A Brass-Handled Concrete Finishing Trowel

Concrete, Vol. 9, No. 2, Feb. 1909

Hayden Automatic Block Co. made a concrete finishing trowel with a removable brass or aluminum handle. This is the only finishing trowel I have seen with a brass handle. The aluminum option was dropped 1909-1910.

Hayden Automatic Block Machine Co., 112 West Broad St., Columbus, OH, also made concrete block machines and concrete mixers. The company was named for William B. Hayden (1839-1916), an inventor and manufacturer. In 1924 the Kent Machine Co. of Kent, OH, purchased the right, title, and interest in all patents, patterns, machinery, tools, and equipment of the Hayden Automatic Block Machine Co. 

Concrete, Vol. 10, No. 3, Mar. 1910, page 122

 

History of J. F. Duffy, Chicago, IL

1915 Flyer

This Chicago, IL, firm manufactured brick hammers, brick chisels, star drills, and concrete tools. The businesses operated under several names, all containing the name "Duffy." The founder was James Franklin Duffy (1844-1920), an Irish immigrant who was manufacturing hardware in Chicago by 1880. The earliest mention found in print is in Inland Architect and Builder, Vol. 8, Jan. 1887, when Mr. Duffy, his wife Minnie, and wealthy lumber dealer George B. Hannahs and Sarah E. Hannahs incorporated The Duffy and Hannahs Hardware Co. of Chicago.

The next article found is in The Iron Age, Vol. 51, 2 Feb. 1893:

Brittan & Bond, 154 Lake Street, Chicago, are representing the Duffy & Lovelock Tool Company, who are manufacturing a line of fine steel tools. It is their aim to offer the very best steel tools made, and all goods marked Duffy are fully warranted. Their line includes vest pocket berry-box openers, hip-pocket crate openers, boot and shoe dealers‘ case openers, cigar-box openers, California fruit-case openers, Duffy's wine case openers, concrete tools, the Chicago gate hinge, cabinet makers’ bench hooks, bricklayers’ hammers and chisels, cold chisels, punches, tinners’ chisels, tinners’ punches, hand groovers, rivet sets, blacksmiths’ cutters and other tools. Their 1893 catalogue illustrates these goods with descriptions and prices.

In 1903 James F. Duffy, his son James Franklin Duffy, Jr. (1883-1957), and G. A. Buerk organized Duffy Manufacturing Co. By 1913 J. F. Duffy Jr. was manufacturing tools at 701 Fulton St., and his father was president of Duffy Manufacturing Co. at 214 W. Indiana St. The relationship between the companies is not known. 

The tool business was still operating as J. F. Duffy in 1942, at 563 Fulton St., Chicago. We have not found any brochures or catalogs other than the single-page flyer above. The tools found so far are marked either "J. F. Duffy" or "Duffy Mfg. Co." and "Chicago."

The senior Duffy described himself as a "machinist engineer" in the 1900 US Census, and his 1920 Illinois death record gives his occupation as "retired inventor." Around 1905 both senior and junior Duffy and J. A. Duffy were officers in Old Duffy Distillery Co., and some of senior Duffy's patents were for distilling equipment. Two of the senior Duffy's tool patents are listed at DATAMP and the patented tools are pictured in the flyer above. The first 2 illustrations below are not masonry tools, but show the mark used in 1910 and business name in 1916.

Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. Catalog No. 10, 1910, page 20

     

Better Fruit, Vol. 11, Dec. 1916, page 25

Duffy concrete groover

Concrete Spades

Concrete spades have flat, perforated blades for facing concrete in formwork. They were developed along with other concrete tools in the early 20th century. Vaughan's patent concrete spade was first manufactured around 1908 by Concrete Spade Manufacturing Co. of Valparaiso, IN.

"By use of Vaughan's Patent Concrete Spade, you can force the coarse aggregates in the concrete back, while the forms are still about the wall, and let the finer cement mortar flow forward, the perforations in the spade allowing it to come to the front. Your wall is thus given a smooth finish, without applying face mortars."

Other early manufacturers included the Ross spade by Harold L. Bond Co., Boston, MA. The Ross and Vaughan spades can be seen in the 1914 catalog of Crerar, Adams & Co. of Chicago, IL. 

Concrete-Cement Age, Vol. 1, Dec. 1912, pg. 18