Adz, Cooper's

Object Name:

Adz, Cooper's

Object ID:

1953.001.01

Date:

1875-1900

Description:

Cooper's adz. Steel, with wood handle. For hewing barrel staves. Medium-brown cylindrical wood handle attached to and passes into steel shank on bottom surface of head. Rectangular, vertically-oriented hammer face. Behind hammer face, triangular-shaped rib that leads under top surface to top of shank. Top of hammer face extends backwards, becomes wider as it curves to 45-degree angle. Bottom surface behind shank slightly rounded. Flattened surface on bottom that leads to cutting edge at back. Cutting edge slightly curved. A few chips missing from cutting edge. On top of head, shallow round-headed bolt, partially recessed into cavity in head. Bolt extends downward through shank and handle, terminates at bottom with hex-headed nut. 1/4" thread extending beyond end of nut. Stamped left front, portion printed oval; along top: "J WHITE", below that "1837". "UFF [A]". Perhaps remnants of larger number "3" adjacent to that, but is slightly damaged.

Material:

Metal
Wood
Steel

Dimensions:

W-2.3 L-8.5 D-6.7 inches

Provenance:

Found by the donor in the attic of the Stratton Company flour mill, Penacook, NH, in 1953, when the mill closed. The mill, eventually owned by the Stratton Company, was built in 1857. They also had a large barrel factory. By 1900, it was the largest flour mill in New England. The donor was vice-president of the company.

Credit Line:

Gift of Donald J. McFarland

Subjects:

Coopers