<p class="ql-align-justify">	In our earlier part, <a href="https://samsindusneeds.com/blog-detail/walking-down-the-history-of-hand-tools%E2%80%93part-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Walking Down the History of Hand Tools – Part 1 (The Age)</strong></a><strong> …</strong>, we had taken you through the riveting journey of tools – in terms of material, from antiquity to this day. In this section, we will amble through the detailed history of some of the simplest of the tools, that every man uses once in a while.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>HAMMER</strong></p><p>
    <img src="https://samsindusneeds.com/public/blog_image/blg-3-1.png">
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</p><p>	The first Hand-tool developed by Man must have been the Hammer. We had introduced you to the Axe-Hammer discovered by archaeologists, that is estimated to be 2.6 million years old, in the first part of this series. But that is not the start of “hammer” history. The latest find is a collection of 149 “Hammer Stone” heads, discovered in Lake Turkana, Kenya that pushes the date of history by nearly 7,00,000 years - that is nearly 3.3 million years old, to be precise.</p><p><br></p><p class="ql-align-justify">	With progress of Man, he must have used handles to improve the blow and extend the range. This must have been his early weapon too, eventually evolving into Axe-Hatchet and other Striking tools and weapons.</p><p class="ql-align-justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p class="ql-align-justify">	As man progressed, he must have replaced the stone head with better material and also improvised the Hammer-head to suit his purpose – round face, square face, cutting edges, reliefs, <a href="https://samsindusneeds.com/shop?limit=12&amp;category=hand-tool&amp;sub_category=hammer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">claw hammer</a>; for masonry, carpentry, smith-work etc. It was not only the hammer-head that evolved, but also the handle – from simple sticks to wood, metal and fibre. The 16<sup>th</sup> Century saw the emergence of “Forged” hammers.</p><p class="ql-align-justify">&nbsp;</p><p>	With the advancement of science and discovery and inventions in the field of materials, we have a better understanding about how hammers work. The knowledge, so gained, is utilized to make the hammer not only efficient, but also to a better looking and ergonomically efficient tool.</p><p><br></p><p>
</p><p><strong>PLIERS</strong></p><p><br></p><p>    <img src="https://samsindusneeds.com/public/blog_image/blg-3-2.png">
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</p><p>	The simplest of all the hand-tools to have ever been invented by Man, it works on the principle of ‘load’, ‘pressure’ and ‘Fulcrum’. The fulcrum is the most important point of the tool. The arrangement of the plier allows the fulcrum to transfer, after converting the force applied on the handles of the Plier, from muscular one to mechanical force. The mechanical force allows man to focus as well extend the function of his arm to even the minutest of jobs with complete efficiency.</p><p>	
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</p><p>	The need to extend his holding ability must have led to the development of Tongs – a simple plier tool. Among the earliest images of Pliers, Hephaestus - the Greek god of Smith-workers, artisans, fire and Volcano is shown with Plier, along with other tools. The pliers of today have not changed much, looking the same as was first designed by primitive man. But, as with hammers and other tools, the developments in the society and also in different fields of work forced the development of different types of <a href="https://samsindusneeds.com/shop?limit=12&amp;category=hand-tool&amp;sub_category=plier" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pliers</a> best suited to the work. Today, we have Lineman’s Pliers, Crimp-plier, Wire Strippers, Grip Pliers, Circlip pliers, Cobbler’s Pincer etc to name a few.</p><p>
</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><strong>DRILLS</strong>
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    <img src="https://samsindusneeds.com/public/blog_image/blg-3-5.png">
</p><p><br></p><p>	The need of Man to make a hole through any material forced him to invent the Drill. He must have got the idea when he was using a tool to dig the earth. Or, another more plausible explanation can be, the firestick use. He must have observed that he was creating a depression in the Base firestick with repeated rotational movement of the Roller firestick. He must have then figured out that if he kept on doing it, ultimately, he will have a neat hole.</p><p>	
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    <img src="https://samsindusneeds.com/public/blog_image/blg-3-6.png">
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</p><p>	The earliest form of drill to evolve must have been the Bow drill. A very simple contraption that had the hunting Bow as its origin model. The tool uses the same principle of Hand-paw and the Fire-stick, but with a string. The back-and-forth movement is converted into a rotary motion, which was quicker and more efficient.
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    <img src="https://samsindusneeds.com/public/blog_image/blg-3-7.png">
</p><p><br></p><p>	Different civilizations have developed or invented different kinds of drills – the Egyptians developed the Core drills; the Romans invented the Pump drill to drill smaller diameter holes. The Auger was invented to drill holes of bigger diameter. The Churn drill was used by the Chinese for mining work. With progress, man started using various external forces to minimize labour like the Drill presses. Today, we have the electric power drills, powered by direct electric current as well as battery.</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><strong>SAWS</strong></p><p class="ql-align-justify">	The Origin of Saw must have been the mammalian teeth. Man must have wondered on the shape of his teeth. He may have used stone, flint, wooden chips, shells etc to fashion a tool with serrated edge on one side to cut through. With the passing of time and discovery of new material, saws must have slowly evolved. Many saws of copper origin have been found in various archaeological sites, mainly the Egyptian pyramids. These Egyptian saws had serrated teeth that can cut the material when being pulled or pushed. Almost every Egyptian saw was without a frame. It was only in the Iron age that the saw started getting dressed with a frame for better grip and efficient cut. As with other tools, saws have evolved along with the need of work.</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><p>
</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><strong>SCREWDRIVERS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p><p><br></p><p>    <img src="https://samsindusneeds.com/public/blog_image/blg-3-8.png">
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</p><p class="ql-align-justify">	Screwdriver is one common tool that never had featured in the tool-kit of early man simply because he never used a screw. If he never used screw, what will he invent the screwdriver for? The earliest record of use of a similar tool is documented in the “House book of Wolfegg Castle” written in 15<sup>th</sup> Century. The tool is described being used to repair the armour joints. But it is the development of Firearms that led to the refinement and further evolution of screwdrivers as a hand-tool. It was in the 18<sup>th</sup> Century that first true screwdrivers started appearing in the working kit of a workman.</p><p class="ql-align-justify">&nbsp;</p><p class="ql-align-justify">	It was not until, during the Industrial Revolution, the Wyatt brothers found the way to produce the lowly screw, that development of screwdriver as a tool started in a big way. But this development was preceded with the development of screw and bolting fasteners. Until the early 20<sup>th</sup> Century, it was the humble Minus-Head screw/bolt that was used all across the industry and smith work-shops. Consequently, the Flat-head Screwdriver was what was available for the workmen. The only difference was in terms of length, handle and diameter of the screwdriver.</p><p class="ql-align-justify">	</p><p>	The first change in screwdriver head was in the year 1908, when a Canadian – P. L. Robertson developed the Robertson screw, considered the “first recess-driven type fastener practical for production usage.” Due to its advantage of non-slippage during use, these screws were used extensively with Ford Motor Company being one of the first customers to the inventor.</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><p class="ql-align-justify">	Nearly 28 years later, Henry Phillips invented and patented the Phillips Head screw. The advantage of using the Phillips type was in terms of its ability to take more torque and a tighter grip. Down the line, as of today, we have the Allen types, Pozidriv, Hexagonal wrenches, Trox, Tri-wings, Offset, Electrical testers, Watch-makers screwdrivers to name a few. Workmen have the choice of non-magnetic and magnetized <a href="https://samsindusneeds.com/shop?limit=12&amp;category=hand-tool&amp;sub_category=screw-driver" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">screwdrivers</a> that will hold the <a href="https://samsindusneeds.com/shop?limit=12&amp;category=fastener" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fastener</a>; and screwdrivers for precision and delicate work.</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><strong>&nbsp;</strong>
</p><p><strong>SPANNERS</strong></p><p><br></p><p>    <img src="https://samsindusneeds.com/public/blog_image/blg-3-9.png">
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</p><p>	Spanners are yet another set of common hand-tool that early man never used. Rather it is a middle century invention. Here again, Military requirement was the mother of the Invention. The first tools, similar to spanners, were used to tighten the Cross-bow strings to make it more taut than manual winding could achieve.</p><p>
    <img src="https://samsindusneeds.com/public/blog_image/blg-3-10.png">
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</p><p class="ql-align-justify">	The Invention of firearms led to the invention of Box Spanners. The Wheel-lock guns required the Box spanners to prime the gun by spring-loading a wheel. Slowly, the handy spanner became a must-have for every blacksmith of the later centuries unto the 18<sup>th</sup> Century.</p><p>It was not until the Industrial age, that <a href="https://samsindusneeds.com/shop?limit=12&amp;category=hand-tool&amp;sub_category=spanner" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">spanners </a>started to diverse in shapes, types and usage. It was during this period that standardization of Spanners as well as other tools started to happen. Mass-production of products helped in standardization and the wrought iron tools were replaced with cast-iron and steel versions.</p><p><br></p><p class="ql-align-justify">	In conclusion, we have strolled through some fascinating histories of some of the basic hand-tools every workman carries in his tool-bag. Be it any trade – mechanic, carpenter, electrician to name a few, these tools are absolutely a need. Other than the ones mentioned here, every work needs a measurement tool, holding tool, <a href="https://samsindusneeds.com/shop?limit=12&amp;category=hand-tool&amp;sub_category=wrench" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wrenches</a>, abrasives etc., that carry a long history by themself. The limitations placed by the blog, and your interest, forces me to discuss them separately.</p><p class="ql-align-justify">&nbsp;</p><p class="ql-align-justify">Thanks</p><p class="ql-align-justify">&nbsp;</p><p class="ql-align-justify">Composed By: N. P. Bilash</p><p class="ql-align-justify">Dated:12<sup>th</sup> March 2022</p><p class="ql-align-justify">&nbsp;</p><p class="ql-align-justify">Information Credits: Internet</p><p><br></p>