Trowel and Masonry Tool Collector Resource : The Boston Pattern Brick Trowel

Please note

Because of the lack of published trowel and masonry tool histories, the information here is based on other sources that may be less reliable and certainly are incomplete. These include eBay and tools that I purchase myself that are the starting points for my research. I will write what I know as I learn it. If what you read here interests you, please check back often and look for revisions and corrections. Scanned catalogs are on Archive.org as pdf files. A few are links to other websites. Your photos and information are welcome. Please click on any picture to enlarge it. Comments are welcome, but any with links will be deleted as possible spam.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

The Boston Pattern Brick Trowel

This rare 7 inch Disston Boston pattern brick trowel probably dates to the early 1900s. The 1918 Disston catalog shows this pattern on page 203, with the additional inscription "REG. US PAT. OFF." The lack of these words and the style of lettering dates this trowel to before 1918.

This trowel is also what's called "through tang, double ferrule" meaning the tang extends completely through the beech handle. The end of the tang goes through a hole in the ferrule and is peened over. Disston replaced the through tang, double ferrule design with the spiral tang, US Patent 1,524,633, January 27, 1925.

Disston saw etches, Disstonian Institute