This subject must be dedicated to just those hammers that were/are used in the woodworking trade, since MARPLES manufactured literally dozens of different sorts of hammers geared to the various trades it is beyond the scope of this site to describe and analyse ALL of the hammers so made.
Back before 1909 things get a little hazy as item numbers were ever changing; descriptions of the tools changed from catalogue to catalogue and the names ascribed to the hammers also differed. [ e.g. Warrington hammers are not so described initially, but are listed under ‘Joiners’ hammers and then later under that Warrington name …see below]
It may be that ‘Joiner’s hammers and ‘Warrington’ style hammers co-existed before 1900, but eventually the two forms were amalgamated into being a ‘Warrington Joiner’s ‘ hammer. [The initial joiners’ hammer looks like a smaller version of a Warrington with only slight differences in the face depth and profile.] MARPLES also re-used Catalogue numbers, for e.g:
Tack hammer #3534 existed in one form up until 1909 and was then de-listed. But the #3534 was re-introduced as a Tack hammer of a different style in c.1935!!
You will see that I have tried to blank out the information that does not pertain to this specific Hammer file, but you will find other trades’ hammers listed under those different trades, as they are published here.
First to list are the 1861 entries:
And the 1873 entries:
1888 entries follow:
The 1897 catalogue lists these hammers:
1909 listings:
1928 listings:
The 1938 listings are below:
The first hard catalogue post war of 1959 shows these:
1965 listings:
So as far as I can research, the following are the beginning/end dates of manufacture by MARPLES of the following Hammer ‘styles’:
Adze-Eye Claw……………………………1888-1965
Canterbury………………………………….1861-1938
Boxmakers’…………………………………1909-1965
Bench/Farmer’s Claw…………………1897-1965
Exeter…………………………………………..1888-1938
Household……………………………………1958-1962
Kent……………………………………………..1861-1938
Patternmakers’ cross pein………….1888-1965
Patternmakers’ ball pein…………… 1888-1962
Saw Setting………………………………….1897-Jan 1964
Scotch Claw………………………………….1888-1928
Veneering…………………………………….1861-1962
Warrington………………………………….1888-1965
But when C&J Hampton [RECORD] took over MARPLES they eventually re-introduced RECORD-MARPLES hammers as Adze-Eye Claw; Warrington and Pin. These were purely RECORD hammers and I do not consider them in this study as being a MARPLES product.
Tack Hammers:
MARPLES manufactured many different sorts of Tack Hammer and some went out of favour while others were introduced. It is a confusing study because of the lack of uniformity of the numbering system and the descriptions ascribed to the tools. Combine this with the fact that not all hammers were pictured! So I have done my best to list the Tack hammers and their descriptions, but starting with the year 1897.
#3527 Black ‘Warrington’ style………… 1921-1959
#3528 Black Exeter……………………………. 1897[#941] – 1959
#3529 Black Exeter Claw……………………. 1897[#936] -1965
#3531 Best Bright Claw…………………………1928
#3534 Bright Tack Hammer………………….1897[#937] – 1909
#3534 Best ‘Warrington’ style ……………. 1938-1965
#3535 Tack ………………………………………..1897[#938] -1909
#3536 Tack with handle claw ………………1909
#3537 Magnetic ……………………………………1909
The following products are to be considered pure MARPLES hammers, except where noted. To find good clean examples of everyday hammers is very difficult, since, being hammers, generally they were ‘hammered’ to death. [Sorry!]. So here is a small selection of hammers that I have, along with their description.
Adze Eye Claw hammers…2 sizes:
Canterbury Pattern Claw hammer:
Exeter Pattern Hammer and Exeter Pattern Tack hammer:
Bench/Farmer’s Hammer:
Warrington Hammers:
In the above photo at the top is shown a standard Record/Marples H667 Warrington hammer.
Warrington Pattern Tack Hammer and Patternmaker’s Cross Pein:
The cross pein Patternmaker’s hammer differs in the fact that it does not have a central circular polished poll.
Below is a mystery hammer which I have been unable to find either a description or a picture in all my catalogues. It may have been that it existed briefly in the years between 2 major catalogues and therefore missed inclusion in both! It looks like an Upholsterer’s hammer to me!
