Help ID this alloy hammer

[bkreigsr]

Does anyone in the braintrust recognize this hammer ?

It seems like some kind of aluminum alloy combination, cast, has no markings, and has cast flutes in the handle - three on one side, two on the other side.

Maybe someone's metal shop project?

Thanks in advance.
Bill K

[masraum]

It could be user made. I'm a member of some tool groups, and you'll sometimes find hand planes made of bronze or brass. Those were generally user made, copied from a Stanley/other retail plane.

Cast Al seems like one of those things that wouldn't be too tough for the right person to make/copy.

[Steve Carlton]

That’s a Poor Thor. They went out of business in 1915 after making about 30 hammers.

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

That’s a Poor Thor. They went out of business in 1915 after making about 30 hammers.

Steve is that a company?
A search only leads down a very deep rabbit hole and goes nowhere ??

(Thor Industries is still in existence and doing very well. RV's, trailers, etc)

Do you have a link?

[stevej37]

I know a guy by the name of Thor...about age 50
Every time I see him...I think of him carrying a hammer like that.

[Bob Kontak]

I think he's joking about the Poor Thor. It's a catchy name, though.

How heavy is the hammer? Does it feel like an aluminum alloy weight wise?

[fintstone]

Most likely a heavy-duty vintage meat hammer/tenderizer.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Most likely a heavy-duty vintage meat hammer/tenderizer.

You thinking because of the thin width of the head?

Edit: Google shows handle length about the same as subject hammer as well as similar metal color.

https://www.google.com/search?q=vintage+meat+tenderizer+hammer&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=AJOqlzXyzFACEFwzf8lYFiIV3vbpcnePPg:167337591 8557&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjc2s2J0738AhVSkmoFHd92ASUQ_AUoAnoECAEQB A&biw=1024&bih=615&dpr=1

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Most likely a heavy-duty vintage meat hammer/tenderizer.

I like that answer....as a teen, there was a butcher/meat shop near me.
When stopping there, one of them was always swinging a hammer on some meat.

[fintstone]

...and the lack of wood is typical. Also, what seem to be the blood groves in the handle. Similarly, there appears to be a texture on the striking surface.

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

How heavy is the hammer? Does it feel like an aluminum alloy weight wise?

It's heavier than it should be for a light AL alloy.
Has some heft to it.

Maybe a 'white' metal that they used to make a variety of toys in the 50's ?

[pwd72s]

Maybe it used to belong to Trini Lopez?

[fintstone]

The were made with zinc-alloy and stainless steel...as well as steel. Also cast iron, brass, and wood.

[stevej37]

Meat tenderizer on Ebay

[masraum]

Originally Posted by fintstone

there appears to be a texture on the striking surface.

I think that's because someone at some point used it to beat on something harder than the hammer is (not meat). But that doesn't mean that it's not supposed to be a meat tenderizer.

[pwd72s]

Semi funny aside. Cindy has a meat tenderizer hammer like above. She once "borrowed" a rubber hammer from me. I ended up giving it to her, bought another for my rollaway. She claims the rubber has less shock & tenderizes better...

Doesn't make sense to me...but "never argue with the cook"...

[stevej37]

[908/930]

Looks like a Zinc non marring hammer. I have seen similar used in food processing plants to help loosen large bevel seat sanitary fittings. Probably also good for areas that can not have a spark.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 908/930

Looks like a Zinc non marring hammer. I have seen similar used in food processing plants to help loosen large bevel seat sanitary fittings. Probably also good for areas that can not have a spark.

Non-sparking hammers are also often copper.

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by masraum

Non-sparking hammers are also often copper.

Or Beryllium?