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Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits

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Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits

#1

Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>I picked up a neat little canvas bag today with a set of 6 auger bits , auger bits overall length only about 6" , marked "Mephisto" and "The W. A. Ives Mfg. Co., Wallingford, Conn. U.S.A.". Wondering if you ahve seen these before, how common they are, and any info on the company. I had no idea how big this auction would be, a blacksmith shop that had been in business over a hundred eyars and closed up for the last forty. A few good buys, but nothing really to brag about.

I did a search for "Mephisto" on ebay and came up with a batch of shoes.

Re: Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits

#2

Re: Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits

Bob Nelson

>Wi;;iam A. Ives made augers, bits, and braces in Wallingord and New Haven, CT, from ca. 1868 to 1917. in the earlier years, he used just his name only. At ssome time, he added an "& Co. and later yet went to Mfg. Co. The latter is not thought to have been until aftr 1900. A Mephisto Tool Co. made bits in Hudson NY, and Hamden, CT, 1830-1983-. It is not known if/how those two makers might have been connected. Bob

Re: Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits

#3

Re: Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits

Jim Crammond in Monroe, Mi

>Moses,

I had some chisels identical to Stanley Everlasting chisels that were marked Mephisto. The only other marks on them were patent dates that were registered to the manufacturer that Stanley bought out(I'm drawing a blank on the name right now).

According to Martin Donnelly, there was a hardware store or distributor in western Massachusetts named Mephisto and he had seen several other tools with that marking that he attributed to them.

Jim

Re: Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits

#4

Re: Thanks Bob & Jim

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>The "Mephisto" hardware brand on an Ives auger makes sense to me. The canvas roll is fairly old but in good shape; it is a pretty neat piece of work, with a leather reinforcement at the top where the flap hinges to close the bag, a seperate strip of canvas inside that snaps shut to cover the auger tips, and a strip of canvas that clips the roll shut when it is rolled up.

Jim, I'm expecting to see you in Akron at the national meet next saturday; planning on being there? I won't have much to spend, as I have been spending my allowance here and there faster than I get it, but maybe I can scrounge up some tools to trade, and it is always interesting to see that many tools in one place. I plan on bringing at least one other guy and possibly two. Should be a great time.

Re: Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits

#5

Re: Thanks Bob & Jim

Jim Crammond in Monroe, Mi

>Moses,

Glad to hear you'll be in Akron at the M-WTCA meet. I'm really starting to look forward to it, too. By all means bring some things to sell, it is a great way to generate some cash for more tools.

Jim

Re: Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits

#6

Re: Mephisto/ W.A. Ives auger bits *LINK*

Fred Peake, Okie Neanderthal

>I found a web page on the company site giving some history. You mentioned your bits were only 6" long. They may well be from their line of plumbers bits, for use in confined wall spaces.


Mephisto History

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