I am currently sleuthing a mark that involves a DB on a slant placed between a hammer head and handle. I believe it is a mark of a Detroit artist of the early part of the 20th Century. I was told it might be the mark of Digby Brooks. I have crossed out this possibility. I believe there is a connection to John J. Brennan. Does anyone have examples of this mark? I will post my images when I learn How. I would be interested in seeing whatever items I can with this mark.

[This message has been edited by FZweig (edited July 08, 2002).]

I have discovered who the maker of the DB mark divided by a hammer is. David Brennan is the son of John J. Brennan of Detroit. A Google search of "David Brennan" will bring up a site showing Mr. Brennan and examples of his work. He no longer makes work for sale and does his hammering for pleasure.

Here is an image of a small copper bowl by David Brennan. I have posted an image of his mark in the previous post as well. I will repost the image when I get one with better resolution.

Fred

...just listed on eBay...a Brennan piece, and a bit of an oddity I think..
http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-arts-crafts-style-copper-bo...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have never seen this mark and may bid on it just for the mark.... It is a bit odd and not what I would have suspected the Brennans to have made. It does have some appeal...

Fred

Fireplace ash bucket perhaps?

FZweig....new member here as i was doing some research and came across this site. I have a wonderful bowl with this mark however instead of the DB it has JJB insdie the hammer. Could this be the father you referenced? When did he work?
As a side...we are the ones with the Inkwell that is posted in this forum...thank you! We agree that it is spectacular.

http://forum.arts-crafts.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9886045532/m/7071028772

Hi and welcome to the forum,

Yes the JJB in the hammer is the mark of John J. Brennan. The information I have says he worked in Detroit during the Depression and was a member of the Detroit Arts & Crafts Society. He was a great craftsman as is/was his son. Several years ago a woman posted some information about David Brennan and his father and I received no responce from her about further information. She was taking lessons from David. The site is no longer available.

Please take the time to post images of the bowl. I am a collector of the Brennan's work and would love to see it.

Here are some photos per your request and thank you for the information!

And one of the mark

Thank you for the images of the bowl and mark. The images of the mark confirm two issues that I have learned about the Brennans.

1. They punched small dots into the metal marking the diameter of the disk used, pattern, and the number of lobes. 12 d 6 probably stood for 12" diameter copper disk in pattern d and with 6 lobes.

2. The Brennans used two separate punched when they marked their work. One was a punch of the segmented hammer amd the other was of their initials. Usually the initial would have been placed perpendicular to the hammer as shown in the DB mark I posted. Your bowl shows that he missmarked it parallel with the hammer handle and so it overlapped the hammer mark.

Hello,
I bought this copper chamberstick recently at a Detroit area antiques sale. The base is nicely hammered even though it does not show up well in the picture. The stamp reads BRENNAN in between a hammer. I am assuming this was made by one of the Brennans who worked in Detroit. Anyone seen this stamp before? Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jesse

http://members.aol.com/oldstuff79/brennan1.jpg
http://members.aol.com/oldstuff79/brennan2.jpg

Hi Jesse and welcome to the forum. I have seen this Brennan mark on at least three other articles. I suspect it is David Brennan's later mark. David was still alive several years ago and all attempts to contact him were met without success. A webpage posted by a woman who had met David Brennan and was taking lessons from him, yielded a bit of information. That website and post are now closed.
Thank you for sharing the images of your chamberstick.