Charity shop find

[Vlim]

Found this neat little brass hammer at a local charity shop.
Thought it was too nice to ignore.

The handle hides 3 small screw drivers. Not a lot of age to it, but a fun and useful little thing.

[calibrator]

Caught my eye for sure.

Would like to know the history of the manufacturer.

I do know this much. Your's is somewhat dated by the Phillips Head blade of the medium driver. This screw head was NOT in use before the 1930's.

My example came from the abandoned estate of an immigrant Polish family that contained MANY items from the late 1800's to just post WW I, early WW II. MY example has an aluminum cap that was dyed red. Aluminum did not become viable for widespread commercial use until ~ 1890. My example does not have the Phillips blade driver.

This Family operated a large Butcher shop with several large trucks in Cleveland Ohio. They were also avid pioneer Harley Davidson riders judging from their photo albums. My tool was WELL used, perfect for an early HD rider, I'm sure.

Members of this family served in the US Army during the aftermath of the Spanish-American war (in a unit that had many trucks, cars and Harleys, as well as WW I, judging by the MANY images in the photo albums).

I'm estimating my example to be over 100 yrs old, from Europe, and WELL used by early Industrial Age American Truckers / Bikers.

Don't need it, how about you ?

[gunbugs]

The folks had one just like that in the 60's when I was young, it fascinated me for some reason. Don't know what became of it.

[rhuff]

I still have one that I have owned for a looooong time, it was my fathers!! I keep it in my shooting range bag, and it has come in handy more than once.

[Vlim]

I found them described as watchmakers and jewellers tools. Turns out several companies are still making similar items, but with less quality finish.

There is a 4th one in the handle of the 3rd, that I missed

[Edward Tinker]

I picked this up from Dads stuff. I was told they were primarily used for small dents for vehicles.

However, my dad repaired old clocks.

[Vlim]

I worked with car body hammers and still have a few. I guess there is not a lot of difference between car bodies and clock faces: both thin sheet metal.

Learned to hammer out dents from an old mechanic, an entire generation of local specialists that never got past their pension age due to the chemicals exposure and heavy smoking.

Lost the panel guy, car painter and upholsterer all from lung cancer at 65.

I think that motivated to keep the tools of their trades, except the need to smoke.

[Edward Tinker]

Originally Posted by Vlim

I worked with car body hammers and still have a few. I guess there is not a lot of difference between car bodies and clock faces: both thin sheet metal.

Learned to hammer out dents from an old mechanic, an entire generation of local specialists that never got past their pension age due to the chemicals exposure and heavy smoking.

Lost the panel guy, car painter and upholsterer all from lung cancer at 65.

I think that motivated to keep the tools of their trades, except the need to smoke.

yes - my Father died in October - Lung cancer - in a few months he was dead. He could fix anything - Took a broken, missing pieces from a 1700's wood clock, even the insides and he made the parts, so they fit and it worked.

He was an amazing man...