Vintage Tinsmith's Riveting Hammer Hickory Handle Excelsall Link Salem Indiana

This vintage tinsmith's riveting hammer has a cross peen steel head, a flat striking face on one end and a wedge peen on the other, fitted to a hickory handle stamped "EXCELSALL Genuine Hickory, O.P. Link Handle Co., Salem Indiana U.S.A."

The head weighs about 16 ounces, a standard weight for this style of sheet metal hammer, and the whole tool comes in at 1 pound with the dense hickory handle, a solid working piece for a tool collector or anyone who wants real vintage hand tools on display instead of reproductions.

Details

• Item: tinsmith's riveting hammer, cross peen style
• Item Type: hand tool, sheet metal or tinsmith's hammer
• Era: not confirmed from photos, estimated mid 20th century based on the handle stamp and hammer style
• Materials: forged steel head, hickory wood handle
• Color: natural dark steel head, honey toned hickory handle
• Maker and Mark: handle stamped "EXCELSALL Genuine Hickory, O.P. Link Handle Co., Salem Indiana U.S.A." The head itself has no visible maker mark, a common setup when an old head was fitted with a later replacement handle
• Pattern or Model: none visible on the head
• Style: classic American tinsmith's cross peen riveting hammer
• Dimensions: head length approximately 5 1/4 inches, 12 inch handle, 16 ounce head, 1 pound total weight
• Special Features: flat striking face and wedge peen for setting rivets and seams

Condition Grade: Very Good

Positives

• Graded Very Good: shows light use, sound and attractive with only minor flaws
• The handle stamp is clear and fully legible
• Head sits tight on the handle with no wobble
• No cracks or splits anywhere in the hickory handle

Issues / Wear

• The steel head shows an even dark patina from age and use, with no active rust
• The handle shows honest surface wear and grain lines consistent with a tool that saw real work

Condition Grade Key

• Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
• Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
• Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
• Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.

Collector's Notes

Tinsmiths relied on a hammer built exactly like this one, a flat face for striking and a wedge peen for setting seams and rivets in sheet metal work.

A solid pick for a tool collector, a workshop wall display, or anyone who appreciates real vintage hand tools that were actually built to be used.

The Excelsall stamp ties the handle to the O.P. Link Handle Company of Salem, Indiana, a well known American hickory handle maker, fitted here as a quality replacement for the original.

Sturdy, honest, and ready for another few decades of light use or a spot on a tool wall.

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Disclaimer

All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.

I do my best to capture colors accurately, but your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.

Please Note:
These pieces come from estate collections and have been surface cleaned. You may wish to perform additional cleaning depending on your preference.

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