why am I attracted to Ampco hammers

[jimwrench]

 I have trouble passing up Ampco hammers or anything that is made by Ampco and there is no logical reason for this. Bought the H-47 hammer yesterday. Since I haven't perfected a way to carry my tool inventory with me it's always a gamble on whether I already own a specific tool. When I got home I was elated to find this hammer did not already live in my basement. I suppose it would be cost prohibitive to hire someone to sit at the computer in the basement and advise me on whether I already owned whatever I was bidding on but then they would only be needed during auctions. The new hammer is the bottom one.

[Yadda]

Neat hammers!  I've seen dimpled grips in rubber and plastic, but this is my first time seeing dimpled wood handles.  Is this unique to Ampco hammers?

[jimwrench]

 The vacuum grip feature for handles has been around since the 1920's (pat 3/8/21 D57252) but don't know when Ampco started using them on Hammers. They evidently went to fiberglass in the 80's but wood still available.
Heres a couple photo's of some Ampco handles someone fitted to some non Ampco hammer heads. Reason unknown. Will keep in case I find a Ampco hammer with broken handle.

[Plyerman]

Those are great Jim. I've felt the pull of ampco tools a couple of times myself, but so far I've resisted the urge. Slippery slope and all that, you know.

So have you picked up any other type of ampco tools, or just hammers?

[Nolatoolguy]

Great group. Now you just need the rest of the ampco line

[1930]

What is the process used to get that grip?

[Papaw]

What is the process used to get that grip?

I have done the same using the drill press, but it is time consuming.

[jimwrench]

 Plyerman: I have about 20 pieces of non-sparking tools. Will post photo when schedule permits.

[Plyerman]

Great! After reading this thread I started looking at all the Ampco and Berylco tools on ebay. The variety caught me by surprise. Hammers and wrenches I had seen before and expected, but bronze ratchets? And pliers? And cold chisels even? I had no idea.

[jimwrench]

 Since I'm in charge of my schedule, I decided to move my non-sparking tools and snap a photo. This is all I own except for hammers already shown and one sledge.

[keykeeper]

Jimwrench:

I have an Ampco 1/2" drive ratchet that would look good on that board. I'm sure we could work out a trade or something. 

[jimwrench]

Its not just hammers. Sometimes Ampco wrenchs follow me home too.Latest addition.

[Plyerman]

That's a big boy wrench there. Congrats!

[Bus]

Quite a few Ampco tools on the Spring Wrenching News Auction at York, Nebraska

http://wrenchingnews.com/2015-york-auction/catalog.html

All the photos can be seen at:

http://wrenchingnews.com/2015-york-auction/all-pics-one-page.html

Here are a few:

[john k]

You guys are just determined I get out to York this weekend aren't you.   So many toys and so close by.   Seeing the 72 inch wrench would be enough for the trip.