Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-20
AXE HANDLES.


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An axe handle to look at is very tame
affair Apparently it is but smooth crooked
stick, yet its power has been potent the world
vide. Without II many pages of New England
| history would never have been written.
Where now are busting cities, a
bowling wilderness would prevail. The helve
which worked such wonders in the hand of
the pioneer was comparatively simple affair.
1t was nothing more than straight piece
OF wood, smoothed down with a jack
knife or fragment OF glass. But it
worked wonders; the forests fell. But
the wood-chopper of 1884 does not spend
his time in making axe-handles, by any
means. Here again has machinery entered
the domain Of the old tedious hand process,
giving handle that is far superior to any
that can be wrought with jack-knife or
spoakeshave. Factories have arisen which
have made the manufacture of these handles
speciality. The only one of the kind in
Maine, as far as we can learn, is in Hallowell
and was put in operation something less than
JNoi oeo W nun. D. IL. Dou"Ct tuC Puoie
spirited and enterprising citizen of our sister
city.
journal representative visited the factory
last week and got an insight into the entire
process. The material used is hickory and
white oak. the latter for the most part being
obtained in this vicinity. Much of it comes
from Vassalboro where the white oak tree
seems to flourish, which is somewhat sur
prising when It is remembered that this tree
is not indigenous to central and northern
Maine. Some fifty cords were hauled to the
factory from that town last winter, IS cord
being the price paid. The bolts, three feet in
length, are first subjected to the action OF
circular saw, and made into planks two in
ches thick at one end and an inch at the
other. A fat pattern being laid on the planks,
the shape of the coming handle is marked
out. The timber next goes to the band saw,
where it is very rapidly sawed to correspond
with the marking. The helve is now square
cornered, and could hardly be recognized as
ever being designed for axe handle, were
it not for its crookedness. The lathe now
commences its work. We had always wonder
ed how machine could be made that could
turn a stick as crooked as an axe helve. Our
curiosity was gratified. Five pieces Of tim
Der as they came from the band are
placed in the lathe, and turned one and all at
once. series of wheels. with cutting rims,
one wheel to each handle. is arranged. The
cutting edges of the wheels are kept contin-
ua;ly pressing on the outside of the handles
by a strong spring, and so geared as to dc.
scribe a shape on the timber almost exactly
corresponding with a solid iron pattern at
one end of the lathe, which in size, contour
and length is ac-simile of the perfect axe
helve The wheel commencing at one end OF
the timber which is fixed between chucks,
cuts its way to the opposite extremity. On
being taken from the lathe the handles are
rough, and must be worked down smooth.
To obtain this end three quartz belts, graded
from coarse to fine, are employed, the handle
being held upon the belt by workman. The
finishing touches are given by belt covered
with mixture of resin and bees-wax. The
handle is now perfect. and is so smooth and
glossy that it fairly shines. The finished
handles are finally tied in bundles for ship
ment.
Twenty dozen helves day are turned out
on an average, six different patterns being
used. Handles for stone tools are also man.
ufactured here; in fact. the primary object
of the mandatory was to furnish handles
! for the stone tools of Mr.. Bodwells workmen.
Five men are employed and the business is
increasing. Such industries as these, although
singly, may not look to be of very great con
sequence. yet in the aggregate they are very
important and aid very materially in build
| ing up our cities and towns.