The Lineman Axes of the Phone Companies
Lineman Axes were used by phone company workers (linemen) to maintain the vast network of phone lines that was rapidly growing across North America throughout the 20th century. Linemen used both a specialized Broad Hatchet and a chopping/felling axes for different tasks.
Phone lines spread rapidly and continually throughout the 20th century. And the massive undertaking to connect everyone in North America meant a lot of phone poles to be maintained and trees to be dealt with.
In 1945, forty-five percent of American households had a telephone. Only 12 years later, that number had reached seventy-five percent. By 1970, it was over 90 percent.
There was a lot of work being done on phone lines.
Early Lineman Broad Hatchets
With the patent of the phone system in 1876, it didn’t take long for a support market to grow along with the booming technology. The first instance of a Telephone axe being marketed that I have found is from 1901 – although they were almost certainly available before this time as well.
Early telephone line axes were heavy, double-beveled, broad hatchets. They were used to help fit timber cross arms on phone poles, as well as for removing damaged timber during maintenance. And despite some comments online, they certainly weren’t made to clear brush or branches.
Unlike the later and more common “Bell System” lineman axes, these early telephone axes were much more likely to be sharp and used more for timber fitting.
The Bell System Lineman’s Axe
A Bell Systems lineman’s axe was a specialized hatchet used by linemen to maintain Bell System phone utility poles. The heavy head could break apart and pry off damaged cross-arms, a distinct square hole in the blade could be used to tighten or loosen bolts, and the poll could be used for hammering.
These custom lineman axe was made specifically for the Bell System by Stanley.
Bell System (AT&T) held a monopoly in the United States until its court-ordered breakup in the 1980s. Similarly, Bell Canada had a majority in Canada until regulation changes in the 80s and 90s opened up competition.
This is why basically all the marked lineman axes found are marked Bell System (or Bell Canada), and why they can be found at such a scale.
From the side profile, a lineman axe resembles a common broad hatchet, with about a 4″ blade and pointed lugs on top and bottom. However, once you look at the head, you will see it is quite distinct.
Obviously, there is a big square hole. But beyond that, it has a very heavy head for a hatchet (3lbs), with a lot of the weight in a thick blade. The blade is center-aligned, with a fairly dull (and tough) double-beveled edge.
Unlike earlier Telephone axes, the blade was fairly dull from the factory as it wasn’t actually meant to cut much wood.
Key Uses:
- Wrench: The square hole fit over square nuts on crossarm bolts or the pegs (j-hooks) for insulators, allowing linemen to tighten or turn them.
- Hammer: The poll (back of the head) could be used to drive wooden pegs, nails, or hooks into poles.
- Chopping and Prying: The blade was used for notching or indenting the wood to make things fit, as well as for digging in to pry boards off. It could also be used to break apart damaged timber or cut wires in a pinch.
- Leverage: The hole could also provide leverage for twisting in stubborn J-hooks or setting insulators.
The Lineman’s Chopping Axe
Phone company linemen also used a range of chopping/felling axes as essential tools for helping clear fallen trees and branches that damaged lines, and to remove trees and brush that were interfering with lines to be worked on.
Over the 125+ years of widespread phone line work, the vast majority of the axes used in this role were standard “off-the-shelf” axes with no distinguishable markings. Which is a shame, because this would by far be the most common lineman axe around otherwise. And, I would imagine in some capacity, they are still used.
However, for a short while (approx. 1940s up to the 1960s), axes were marked for the phone company – specifically, Bell Systems in the US.
True Temper Flint edge, and woodslasher axes are known to have been used. However, there were likely others as well.
I have a Canadian example (shown above) that was not stamped, but that came in a proprietary “Bell Canada” sheath.
Help the site grow!
Do you have a rare or unique axe? Did I get something wrong? Please share any pictures, information, or any insights to help improve the archive.
Email: museum@axeandtool.com