! Great movie, awesome chatacters... probably the best movie Ralph Macchio has ever done...I saw the karate kids and the outsiders...were there others?

Yes, I can't walk away anymore. if I am looking and or touching that much...I would rather regret having it than walk away wanting it lol!!
I learned that lesson a couple times over now, one being a Legitimus boys axe on it's original handle.
Go back and get that LEGITIMUS!
I am curious and will be looking up the Montreal pattern.
 
Miller '72 said:
Marissa Tomei, what can I say about Mona Lisa Vito...forget about it! Great movie, awesome chatacters... probably the best movie Ralph Macchio has ever done...I saw the karate kids and the outsiders...were there others?

Yes, I can't walk away anymore. if I am looking and or touching that much...I would rather regret having it than walk away wanting it lol!!
I learned that lesson a couple times over now, one being a Legitimus boys axe on it's original handle.
Go back and get that LEGITIMUS!
I am curious and will be looking up the Montreal pattern.
Click to expand...
Well, most of us would call it Hudson Bay.
collins-co-hartford-s-legitimus-219_1_db0567062b6c96a636f9681b13c00a1d.jpg

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/collins-co-hartford-s-legitimus-219-1889165241
 
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C&Co. Legitimus said:
I’m more into knifes, sword, machetes, signs, catalogs, one of a kind items, advertisement and John Brown Pikes. Other makers like Upson, Hart and Pond knifes. Unionville CT manufacturing companies.
Click to expand...

I don't collect Collins but I still have a few pieces hanging around, a Legitimus Connecticut pattern - 4 pound, an undercutter axe, a few Legitimus machetes, 18", 24" (US Navy 1944), 26", plus a couple leather scabbards.

37305857_1887601424593706_6333722279238696960_o.jpg
 
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