H.K. Porter, Incorporated

Table of Contents

Introduction

H.K. Porter was founded in 1880 by Henry K. Porter and operated as a maker of bolt cutters and wire cutters.

Company History

H.K. Porter, Incorporated was founded in 1880 as a maker of bolt cutters and wire cutters. The founder was Henry K. Porter, an inventor with numerous patents for bolt clippers and related tools.

The company initially operated in Boston and became well known for their line of "Easy", "New Easy" and "O.K." compound-leverage bolt cutters.

Fig. 1. 1893 Ad for H.K. Porter "Easy" Bolt Clipper. [External Link]

By 1890 H.K. Porter was offering the "Easy" bolt clippers.

Fig. 1 shows an ad for the H.K. Porter "Easy" bolt clippers, as published on page 100 of the July 20, 1893 issue of The Iron Age.

A close look at the handle of the clippers shows patent dates of April 6, 1880, January 18, 1881, and August 9, 1881.

Fig. 2. 1894 Notice for H.K. Porter "Easy" Bolt Clipper. [External Link]

Fig. 2 shows a notice for the H.K. Porter "Easy" bolt clippers, as published on page 32 of the October 10, 1894 issue of Hardware.

The text claims that over 29,000 bolt clippers had been sold prior to the start of 1894.

The Move to Everett

By 1902 the company had moved to nearby Everett, Massachusetts, with an office and factory at 6 Ashland Street.

An announcement in the May, 1902 issue of The Blacksmith and Wheelwright gave the running sales tally as 77,000 clippers sold.

HYPOWA Bolt Clippers

Fig. 3. 1924 Ad for H.K. Porter "HYPOWA" Bolt Clippers.

In 1922 Porter began using "HYPOWA" as a brand for a line of bolt clippers, and in 1923 received trademark #165,445 for the brand.

Fig. 3 shows an ad for the H.K. Porter "HYPOWA" bolt clippers, as published on page 59 [External Link] of the October, 1924 issue of Hardware World.

The illustration shows the highly detailed castings used for the handles, with the initials "HKP" in the openings at the ends.

The text notes that the tool in the illustration is fitted with jaws to make an end nipper, and that jaws for side cutting were also available.

The Porter-Ferguson Auto Body Division

By 1940 H.K. Porter had established a Porter-Ferguson division after acquiring the Ferguson Auto Body and Fender operations from Trimont Manufacturing of Roxbury, Massachusetts.

The Move to Somerville

By 1948 H.K. Porter had moved to nearby Somerville, Massachusetts.

Later Operations

Patents

Trademarks

References and Resources

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

Catalog Resources

Industrial Distributors

H.K. Porter tools were available from some industrial distributors. We'll add references as time permits.

Selected Tools

"HYPOWA" 14 Inch Bolt Clippers

Fig. 4. H.K. Porter "HYPOWA" 14 Inch Bolt Clippers, with Insets for Back Side and Marking Detail, ca. Late 1930s to 1940s.

Fig. 4 shows a pair of H.K. Porter "HYPOWA" 14 inch bolt clippers with detailed markings cast into the handles.

The front of the upper handle is marked with "HYPOWA Cutter Trade Mark", with "Pat. Jan. 12, '09" and "Trade H.K.P. Mark" on the back side.

The front of the lower handle is marked "HYPOWA 14 Inch", with "H.K. Porter Boston U.S.A." on the back side.

Both handles also have cut-out letters "HKP" cast into the oval opening at the ends.

The overall length is 13.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel with black paint on the handles.

The patent date on the handle refers to patent 909,663, issued to H.K. Porter on January 12, 1909.

The pivot plate for the jaws is stamped with "Made in U.S. America" and "U.S. Patents No. 2,090,259 No. 2,132,825", as seen in the small inset. Patent 2,090,259 was issued to F.T. Lind on August 17, 1937, and patent 2,132,825 was issued to F.T. Lind et al on October 11, 1938.

The patent markings suggest a production date in the late 1930s (1938 or later) to 1940s.