✅ SOLVED Shovel id help

[harris1]

Shovel marked openhearth steel 2 , total length 3 feet unique handle just another item I've saved over my yrs in the moving business. Any help greatly appreciated Bill ( looking for possible yr made )

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

I spent about 15 minutes doing some internet-research for you. The Open Hearth Process for steelmaking was invented in 1865. Its use didn't become widespread until the 1890s. Quoting from an internet info-source on the history of steelmaking:
"The open hearth steelmaking had superseded Bessemer process in UK by 1900. The Basic Oxygen Steelmaking process eventually replaced the open hearth furnace. It rapidly superseded both the Bessemer process and Siemens-Martin [open hearth] process in Western Europe by the 1950s and in Eastern Europe by the 1980s."

I also came across a mention that the first Bethehem Steel Company open-hearth furnace began operation in January 1893.

"Open Hearth steel was considered tougher than Bessemer-process steel." That is probably why your shovel is marked "open hearth steel." Based on the historical information above, your shovel was most likely manufactured sometime from about 1900 to the 1950s.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Looks turn of the century or very early 20th century! can't say for sure though. Thanks for sharing...

 

[L0STANDF0UND]

Judging by the small size and inside shape of the handle, I'm guessing it's a Bigole-Dung's shovel. Nice find!:-)

 

[harris1]

Thanks for the info ( this forum rocks )