Campbell Bros axes
As I am preparing to split some of my oak billets, I took a look at my axes.
I have this hewing head I picked up years ago, in need of a haft (handle)
It was a gift from one of Heather's in-law from the small island of Whitehead New Brunswick, itself just off the bigger island of Grand Manan in the Bay of Fundy.
You get there with two ferries, a big one from Black Rock NB on the mainland (near St-John NB) then a small 8 vehicles one to Whitehead.
Blake knew I collect tools, so he kept an eye out in his travels and brought me some once in a while.
This is how this hewing axe came to me.
I long ago cleaned it and picked up a suitable (?) haft and wedges kit to put it back into service but I never got around to it.
At my local seasonal outdoor flea market in Wilmot, there is often a guy who makes and sell all sort of handles for tools: Axes, mattock, pick, shovels etc. He just happens to have an old working handle offset lathe to make them. Here is one example, I do not know how his machine look like.
It has lay about ever since, mostly in my unheated garage, time to bring it in and show it some love...
This is what it looks like today, after all these years of neglect.
Lets have a look at Campbells of St. John New Brunswick.
The company was formed under the banner of Campbell & Fowler in 1863, in St John NB
In 1879, it became simply W. Campbell, then Campbell Bros in 1893 until dissolved in 1926
At this point, I am not sure if the Fowler was Joshua Fowler who came from Maine and established himself in St John NB. It would seems quite a good fit. He is quoted has having operated in St John from 1860 to at least 1922, while the Canadian record indicated 1873-1920 (see both links above) for his solo company.
If J Fowler Co Ltd started in 1873, that is about the time Campbell & Fowler changed name to W Campbell.
Back to our Campbell:
Quote: Campbell's XXX single and double bit axes are made from the best material by skilled workmen who are paid an extra price for the best goods that can be produced. Every axes is properly heated in forging, carefully tempered by an expert, grounded true and thin to a keen edge which it will retain.
This axe has been on the market for 12 years with increasing demand each season. Lumbermen appreciate axes, which they can rely upon to stand up to all conditions. Unquote
That would indicate it was made by Campbell's Bros since 1904 (1916-12=1904) and that the XXX markings indicate their best steel and products.
At the time most Maritimes axes and edge tool makers used mostly steel imported from Britain, presumably Sheffield. Canadian steel making will be concentrated in and around Ontario, near water ways (St Lawrence river, Great Lakes etc) Hamilton On being an early center of steel making in Canada.
All this to say, I believe that this axe was manufactured between at the earliest 1893, latest 1926
I think somewhere in the early 20th century.
Bob, cooking breakfast with the mother of all "chopper" :-)
I have this hewing head I picked up years ago, in need of a haft (handle)
It was a gift from one of Heather's in-law from the small island of Whitehead New Brunswick, itself just off the bigger island of Grand Manan in the Bay of Fundy.
You get there with two ferries, a big one from Black Rock NB on the mainland (near St-John NB) then a small 8 vehicles one to Whitehead.
The ferry terminal in Whitehead
Me practising early retirement on the island, circa 2005
Just off the bigger island of Grand Manan is the island of Whitehead
This is where my axe came from
Blake knew I collect tools, so he kept an eye out in his travels and brought me some once in a while.
This is how this hewing axe came to me.
The single bevel side
and flat reverse side, makes this a hewing axe
Pics as received in 2012
I long ago cleaned it and picked up a suitable (?) haft and wedges kit to put it back into service but I never got around to it.
At my local seasonal outdoor flea market in Wilmot, there is often a guy who makes and sell all sort of handles for tools: Axes, mattock, pick, shovels etc. He just happens to have an old working handle offset lathe to make them. Here is one example, I do not know how his machine look like.
I just brought my head with me and this is what he sold me
This is what it would look like, if I ever installed it.
Look like I got it set for a lefty... :-)
The wedge kit came with a large wooden wedge
and two metal wedges to lock it in place.
The kit says for heads from 2-1/4 to 4 pounds
So how much does my head weigh??
Ouch, 5 pounds. Maybe I need a bigger wedge kit??
Yes Dear, breakfast is almost ready :-)
It has lay about ever since, mostly in my unheated garage, time to bring it in and show it some love...
This is what it looks like today, after all these years of neglect.
It is stamped clearly
CAMPBELL'S XXX TOOLS
ST. JOHN N.B.
and further down
C
XXX
C
The bevel side fared well
The flat side, not as good :-(
Compare to picture as found above.
Remedial actions are needed
The head is 10 inch long
It definitively shows signs of being hand forged
The poll is 4 in wide
The bit (cutting edge) is 6 in wide
The typical hewing form
Single bevel cutting edge and flat on the other side
Lets have a look at Campbells of St. John New Brunswick.
The company was formed under the banner of Campbell & Fowler in 1863, in St John NB
In 1879, it became simply W. Campbell, then Campbell Bros in 1893 until dissolved in 1926
At this point, I am not sure if the Fowler was Joshua Fowler who came from Maine and established himself in St John NB. It would seems quite a good fit. He is quoted has having operated in St John from 1860 to at least 1922, while the Canadian record indicated 1873-1920 (see both links above) for his solo company.
The odds of having two different Fowler, making axes in St John NB
at roughly the same time, seems remote
If J Fowler Co Ltd started in 1873, that is about the time Campbell & Fowler changed name to W Campbell.
Back to our Campbell:
Label from Canadian Forest Industries 1916
Text under label reproduced below
Quote: Campbell's XXX single and double bit axes are made from the best material by skilled workmen who are paid an extra price for the best goods that can be produced. Every axes is properly heated in forging, carefully tempered by an expert, grounded true and thin to a keen edge which it will retain.
This axe has been on the market for 12 years with increasing demand each season. Lumbermen appreciate axes, which they can rely upon to stand up to all conditions. Unquote
That would indicate it was made by Campbell's Bros since 1904 (1916-12=1904) and that the XXX markings indicate their best steel and products.
At the time most Maritimes axes and edge tool makers used mostly steel imported from Britain, presumably Sheffield. Canadian steel making will be concentrated in and around Ontario, near water ways (St Lawrence river, Great Lakes etc) Hamilton On being an early center of steel making in Canada.
Pic from book axe maker of America
The cancelled stamps read Apr 1902
Pic from auction site Vance Auctions
Canadian Forest 1916
See the faint arm raised with hammer logo on this adze
I believe this was a latter logo in the 20th century until their closure in 1926
Pic from a woodforum
Blenkhorn's Chief from nearby to me Canning NS was one of their fierce competitor.
They were both reputed to make the finest axes
I think somewhere in the early 20th century.
Bob, cooking breakfast with the mother of all "chopper" :-)
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