A different kind of whatsit and a tough one

[Anonymous]

Hello again everyone.I haven't been able to get out for a while due to some recent health problems and the doctors have me grounded for a couple of weeks.I am feeling o.k. and am bored out of my mind so I am cleaning up some of the relics I have dug over the years.
I know what this is.It is a large nearly 14 inch wide broad axe that was used to hew square logs for railroad ties.I dug it a couple of years ago at an old logging camp that was going strong 100 years ago.It cleaned up remarkably well and is in pretty decent condition.
My question is,I was surprised the find the remnents of a trademark under all that rust.As can be seen in the scan it possibly has the letters t-a-r-p and below this it plainly has the letter "P" deeply stamped into it.I know this is a long shot but can anyone identify the manufacturer of this old broad axe on this scant bit of info?Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

...Dan, I have been looking off and on, but found nothing. I was sure that we had looked at an item earlier that had a "P" mmanufacture mark.
I've downloaded your file and magnified it. It looks to me that more letters in "TARP" are missing, possibly STAR_ _ _. I can't really tell. <img src="/metal/html/shrug.gif" border=0 width=37 height=15 alt=":shrug">
I did find a referance to an interesting book (see link below)
Axe Book Review
by Peter Harper, B.Ed, M.A.
Member: Pacific Northwest Tool Collectors Association
Early American Industries Association
Axe Makers of North America by Allan Klenman Whistle Punk Books, Victoria, B.C., 1990
>>> The first two chapters are very brief and cover the manufacture and uses of axes. I understand the difficulty of organizing the material in a volume so broad as this one, but nevertheless feel that more could have been made of Chapter Two, especially pages 13 and 14. How did those loggers chop trees down? Why are the corners of the falling axes so rounded? Of course, Chapter Two could become a book in itself. However, one should not assume that readers of pages 13 and 14 have any background knowledge of the subject. A three or four page addition is needed in this part of the book.
In Chapters Two and Three, the author provides detailed case histories of various individual axe manufacturers and conglomerates in the U.S.A. and Canada. This survey is where Klenman comes into his own, making a valuable contribution to individual history, and providing a clear directory of "what axes were made by what people." Axe collectors can use this as a clear map through the mine field of mergers, takeovers, and other corporate maneuvers. However, this is no ordinary, dry as dust survey. Klenman has enriched specific case histories with anecdotes and interesting tidbits of information from his vast storehouse of personal knowledge of the subject.<<<
Looks like a very intereting book, and may contain pictures and referances that would answer your question.
Hope you are feeling better soon, Dan, thanks for posting! Any more goodies? <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">
S.

 

[Anonymous]

The L. S. Starrett Company
The L. S. Starrett Company, founded in 1880, manufactures more than 5,000 variations of Precision Tools, Gages, Measuring Instruments and Saw Blades for industrial, professional and consumer markets worldwide.

 

[Anonymous]

I will check out the book you linked me to.I have several old tools laying around that I would be interested in learning about.Thanks again.