1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
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1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
This one is pretty simple and straightforward.
The only SNL that called it a Type IV knife was the OQMG Circ 4, but the only spec that all SNL's ever supplied was width of blade at 1-1/4”.
The Fed Specs include a handle length (3-3/4”) and a blade length (3-1/2”), which means a total length of 7-1/4”. (Tolerance is 10% on all dimensions.)
The most interesting requirements are (1) that the tang of the blade should extend all the way through the handle, and (2) that if the handle is wood it has to be cocobolo wood!
Note that is also seems to let the door open for non-wood, inflammable, non-breakable handles (i.e., a composite).
The only SNL that called it a Type IV knife was the OQMG Circ 4, but the only spec that all SNL's ever supplied was width of blade at 1-1/4”.
The Fed Specs include a handle length (3-3/4”) and a blade length (3-1/2”), which means a total length of 7-1/4”. (Tolerance is 10% on all dimensions.)
The most interesting requirements are (1) that the tang of the blade should extend all the way through the handle, and (2) that if the handle is wood it has to be cocobolo wood!
Note that is also seems to let the door open for non-wood, inflammable, non-breakable handles (i.e., a composite).
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
I can see the logic for the metal all the way through the handle, in case the wood failed when you were using it hard I think.
I'd guess that specified wood had some desirable property then, maybe extra hard and resistant to penetration by Turpentine or solvents? ( given the application )
Rakes through Wiki ...
I'd guess that specified wood had some desirable property then, maybe extra hard and resistant to penetration by Turpentine or solvents? ( given the application )
Rakes through Wiki ...
Due to its density and hardness .... Cocobolo can be polished to a lustrous, glassy finish. The high natural oil content of the wood makes it difficult to achieve a strong glue joint, and can inhibit the curing of some varnishes, particularly oil based finishes.
Gordon
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
Looks like I'm going to have to grab my cocobolo wood test kit from the basement and verify that my knife is correct!
I'm always trying to find the older wooden handle putty knives at the flea market mainly because I thought they were all made of wood at that time.
Guess I was wrong in my assumption.
-Jason
I'm always trying to find the older wooden handle putty knives at the flea market mainly because I thought they were all made of wood at that time.
Guess I was wrong in my assumption.
-Jason
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
We ALL were, going waaaay back. Everyone assumed that composite-handled putty knives were post-war or 1950's. The nice thing about the old wooden styles is that they just seem vintage. And some (e.g., Red Devil PI-1-1/4) have been verified by catalogs. If we start accepting composite handles, I think they'd have to be verified, due to the fact that many of them could be younger. Just my thoughts.mudbox wrote:Guess I was wrong in my assumption.
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
Agreed. Note that the tang in a composite handle only needs to go 2/3rds of the way through. What I meant by interesting is that this particular tool doesn't have any quirks or issues or difficult requirements as the many other tools I have been posting Fed Specs over the course of the last few weeks. It's almost boring by comparison - so this gives us something to look for when examining potential specimens. Well, that, and the cocobolo wood properties test.Gordon_M wrote:I can see the logic for the metal all the way through the handle, in case the wood failed when you were using it hard I think.
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
Here's my collection of flea market putty knives. All are 1-1/4" width and full tang.
From top to bottom:
1 - Red Devil model P1-1-1/4S appears to be a composite handle. Missing a rivet.
2 - Knickerbocker no model number. Wood handle. Likely too old for the GMTK. (Thanks for tracking it down Wingnutt!)
3 - Branded on the handle, but I can't tell what it says. 2 large rivets (says NO. 8 or maybe 9)
4 - unbranded and the blade has been shortened. Wood handle. 3 rivets.
and the logos.
-Jason
From top to bottom:
1 - Red Devil model P1-1-1/4S appears to be a composite handle. Missing a rivet.
2 - Knickerbocker no model number. Wood handle. Likely too old for the GMTK. (Thanks for tracking it down Wingnutt!)
3 - Branded on the handle, but I can't tell what it says. 2 large rivets (says NO. 8 or maybe 9)
4 - unbranded and the blade has been shortened. Wood handle. 3 rivets.
and the logos.
-Jason
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
Here are a few 1-1/4" putty knives that I have or have had. Sorry about the quality of some of the pictures.
-Don
-Don
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- Marking on the blade from yesterday's Red Devil
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- Red Devil I picked up yesterday
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- Red Devil from my GMTK
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- Unmarked wood handled one I let go
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- Wood handled Stanley probably too modern
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
I've owned several Red Devils, and Cliff I believe has one, too, perhaps others, but yours is the cleanest blade and logo I have seen. Nice.
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
Believe me, Wing, it didn't look all that good when I picked it up. The coating of putty acted like cosmoline, just a little harder to remove.
-Don
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- Red Devil before
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
I recently picked up a composite handled 1-1/4" putty knife from the same seller that had the Red Devil. Until I read the specification that Wingnutt posted I hadn't paid much attention to it. I looked it over today as I cleaned it up and noticed that it had unique construction features that would allow it to survive the 8 foot drop onto concrete with the handle end down. Unfortunately, there are no markings to identify the manufacturer. Here are a few pictures.
-Don
-Don
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- Reinforced end
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- Putty knife
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- Putty knife opposite side
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
Is there any real difference between these two Red Devil Putty Knives given one is an S (posted above by Don)and the other an F? Is it the factory location code for Union NJ vs Irvington NJ or does it denote a time frame for production? The handles are identical so i just posted the blade inscription. It seems the Irvington production was from 1926 until the early 40's, and the Union NJ could be later than WW2, but I am not sure I am properly reading the history that I posted part of below.
This is from the Company's web site:
In the early 1900's, the RED DEVIL® name became synonymous with quality tools for professional and DIY projects. In 1932, General Manager George L. Lee, Sr. acquired the Vesco Tools Company's line of wood scrapers - the first of nearly three dozen acquisitions designed to expand and improve the RED DEVIL® line. These acquisitions included complementary lines of painters' tools, including wall scrapers, putty knives, glaziers' diamond points and automatic point drivers. In all, more than 30 different manufacturers' products began carrying the RED DEVIL® brand, further popularizing our name. And the tradition continued. In 1963, under the direction of George L. Lee, Jr., RED DEVIL® acquired the Schalk Chemical Company adding a line of adhesives, cleaners and sealants to its growing family of products. This chemical line would quickly become a major contributor to our business and later helped us to pioneer innovative, new products such as ONETIME® Lightweight Spackling, the first lightweight spackling on the market and LIFETIME® Adhesive Sealant, the first siliconized acrylic sealant guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Here is a bit more posted on a tool site: full article here: http://trowelcollector.blogspot.com/201 ... l-inc.html
"Red Devil, Inc. is the best known US manufacturer of glazing tools and putty knives, and they also made cement tools at one time....... The ownership and name changed in 1926 to Landon P. Smith, Inc., operating at 106 Coit St., Irvington New Jersey. At this time the pliers line was sold to Crescent Tool Co., and Smith's new firm merged with Woodward Glass Cutter Co., concentrating on making painting and glazing tools. Numerous advertisements from 1926 through the early 1940s confirm the name Landon P. Smith, Inc. The 1929 purchase of Master Manufacturing Co. added a line of paint hooks and related products, and in 1932 Smith acquired Vosco Tool's wood scrapers line. Also in 1932, company leadership passed to Smith's son-in-law George Ludlow Lee (1901-1966)...The name changed to Red Devil Tool Co. in 1945, according to the journal, "Factory Management and Maintenance". This contradicts Wikipedia - Red Devil, Inc. Company leadership passed to George Ludlow Lee, Jr. (1926-1999)...Red Devil Tool Co. was located at 2400 Vauxhall Rd., Union, New Jersey in late the 20th century."
Here is an illustrated image of the Red Devil putty knife from the early 1900s when they were located in NY.
I think the following:
early 1900-1926 New York marked
1926-early 40s Irvington NJ marked
early 40s - ??? Union NJ marked
When did the company switch their manufacturing logos to Union?
This is from the Company's web site:
In the early 1900's, the RED DEVIL® name became synonymous with quality tools for professional and DIY projects. In 1932, General Manager George L. Lee, Sr. acquired the Vesco Tools Company's line of wood scrapers - the first of nearly three dozen acquisitions designed to expand and improve the RED DEVIL® line. These acquisitions included complementary lines of painters' tools, including wall scrapers, putty knives, glaziers' diamond points and automatic point drivers. In all, more than 30 different manufacturers' products began carrying the RED DEVIL® brand, further popularizing our name. And the tradition continued. In 1963, under the direction of George L. Lee, Jr., RED DEVIL® acquired the Schalk Chemical Company adding a line of adhesives, cleaners and sealants to its growing family of products. This chemical line would quickly become a major contributor to our business and later helped us to pioneer innovative, new products such as ONETIME® Lightweight Spackling, the first lightweight spackling on the market and LIFETIME® Adhesive Sealant, the first siliconized acrylic sealant guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Here is a bit more posted on a tool site: full article here: http://trowelcollector.blogspot.com/201 ... l-inc.html
"Red Devil, Inc. is the best known US manufacturer of glazing tools and putty knives, and they also made cement tools at one time....... The ownership and name changed in 1926 to Landon P. Smith, Inc., operating at 106 Coit St., Irvington New Jersey. At this time the pliers line was sold to Crescent Tool Co., and Smith's new firm merged with Woodward Glass Cutter Co., concentrating on making painting and glazing tools. Numerous advertisements from 1926 through the early 1940s confirm the name Landon P. Smith, Inc. The 1929 purchase of Master Manufacturing Co. added a line of paint hooks and related products, and in 1932 Smith acquired Vosco Tool's wood scrapers line. Also in 1932, company leadership passed to Smith's son-in-law George Ludlow Lee (1901-1966)...The name changed to Red Devil Tool Co. in 1945, according to the journal, "Factory Management and Maintenance". This contradicts Wikipedia - Red Devil, Inc. Company leadership passed to George Ludlow Lee, Jr. (1926-1999)...Red Devil Tool Co. was located at 2400 Vauxhall Rd., Union, New Jersey in late the 20th century."
Here is an illustrated image of the Red Devil putty knife from the early 1900s when they were located in NY.
I think the following:
early 1900-1926 New York marked
1926-early 40s Irvington NJ marked
early 40s - ??? Union NJ marked
When did the company switch their manufacturing logos to Union?
Oz
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
Hi Oz
I believe the S is for stiff on the putty knife,F is for flexible on the blades.
Dave
I believe the S is for stiff on the putty knife,F is for flexible on the blades.
Dave
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
Then based on the details of the spec posted above I think we should be looking for F blades if that is a correct interpretation of F and S
Oz
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
Both the F and S Red Devil putty knife blades are flexible. The S blade is slightly less flexible, but having done some glazing in my younger days the stiffer blade would be the one I would prefer for that work. Just my opinion.
-Don
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Re: 1939 Fed Specs: Putty Knife (41-K-546)
Thanks for clarifying Don. It helps
Oz
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