Fire Axe
Item
Title
Fire Axe
Description
Aircraft fire axe produced by Chillington for the Air Ministry (A.M. engraved on lower part of axe shaft) extended cutting edge with number 21F/1 1940 engraved above early example of King's Crown engraved rubber handle with Patent No.515767 on one side and tested 20,000 volts on the other
Date
Identifier
009.016.012
Medium
Provenance
Chillington 'ARPAX' The 'ARPAX' was manufactured by the Chillington Tool Company Limited of Wolverhampton and is notable for its rubber handle, subject to a patent applied for in June 1938 and finally granted in December 1939. Being encased in a tough rubber, the handle was claimed to be less liable to catch fire or break than the traditional wooden types, and would also protect the user from potentially fatal shocks if he or she happened to accidentally cut through electric cables. To this end, moulded into the handle was the comforting phrase 'TESTED 20.000 VOLTS'. On the other side of the handle are details of the patent; earlier manufactures (presumably prior to December 1939 when the full patent was granted) bear the legend 'PRO PAT 19242 - 38', while later ones bear 'PATENT No. 515767'. Three variants of this axe exist. This one which is an example of the final variant has an extended cutting edge that runs down to the shaft, and bearing Air Ministry markings, was of the type carried in RAF aircraft to help crews cut their way out of wreckage. Whether they were issued to Civil Defence units as well is not known, but the latter frequently were first to arrive at crashed aircraft, and so the odd axe might have been 'borrowed'"