This page is devoted to Hale hammers; other various Hale piano tools are shown throughout this ‘site. The Hale tuning hammer was one of the best on the market, from its invention in 1885, but there was competition from Erlandsen, whose tool production had already been established since 1863, and from Hammacher Schlemmer, whose hammers were mostly made by Erlandsen. After WWl, Hale hammers became more of the leading choice for piano technicians and tuners.
Market share increased after 1929, as the industry shrunk, Julius Erlandsen exited the business (c. 1930s), and Hammacher Schlemmer moved to midtown Manhattan (1920s), and became more interested in marketing the high-end novelty items that they are known for today.
Hale hammers went through a number of permutations during their production, which lasted well over a century. This review of the Hale hammers does not purport to be a type study along the lines of the many Stanley tool studies (where there are all too often many examples of exceptions to the various categories), but more of a general review of the the history and development of the Hale tuning hammer.
Gallery
From: Martin Shepherd
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