Rare find Peter Derr number-punch set
Updated August 26, 2026
| Lot number | 515 |
| Auction | September Cataloged Antique Auction |
| Date | September 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT |
| Auction house | Horst Auctioneers |
| Location | Ephrata, Pennsylvania |
ca. One punch dated 1858; Ownership attributed to be the well known lamp maker and blacksmith Peter Derr (Berks Co., PA). He was reported as having made his own tools. This rare find is a nine piece 1/2"H hot strike numbering punch set in a wooden chamfer front stand. It includes the number "1" punch that is initialed & dated "P.D., 1858" in a 1/4" H. punch strike. Each punch is handwrought rectangular stock with a chamfered work corners with a forged and file-worked number. The wooden stand is numbered with a matching number; punches - 3 3/4"L w/ 1/2" H. strike; block - 8 1/4" x 1 3/4" x 1 3/4"; Condition: A comparison was done during cataloging to a "Peter Derr" attributed dough scraper that was on this auction and numbers appear to match exactly. Note: remember these were hot strike punch which when used deteriorate to edges on punches used more often, so possibly #1, #8, or others more frequently used may have been re-made. A truly rare find. Each punch has some "mushrooming" from use with mallet. It is a complete set. In this case #6 punch also served as #9.
