Braunsdorf-Mueller Company

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Braunsdorf-Mueller Company was a maker of tools and hardware operating in Elizabeth, New Jersey during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Company History

The Braunsdorf-Mueller Company (BMCo) was founded in Elizabeth, New Jersey by Henry R. Braunsdorf and Charles F. Mueller, and operated as a maker of tools and hardware. Braunsdorf had previously been associated with Hammacher, Schlemmer & Company, a well-known tool maker and importer based in New York City.

Although we haven't yet found a formal announcement of the company's founding, the company was in operation by the late 1890s, as public references to Braunsdorf-Mueller start to appear in 1899.

Fig. 1. January, 1899 Advertisement for Braunsdorf-Mueller. [External Link]

Fig. 1 shows an ad for Braunsdorf-Mueller tap wrenches and knurls, as published on page 31 of the January, 1899 issue of Hardware Dealers' Magazine.

Fig. 2. 1899 Advertisement for Braunsdorf-Mueller Chisels. [External Link]

Fig. 2 shows an ad for Braunsdorf-Mueller chisels, as published on page 35 of the April 10, 1899 issue of Hardware.

Fig. 3. 1899 Advertisement for Braunsdorf-Mueller Tap Wrench. [External Link]

Fig. 3 shows a notice for a Braunsdorf-Mueller adjustable tap wrench, as published on page 130 of the April 10, 1899 issue of Hardware.

The text notes that Braunsdorf had been previously associated with tool makers Hammacher, Schlemmer & Company.

By 1900 the company was producing an impressive range of products, enough to warrant publication of a catalog.

Fig. 4. 1900 Advertisement for Braunsdorf-Mueller Catalog. [External Link]

Fig. 4 shows a notice for a Braunsdorf-Mueller catalog, as published on page 41 of the September 6, 1900 issue of The Iron Age.

Incorporation in 1901

The company was incorporated in 1901 with capital of $100,000, with their products noted just as "hardware specialties".

Fig. 5. 1901 Notice of Incorporation for Braunsdorf-Mueller.

Fig. 5 shows a notice of incorporation for Braunsdorf-Mueller, as published on page 83 [External Link] of the June 6, 1901 issue of American Machinist.

A publication of the State of New Jersey lists the date of incorporation as April 30, 1901.

The "BMCo" Logo

Items made by Braunsdorf-Mueller were frequently marked with the company's "BMCo" logo, consisting of the letters "BMCo" enclosed in an oval. An example of the "BMCo" logo can be seen in the left part of the ad in the figure below.

Fig. 6. 1908 Advertisement for Braunsdorf-Mueller Chisels. [External Link]

Fig. 6 shows an ad for a Braunsdorf-Mueller wood-working chisel, as published at the front of the December, 1908 edition of Woodworkers Review.

The "BMCo" logo was first used in 1907 and was registered as a trademark in 1911. Tools from Braunsdorf-Mueller in distributor catalogs were often identified only by the "BMCo" logo in the illustrations.

Fig. 7. 1911 Advertisement for Braunsdorf-Mueller Tubular Socket Wrenches. [External Link]

Fig. 7 shows an ad for the company's tubular socket wrenches, as published on page 583 of the October, 1911 edition of the Automobile Trade Directory.

Later Operations

By 1927 the tool operations of Braunsdorf-Mueller had been acquired by the American Swiss File & Tool Company, also in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Fig. 8. 1927 Notice for American Swiss File Company. [External Link]

Fig. 8 shows a notice for the American Swiss File & Tool Company, as published on page 250 of the April 11, 1927 issue of American Machinist.

The text notes that American Swiss had recently taken over and was now manufacturing the line of tools formerly made by Braunsdorf-Mueller.

Although it's not completely clear from this notice, the wording "took over" suggests that American Swiss had acquired Braunsdorf-Mueller, or at least its tool operations.

There are very few public references to Braunsdorf-Mueller after this point, providing some confirmation that Braunsdorf-Mueller had been absorbed into American Swiss.

Patents

Trademarks

Braunsdorf-Mueller frequently marked its tools with "BMCo" in an oval logo, and this logo was registered as a trademark in 1911. The first use date was declared as "since about the beginning of 1907".

Tool Identification

BMCo-Oval Logo

Fig. 9. BMCo-Oval Logo from Trademark #81,499.

The scan in Fig. 9 shows the BMCo-Oval logo as it was presented for Trademark #81,499.

This logo was frequently stamped on tools from Braunsdorf-Mueller, sometimes with the Elizabeth, New Jersey location.

References and Resources

Photographs and observations of particular tools are based on items in the Alloy Artifacts collection.

Catalog Resources

Currently we don't have any catalogs for Braunsdorf-Mueller.

Industrial Distributors

Braunsdorf-Mueller tools were widely available through industrial distributors, but the catalog listings for their products may be difficult to identify. The company's full name was rarely spelled out, but instead abbreviated to "B-M Co." or something similar, or omitted entirely with just a "BMCo" logo in the illustration.

• Harron, Rickard & McCone 1918. The 1918 catalog No. 2 from Harron, Rickard & McCone, an industrial distributor, lists a variety of tools from Braunsdorf-Mueller. The listings include punches on pages 205-207, rotating punches on page 208, chisels on pages 209-210, and bearing scrapers on page 211. Also listed is a BMCo gear and wheel puller on page 157.

• Chandler & Farquhar 1919. The 1919 catalog from the Chandler & Farquhar Company, an industrial distributor in Boston, lists BMCo countersinks and reamers on page 67, awls and offset screwdrivers on page 582, seamless tube brace sockets on page 582, chisels and punches on pages 598-599, and a No. 5 gear puller on page 994.

  Except for the "B & M" gear puller, the listings don't mention a company name or abbreviation, but the "BMCo" logo is visible in the illustrations.

• Pittsburgh Auto Equipment 1920. The 1920 catalog No. 7 from the Pittsburgh Auto Equipment Company, a wholesale distributor, lists Braunsdorf-Mueller No. 40 adjustable wrenches on page 221, in sizes 6, 8, and 10 inches. (The catalog abbreviates the company as "B-M", but the wrench illustration shows the full name.)

  Page 251 lists a B-M No. 720 chisel and punch display set and a No. 72 chisel set, both of which show the company's full name on the base.

  Other listings for Braunsdorf-Mueller include BMCo bent tubular socket wrenches on page 228, saddler's punches, belt punches, and a washer cutter on page 252, rod cutters on page 256, gear and wheel pullers on page 289, emery wheel dressers on page 306, bearing scrapers on page 326, a "C clamp" style valve spring lifter on page 335, and adjustable tap wrenches on page 349.

• Tool Specialty Company 1920. The 1920 catalog No. 4 from the Tool Specialty Company of Kansas City, Missouri lists Braunsdorf-Mueller tube socket wrenches on page 48. Two sets of tube socket wrenches in tool rolls were available, and individual wrenches were listed in sizes 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, and 5/8. The company's "BMCo" logo was visible in the illustrations.

• Cragin & Company 1921. The 1921 catalog No. 2 from Cragin & Company of Seattle lists BMCo star brick drills on page 123.

• Marwedel 1922. The 1922 catalog No. 11 from the C.W. Marwedel Company, an industrial supplier in San Francisco, lists BMCo sockets on page 306, including seamless tube bit brace sockets, straight tube sockets, and bent tubular socket wrenches. Also listed are "B-M Co." engineers' bearing scrapers on page 372, BMCo wood gouges on page 380, "B-M Co." half round nose cape chisels on page 381, and "B-M Co." half round chisels on page 382.

• Ducommun "G" 1926. The 1926 catalog "G" from the Ducommun Corporation lists a Braunsdorf-Mueller nut driver and sockets on page 230, identifiable by the BMCo logo in the illustration. Also listed are Braunsdorf-Mueller tubular socket wrenches on page 231, identified by the heading "B. M. Co." above the description.

Selected Tools

Braunsdorf-Mueller produced a wide variety of tools, but unfortunately our collected examples are rather limited and aren't fully representative of the company's output.

We'll add some scanned catalog listings as placeholders.

Revolving Punches

Fig. 10. 1918 Catalog Listing of BMCo Revolving Punches.

Fig. 10 shows a catalog listing for BMCo revolving punches, as published on page 208 of the 1918 Harron, Rickard, & McCone catalog No. 2.

Although the company's name is not mentioned, the familiar "BMCo" logo is visible in the illustrations.

Chisel and Punch Set

Fig. 11. 1918 Catalog Listing of BMCo Chisel and Punch Set.

Fig. 11 shows a catalog listing for a BMCo chisel and punch set, as published on page 210 of the 1918 Harron, Rickard, & McCone catalog No. 2.

The "BMCo" logo is visible on the tool roll at the left of illustration.

BMCo No. 7 1/2 Bent Tubular Socket Wrench

Fig. 12. BMCo No. 7 1/2 Bent Tubular Socket Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1910-1920.

Fig. 12 shows a BMCo No. 7 1/2 bent tubular socket wrench, stamped with the BMCo logo and model number.

The overall length is 6.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The actual measured size of this wrench was about 1/32 over the nominal 1/2 inch, probably an allowance for the manufacturing tolerance. The wrench is constructed of seamless steel tubing and the manufacturing process was probably similar to that used for pressed-steel sockets, which also used a 1/32 oversize allowance.

Socket wrenches in this bent tubular style were popular tools for servicing early automobiles. Other makers included Vlchek Tool, and an example can be seen as the Vlchek No. 51 Bent Socket Wrench.

BMCo No. 9 5/8 Bent Tubular Socket Wrench

Fig. 13. BMCo No. 9 5/8 Bent Tubular Socket Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1910-1920.

Fig. 13 shows a BMCo No. 9 5/8 bent tubular socket wrench, stamped with the BMCo logo and "USA" on the body.

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Socket wrenches in this bent tubular style were popular tools for servicing early automobiles. Other makers included Vlchek Tool, and an example can be seen as the Vlchek No. 51 Bent Socket Wrench.

BMCo 19/32 Bit Brace Socket

Fig. 14. BMCo 19/32 Bit Brace Socket, with Insets for End View and Marking Detail, ca. 1907 to 1920s.

Fig. 14 shows a BMCo 19/32 hex socket for use in a bit brace, stamped with "5/16" on the drive tang, with the BMCo logo on the back side (see right inset).

The overall length is 3.6 inches, and the finish is black paint.

The "5/16" marking is a reference to the older U.S.S. Size Convention corresponding to the 19/32 measured opening.

BMCo 3/8 Bearing Scraper

Fig. 15. BMCo 3/8 Bearing Scraper, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1907 to 1920s.

Fig. 15 shows a BMCo 3/8 bearing scraper, stamped with the "BMCo" logo and "Eliz. N.J." on the shank.

The overall length is 12.1 inches, and the width of the blade is 3/8. The finish is plain steel.

BMCo 3/4 Arch Hole Punch

Fig. 16. BMCo 3/4 Arch Hole Punch, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1900-1906.

Fig. 16 shows a BMCo 3/4 arch hole punch, stamped with "B-M. Co." and "Eliz. N.J." on the shank.

The overall length is 5.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This style of arch-shaped hole punch was widely used for punching holes in leather, paper, or other soft materials.

The use of a stamped "B-M.Co." marking without the familiar logo form suggests production prior to 1907.

Braunsdorf-Mueller [No. 40] 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 17. Braunsdorf-Mueller 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1910s to 1920s.

Fig. 17 shows a Braunsdorf-Mueller [No. 40] 8 inch adjustable wrench, marked with "Braunsdorf Mueller Co." forged into the shank, with "Elizabeth, N.J." forged into the back side.

The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches. The head thickness was measured at 0.55 inches.

The finish is plain steel.

Currently our only catalog reference for this BMCo Crescent-style wrench is the 1920 Pittsburgh Auto catalog, where it is listed as the No. 40 wrench. The wrenches were probably available from the late 1910s onward.