Lath Hammer? Or...?

T

Tymowens

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Dec 31, 2013
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My grandfather gave me a big load of tools recently and in it was this:


It's a True Temper Genuine Underhill. The handle is even original as it says True Temper on it as well. The head was loose but was easily salvageable with a new wedge.

I assume that it's a lath hammer/hatchet but I've never seen one with that shape. The top of the point is sharp and the bottom is flat.
 
For sure it's a new one on me! Original owners must have thought so too and never really got around to using it. The belled and checkered face of the hammer reminds me of a shake/shingle hatchet.
 
That is a really interesting head. Would like to know the story behind it. May have been modified. Not sure this helps, but this is what I found on Underhill lathing hatchets.

Here is an Underhill


True Temper Underhill


New Vaughan Underhill


Underhill Edge Tool Co. was bought by A. A. & T. Co. which was bought by Kelly.

Side note "An Underhill Edge Co. ax was the murder weapon in the trial of Lizzie Borden."
From http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioUnderhill.html
 
I thought about the possibility of it being modified. If it was altered then whoever did it did a really good job. The corners are sharp and edges smooth. I did take a few file strokes to the sharpened edge (and I do mean a few) and you could see what I assumed to be factory grinder marks. They looked like any other factory ground edge. I don't know what the use of the mod would have been but it will an interesting wall-hanger for me.
 
Any chance it was modified (if this proves to be the case) for chipping river ice blocks? Electricity didn't connect to the small towns until the 1920s-30s and in the case of rural Newfoundland, Canada, until the mid 1960's. Kitchen Iceboxes were the only way of slowing down food from spoiling. Gizmo like this would be great for chopping/carving blocks so they fit in the ice pan.
 
Haha not likely for ice chipping. Not a lot of that in Georgia. My grandfather doesn't remember where he got it nor did he know what it was for. Either an estate sale or from some of his dad's things... His dad was a farmer so probably not from him.
 
300Six said:
For sure it's a new one on me! Original owners must have thought so too and never really got around to using it. The belled and checkered face of the hammer reminds me of a shake/shingle hatchet.
Click to expand...

I think this also.

I believe it is for cedar shakes. Being that you always start at the bottom and work your way up a roof or a wall that blade design would be advantageous to splitting the shake after it was nailed in place and it hung over the eave or end of wall.
 
I've never seen one like it. I've looked trough all my old tool catalogs and haven't found a similar lathing hatchet. I've checked Miller Falls, Belknap, A. A. & T., C. Hammond, Keen Kutter, L. & I. J. White, North Wayne Tool, Woodings Verona, Plumb, Collins and Warren.

But I haven't checked a True Temper catalog so perhaps it's something that they alone made.
 
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