Thanks. Could you let me know the reference for your information?
I'd like to have it straight for good, and have the reference available.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-oldtools@l...
[mailto:owner-oldtools@l...]On Behalf Of
Lodley@a...
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 11:21 PM
To: OLDTOOLS@l...
Subject: Re: Disston dating


In a message dated 9/29/99 6:18:52 PM Central Daylight Time,
phonore@i... writes about the incorrect date of birth of Henry D's
son as it relates to the name change:

<<
 >Your second entry with a date of 1865 is a bit difficult to explain,
 >considering Henry Disston's first son was born in 1871 if I'm not
mistaken.
 >Could he have just been optimistic?
 >
 >Prior to that event, his saws were marked 'Henry Disston'.
 >

 Actually, Henry's first son (Hamilton) was born in 1844 and after
 serving a 7 yr apprenticeship whcih started in 1858 was brought
 into the firm in 1865,  therefore I think the 1865 date for the
 medallion is correct.     >>

    This thing about a birthdate being 1871 (and a second son two years
later) and these events being celebrated by immediately changing the name of
Henry's firm has been incorrectly stated many times.  Some of this
apparently
comes from the old Barlow book (one of everyone's favorite learning sources)
which was unfortunately way off in this assertion.  As to Ham Disston's
apprenticeship, I've read it started at age 15, so that would be 1859, but
1858 might be right (Erv says 1858 also).  Disston was not incorporated
until
some years later, and it was admission to "the counting room" i.e., becoming
a partner that made the firm Henry Disston and Son, and all reliable sources
seem to say this started right after Ham's return home at the end of the
Civil War in 1865.  However long the apprenticeship lasted, it was
interrupted by Ham's enlistment for army service.  There were apparently
several attempts to enlist, much to father's consternation, but eventually
he
was permitted to leave with a large group of plant workers and serve with
Henry's support.  It is not necessarily the case that stampings, etchings
and
medallions were immediately made to read H. Disston & Son in 1865.  And
there
are many, many examples of mixed markings (Disston w/ Disston & Son, then
later Disston & Son w/ Disston & Sons).  My guess is that this pattern
started by 1866 and ran through the early 70's using up the stocks, with
those products marked solely as  Disston & Son being generally in the middle
of this period.

                                                 Lloyd Henley