Brass Hammers??
- Thread starter Grebby
- Start date
I nipped out and grabbed them and popped the claw hammer head on the scales (477g) and in a kitchen measuring jug (displaced about 55ml).
I can't see any makers marks anywhere but they all seem to have an extra random hole near the top of the eye.
I've taken a few more pics and I'll email them to BR.
I can't see any makers marks anywhere but they all seem to have an extra random hole near the top of the eye.
I've taken a few more pics and I'll email them to BR.
...and here they are
03 by British Red, on Flickr
06 by British Red, on Flickr
09 by British Red, on Flickr
10 by British Red, on Flickr
11 by British Red, on Flickr
03 by British Red, on Flickr
06 by British Red, on Flickr
09 by British Red, on Flickr
10 by British Red, on Flickr
11 by British Red, on Flickr
Done a bit of googling, and it seems they are not that uncommon, or a least weren't at one time.
From the good old Wiki, on Hammers......
"As the impact between steel hammer heads and the objects being hit can, and does, create sparks, which in some industries such as underground coal mining with methane gas, or in other hazardous environments containing flammable gases and vapours, can be dangerous and risk igniting the gases. In these environments, a variety of non-sparking metal tools are used, being principally, aluminium or beryllium copper-headed hammers.[3]"
Think someone mentioned they could be beryllium copper already.
Wonder what that little hole is for? Must be there for a reason.
From the good old Wiki, on Hammers......
"As the impact between steel hammer heads and the objects being hit can, and does, create sparks, which in some industries such as underground coal mining with methane gas, or in other hazardous environments containing flammable gases and vapours, can be dangerous and risk igniting the gases. In these environments, a variety of non-sparking metal tools are used, being principally, aluminium or beryllium copper-headed hammers.[3]"
Think someone mentioned they could be beryllium copper already.
Wonder what that little hole is for? Must be there for a reason.
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I figure that as a density of 8673 Kg/m3
Beryllium Copper is 8100 - 8250
Brass is 8400-8700 (proportion depending)
Phosphor Bronze is 8780-8920
Copper is 8940
Bronze has a huge range from 7400-8900
Looks like Brass or Bronze by my maths.....
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Looking at these with great interest. Excellent thread.
One thing I wondered about, in relation to the axe-type heads. How well does brass/bronze/beryllium copper or whatever take (and hold) an edge?
One thing I wondered about, in relation to the axe-type heads. How well does brass/bronze/beryllium copper or whatever take (and hold) an edge?
.
They stopped using Beryllium in Formula 1 engines because of that reason. Nasty stuff to breathe indeed!
I don't think mines would have used brass tools for spark prevention, picks, rails carridges, all steel, and men where cheap remember. Before stainless brass was the next best thing to rust prevention. Given that you've a bladed thing for cutting soft material, probably wet environment tools, rather than anti magnetic(stainless also non magnetic). ANTIQUES!!. probably farriers. or John Waynes from the film Hellfighters, which he explains the advantages of brass tools to the lil' lady.
The axey type bit is in no way sharp.
I can't even see how the one with the blade and teh side claw could be used other than on the edge of sonething as teh top of the blade would get in the way?
Anyway i'm off to see the folks on monday so I'll ask if dad knows if the guy was in the services etc.
I can't even see how the one with the blade and teh side claw could be used other than on the edge of sonething as teh top of the blade would get in the way?
Anyway i'm off to see the folks on monday so I'll ask if dad knows if the guy was in the services etc.
We used to use the hatchety thing for breaking open the wooden cases and frames the mines were supported by, it was a no,no to touch the casing with any ferrous item.
I must say that their appearance is of soft brass and Reds calculations appear to agree. Could it be possible that all the items in the original picture are just purely decorative items for harness dressing like horse brasses? The holes (do they go right through?) might be for attachment so they dangle prettily.
I must say that their appearance is of soft brass and Reds calculations appear to agree. Could it be possible that all the items in the original picture are just purely decorative items for harness dressing like horse brasses? The holes (do they go right through?) might be for attachment so they dangle prettily.
Holes don't go through. They ring when tapped, not the same as the brass bars that I also got in the haul but i don't know my metals.
The shape makes more sense with that in mind though.
The shape makes more sense with that in mind though.
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The horse/farrier thing is a red herring - I've never seen or heard of these things in a lifetime of working with harness horses........What about aircraft? I can see reasons to have anti magnetic stuff there, and as most aircraft are made with soft Ali and suchlike materials, brass tools would be fine..............
still think they are antique tools of non corrosive qualities before the advent of stainless.
Ps. The aircraft jibe, hilarious, hammes and axes used on concorde, I can see it now, "just gonna adjust the left side aleron gov" "ok, here's your hammer"
I've asked my dada and the bloke wasn't in the forces. He had something wrong with his chest apparently but may have done some driving for them. So no clues there.
So they are probably just old brass tools
BR, PM or email me your address and I'll see what I can do about getting whichever one you wanted to you.
Cheers
Grebby
So they are probably just old brass tools
BR, PM or email me your address and I'll see what I can do about getting whichever one you wanted to you.
Cheers
Grebby
A rather lovely hammer head arrived in the post today
A new handle will be added and it will be used in "old school" reloading of shotgun cartridges - and might even be loaned to my neighbour for re-priming his black powder cartridges when we get together (we have both mentioned we should have one)
Grebby - you are a gentleman sir - Thank you very much
:notworthy
A new handle will be added and it will be used in "old school" reloading of shotgun cartridges - and might even be loaned to my neighbour for re-priming his black powder cartridges when we get together (we have both mentioned we should have one)
Grebby - you are a gentleman sir - Thank you very much
:notworthy
