There were several iterations of Snuffers over the years. Origin of the head was back in the 60's, Dad was taking Ben Pearson Deadheads apart and soldering them back together as 3 blade heads. There were both large and small versions from the 2 deadhead sizes. They ended up being called "biscuit cutters" and collectors seek them. I've posted pics of both sizes here in the past.
The original Snuffer "factory" was our garage back home. Dad was a machinist and built all the presses, grinders etc himself. I spent lots of hours as a kid putting Snuffers together. They were built at home from around early 80's to about 1990 when the business was sold to Delta Industries in Iowa. Main drivers for that (as Dad told me in conversations over the years) were 1. Dad was tired of 2 full time jobs 2. Head size was standardizing at 125 gr in the industry and he did not want to compromise the design by making smaller heads, 3. He realized that no one in the family had the capability or interest to continue the business. I was starting college then and was interested in science. He was also looking towards buying land and leaving Ohio.
Delta had the heads for several years. They had some trouble with heat treat occasionally I've heard. They also started smaller sizes. I've seen 145s 125s and 110s in grain weight. Original Snuffers were 160/165 without adaptors and 1 1/2 inch diameter. Smaller ones were just ground down versions. Less metal. Not redesigned.
Delta sold to Magnus, I'm not sure of date, but thinking early 2000s. I bought a box of seconds from Mike around that time. Never heard anything bad about Magnus made Snuffers. He was making the Wensel heads during the same time period. Wensel heads were built on the same ferrule as Snuffers. The ferrule was the real innovation, Dad designed the punch press to make those, there were a bunch of punch stages from flat sheet stock..15 or 17 stages something like that.
One of Dads stories about the head was handing one to Fred Bear at a sportsmans show in the early 80's...Fred said..."Nice head...WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR FERRULES?"
The last I knew Thunder Valley (from Louisiana or MS maybe?) Had the head, they probably had woodsmans too. I know Dad talked quite a bit with the owner and I met him at Compton in MI one year. One time Dale from 3 Rivers was talking about the heads too, have no idea if that went anywhere.
I have my own stash of around 200 of thg he 160's, so I think I'm covered
It would be nice to see the head on the market again, though.
R
Topic: Snuffers! (Read 5660 times)
