[AT] Pitchforks - new vs. old.

[two4ac at earthlink.net]

This reminds me of a funny story.  I still have the first hammer I ever 
bought.  It has "American Hickory" stamped on the handle.  When I bought it 
new right above the American Hickory stamp was a sticker that read "Made in 
China".  LOL

David D. Gibson
1941 Allis Chalmers B
1942 Allis Chalmers C
1947 Allis Chalmers C
1948 Allis Chalmers C
1972 Allis Chalmers Homesteader
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Auten" <pga2 at hot1.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 9:40 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] Pitchforks - new vs. old.


>I sure miss my True Temper "Rocket" claw hammer! It disappeared somewhere
> the last time I painted the house back in '00. It was absolutely the best 
> hammer
> I ever owned, including the Plumb that I got for free. My dad had the same 
> hammer
> back when I was a kid, he won it in a sales contest back about 1952. I 
> bought
> mine because I couldn't destroy his, no matter what I did with (read to) 
> it.
>
> Phil
>
> At 02:54 PM 3/25/05, you wrote:
>
>>Subject: RE: [AT] Pitchforks - new vs. old.
>>
>>
>>>I just went through the "handle problem" a couple of weeks ago, Farmer.
>>>I was only looking for a hammer handle to replace the one that broke on
>>>my favorite cross peen machinist's hammer, but I couldn't find any
>>>carried by the local retailers.  I complained about the situation with
>>>my cousins out in Colorado, and they kind of blinked in disbelief.  Ace
>>>Hardware stores west of the Mississippi (or at least in the high plains)
>>>carry a full range of replacement handles for everything under the sun.
>>>Not only was I able to buy a handle out in Wray, Colorado, but it was
>>>sized specifically for the hammer that I was working with.  But you're
>>>right -- the price was more than the cost of a new hammer, if you want
>>>to call the stuff that's currently available a "hammer."  The new stuff
>>>sure doesn't have the quality of the old True Temper brand from several
>>>decades ago.
>>>
>>>Larry
>>
>>Larry,
>>
>>You reminded me of an overdue project for when I can get back to the shop. 
>>The box of handles is getting low.  It's time to make another batch.  With 
>>the duplicator on the wood lathe it's relatively easy (although not 
>>profitable) to make nice handles in strange woods.  I like walnut... they 
>>become nicer looking with use.  I make them in a wide variety of lengths 
>>and sizes so I can usually pick one that is suitable.
>>
>>Most "hammers" today are better referred to as "beatin' irons".  :-)
>>
>>True Temper certainly set a high standard.  As far as I know, there hasn't 
>>been any other shovel, for example, any where near the quality of their 
>>forged ones.  Any other just seems like stamped sheet metal and makes more 
>>work of the job... even worse than the cheap pitchforks do.
>>
>>George Willer
>
>
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