tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46408005003716443352024-03-05T14:09:47.175-05:00E. C. Atkins SawsMark Stansburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266882358076529369noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640800500371644335.post-2296220929830483102015-02-17T21:11:00.007-05:002023-10-19T15:10:30.990-04:00IntroductionThis site covers saws and other tools made by E. C. Atkins & Co., a major American saw and tool manufacturer in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1952 it was purchased by Borg-Warner Corporation. The Indianapolis factory was closed in 1960-61 and its operations relocated to Greenville, Mississippi. Nicholson File Co. bought the Atkins Division of Borg Warner in 1966. Atkins had 14 major product lines which Nicholson consolidated or eliminated. Nicholson produced some saws under the Nicholson name before ceasing hand saw production.<br />
<br />
The Atkins factory was located on S. Illinois St. at W. South St. in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, the Atkins saw works was located downtown in a prime redevelopment area near Lucas Oil Stadium, and no known remains of the factory exist today.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhaYNGCPM-IHFO7DD3ZYUe4gtUTsJDDBHx2L6g6-dMAPpsI1FG1N5XYbhlzR8FucmLfDLWpkHRd61sKSvAfPjjgrZ5dmqGZKE5goAbyQNPtQ-VI8F714ntWhSmmr9vERviA-Joskbt8Y/s1600/Atkins+1906_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhaYNGCPM-IHFO7DD3ZYUe4gtUTsJDDBHx2L6g6-dMAPpsI1FG1N5XYbhlzR8FucmLfDLWpkHRd61sKSvAfPjjgrZ5dmqGZKE5goAbyQNPtQ-VI8F714ntWhSmmr9vERviA-Joskbt8Y/w400-h268/Atkins+1906_0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
If you are looking for guidance on the models of Atkins and Sheffield hand saws, please see the catalog links on the right. Sheffield was Atkins' lower-priced brand name. I am adding scanned catalogs as I get them (last updated Jan. 2022).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyCbldgdkenjLTqyQ5GdycuolXAULt7aaV1fqryQ5vGiR0f7R1IfS8tkOHrnklT2OjevrkW5aOcA_uR6uqN6BZAH-Sm0QjdfQ7fmW3Sx-2yTon0NTwxbAbgCFGGXtbnb6A9MaSSa4yqA/s1600/Catalog+%2319+1923.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyCbldgdkenjLTqyQ5GdycuolXAULt7aaV1fqryQ5vGiR0f7R1IfS8tkOHrnklT2OjevrkW5aOcA_uR6uqN6BZAH-Sm0QjdfQ7fmW3Sx-2yTon0NTwxbAbgCFGGXtbnb6A9MaSSa4yqA/s1600/Catalog+%2319+1923.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">1923 catalog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Following are articles on the company:<br />
<a href="http://historicindianapolis.com/indianapolis-collected-saws-a-halloween-history-tale/" target="_blank">Historic Indianapolis.com</a><br />
<a href="http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=1647&tab=3" target="_blank">Vintage Machinery.org</a><br />
<a href="http://www.antique-used-tools.com/atkinssaws.htm" target="_blank">Atkins saws for sale</a><br />
<a href="http://blog.lostartpress.com/2013/07/05/selling-atkins-saws/" target="_blank">Selling Atkins Saws, 1908</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b81Z1_cAucU" target="_blank">Youtube tribute and history</a><br />
<br />
Following is a partial list of Atkins catalogs (most titles are similar so I am giving the basics):<br />
1894<br />
1895<br />
1899<br />
1900 Price Current (pocket size)<br />
1902 Supply Edition<br />
1903 Price Current (pocket size)<br />
1904 Hardware Edition<br />
1906 Hardware Edition<br />
1910 No. 10 (machinery emphasis)<br />
1911 No. 11 Hardware Edition<br />
1914 (not numbered)<br />
1914 No. B2, Braces <br />
1917 No. 17A<br />
1919 No. 18<br />
1921 Supplement to No. 18<br />
1923 No. 19<br />
1928 No. 20<br />
1931 No. 21<br />
1935 No. 21<br />
1937 No. 21<br />
1941 No. 22<br />
1950 No. 23 (printed in separate sections in color, see below)<br />
1959 No. 25 Hardware Catalog<br /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw_Spco7NR2uoA5QFsjv3mRmwmwkNZ4DKNHa9PhtVbZfnCsiPQoTXVKrb-ytfoZV0XKZIeZEvei5B-v4msKRKCxUT7AMuM0_ZMfgU5TifXuzpE71Ptygr0GedxyaM2rPQlmjztEf_Lng/s1600/Atkins+pubs.+1931+a.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw_Spco7NR2uoA5QFsjv3mRmwmwkNZ4DKNHa9PhtVbZfnCsiPQoTXVKrb-ytfoZV0XKZIeZEvei5B-v4msKRKCxUT7AMuM0_ZMfgU5TifXuzpE71Ptygr0GedxyaM2rPQlmjztEf_Lng/s200/Atkins+pubs.+1931+a.jpg" width="187" /></a>Atkins produced many other smaller promotional and educational publications (these are the full titles):<br />
Atkins Band Saws (Catalog No. 23 1950)<br />
Atkins Drag Saw Book<br />
Atkins Grinding Wheels and Grinders<br />
Atkins Hack Saw Book<br />
Atkins Hand Saws (Catalog No. 23 1950)<br />
Atkins Inserted Tooth Circular Saws (Catalog No. 23 1950)<br />
Atkins Machine Knives (Catalog No. 23 1950)<br />
Atkins Mill Saws (16-page pamphlet)<br />
Atkins Mill Saws (Catalog No. 23 1950)<br />
Atkins Narrow Band Saws (Catalog No. 23 1950)<br />
Atkins Saws in the Shop<br />
Atkins Segment Ground Cross-Cut Saws<br />
Atkins Pruning Saws (Catalog No. 23 1950)<br />
Atkins Saw Book for Home Craftsmen<br />
Atkins Saw Fitting Tools<br />
Atkins Saws in the Home<br />
Atkins Saws in the Shop: Metal Cutting Saws<br />
Atkins Saws on the Farm<br />
Atkins Sheffield Work-at-Home Saws and Knives for the... Home Workshop<br />
Atkins Silver Steel Cross Cut Saws<br />
Atkins Silver Steel Hacksaw Blades<br />
Atkins Silver Steel Saws Dado Heads, Groovers, Cutters<br />
Atkins Silver Steel Segment Ground Crosscut Saws, Eastern Patterns<br />
Atkins Solid Tooth Circular Saws (Catalog No. 23 1950)<br />
Atkins Time Book<br />
Atkins Tools for the Filing Room<br />
Atkins Trowel Book<br />
Care of Narrow Band and Small Circular Saws<br />
Complete Sharpening Instructions for Your Atkins B-W Saw Chain<br />
Pruning<br />
Pruning and Pruning Saws<br />
Saws in the Filing Room<br />
Saw Sense (introduced in 1906)<br />
Text Book of Silver Steel Atkins Saws: How to Care for and Use Them for Manual Training Schools<br />
The Atkins Saw Book for Home Craftsmen<br />
The How-To Do-It Book for Home WorkshopsMark Stansburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266882358076529369noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640800500371644335.post-57065849472333776582015-01-29T21:29:00.003-05:002023-10-19T15:10:53.891-04:00E. C. Atkins Patent One Man Crosscut HandleThis cast iron and wood handle was <a href="http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=15866" target="_blank">patented by Atkins in 1875</a>. The example photographed was for sale in Kentucky in late 2014.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/US171337-0.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/US171337-0.png" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVKRJIDu0qRuO93HfuELlxpUh2mBbH2oDQLpog_nb4VC3gRxDaGpCZt4QYUdDYhYhqYhCtn3FZmqVTphe8paiBYBkHXUD7ocYTzpu2KT6s1OA9f59g0Fzr4XTht_iUX2hv07e5ZMz4zs/s1600/1122141602-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVKRJIDu0qRuO93HfuELlxpUh2mBbH2oDQLpog_nb4VC3gRxDaGpCZt4QYUdDYhYhqYhCtn3FZmqVTphe8paiBYBkHXUD7ocYTzpu2KT6s1OA9f59g0Fzr4XTht_iUX2hv07e5ZMz4zs/s1600/1122141602-01.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />Mark Stansburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266882358076529369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640800500371644335.post-5713674286958799612015-01-29T19:33:00.002-05:002015-01-29T20:40:03.537-05:00Atkins No. 53 and No. 65 Hand SawsThe 1937 catalog describes the Nos. 53 and 65 as very good quality saws suitable for everyday work, identical except for the style of blade. However, they were priced exactly the same in 1937, $3.71 wholesale, as the cheaper-looking Nos. 51 and 72. Today we would call this a lack of product differentiation, and it may have created an impression that the No. 53 and 65's features were more cosmetic, which is not true. This pair featured taper grinding followed by a high polish and ribbon grinding along the back. The handles were apple wood, ergonomically shaped, and beginning in the early teens were embossed with a distinctive floral design (bottom photo). By 1937 Atkins was using a chip-carved wheat design for the Nos. 53 and 65. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd9gYqR0Pi1KrM-Gh8u1JsIJHriLpEtMMuIC_9C49zxfrNycqu4yce8BIwJr8no4obPP7r8RMFQxXKZ3JM03Nw6CUrRU8wNh-JQIAWE9cLlNzjO72CMxy6vwp8dQ-0A3rbj3dil4tLew/s1600/Atkins+53+&+65+1937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZd9gYqR0Pi1KrM-Gh8u1JsIJHriLpEtMMuIC_9C49zxfrNycqu4yce8BIwJr8no4obPP7r8RMFQxXKZ3JM03Nw6CUrRU8wNh-JQIAWE9cLlNzjO72CMxy6vwp8dQ-0A3rbj3dil4tLew/s1600/Atkins+53+&+65+1937.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atkins No. 53 and No. 65 saws in 1937</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8MSIg-cvhtBlbEVnT29cuuPdDN6KzXoIc-VaK3CV9M1nHhcX6FgaF38NqqsSRat0rEEi_NkgyUxBNOl-qfmqXZW_hVPznNmo_hT0m36zRn-2z_Di8P3mpDl3KJQPTaN2pym9LFJcMD4/s1600/Atkins+53+IMG_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8MSIg-cvhtBlbEVnT29cuuPdDN6KzXoIc-VaK3CV9M1nHhcX6FgaF38NqqsSRat0rEEi_NkgyUxBNOl-qfmqXZW_hVPznNmo_hT0m36zRn-2z_Di8P3mpDl3KJQPTaN2pym9LFJcMD4/s1600/Atkins+53+IMG_1822.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atkins No. 53 with embossed handle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Mark Stansburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266882358076529369noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640800500371644335.post-82259492082608985262015-01-27T19:01:00.003-05:002021-10-04T12:39:02.979-04:00Atkins No. 400 and No. 401 Hand Saws<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOerMLAKfcA3hi5yR8jHzb9Azsw2ZsXMnk6m4KrD4YCuKQMKc0NAizEQYmTA6ui_U3cZSEadN4fIRJwyCqsHaRlzkh_MtGl1yPf6tgpCgcQz-hOg-y_bj5ckvd3hoajnM9wavS_e186TY/s1600/Popular+Mechanics+Aug+1927.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOerMLAKfcA3hi5yR8jHzb9Azsw2ZsXMnk6m4KrD4YCuKQMKc0NAizEQYmTA6ui_U3cZSEadN4fIRJwyCqsHaRlzkh_MtGl1yPf6tgpCgcQz-hOg-y_bj5ckvd3hoajnM9wavS_e186TY/s1600/Popular+Mechanics+Aug+1927.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1927</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Nos. 400 and 401 were Atkins' finest saws, and the only ones made with rosewood handles. They had more taper grind and more polished blades than Atkins' next-best saws. The Nos. 400 and 401 were priced 63% higher in 1937 than the mid-priced Nos. 51 and 53. No other Atkins saws had tropical wood handles. 1950 is last year for which I found <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=6NkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA309&dq=%22E.C.+Atkins%22+400+saw+1950&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Ko7PVM2jA7fesASi_4Fo&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22E.C.%20Atkins%22%20400%20saw%201950&f=false" target="_blank">Atkins No. 400 advertisements.</a> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs58zKppjAgnP1OcHE4ikfqdXSMp3tIhTepojKmnOetM5tEcidANNhiYS-rZyKso2mkoqzSV45E-y9A35EIbPbWH233XpImKrcrdivrQrfKOYKNio4iEID_QaMq8gkEQiT4kBjMpF5nfQ/s1600/Atkins+400+&+401+1937.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs58zKppjAgnP1OcHE4ikfqdXSMp3tIhTepojKmnOetM5tEcidANNhiYS-rZyKso2mkoqzSV45E-y9A35EIbPbWH233XpImKrcrdivrQrfKOYKNio4iEID_QaMq8gkEQiT4kBjMpF5nfQ/s1600/Atkins+400+&+401+1937.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atkins' finest saws, the No. 400 and No. 401, in 1937</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=nNgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PP2&dq=atkins+400+hand+saw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UybIVLLjJsKVNqiRgvgC&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q=atkins%20400%20hand%20saw&f=false" target="_blank">Atkins 400, 1927 advertisement</a> (inside front cover)Mark Stansburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266882358076529369noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4640800500371644335.post-48764960270155282632015-01-27T18:27:00.003-05:002023-10-19T15:11:35.482-04:00E. C. Atkins & Co. LocationHere is a period artist's rendition of the Atkins saw works and the location today. The 1907 view is looking towards the southeast, with S. Illinois St. on the left and W. South St. on the right. On the right are stack of lumber behind the handle mill and kiln. The main part of the works was bounded by W. South St. on the north, W. Henry St. on the south, S. Capitol Ave. on the west, and S. Illinois St. on the east.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91lYt5j5eSWE0gycmvnty8Ydjuco0KRw69jjNiTtYvMNJHdIZG4ijTaeXbqw4WNkxIOYeTtLpYE2mHksxHPe1JabNtvbu5AUs0IPLbyefjXmRnZgcLo8fCdxjisUDunLdP8M0FAGiBNU/s1600/Hyman%E2%80%99s+Handbook+of+Indianapolis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91lYt5j5eSWE0gycmvnty8Ydjuco0KRw69jjNiTtYvMNJHdIZG4ijTaeXbqw4WNkxIOYeTtLpYE2mHksxHPe1JabNtvbu5AUs0IPLbyefjXmRnZgcLo8fCdxjisUDunLdP8M0FAGiBNU/s1600/Hyman%E2%80%99s+Handbook+of+Indianapolis.jpg" height="261" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hyman's Handbook of Indianapolis, 1907</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qmt67h7tkxjd&lvl=18.48&dir=262.58&sty=b&form=LMLTCC" target="_blank">Bing Maps</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://indiamond6.ulib.iupui.edu/cdm/search/collection/SanbornJP2/searchterm/E.%20C.%20Atkins%20&%20Co.%20(Saw%20Manufacturers)/mode/exact" target="_blank">Indianapolis maps 1898-1941</a>Mark Stansburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266882358076529369noreply@blogger.com1