has anyone seen one of these?

[Phil Pascoe]

A pick. A pick clearly marked 7lb. W. (M .. I'm not sure - I had no glasses) Marples?
I'll try to get a picture next week ... when I have a camera and glasses.

There was a pair of sheep shears marked Ward & Payne for £4 last week. I nearly bought them for the steel, anticipating some forge work.

 

[Jonzjob]

A 1/2 stone pick ?? :? :?

 

[AndyT]

It could well be by Marples - their range of tools was huge, covering far more than just the woodworking trades.

They were in the catalogue - here's the listing from 1938:

Note that if a 7lb pick was too flimsy, a heavier one could be ordered!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I didn't notice a shamrock, but I'll have a better look next week - he had £25 on it so it'll still be there.

 

[NazNomad]

A 1/2 stone pick ?? :? :?

That's what I thought, it's barely a toothpick. :-D

 

[RogerS]

Used in geology sites maybe ? Archaeology digs ?

 

[llangatwgnedd]

Mandrel, small lightweight pick with head easily removed from leg for sharping.

Used in coal mines for undercutting the seam.

There are two types, one is like your common pick, the other is like the one shown in this picture.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

This is a small, conventional pattern - the only thing a hard rock miner would use it for is his garden.

 

[AndyT]

You lot must be stronger than me. I've just been and checked on the navvy-style pickaxe I've got for the garden. It's a 7lb model and I find it very heavy and awkward to use. I certainly wouldn't want to swing it round over and over again in the confined space of a coal mine!

Here are some miners' picks, as shown by llangatwgnedd, from a 1923 Spear and Jackson catalogue - note the weights

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I know that Cornish shovels were larger than Devon shovels because it was believed that Cornish men were stronger. I must try to get some decent pictures at the weekend.

 

[user 19915]

The photo of the miner brought back some memories some of the coal seams we worked were only 2 ft 2 .6 if you were luck and the smallest i worked in was 18 inches bloody hard work but felt fit as a fiddle i can honestly say i loved it . There are still two small mines going in south Wales at the moment and maybe more i don;t know of
ALAN

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Just for scale, behind the felling axe.

 

[Sheptonphil]

My favorite pick/peck

Approx 2lb head, blade and point seems to stay sharp regardless of what ground I dig in. Ideal for trench work and general grubbing out. We are on very stony ground, bedrock not far below soil level. We are lucky to get 6" of soil without raised borders. I can use this for hours without it hurting the arms, very effective peck.

From the pictures, raised mark of "US diamond Calk 1944" so guess that's the year of manufacture, unsure of origin, was fathers before mine and I've had it thirty years.

Phil

 

[toolsntat]

My favorite pick/peck
From the pictures, raised mark of "US diamond Calk 1944" so guess that's the year of manufacture, unsure of origin, was fathers before mine and I've had it thirty year

Phil

Yours Phil is a US military issue, the same as mine and very handy to have in my camper :wink:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=us+mi ... Y0RjYvM%3A
Wonder if this is the same Diamond Calk?
http://alloy-artifacts.org/diamond-calk-horseshoe.html
Got a few of them as well 8)

Andy

 

[Sheptonphil]

Thanks for info Andy

I see it is then 1944 vintage. Must have used better quality steel back in the days.

Phil