Early tools for ice cutting were the ax, the scraper, the ice saw, and the breaking off bar. After 1900, the horse-drawn ice marker and ice plow came into use. By 1918, the power field saw was introduced.
Other tools:
a grapple or ice hook
towed sheets of ice along channels and hauled blocks up the chute.
a scoop net cleaned channels.
a breaking off bar (similar to a crowbar) was used to detach sheets from the field of ice.
a caulking bar filled grooves with chips to prevent flooding and freezing.
a splitting chisel separated sheets into cakes(4' to 10')
a bar chisel loosened and trimmed cakes of ice
a house bar separated small cakes of ice
a hook chisel split blocks and settled them on the elevator.
