Machinists’ Ball Pein Hammers
A Bakers’ Dozen
At least thirteen sizes of Machinists’ ball pein hammers were offered — in 2 ounce increments from 2 to 8, 4 ounce increments from 8 to 40, and 8 ounce increment from 40 to 48.
Below is the page describing these hammers from the 2003 M-WTCA reprint of the 1904 Henry Cheney Hammer Company Catalog.
Note that these early Full Finish hammers had their heads marked sideways and the handles appear like the later “Railroad Finish” handles.
There are at least five distinct styles of markings that appear on the heads of Cheney hammers. Probably the oldest are shown in the 1904 catalog. Probably the second oldest have “H. Cheney Corp.” on an upper arc, “Little Falls, NY U.S.A.” on a lower arc, and “Tool Steel Guaranteed” on two lines in the middle — these markings appear to date from 1917 to 1925 though they may have continued to have been used up to 1954. Later Hammers are simply marked “Cheney” or “Cheney U.S.A.” on two lines. Some include a rectangle around the name. Some have also been found the the postmark-style markings used on the Cheney Nailers. These were clearly introduced by the Mulfords and in use sometime between 1925 and 1954.
Below is the page describing these hammers from the circa 1941 Cheney Catalog No. 25.
Full Polished (9X series) hammers have polished faces, barrels, sides, and peins, with black enamel paint on all other parts. Later handles are semi-octagonal painted black (could be India ink).
Oil Finish (39X series) hammers have polished faces and peins with black enamel paint everywhere else. They have semi-octagonal ebonized handles.
Railroad Finish (39XR series) hammers have polished faces and peins with black enamel paint everywhere else. They have nicely shaped oval handles with clear lacquer.
All heads are marked and decals are applied for right-handed users (sorry lefties). The one notable exception are the hammers included in the toolkits of Pierce Arrow automobiles, which have the Pierce logo on the right handed side and the Cheney logo on the left handed side.
All handles are turned to special patterns from selected white, well-seasoned second growth hickory. They usually have the model number, and sometimes the head weight, stamped into the bottom.
From left to right (and smallest to largest): No. 99 1/2 (2 oz.), No. 99 (4 oz.), No. 98 (6 oz.), No. 97 (8 oz.), No. 96 (12 oz.), No. 95 (16 oz.), No. 94 (20 oz.), No. 393 (24 oz.), No. 92 1/2 (28 oz.), No. 392 (32 oz.), No. 391 R (36 oz.), No. 90 1/2 (40 oz.), and No. 90 (48 oz.)
All of the handles in this collection are original, except the one missing (replaced by a cardboard tube from a coat hanger) and the two replacements on the 28, 36, and 40 oz. hammers, respectively.
The table below lists measurements from this collection to assist in the identification of unmarked hammers. Undoubtedly there is a fair amount of variation, but these should provide some guidance.
| Catalog No. |
Head Weight |
Face Diameter (including bezel) |
Head Length (face to pein) |
| 99 1/2 |
2 oz. |
5/8" |
1 15/16" |
| 99 |
4 oz. |
3/4" |
2 1/2" |
| 98 |
6 oz. |
7/8" |
2 3/4" |
| 97 |
8 oz. |
1" |
3 1/16" |
| 96 |
12 oz. |
1 1/8" |
3 1/2" |
| 95 |
16 oz. |
1 1/4" |
3 7/8" |
| 94 |
20 oz. |
1 3/8" |
4 3/16" |
| 93 |
24 oz. |
1 1/2" |
4 5/16" |
| 92 1/2 |
28 oz. |
1 1/2" |
4 1/2" |
| 92 |
32 oz. |
1 9/16" |
4 5/8" |
| 91 |
36 oz. |
1 9/16" |
4 7/8" |
| 90 1/2 |
40 oz. |
1 13/16" |
5 9/32" |
| 90 |
48 oz. |
1 13/16" |
5 9/16" |
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