By David W. Babcock
OTHER TOOLS MADE BY THE SANDUSKY TOOL COMPANY
Parts 2 and part 3 of this article summarized the planes listed in the catalogs of 1877 (Fig. A) and 1925 (Fig. B) respectively. This part will summarize the tools other than planes found in these catalogs.
I
Probably the most significant tool to appear in both catalogs is “Schwehr’s Improved German Hoe” (Fig. 1). Albert Schwehr’s Patent #216,224 of June 3d, 1879 was based on a type of hoe he made in Germany prior to coming to the United States. The hoe is in the 1877 catalog is shown with a flat rear in the eye, while the hoes in the 1925 catalog an oval eye in addition to the an expanded line of German Pattern Hoes. In either case the purpose of an eye of this design is to keep the tool from rotating about the handle while in use.
The 1877 Catalog lists only a hoe in the ”Planters” pattern and only in sizes 5”, 5½” and 6”. By the time the 1925 Catalog was published, the “Eye” hoes and German Pattern (Fig. 2 & 3) hoes were available in the following Models:
- Planter Hoes 4”-9” in half inch increments
- Tobacco Hoes 4”-9” in half inch increments
- Sprouting and Grub Hoes 4” 4½” 5” 5½”
- Heart Shaped Hoes 6”-10” in half inch increments
- Onion/garden Hoe 3”
- Corn Hoe 4½”
These hoes were forged from “Sandusky” spring steel and were intended for many years of service.
“Hercules” handled hoes were what appears to have been an “economy” line of tools offered by STC. These hoes were offered with either straight or “goose neck” shank. Unlike other economy hoes, the blade and shank of the STC hoes are forged from a single piece of steel, not welded or riveted. The Hercules line was available in the following models:
- Cotton or Field Hoe 6”-10” in half inch increments
- Meadow Hoe 7½”-10” in half increments
- Regular Goose Neck Hoe 6” 7” 8”
Other hoes offered by STC:
- Ehrnhardt’s Garden Hoe 6”-10” in half inch increments
- Sidewalk Cleaner 7½” 8” 8½” 9”
- Two Way Garden Hoe 1 1/8” x 3½” x 12 ¼”
II
Other tools by Sandusky Tool Co. shown in the 1877 Catalog
“Safety Steel” Axes, single and double bit (Fig. 4):
Light 3-5 pounds
Medium 5-6 pounds
Heavy 6-7 pounds
- Long cutter, axe finish
- Short cutter, axe finish
- Pick Mattock
Picks:
- Railroad Pick 4-7 pounds
- Mill Pick polished or black finish
- Stone Picks 7-8 pounds polished or black finish
Sledges:
- Stone Sledges
- Cast steel face 6-30 pounds
- Solid cast steel 6-25 pounds
- Masons Hammers
- Cast Steel head and edge
- Solid Cast Steel
- Mash Hammer – solid cast steel
- Bushing Hammer – solid cast steel
Coal Miner Tools:
- Coal Picks 2-3½ pounds,
- Axe or black finish
- Coal Sledge 5-9 pounds
- Cast steel face
- Solid cast steel
- Polished or black finish
Smith Sledges and Hammers:
Sledges 6-25 pounds
Cast steel face
Solid cast steel
Black finish
Hammers 2-5 pounds
Cast steel face
Solid cast steel
Miscellaneous Tools
Grover’s Patent Pruning Shears
Slitter with Handle
Beechwood Chalk Line Reel
Kitchen Tools
Rolling Pins
Beefsteak Mauls
Potato Mashers
Vegetable Slicers
Cooper’s Froe and Drivers
Stone Mason’s Mallets
Screwdrivers, solid cast flat steel
1½” -2” and 3”-12” in one inch increments
Door Stops – Maple and Applewood
Folding Saw Bucks
Saw Frames
Handles:
Axe, Adze, Pick, Sledge, Mahl, Hatchet and Hammer
The final tool shown in the 1877 Catalog is J.A. Montgomery’s Patented Picket Cutter, Patent No. 62355 Granted Feb 26, 1862. According to datamp.org, this machine was not known to have been produced.
III
Other tools by Sandusky Tool Co. found in the 1925 Catalog #25
Machetes
Blade 22”-24”
Forged Spring Steel
Ice Cleavers
Blade 25” long, 5½” wide
Teeth 1¾”
Handle 7” x 1¾”
Forged high carbon spring steel
Iron Bench Screws
Self Aligning Steel Spindle Hand Screw
Length of Jaw 10”, 12” and 14”
Clamps Open 6”, 8½” and 10”
Flask Clamps
Distance Between Screws:
12”, 16”, 16 ¾”, 18”
Handles
Tinners and Sheet Iron Mallets
Hardwood and Applewood
Applewood Carvers Handles
Leather Top Chisel Handles
File Handles
Hardwood Auger Handles
- Other tools by Sandusky Too Co. listed in both the 1877 and 1925 Catalogs.
Wood Handle Screws (Fig. 5)
Jaws – Hardwood Maple or White Oak
Screws – Second growth Hickory
Clamp open – 1¼” – 17”
Wood Bench Screws (Fig. 6)
Maple or Hickory
V-Thread or Square Thread
Wood Cabinet Makers Clamp (Fig. 7)
Length 3’, 4’, or 5’,
Bung Starters
Maple, Applewood or Lignum
Carpenter Mallets
Round head, hardwood or Lignum-Vitae
Sizes; 5”x3”, 5½”x3” or 6”x4”
Iron Ring Mallets
Round hardwood with iron band
Sizes; 6”x4” or 5½”x 3½”
Square Mallets
Hardwood or Lignum-Vitae
Sizes:
6” x 2½’ x 3½”
6½” x 2¾” x 3¾”
7’ x 3” x 4”
Marking Gauges (Fig. 8)
Common Marking Gauge
Panel Marking Gauge
Bench Plane Handles – Beech (Fig. 9)
Jack Plane Handles
Fore Plane handles
Saw Handles – Beech or Cherry
Plane or polished edges
Full Size Saw Handle
Panel Saw Handle for 16” or 20” saw
Back Saw Handle
Chisel Handles (Fig. 6)
Socket Firmer Chisels
Plane Firmer Chisels
Conclusion:
Given the diversity of The Sandusky Tool Company products, had there been not been a devastating tornado, would there have been enough working capital to modernize and continue producing the quality tools they were known for? One can only wonder
References:
- The Sandusky Tool Company Catalog of 1877
- The Sandusky Tool Company Catalog No.25; Sep 1, 1925
- Directory of American Tool and Machinery Patents (datamp.org)