1930's Sears - Craftsman Double Oval Phantom Bevel

FORGED BY: Sears
DATE FORGED: 1940's
HEAD WEIGHT: 2.5 LBS
HANDLE LENGTH: 28"
AXE TYPE: Single bit Dayton boys axe
RATING: Rustically restored

HISTORY
In 1886, Richard Sears worked for the Minneapolis and St. Louis railway station in North Redwood, Minnesota.  Looking to make extra money, he purchased a shipment of watches that were unwanted by a neighboring Redwood Falls, MN jeweler.  Sears sold the watches at a nice profit to other station agents up and down the line, and then ordered more for resale.
 
In 1886 Sears began the R.W. Sears Watch Company in Minneapolis.
 
The following year, Sears moved his business to Chicago and inserted a classified ad in the Chicago Daily News.  "WANTED: Watchmaker with reference who can furnish tools. State age, experience and salary required. ADDRESS T39, Daily News."   Alvah C. Roebuck answered the ad. He told Sears he knew watches and brought a sample of his work to prove it.  In 1893 that the corporate name of the firm became Sears, Roebuck and Co.
 
Richard Sears was the guiding genius of the new mail-order firm. He knew farmers, understood their needs and desires.  Better yet, he could write advertising copy that made farmers send in their money and orders.
While the earliest catalogs featured only watches and jewelry, by 1895 Sears was producing a 532-page catalog with many other items. This book offered shoes, women's garments and millinery, wagons, fishing tackle, stoves, furniture, china, musical instruments, saddles, firearms, buggies, bicycles, baby carriages and glassware, in addition to watches and jewelry.
 
Under Sears leadership, sales in 1893 topped $400,000. Two years later they exceeded $750,000.  Selling, advertising, merchandising - these were Richard Sears' talents, not organizing the company so it could handle orders on an economical and efficient basis. That was left to Chicago clothing manufacturer Julius Rosenwald, who bought into the company in 1895.

The company's reorganization resulted in Rosenwald becoming vice president. Sears retained the presidency. Suffering from ill health, Roebuck resigned, although the company still retained his name. In 1901 Rosenwald became treasurer as well as vice president. Five years later, needing additional capital, Sears and Rosenwald for the first time sold common and preferred stock on the open market. The company has been publicly owned ever since.
 
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About This Axe
This rare phantom bevel double oval Sears Craftsman is rarely seen in this condition.  The stainless metallic green finish on the handle curiously fits the personna of this axe to a tee.  
 
This expertly restored, heirloom quality axe instantly turns heads and becomes the go-to conversation piece in your den, office or home. Included with the purchase of the axe is a frame quality writeup about it's history.