Figure 3 1 . — Improved adze designed by Peter 

 H. Bradley. Patent 93957, August 24, 



of a handle which could be screwed into the striking 

 head of the tool. In July 1839, Eastman's patent 

 was granted, and the drawing that supported it pro- 

 vides a classic illustration of the octagonal claw- 

 hammer head characteristic of the early 19th century 

 (fig. 33). The worth of Eastman's patent today lies 

 mostly in the original watercolor drawing of his 

 invention — a primary source for the study of the 

 evolution of tool design. Another patentee con- 

 cerned with fixing the heads of clawhammers to their 

 handles was Charles Hammond, of Philadelphia, 

 who, like Eastman, provided a notably clear delinea- 

 tion of the common hammerhead (fig. 34). Survivals 

 of this innovation, patented in 1847, are frequently 

 seen. Of his invention Hammond wrote: 



The straps of claw hammers, and of others that are fur- 

 nished therewith, have been connected with the hammer 

 head in different ways, sometimes by welding them firmly, 

 sometimes by allowing them to pass through the eye, and 

 to clip over on the face of the hammer head, and sometimes 

 they have been made to fill the whole of the eye on the face 

 part of the hammer. I have in my improved hammer 



Figure 32. — Improved screwdriver designed 

 by George Parr. Patent 45854, January 10, 

 1865. 



adopted a method of securing the straps in place, by a 

 device more simple, and more easily executed than any of 

 those heretofore followed, while it is free from the objections 

 which exist against some of them, and introduces no new 

 one; I am consequently enabled to put a perfect article into 

 market at less cost than usual by which I produce a public 

 benefit. 



The straps of my hammers may be placed on the sides or 

 on the upper or lower parts of the eye, as may be preferred, 

 both of which manners of placing them are well known. 

 They consist of two strips of iron which are to be of equal, or 

 nearly equal thickness, throughout their whole length, but 

 they are widened out at that end which holds in the eye, 

 and their edges are beveled, or made dovetailing, and fill a 

 corresponding beveled, or dovetailed, opening made in the 

 eye. When these straps are in place the handle is driven in 

 between them and the whole is finished off flush with the 

 hammer face. 



The modern hammer, freed from its octagonal 

 shape, can be seen in two patents of 1866: one sub- 

 mitted by W. G. Ward; the other, by Christopher 

 Dodge. Ward's contribution, aside from its excellent 

 documentary drawing, is a poignant reminder that 

 whether in Savona, New York, Ward's home, or 

 elsewhere, the prevalence of the Civil War ainputee 

 had a profound effect, serving even as a stimulus for 

 invention (fig. 35). Dodge, from Providence, Rhode 

 Island, reflected in his patent the predilection of 



134 



BULLETIN 24 1 : CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY .\ND TECHNOLOGY 



