There are several things to note about this handle.
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The first example in my collection was too small for the "Dodge M'F'G Co" imprint; it merely had "Mishawaka IND". This was a puzzle, and not enough to research its origins. A second example is even smaller, and has no maker's mark, but the chamfering is the same. The mystery was solved when Lloyd Henley found, and told me of, the example with a full maker's mark.
There are several things to note about this handle.
The handle has a long smooth neck to the shaft, and a very gentle taper to the end, which is flat. The "corner" to the end is flat, not dished as with Aldrich.
This example is lathe cut, and the lathe was set up so that the final thread is
circular, with uniform depth.
The diameter of the end is slightly greater than the root diameter of the thread,
so that the roots show.
This example has characteristics of Dodge.
The handle has a very gentle taper to the end, which is flat. The "corner" to the end is flat, not dished as with Aldrich, but larger than on the other handle, and at a different angle.
This example is lathe cut, and the lathe was set up so that the final thread becomes
gradually more shallow.
The tip is not flat, but almost conical. The thread continues almost the length
of the shaft.
A nicely preserved example of the mark (provided through the generosity of Lloyd
Henley). A smaller clamp (the first I found) has only the "Mishawaka IND"
mark, as there is no room for the longer cartouche. A yet smaller clamp has no
marks at all, but shares the chamfering, so I believe it is a Dodge.
Notice the chamfer, a pair of steps, along seven edges of each jaw. These
are along the wedge, along the outside, and along the back, where these meet
the top and bottom sides, and also where the outside and back meet.
This material has been moved to graphics of Dodge Manufacturing.
last revised and validated
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