Allan Hills, Edge-Tool Maker

Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., The, Sep 2004

DAT Update

EAIA member Frank D. Johnson ,submitted these photographs in support of an entry in the Directory of American Tool-makers, Frank purchased a hewing, or broad hatchet (Figure 1). The Kent-style hatchet measured 4 ½ inches wide and 5 ½ inches from edge to poll. The hatchet, which he purchased near Amherst, New Hampshire, is marked "Hills Gait" (Figure 2), but it was only recently that Frank learned the Gait is a city in Ontario, Canada. Armed with that information he returned to the DAT and found a listing for Allan Hills who was active circa 1861.

The DAT entry notes three marks: (1) Hills/Galt; (2) Mills-Gait and (3) Hills. The entry reads: "Allan Hills had an edge-tool factory in Galt in 1861, but it is not certain these are his marks..... Mark (2), from an axe, was questioned as possibly being twentieth century."

Frank notes that this axe was definitely made within Allan's period of activity; Krank made the handle.