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, November 8, 2020

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



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