Henry Cheney Hammer Company

No. 777 Adz Hammer

A Tale of Two Patents

Like the Tale of Two Hammers concerning the Cheney Nailer, this tale is about two patents concerning several Cheney hammers — only this time all with the same model No. 777.

Well, that’s not entirely true...

It’s actually a story of three hammers based on one patent (and gradually eliminated manufacturing steps); a hammer, based on a second patent, manufactured by Cheney, but sold by a different company; and another hammer, based on both patents, which replaced the third.

Confused? Keep reading. All will be explained rife with revelations.

It all began with U.S. Patent 1,517,043 which was issued on November 25, 1924 to Andrew C. Benson of Beaumont, Texas for his Adz Hammer.

“The device forming the subject matter of this application is an adz, and the invention aims to provide a tool which will combine the advantages of an adz and a hammer, the blade of the adz being of such a size that it can be used for cutting out relatively narrow grooves or channels, the weight and the size of the tool being such that it may be manipulated readily in one hand.”

Cheney No. 777 Type 0

This is an extremely rare and very important hammer — a rosetta stone of sorts. Besides being the earliest known version of the No. 777, and most closely resembling Benson’s design, it also includes the football-shaped markings of the “H. Cheney Corp.”

When David J. Williams gained control of The Henry Cheney Hammer Company in 1917, it was reincorporated as the Henry Cheney Hammer Corporation.

The appearance of these markings on this hammer helps confirm that edge tools with the same markings were made in the same 1917-1925 time period that Williams controlled the company. These markings continued to be used on some models after 1925 — appearing, seemingly randomly, on finishing, farriers’, and auto bumping hammers in the circa 1941 Cheney catalog No. 25. All later types of the No. 777 have distinctive markings that are unique to this model.

Cheney No. 777 Type 1

The Cheney No. 777 Type 1 (formerly known as First Generation) is more deeply curved on the sides were the adz meets the shaft and has ninety degree corners at the front of the adz. It appears that they used the same forging die, but eliminated a couple of steps from the grinding process.

Cheney No. 777 Type 2

The Cheney No. 777 Type 2 (formerly known as Second Generation) appears more substantial. Again it appears that they continued to use the same forging die, but did not grind away any of the sides where the adz meets the shaft.

Note that this example features an ebonized octagonal handle and the Cheney Safety First Wedge.

Here’s another No. 777 Type 2 with the more common oval coke-bottle handle.

Armenian Amendment

Here this story takes an interesting turn, thanks to an Armenian immigrant named Hachig A. Ayvad who was born in 1869 and moved to the United States in 1890. In 1891 he established the Columbian Bookbinding Company at Nos. 40 to 44 Bond Street (between Lafayette and Bowery) in Manhattan — an area now known as NoHo. In 1900 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

So what does an Armenian-American bookbinder have to do with hammers?

Although he did receive a patent for a “Book Cover Protector” (US 912,775 16 Sep 1909), Ayvad’s interests were in no way limited to the publishing industry. In fact, his interests appear to have no limits whatsoever — with at least eleven patents to his name.

On 26 Oct 1925 the accomplished inventor from Hoboken, New Jersey — holder of U.S. Patents 673,672 and 1,369,875 — filed another patent. This patent was for a Chisel Claw Hammer. The application was renewed 06 Jan 1928. Finally, after nearly five years, U.S. Patent 1,773,931 was issued to Hachig A. Ayvad on 26 Aug 1930.

“The object of this invention is to provide a claw hammer with manifold features which are useful particularly for those who are engaged in the opening and closing of boxes for the packing and shipping of goods, and for others who may need a tool with a wider range of usefulness than the usual type of claw hammer.

Apparently Mr. Ayvad spent a fair amount of time opening and closing wooden crates for his bookbinding business — leading him to create a better tool for the job. After all, necessity is the mother of invention...

It should also be noted that, according to the US census, when Mr. Ayvad received this patent he was 61 years old, single, and had three nieces living with him — Alice (23), Eugenia (21), and Lucy (18). This undoubtedly gave him financial motivation as well.

The markings show that it was marketed by the Chisel Claw Hammer Company of Hoboken, New Jersey as "PAT. APD. FOR" and "MADE IN U.S.A."

It was noted in a Martin J. Donnelly auction listing that the handle of Ayvad’s Chisel Claw appears to be identical to those found on Cheney hammers of the same era.

On Easter Sunday 2014 a pair of Ayvad Chisel Claw Hammers were found amongst a trove of Cheney hammers that had belonged to Frank Bostner, the last Superintendant of the Cheney hammer factory. The hammer shown above is one of Frank's. These were the only non-Cheney brand hammers in his collection.

Last but not least, while the types 0, 1, and 2 of the Cheney No. 777 more or less follow Andrew Benson's design, the type 3 Cheney No. 777 more closely resembles Hachig A. Ayvad’s design.

Cheney No. 777 18 oz. Type 3

The Cheney No. 777 Type 3 (formerly known as Third Generation) was significantly redesigned. The adz was narrowed from 2" to 1 11/16", lengthened about 1", and the sides reshaped to smoothly blend into the shaft — like Ayvad’s Chisel Claw. Yet they retained Benson’s patent date. Cheney did not adapt Ayvad’s side spurs, sharper angle between the adz and the shaft, shape of nail-pulling slot, sharpness of blade, or poll offset.

This hammer is also remarkably similar to U.S. Patent 46,574.

It was marked “NEW” in Catalog No. 25 published circa 1941.

“The Cheney adze-hammer has been redesigned improving its usefulness and life. It will drive and pull nails. Its strong, keen cutting edge makes it most necessary in cutting away and levelling rough under surfaces when laying floors or shingling roofs. For trimming, fitting, bevelling and splitting it is exceptionally useful. In the packing room it will scrape, trim, nail and open cases and crates.”

So the Henry Cheney Hammer Company was, almost certainly, manufacturing both it's own No. 777 and Ayvad’s Chisel Claw simultaneously and eventually adopted features of Ayvad’s design to enhance the No. 777.

And this really is the story of five Cheney manufactured hammers based on two patents — with an Armenian twist...

And what of Ayvad’s other patents (US 673,672 and 1,369,875)?

One was for water wings! (for which he also received US Patents D35550S, 703,363, 760,948, 1,058,402, 1,634,313, and 1,634,314)

And another for a Flying Machine!

Proving once again that truth is stranger than fiction.

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