Ever seen a genuine Studebaker hammer?

[nels]

Weren't tacks used on the convertible tops through 1964? Or were they stapled?

[SeberHusky]

Although not made by Studebaker, I think we can agree that it appears to have been a factory-supplied tool. I too have one, but I did not see any plant engravings on it. This belonged to my great-grandmother who was an upholsterer as well.

It's seen a lot of action, as the head has been re-secured with nails and screws quite a few times.

It also seems that yours has paint smears on it, so does mine. White splotches, and a bloody red splotch





I also have other old hammers that were with it, can anyone confirm if these were from Studebaker too?

[StudeRich]

Well don't you think the inscription on your Hammer Chris is a clue to something?

I mean "Studebaker Engineering Records Dept." tells you this one was NOT used in any Production Line of ANY kind.

[Deaf Mute]

When ordering an upholstery kit from LeBaron Bonny for my Model A Ford... there was a warning on the bag of tacks. "Do not place these tacks in your mouth the coating on them is extremely hazardous to your health!" But then so was the Mercury we played with in school and the Mercurochrome that Mom put on my cut knees.

[Jefscoupe]

Maybe that was the hammer used to break records...
I've worked in machine shops and factory shops for 35 years and one thing I can suggest is maybe:
the records department needed a hammer for whatever purpose, "commandeered" the easiest, closest one and put their dept name on it. I've seen it done many times. Not just with hammers.
Cool piece nonetheless.

[garyw]

I just finished the interior of my 1928 Dictator. The upholstery, inlcuding the headliner, had upholstery nails everywhere. This upholstery hammer is what would have been used for those, so there were probably a lot of these in the body department. My guess is that most of them walked home with employees over the years since they are useful.
I have two Heller tack hammers just like these; I used to do furniture upholstery and these were the most used tool I had, not counting my extra large upholstery scissors. They are common in upholstery shops. If you went in to one today you would find these in daily use. Mine were purchased from an elderly man who probably bought his new back in the '40s. And yes, the smaller head was always magnetic so you could pick up a tack without touching them.

New question: I'm interested in the tool room checks. I have one for department 7, which was the transportation department. Chris, or anyone else, know the name and number of all the departments?

[Roscomacaw]

I ran the tool repair dept. during my years at McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft. It was common practice for various departments to mark tools they had as a means to keep those items from "growing legs". Even tho they'd gotten their tools thru the tool distribution system, tools had a habit of disappearing. Occasionally, the tool dept. would send me a big cart full of tools - tools that for whatever reason were lying unused in the tool cribs for too long. Once they'd gone uncalled for for long enough, they'd send them to me in the off chance I might have a use for parts from them. Alot of them would be marked with McDonnell-Douglas and or specific department names/numbers. Once I sent them back, the next stop for them was the surplus store. I have quite a few tools I just kept for myself. One of them is a HUGE hand drill motor that would literally break your arm if a bit stalled and you couldn't let go of it in time! I'm fairly certain it dates to the 40s. I also have a really cool strobe light that was used for calibrating the RPM of various rotating machinery. It has several Douglas Aircraft ID tags and calibration tags riveted to it.
Of course, being a govt. contractor, McDonnell-Douglas was a place where MANY things that didn't make sense went on. I can't begin to remember all the times I saw (and was a party to) the trash-canning of many brand new and very expensive items. I've been witness to MANY multi-thousand dollar items going right into the nearest dumpster! And you wonder why they went outta business.

[Warren Webb]

Of course, being a govt. contractor, McDonnell-Douglas was a place where MANY things that didn't make sense went on. I can't begin to remember all the times I saw (and was a party to) the trash-canning of many brand new and very expensive items. I've been witness to MANY multi-thousand dollar items going right into the nearest dumpster! And you wonder why they went outta business.

About a year ago a friend of mine gave me a nice Snap-On tool roller cabinet. It had been kept in a building at Camp Pendleton that was destined to be torn down. She told me her husband who was stationed there at the time was told to get rid of them, so he got 5 I think, giving me one of them, all with brand new tools inside, including nice cut out foam for them to sit in order. It has 6 drawers, 4 of them full of the tools that came with it. Otherwise they would have had a date with the dumpster too!!