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.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Frye Phipps & Co. Boston Trowel

This Boston pattern brick trowel is identical to early 20th century Disston trowels in that it is through tang, double ferrule. The etch is faint, but reads:
F. P. & Co.
BOSTON MASS
WARRANTED
CAST STEEL

I came up with nothing on this company until I found an eBay listing for a Frye Phipps & Co. hand saw. Frye Phipps & Co., founded 1816, were a large Boston hardware jobber (wholesaler), and like many of those firms, sold tools made by others and labeled Frye Phipps & Co. So it is highly likely that Disston made this trowel for Frye Phipps.

F.P. & Co. Boston Mass. brick trowel
    1912 article, Landmarks of Hardware History (USA)
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2 comments:

  1. UnknownMay 27, 2017 at 9:12 AM

    I have a straight razor thar belonged to my grandfather. Wish I could attach a pic. Their logo is engraved on it.

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  2. UnknownOctober 6, 2019 at 9:15 AM

    I acquired an old hand saw recently and after cleaning the plate I found the FryePhipps Boston Mass on the saw. Curious about the age of the saw is how I ended up here on this blog

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