Howdy,
I have a question that is not about woodworking, but many of
you are tool folks, and so, I thought to give it a try...
A traditional cobbler's hammer (often called a Crispin
pattern hammer) has a round face (for striking) and on the
opposite side of the head a flat curved part that is of
tapering rectangular cross section.
(That part is rather like the claw of a framer's hammer, but
with what would be the two legs of the claw together as one
piece.)
On some of these, that curved section does not drop very far
at all and so its narrow end could be used for striking.
But, on some of these hammers, that curved section droops
down so far that it is parallel to the handle.
In that form of the design, it cannot be used to strike
anything.
What then is its purpose?
You can see the shape I am describing on the left here:
http://www.ranch2arena.com/hsbthamr.html
Thanks in advance,
--
Kenneth
If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."
The cobbler's hammer was used to drive shoe nails over a steel last,
which turned [clinched] the nails against the last. The peen end of the
hammer was used to reach awkward spots on the shoe. Most cobblers
collected a variety of patterns, just like a blacksmith used different
peened hammers for special operations.
Bugs
On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 00:51:56 GMT, Australopithecus scobis
<[email protected]> wrote:
>> I can't figure a use... Can you?
>
>Thanksa lot, Bud. Now I'm wondering too. Your question had me googling all
>afternoon, to no avail.
Hello again,
My experience exactly...
All the best,
--
Kenneth
If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."
I think it's for attaching soles to shoes etc.
"Kenneth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Howdy,
>
> I have a question that is not about woodworking, but many of
> you are tool folks, and so, I thought to give it a try...
>
> A traditional cobbler's hammer (often called a Crispin
> pattern hammer) has a round face (for striking) and on the
> opposite side of the head a flat curved part that is of
> tapering rectangular cross section.
>
> (That part is rather like the claw of a framer's hammer, but
> with what would be the two legs of the claw together as one
> piece.)
>
> On some of these, that curved section does not drop very far
> at all and so its narrow end could be used for striking.
>
> But, on some of these hammers, that curved section droops
> down so far that it is parallel to the handle.
>
> In that form of the design, it cannot be used to strike
> anything.
>
> What then is its purpose?
>
> You can see the shape I am describing on the left here:
>
> http://www.ranch2arena.com/hsbthamr.html
>
> Thanks in advance,
> --
> Kenneth
>
> If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."
On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 09:43:24 -0800, [email protected]
wrote:
>He couldn't find any documented use, either. Smoothing welts on
>leather shoes, or perhaps for lasting?
Hello again,
Interesting... I had thought of the possibility that it was
something similar to a veneering "hammer" which, as you may
know, is not a hammer in the traditional sense at all.
It is used in a sliding fashion to bond glued veneer to the
substrate.
For the cobbler's hammer that I described that same idea
might apply.
All the best,
--
Kenneth
If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."
On Tue, 14 Feb 2006 22:43:05 -0500, with neither quill nor qualm,
Kenneth <[email protected]> quickly quoth:
>
>Howdy,
>
>I have a question that is not about woodworking, but many of
>you are tool folks, and so, I thought to give it a try...
>
>A traditional cobbler's hammer (often called a Crispin
>pattern hammer) has a round face (for striking) and on the
>opposite side of the head a flat curved part that is of
>tapering rectangular cross section.
Traditional cobbler's hammers are not Crispins, they're called
Common, or London/Boston/French pattern hammers. Salaman shows 17
different shoe hammers, including 2 tack hammers.
>On some of these, that curved section does not drop very far
>at all and so its narrow end could be used for striking.
>
>But, on some of these hammers, that curved section droops
>down so far that it is parallel to the handle.
>
>In that form of the design, it cannot be used to strike
>anything.
In Salaman's Dictionary of Leatherworking Tools, your Crispin
hammer is shown as a cordwainer's hammer. More info here:
http://www.thehcc.org/backgrnd.htm
>What then is its purpose?
He couldn't find any documented use, either. Smoothing welts on
leather shoes, or perhaps for lasting?
--
Like they say, 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
------------------------------------------------------
http://diversify.com Lawyer-free Website Development
On Tue, 14 Feb 2006 22:57:59 -0600, "Sweet Sawdust"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>"Kenneth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> Howdy,
>>
>> I have a question that is not about woodworking, but many of
>> you are tool folks, and so, I thought to give it a try...
>>
>> A traditional cobbler's hammer (often called a Crispin
>> pattern hammer) has a round face (for striking) and on the
>> opposite side of the head a flat curved part that is of
>> tapering rectangular cross section.
>>
>> (That part is rather like the claw of a framer's hammer, but
>> with what would be the two legs of the claw together as one
>> piece.)
>>
>> On some of these, that curved section does not drop very far
>> at all and so its narrow end could be used for striking.
>>
>> But, on some of these hammers, that curved section droops
>> down so far that it is parallel to the handle.
>>
>> In that form of the design, it cannot be used to strike
>> anything.
>>
>> What then is its purpose?
>>
>> You can see the shape I am describing on the left here:
>>
>> http://www.ranch2arena.com/hsbthamr.html
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> --
>> Kenneth
>>
>> If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."
>
>I think it's for attaching soles to shoes etc.
Howdy,
I welcome your suggestion, but don't understand what you
mean...
With that portion of the hammer drooping down so far as to
be parallel to the handle, how might it be used for the
"attaching?"
Thanks again,
--
Kenneth
If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."
On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 19:28:15 -0500, Kenneth opined:
> I can't figure a use... Can you?
Thanksa lot, Bud. Now I'm wondering too. Your question had me googling all
afternoon, to no avail.
There's a shoe repair chap tucked away at the back of a local mall. I'll
try to remember to ask him next time I'm in the neighborhood. His cousin
probably has a shop near you.
If you care enough, check ebay's completed auctions. Send an email to
someone who bought one.
--
"Keep your ass behind you"
wreck20051219 at spambob.net
On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 19:28:15 -0500, Kenneth wrote:
> On 15 Feb 2006 04:47:44 -0800, "Bugs" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>The peen end of the
>>hammer was used to reach awkward spots on the shoe.
>
> Hello again,
>
> I'm particularly interested in the use of the sort of peen that is curved
> so far down as to be parallel to the handle.
>
> I can't figure a use... Can you?
>
> Thanks,
Perhaps to reach inside the shoe to pull the leather outward into position
to work?
Bill
On 15 Feb 2006 04:47:44 -0800, "Bugs" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>The peen end of the
>hammer was used to reach awkward spots on the shoe.
Hello again,
I'm particularly interested in the use of the sort of peen
that is curved so far down as to be parallel to the handle.
I can't figure a use... Can you?
Thanks,
--
Kenneth
If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."