Hole in hammer

[dr sportster]

Friday estate sale find . : large hammer like a lump hammer on one side and goes to a wedge on the other, made by Stanley. Flip it over ,ah ha , Bell System. It has a 7/8' inch hole through the head in line with the handle . Maybe to screw hooks into a utility pole like using a hammer as a wrench ? Any phone company guys out there ?

 

[TomgaI]

That is a line hammer. Used to drive "drive hooks" in poles, or ground rods. After drilling half inch holes in poles with a brace and bit, you drove pole steps with it. You could straighten the steps with the hole in the head to turn the bend on the step up to keep your boot from slipping off. You could use it for almost everything but electrical problems, and sometimes after getting frustrated it was tempting to try it then Tommy,Southern Bell, Then Bellsouth, Then AT&T.

 

[TomgaI]

If it says Bell System, it should be pre 1984. Bell System was broken up by the courts in 1984 I think. AT&T was the parent Co. After the breakup , all the operating companies were not part of AT&T for many years. Now they have bought some of them back. I don't know how many but Bellsouth for sure.
Tommy

 

[Welding man]

Got one exactly like it. Found it lying beside the road many years ago.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I also have one, always wondered why the hole.
I'm glad to learn what the hole is for.

 

[MarkB_MI]

My BIL worked as a lineman for a few years and has one of these. He told me the same thing that tomgal said: the hole is used for turning pole steps.

 

[MI AC Parsons]

Guys are right on this one. If it was an Estwing, we would buy them in case lots with soft heads, drill hole, put a side set screw in, and then make round steel stamp inserts to be used as inspection stamps for GM

 

[danmcdonald]

Can someone post a picture? Never saw one.

 

[John Fulton]

Yep, Lineman's hammer. I climbed poles for Ma Bell in mid-60's. It also came in handy when kids fooled around with your stuff when you were 25 ft up a pole. I pulled it out of lineman's bag and threatened to throw it down on them. Usually worked, but not always.

 

[dr sportster]

It is a beefy hammer. I paid five bucks for the hammer ,welding vise grips and a quart oil can. The hammer I will use.

 

[dr sportster]

I know I will sound like an idiot but I have tried posting pics on this site before. After about an hour my wife took over and she had no luck either.