The catalog is a reminder of a time when the prime motive power for moving material was a human. Thus, the large number of different shovels(for different materials and situations,) with a human interface (i.e., the handle.)
Ames was just one of many firms making shovels. Often these were local to a region since transportation costs added excessive costs (unless the target market had no competing shovel makers, say on the frontier.)
The same situation exists for the ax. Look up "vintage ax brands." At one time there were many ax makers, mostly regional, because the ax was still a common tool for shaping wood, again, with the motive power being a human.In modern times most of this type of work is done by a machine. Possibly human run but a machine so trench digger, auger, backhoe, etc.. (or with the ax, a sawsall, circular saw, chainsaw, etc..) With the result being there are a few shovels for sale in, say, Home Depot, most made in China, and, although most construction companies and landscapers have some shovels they're mostly for situations where a machine can't reach or can't do a fine enough job.
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