Ax, Cooper's

Object Name:

Ax, Cooper's

Object ID:

1953.001.13

Date:

1875-1900

Description:

Cooper's broad ax. Steel, iron, and wood. Medium brown, oval, hardwood handle that flares to fit inside wrought iron socket. Wood wedge and nails used to hold handle in socket. Handle shaped in such a way to have it extend upward slightly from plane of socket. Flattened socket also extends upward slightly from plane of blade to which it is attached. Blade 10.5" wide, with slightly rounded front edge. Behind curved edge, blade roughly rectangular with clipped corners to provide clearance around handle. At edge and front of socket, edge angled down toward front edge of blade. Blade material ~0.2" thick. Beveled cutting edge, bevel 0.9" wide. Side of socket closest to blade plane is flat. Opposite side of socket is curved. Outer edge of socket slightly curved. Blade stamped "C2". Oval stamp on blade near center adjacent to bevel area; wear and corrosion obliterating stamp; some characters seen but not decipherable. Paper label on back of handle near socket, typed: "2/11/53".

Material:

Metal
Wood
Steel
Iron

Dimensions:

W-7.3 L-18.4 D-3.5 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, Axes