Information on old firemans axe and collectoers

J

jlafleur02

Joined
Mar 21, 2017
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I have a Hall MFG firemans axe. This is the first pick style axe of its kind. They have the patent on it. I can find no mention of it anywhere except the google patent search which show them as original patent holder back in 1890. Does this matter to a collector? Not sure how the edged tools collector values different items. I know it is rare. I listed it under collectible tools axes. Not sure if I could put it in firefighters memorabilia. Ebay won't let me do 2 categories for some reason. Any help would be nice

Thanks
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Nice old axe. Someone will want it. I can't give you a value because it is against the rules here. But I will tell you that rarity does not necessarily mean it's valuable. It's like that with all collectibles.
 
Is the patent for the type of tool, the physical pick or for the technique used to forge it? Somehow I suspect that pick-ended fire axes were around before 1890 (calling Steve Tall to set this straight). Neat find though and I hope it finds an appreciative home and that there's some scratch in it for you.
 
Another example shows more of the stamp:

HALL MFG CO
ROCKLAND ME
PAT APLD FOR

antique-hall-mfg-co-firemans-axe-hatchet-rare-b-a_1_e991715b90a09e9a0fecfa195a9a97ee.jpg


The US patents that were granted seem to be for handle attachments (1889, 1890...) instead of axes, but there was an 1895 patent granted in Canada for the fire axe:

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from book published in 1893

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from The Canadian Patent Office Record for August 1895

http://brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/49733/summary.html

An announcement about the organization of The Hall Manufacturing Company (in Rockland, Maine) appears in an 1892 publication:

"Hall Manufacturing Company has been organized In Rockland Me for the purpose of owning selling and leasing of all patents that have been or may be procured relating to fasteners for an handles and handles of edge tools generally by Hiram Hall J r of South Thomaston the manufacture and sale of such fasteners and handles and all kinds of wares relating to the business as stated. The amount of capital ls $225,000 and the par value of shares is fifty dollars The ofllcers of the company are CE Llttlefield president and treasurer, directors CE Llttlefield, Hiram Hall Jr, Samuel H Hix."

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from American Machinist, Dec 22, 1892

This obituary of Hiram Hall says that in addition to being an inventor of axe handles (used by many fire departments), his occupation was a sea captain.

OBITUARY Hiram Hall died in Rockland Me on January 12 [1914] at the age of seventy nine reports the Boston Post. He was the inventor of a patented Axe Handle which is said to be used in many of the large city fire departments throughout the country. By occupation Mr Hall was a sea captain and in the course of his life had made voyages to all parts of the globe.

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from Wooden and Willow-ware Trade Review, Jan 22, 1914
 
300Six said:
Is the patent for the type of tool, the physical pick or for the technique used to forge it? Somehow I suspect that pick-ended fire axes were around before 1890 ...
Click to expand...

The original Canadian patent (including Claims, Drawings, and Description) can be viewed by first clicking on "Documents" at this link:

http://brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/49733/summary.html

and then click on the links for Claims, Drawings, and Description.

(I haven't had time to read the Claims, etc., to see what was special about this design.)
 
Interesting axe & backstory. Value ? hard to say.

Fwiw Seagrave fireaxes have a big fan club & price accordingly. But I dunno if thats driven by the internet axeboner of recent times or its association with Seagrave Fire Apparatus.
 
Last edited:
Steve Tall said:
The original Canadian patent (including Claims, Drawings, and Description) can be viewed by first clicking on "Documents" at this link:

http://brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/49733/summary.html

and then click on the links for Claims, Drawings, and Description.

(I haven't had time to read the Claims, etc., to see what was special about this design.)
Click to expand...

The samual hix in that patent is listed as inventor and Hall MFG is the owner. I would guess they bought the invention from Mr Hix and produced them. The drawings along with the patent are of the firemans axe. Mr hill Also has a separate patent for the axe handle. It seems he bought an axe patent to go along with his handle. I would think that this is the first firemans axe made by a company
 
The example you provided is from an ebay auction back in 2006. Unfortunatly I can't find what the auction ended at. I am selling everything that isn't tied down right now. My wife has been diagnosed with a tumor in her brain. We had 1 surgury but it didn't go well.
Thanks for all the info
 
Also, this is listed in google patents. Just figured out the CA that begins the patent number means it canadian. There are 2 different patents. One is for the axe head, not sure if its design specific. The other is for the handle which is design specific. It features a
Split wedge at the top which is seperated with force by a screw mechanism. Its purpose is for quick field changing. If you axe handle broke out in the woods you could change it with out burning the wood out back at home and can continue with work
 
every time i see mushrooming on a fire axe or pulaski, i think in my head "ya know, there's a reason they put a spike/hoe in the way of your hammering"
 
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