| The Davistown Museum |
| The Ancient Dominions of Maine: An Archaeology of Tools |
| | Tool Steel Alloy Types |
| The Industrial Revolution was characterized by the sudden proliferation of steel alloys of every kind and description. Once |
| the chemistry of steel production was understood, increasingly sophisticated production techniques and alloy combinations |
| resulted in tools manufactured to the specifications most suitable to the use of the tool. In many cases, the markings on |
| the tool provide a description of the alloy and steel types used in the manufacture of the tool. These tools in the Davistown |
| Museum collection are listed by their steel or alloy types. |
| | Location |
| | Chrome Vanadium |
| Wrench | 42801T22 |
| Drop forged steel, 5 1/2" long, signed "1/4 Brake Eccentric Wrench 3/16 Herbrand Van Chrome No. 195 Made in USA". |
| An unusual wrench utilizing alloy steel characteristic of tools made beginning in the early 20th century with the advent of |
| electric blast furnaces. |
| The Industrial Revolution (1865f.): Other Factory Made Tools | Wrenches |
| Wrench | 33002T9 | photo |
| Steel, 10 3/8" long, signed on handle "Heller Brothers Newark. NJ. USA 4-14-25. 11-12-29" and on verso "10 MASTERENCH |
| CHROME 7-11 VANADIUM 41". |
| Heller Brothers was one of America's foremost manufacturers of blacksmith tools, 1866 - 1899. |
| The Industrial Revolution (1865f.): Other Factory Made Tools | Wrenches |
| | Hardened Tool Steel |
| Chisel | 33002T14 |
| Hardened tool steel with wood handle, 7 3/4" long, 3 3/4" handle, 15/16" wide blade, marked "Hardened tool steel ______ |
| MADE IN USA", ca. 1900?. |
| A generic early 20th century tool. |
| The Industrial Revolution (1865f.): Other Factory Made Tools | Edge Tools - American Made Cast Steel |
| | Malleable Iron |
| Feathers (2) and wedge | 81602T10 |
| Forged malleable iron, 11 1/2" long, 1 5/16" wide wedge; 12" long, 1 1/4" wide feathers, unsigned. |
| These are the largest set of feathers and wedge ever noted by the curator. Used for really heavy cutting and splitting, |
| probably in the coastal granite quarries. |
| Historic Maritime III (1800-1840): Boomtown Years & the Dawn of the Industrial Revolution | Quarrying Tools |
| Screwdriver | 14302T20 |
| Malleable steel, size unknown, unsigned. |
| This three pronged driver is nicely beveled. |
| Historic Maritime IV (1840-1865): The Early Industrial Revolution | Miscellaneous Tools |
| C clamp | 33002T10 | info |
| Malleable iron, 3 3/8" long, 2 1/4" throat, signed "Malleable Iron Unbreakable Made in USA", ca. 1950. |
| A generic 20th century tool common to every workshop. The malleable iron in this tool is also called low carbon steel; the |
| production of malleable iron originates with the puddling process and became a common commodity with specific tool type |
| applications once the Bessemer steel production process allowed controlled mass production of large quantities of durable |
| ductile malleable iron (low carbon steel). |
| The Industrial Revolution (1865f.): Other Factory Made Tools | Miscellaneous Tools |
| | Semi Steel |
| C clamp | 33002T11 |
| Semi steel, 3 11/16" long, 2 5/16" throat, marked "Semi steel Made in USA", ca. 1920. |
| Another variation in steel terminology on a commonplace generic hand tool. |
| The Industrial Revolution (1865f.): Other Factory Made Tools | Miscellaneous Tools |
| | Spring Temper |
| | Page 1 of 2 |
