> On 18 Dec., paul womack wrote:
>> the hammer was made by "George
>> Barnesley". Now this firm is best known
>> for leather working tools, so I assume
>> that the mystery is partially solved;
>> "It's a leather working tool"
>> http://www.wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id 
>
	And Norm Wood ventured:
> It looks a bit like this Osborne saddler's hammer:
> http://www.csosborne.com/NO55.HTM
> but don't ask me why a saddler's hammer requires this
> particular form.

	I reckon the minimal answer to this mystery is in the caption with  
the Osborne model Norm cited:
"The smooth, blunt end of the hammer is ideal to form leather and  
drive tacks in hard to reach places."
	If you've seen a saddle under construction, or falling apart, you  
will see how the various leather pieces are tacked to the  
(traditionally wooden) tree in tight spots--under the cantle (the  
back of the seat), around the pommel (the rise in front of the seat),  
and so forth.  A long straight peen is a plus to reach the crannies.   
The leather is put on wet and in that state can be shaped around the  
curved forms required for it all to fit right.  The leather is  
stretched and formed in part by pounding with this sort of tool.
	I've never made a saddle, but I've seen them in various stages of  
construction, and I can see how such a hammer would be right handy.
		Tom Holloway

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On 18 Dec., paul womack wrote:
...
> 
> A brief encounter with a wire brush
> revealed that the hammer was made by "George
> Barnesley". Now this firm is best known
> for leather working tools, so I assume
> that the mystery is partially solved;
> 
> "It's a leather working tool"
> 
> http://www.wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id 

It looks a bit like this Osborne saddler's hammer:

http://www.csosborne.com/NO55.HTM

but don't ask me why a saddler's hammer requires this
particular form.

> Does anyone know the actual task
> this tool performs?

Hammering?   Guess that's not terribly helpful.
If no one else chimes in, I've a friend who builds 
saddles and will be glad to pass the question on
to him.

Norm in Fort Collins
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Gentles all;
yesterday (cold!) trawling of my habitual tool-lode
offered up something that I find unusual
and refreshing these days; a tool I didn't recognise!

It took the form of a most odd looking hammer.

Since the price was reasonable, and worth
paying out of sheer curiosity, I acquired
the tool, and bore it home in triumph.

A brief encounter with a wire brush
revealed that the hammer was made by "George
Barnesley". Now this firm is best known
for leather working tools, so I assume
that the mystery is partially solved;

"It's a leather working tool"

http://www.wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id=5324

But that tells me little.

Does anyone know the actual task
this tool performs?

    BugBear
------------------------------------------------------------------------

pwomack@p... writes:

It's a "wood heel hammer", and some further research on this name shows
that it's apparently for driving nails into the TOP of a heel, inside
the shoe. Hence the long "nose" and pein.

Pics of 'modern' versions of this tool are at:

http://www.csosborne.com/no236.htm

One old example made by GEORGE BARNSLEY & SON , SHEFFIELD ,ENGLAND may
be seen on da English 'Bay at _http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COBBLERS-WOOD-HEEL-HAMMER-N
AMED-ORIGINAL-
HANDLE_W0QQitemZ290062413298QQihZ019QQcategoryZ112487QQrdZ1QQssPage
NameZWD3VQQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting_ (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COBBLERS-WOOD-H
EEL-HAMMER-NAMED-ORIGINAL-
HANDLE_W0QQitemZ290062413298QQihZ019QQcategoryZ112
487QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD3VQQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting)
_http://tinyurl.com/y3ezww_ (http://tinyurl.com/y3ezww)


Cheers, John


John M. Johnston 42d Grenr. Compy. "There is a fine line between hobby
and mental illness." Dave Barry

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paul womack wrote:
> 
> "It's a leather working tool"
> 
> http://www.wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id 

Some inspired work by Brent Beach has led to a firm identification.

It's a "wood heel hammer", and some further research
on this name shows that it's apparently for driving nails
into the TOP of a heel, inside the shoe. Hence the long
"nose" and pein.

Thanks to all who offerred suggestions.

   BugBear
------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 19 Dec., paul womack wrote:
> 
> Some inspired work by Brent Beach has led to a firm identification.
> 
> It's a "wood heel hammer", and some further research
> on this name shows that it's apparently for driving nails
> into the TOP of a heel, inside the shoe. Hence the long
> "nose" and pein.

Nice work, Brent!  According to this fellow who also
has/had something similar:

http://store.wvtools.com/uncoha.html

Salaman shows a wood heel hammer, presumably in the
leatherworking tools book.  Oddly enough, our local
library has two copies (on reserve, no less) of the
woodworking tools dictionary, but no copies of the
other.

Not that it matters - we've got 6 inches on the ground since
this morning and it looks like it will keep going through
tomorrow, so no trips to the library for me unless
I break out the x-c skis.

Norm, sent home for the day and almost certain of a
white Christmas (along with most of the upper midwest)
  - in Fort Collins

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