Synoptic series of objects in the United States national museum, illustrating the history of inventions / by Walter Hough.

  • Hough, Walter, 1859-1935.
Date:
1922
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Synoptic series of objects in the United States national museum, illustrating the history of inventions / by Walter Hough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a itT. y. only very recently that the invention of steel has furnished humanity with a satisfactory chopping tool. The most important function of the modern ax is the cutting of wood. The bronze ax took many forms in Europe, and in the. series here presented these arc followed by two stone axes which, on account of their method of hafting, are placed next the iron and steel tools. In early days the ax was a weapon as well as an implement, and with simple peoples it still serves as a weapon. The machine ax, of which a model is presented in No. 16, is a comparatively simple contrivance when placed alongside of the marvelous machines that vtand at the head of some of the other lines of mechanical progress. No. I. Stone ax or hatchet, earliest and simplest form of cutting implement known to have been made by man. Nodule of flint roughly flaked. France. Thennes_ . .. — -- 99,440 No. 2. Stone ax or hatchet of flint, shaped by chipping. Sweden- 137,521 No. 3. Stone ax or hatchet of flint, shaped by chipping and finished by grind¬ ing. Sweden_-. ... .... 136,743 No. 4. Stone ax or hatchet of nonchippable material, peeked into form and' then ground_!__ ___15,868 No. 5. Stone ax or hatchet; nonchippable material, pecked into form; grouud and polished; poll roughened for insertion in wooden handle. Switzer¬ land__ ... _ _ 100,614 No. 6. Stone ax or hatchet; serpentine; ground; fitted in staghorn socket for insertion in wooden handle. Switzerland_ 100,554 No. 7. Bronze ax or hatchet; cast; flat blade pointed above for insertion in wooden handle. France_ 136,700 No. 8. Bronze ax or hatchet; east; blade flat with raised edges, to be in¬ serted in handle_ 148,628 No. 9. Bronze ax or hatchet; cast; wings and stop to aid in fixing handle. ---: 101,101 No. 10. Bronze ax or hatchet: east; wide wings at sides and hood at upper end for attaching handle_ 101,172 No. 11. Bronze ax or hatchet; cast; socketed for insertion of handle; ring at side to aid in fixing handle_ 101,110 No. 12. Stone ax or hatchet, peeked into form and then ground; drilled for insertion of handle Sweden_101,046 No. 13. Stone ax or hatchet, peeked into form and grouud; drilled for inser¬ tion of handle_ 137,138 No. 14. Modern iron ax; curved poll; used for timbering. Fusan, Korea, 129,495 No. 15. Modern chopping ax; iron and steel; in common use in United States. No. 16. Wood-splitting ax; operated by steam power. SERIES a.—A UO It Hi INAL AMERICAN AX. Plate 14. A comparison of the American with the European stone ax is instructive. In America the typical implement is the grooved ax. which has a development well indicated in the series here shown. ^ it!) the grooved ax there is associated a closely related family of