Collins Company

The company was founded in 1826 as Collins & Company, a partnership between brothers David C. and Samuel W. Collins along with their cousin William Wells. The company initially maintained offices in Hartford, Connecticut, and their early products were axes and other edge tools manufactured at a converted grist mill in nearby Collinsville. Tools made at this time were marked "Collins & Co., Hartford".

In May of 1834 the Collins Manufacturing Company was created (by act of legislature) as the successor to the partnership, for the stated purpose of manufacturing edge tools. The corporation was located in the town of Canton, about 15 miles from Hartford. The corporation continued to use the earlier "Collins & Co., Hartford" marking as a trademark.

As a side note, the reorganization of the partnership into Collins Manufacturing was for the benefit of creditors, as the partnership had failed when banks demanded immediate repayment of loans. The partners assigned their goodwill and reputation to the corporation and in return received a salary and shares of stock.

In May of 1843 the legislature enlarged the corporate charter to include the manufacturing of any articles of iron and steel, with the name changed to The Collins Company and capital of $300,000. Over time the company expanded its production to include agricultural implements such as hoes, shovels, and machetes for cutting cane. The company developed a strong export business and at one point was producing 150 varieties of machetes for export to 35 countries.

Screw-Adjusting Wrenches

By 1867 the company had begun manufacturing screw-adjusting wrenches based on patent 50,364, issued in 1865 to Lucius Jordan and Leander E. Smith. This patent described a step-plate backed by a nut threaded onto the shank of the wrench to absorb the force transmitted through the adjusting screw, thereby avoiding damage to the wooden handle.

Fig. 114. 1867 Ad for Collins Screw Wrench. [External Link]

Fig. 114 shows an ad for the Collins screw wrench, as published on page 771 of the August 10, 1867 issue of the American Railroad Journal.

The text below the illustration describes the patented improvements to prevent damage to the handle.

Fig. 114B. 1868 Ad for Collins Screw Wrench.

The scan in Fig. 114B shows a full-page ad for the Collins patent screw wrench, as published on page 124 [External Link] of the 1868 507 Mechanical Movements by Henry T. Brown.

This ad provides a very clear illustration, and various parts of the wrench are annotated for further explanation in the text below.

The Jordan and Smith patent was subsequently clarified by reissue patents RE3,852 of 1870 and RE5,294 of 1873.

Patent Litigation

In 1875 the company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Loring Coes & Company, thereby beginning a protracted period of litigation. The case eventually went to the Supreme Court and wasn't resolved until March 5, 1889, with a decision that the 1865 patent 50,364 was void for lack of novelty.

We'll fill in more details on this case at a later time.

The Collins Company continued producing wrenches at least through 1910, but these tools never became major products on the scale of the company's edge tools and farm implements.

Patents

Trademarks

The Collins Company was very prolific in its trademark activities during the latter part of the 19th century, probably as a result of earlier litigation to defend its company markings in the era prior to formal trademarks. The table below shows a selected sample of a larger number of trademarks.

References and Resources

Background information on the Collins Company was found in a court case THE COLLINS COMPANY v. OLIVER AMES & SONS CORPORATION from 1882, published beginning on page 561 [External Link] of the Federal Reporter.

Additional information on the company can be found in an article on The Collins Company [External Link] at ConnecticutHistory.org.

The Collins Company published a history of its first 100 years in 1926, which is available at One Hundred Years 1826-1926 on the Archive.org site. However, there is no mention of wrenches in this publication, an indication of the relative unimportance of wrenches as a product of the company.

Currently we do not have any catalogs for the Collins Company.

Selected Tools

Collins 12 Inch Monkey Wrench

Fig. 115. Collins 12 Inch Monkey Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. Late 1860s to 1890s.

Fig. 115 shows a Collins 12 inch monkey wrench, stamped with "Collins & Co." and "Hartford" plus "Patented Oct. 10, 1865" on the back of the upper jaw.

The wrench is also stamped (in several places) with "N.P.F.RY?", possibly a reference to the Northern Pacific Railway.

The patent date refers to patent 50,364, issued to L. Jordan et al on that date.

The overall length is 11.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel with traces of nickel plating.

Craftsman Tool Company

The Craftsman Tool Company was founded in 1914 in Conneaut, Ohio and operated as the maker of specialized machinery as well as a patented pipe wrench.

The company was initially formed to acquire the assets of the Atwood Manufacturing Company from the bankruptcy trustee. The Atwood company had been the maker of a self-adjusting pipe wrench based on patent 870,781, issued on November 12, 1907 to George Heckling. The Craftsman company continued production of the pipe wrench in addition to producing a line of specialized milling machines.

Fig. 117A. 1912 Notice for Atwood Mfg. Pipe Wrench. [External Link]

Fig. 117A shows a notice for the Atwood self-adjusting wrench, as published on page 502 of the April 19, 1912 issue of The Metal Worker.

The illustration shows the unique construction of the wrench, in which a toothed roller is forced into tighter engagement by an pinion gear running in a rack on the handle.

Craftsman Tool produced the self-adjusting wrenches in a range of sizes from 8 to 24 inches, and the tools appear to have sold in some quantity. However, we haven't found any advertisements for the tools, and it's unclear whether they were sold through distributors or retailers.

Rotary Milling Machines

By the early 1920s the company was producing a type of rotary milling machine designed for making castellated nuts, and there are a few references to the company in the trade press in the early 1920s.

Craftsman Tool Company ≠ Craftsman Brand

Some of our readers may recall reading that the Sears Craftsman brand was acquired from a "Craftsman Tool Company", but it turns out that there were at least two companies of that name, and the present company had no known association with Sears.

The Craftsman Tool Company associated with the Sears brand was a maker of axes, hatchets, and hammers operating in Champaign, Illinois, and it had merged to become the Marion-Craftsman Tool Company by the time that Sears became interested in the Craftsman brand.

Craft 10 Inch Self-Adjusting Pipe Wrench

Fig. 117B. Craft 10 Inch Self-Adjusting Pipe Wrench, with Insets for Bottom View, Back Side, and Marking Detail, ca. 1914 to Mid 1920s.

Fig. 117B shows a Craft 10 inch self-adjusting pipe wrench, stamped with "Craft" and "10 In." on the handle, with "The Craftsman Tool Co." and "Conneaut, O." on the back side.

The back is also marked with "Pat. Nov. 1907", a reference to patent 870,781, issued to G. Heckling on November 12, 1907.

The overall length is 11.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Currier-Koeth Manufacturing Company

The Currier-Koeth Manufacturing Company was founded in 1907 in Coudersport, Pennsylvania as a maker of machinery and tools.

Fig. 118A. 1907 Incorporation Notice for Currier-Koeth. [External Link]

Fig. 118A shows the directory entry for Currier-Koeth, as published on page 43 of the List of Charters of Corporations for Pennsylvania, covering 1907 through 1909.

The text notes that the company was incorporated with capital of $53,000 on November 12, 1907, and that the intended line of business was machinery, castings, tools and novelties.

Speaking of novelties, the company's earliest product was a plier-like combination tool described by patent 677,770, filed by E.D.C. Koeth in 1900 and issued in 1901. The tool consisted of a pair of handles and several sets of interchangeable jaws, and was sold in a wooden box as "Koeth's Kombination Kit".

Fig. 118. 1907 Ad for Koeth's Kombination Kit.

The scan in Fig. 118 shows an ad for the Koeth's Kombination Kit, as published on page 1413 of the December, 1907 issue of Popular Mechanics. The illustration shows the different blades in the set and the way they install into the handles.

The Kombination Kit was available by late 1907 and remained in production until at least 1913, and was advertised widely during this period.

In later years the company emphasized the interchangeability of the tools, calling it the "K-I-T" for Koeth's Interchangeable Tools.

The "Curko" Brand

By around 1914 the company had begun producing tools for valve grinding under the brand "Curko".

Fig. 119. 1915 Notice for Curko Valve Refacer. [External Link]

Fig. 119 shows an illustration of a Curko valve refacing machine, part of a two-page article beginning on page 198 of the January, 1915 edition of the Automobile Trade Journal.

Under the heading "Curko Valve-Treating Tools", the article describes various Curko tools, including a valve lifter, the refacing machine, and a valve grinding set.

Around this time the company began producing other types of tools as well, including adjustable wrenches and hex-drive socket sets. These later tools were also sold under the "Curko" brand.

Socket Sets

Fig. 120. 1917 Notice for Currier-Koeth Mfg. [External Link]

Fig. 120 shows a notice for a Currier-Koeth socket set, as published on page 28 of the January 17, 1917 issue of Motor World.

The text describes a small socket wrench set consisting of an ell handle and five sockets from 5/16 to 7/16, and a Crescent-style adjustable wrench available in four sizes.

Illustrations of the tools appeared on the prior page of the source.

Acquisition by Graham Roller Bearing

By late 1916 Currier-Koeth had been acquired by the Graham Roller Bearing Company.

Fig. 121. 1916 Notice for Graham Roller Bearing. [External Link]

Fig. 121 shows a notice of the acquisition, as published on page 33 of the November 4, 1916 issue of Michigan Manufacturer and Financial Record.

The text notes that Graham had purchased the Currier-Koeth manufacturing facility in order to expand.

Graham Roller Bearing continued to produce at least some of Currier-Koeth's products, including the valve-grinding tools and socket sets, and continued to use the "Curko" brand in advertisements.

Fig. 122. 1919 Ad for Curko Socket Wrenches. [External Link]

Fig. 122 shows an ad for Curko socket wrenches, as published on page 48 of the January, 1919 edition of American Garage & Auto Dealer.

Graham continued to offer Curko socket sets at least through 1920, but advertisements after that time no longer mention the Curko brand.

Currier-Koeth "Koeth's Kombination Kit"

Fig. 123. Currier-Koeth Koeth's Kombination Kit, ca. 1907-1913.

Fig. 123 shows a Currier-Koeth "Koeth's Kombination Kit" in its wooden box. The kit consists of a pair of handles in the lower bay, with six pairs of interchangeable blades in the upper bays.

After the desired blades are installed in the slot in each handle, the handles are held together with the bolt and wingnut visible in the upper right bay.

The functions of the various blades are, from the left, straight shears, alligator wrench (?), curved shears, punch or awl, combination pliers, and end nippers.

Fig. 124. Label for Koeth's Kombination Kit, ca. 1907-1913.

Fig. 124 shows the paper label on the lid of the wooden box, identifying the tools as "Koeth's Kombination Kit".

The text at the bottom notes "Currier-Koeth Manufacturing Co." with "Coudersport, Pa." and "U.S.A." below.

The dimensions of the box are 10.5 inches wide by 5.9 inches deep by 1.7 inches high.

Currier-Koeth 9 Inch End Nippers from "Koeth's Kombination Kit"

Fig. 125. Currier-Koeth 9 Inch End Nippers from Koeth's Kombination Kit, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1907-1913.

Fig. 125 shows a pair of Currier-Koeth 9 inch end nippers from the "Koeth's Kombination Kit". The handle is stamped "K.K.K. Tool" and "Currier, Koeth Mfg. Co." around the pivot, with "Coudersport, Pa." below.

The top inset shows a side view of the pliers.

The overall length is 8.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The pliers are also marked with a "Pat. July 2, 1900" notation, an intended reference to patent 677,770. The patent was actually issued to E.D.C. Koeth on July 2, 1901.

The lower handle has a piece of curved spring steel attached at the midway point, which can be pivoted to provide spring-opened jaws.

Fig. 125B. Detail for Currier-Koeth 9 Inch End Nippers, ca. 1907-1913.

Fig. 125B shows the lower handle of the Currier-Koeth nippers, illustrating the way the interchangeable jaws fit into a slot in the handle.

Davenport Tool Company

The Davenport Tool Company was the maker of specialty ratchets, including the "Hastee" ratchet wrench, the "Crick-It" squeeze-action ratchet, the "Sidewinder" ratchet with a bent handle, and the "Spinut" ratchet with a rotating head.

The company was in business by 1972 and operated at least into the mid 1980s, with locations in and around Davenport, Iowa, including Eldridge, Iowa. (An early patent listed a location in "Goldridge" Iowa, but this appears to have been a typo meaning Eldridge, as there is no "Goldridge" city in Iowa.)

In addition, the company had a manufacturing facility in Rochelle, Illinois.

The "Hastee" Ratchet Wrench

Davenport's first product appears to have been the "Hastee" ratchet wrench, which was being advertised by 1974 in Popular Science. This tool is described by patent 3,803,954, issued to P.E. Lenker in 1974.

A quick glance at the Lenker patent reveals that is is basically a re-hash of the Cochran "Speednut" Wrench first produced in 1914, and then later revised and promoted in the 1920s by John V. Larsen with his Speednut Wrench Corporation.

If haste is speed, then even the name "Hastee" is a knock-off of "Speednut".

The "Crick-It" Squeeze-Action Ratchet

The company's second product was the "Crick-It" ratchet, a novelty tool in which a ratchet gear is rotated by squeezing a plier-like handle. This tool is described by patent 3,941,017, issued to P.E. Lenker and R.G. Voss in 1976.

Announcements for the "Crick-It" tool appeared in the trade press in 1975.

The "Spinut" Ratchet

The "Spinut" ratchet consisted of a ratchet head mounted in a yoke to allow 360 degree rotation of the head.

This was not a new idea and there is extensive prior art for rotatable ratchet heads, including the Bay State Autokit from 1908, the Peerless Ratchet of the early 1920s, the OTC H-160 Ratchet of the mid 1930s, and the S-K "Roto Ratchet" of the early 1960s.

The "Sidewinder" Ratchet

By 1981 the company was offering a "Sidewinder" ratchet, a tool combining a ratchet head in a yoke mounting with a bent handle.

A notice for the "Sidewinder" in Popular Mechanics reported the company address as 102 North Washington Street in Rochelle, Illinois 61068.

Later Operations

A 1983 Certified List of Domestic and Foreign Corporations from the State of Illinois listed the Davenport Tool Company, Inc. at 102 North Washington Street in Rochelle, with Clyde C. Clark as president.

We haven't found any references to Davenport Tool in the trade press after 1986. Somewhat ominously, a 1986 memorandum [External Link] from the Iowa Department of Public Health (on file with the EPA) noted that extensive lead contamination was found at the Davenport Tool and Die facility where "Crick-It" ratchets were assembled.

We suspect that the company may have closed shortly afterwards.

Patents

Trademarks

The company filed a trademark application for "HASTEE" on December 9, 1974, published as serial 39,162 on July 1, 1975. The trademark was issued as #1,020,967 on September 23, 1975.

On its "Crick-It" ratchet, the company claimed a trademark for a "Crick-It" logo in the shape of a cricket, but no trademark application has been found.

Selected Tools

Currently our only tools from Davenport Tool are examples of the "Crick-It" ratchet, but we're fortunate to have an example of very early production for comparison.

Early [Davenport Tool "Crick-It"] 3/8-Drive Squeeze-Action Ratchet

Shortly after posting the "Crick-It" squeeze-action ratchet below, we were rummaging through one of our tool boxes and discovered another example of the tool, but without even a company name marking.

Fig. 126A. [Davenport Tool] 3/8-Drive Squeeze-Action Ratchet, with Insets for Bottom and Top Views, ca. 1975.

Fig. 126A shows a [Davenport Tool] 3/8-drive squeeze-action ratchet, stamped only with "Pat. P." near the ratchet gear.

The "Pat. P." notation refers to patent 3,941,017, filed in 1975 and issued in 1976.

The top inset shows the ratchet from the top to illustrate the details of the pawl mechanism.

The pawl is secured by a pin through the frame, and a tube protruding from the pawl connects to one end of a coil spring to provide the bias. The other end of the coil spring is connected to the actuating lever to maintain contact with the ratchet gear.

The middle inset shows a bottom view of the ratchet to illustrate the stamped construction. The ratchet body was stamped from a single sheet of steel and then folded to bring the holes for the gear into alignment.

In operation, squeezing the lower handle pushes a strip of spring steel forward to rotate the ratchet gear. Since the ratchet gear turns in only one direction, reversing the action requires pushing the drive stud through the gear and turning the tool over.

The ratchet can also be used in a conventional manner by turning the handle, but has rather high back drag due to friction between the ratchet gear and the body.

Davenport Tool "Crick-It" 3/8-Drive Squeeze-Action Ratchet

Fig. 126B. Davenport Tool "Crick-It" 3/8-Drive Squeeze-Action Ratchet, with Insets for Bottom View and Marking Detail, ca. 1975-1976.

Fig. 126B shows a Davenport Tool "Crick-It" 3/8-drive squeeze-action ratchet, stamped with "Davenport Tool Co." and "Eldridge, Iowa" below the "Crick-It" logo.

The ratchet is also marked with a "Pat. Pend." notation, a reference to patent 3,941,017, filed in 1975 and issued in 1976.

The lower inset shows a close-up of the markings, with the "Crick-It" name cleverly embedded in an outline of a cricket.

The top inset shows a view of the ratchet from the bottom. Note that the fold of the upper handle has been filled.

In operation, squeezing the lower handle pushes a strip of spring steel pawl forward to rotate the ratchet gear.

This second example of the "Crick-It" ratchet is still early enough to have a patent pending notation, but shows an interesting production change from the earlier example. The space between the sides of the upper handle has been filled in, apparently to give the tool a feeling of more "heft".

Detroit Tool and Forge Company

The Detroit Tool and Forge Company was founded in 1932 and operated as a maker of a tools for industrial applications, including sockets and drive tools, ratcheting wrenches, and specialty tools.

Fig. 127. 1932 Notice for Detroit Tool and Forge.

The screenshot in Fig. 127 shows a snippet of a notice of the company's incorporation, as originally published in the 1932 Volume 90 of Steel.

The text notes the company address as 656 Smith Avenue in Detroit and gives the capital as $10,000. The principal of the company appears to be Kerr Volis.

Online searches for the company found only a few references from the early 1930s, mostly for an air valve product.

However, more references were found from the mid 1930s to 1940s for a similarly named company, Detroit Tool & Manufacturing, which operated at 1660 Beard Avenue in Detroit. One reference listed the latter company as the D.T.M. Corporation.

We have a catalog for the Detroit Tool and Forge Company at the 656 Smith Avenue address, which although undated appears to be from the 1930s. The catalog lists mostly sockets and drive tools with a strong focus on industrial automation, as it includes tools with oval drive tangs of several sizes, as well as products such as an adapter from Morse taper to square drive.

With its location in Detroit, it's probably safe to asssume that the company's main customers would have been auto makers or their numerous suppliers.

"Surface Drive" Sockets

For us the most interesting tools in the catalog were the "surface drive" sockets on pages 2 and 3. These sockets were designed with relieved corners to reduce stress and cracking, and to allow the socket to easily slip onto a nut.

Fig. 128. 1930s Catalog Listing for Detroit Tool "Surface Drive" Sockets.

The scan in Fig. 128 shows the listing for "surface drive" sockets, as published on page 2 of the 1930s Detroit Tool and Forge catalog.

Note that the sockets on this page are all oval-drive, in sizes 7/16, 9/16, and 5/8. The following page offered similar sockets with square drive broachings.

Sockets used in factory automation applications could easily get orders of magnitude more usage than a socket in a typical service application, and a socket failure would result in costly downtime. Detroit Tool analyzed the cause of early socket failures and engineered its "surface drive" sockets for long life in a demanding environment.

The "surface drive" sockets are noted as having a pending patent, but the patent (if issued) has not been located. But the design of these sockets appears to brilliantly anticipate the Utica "Locrite" patent #3,125,910 and Snap-on "Flank Drive" patent #3,273,430 of three decades later.

The D.T.M. Connection

One of the products listed in the catalog is an SSR-14 7/16 square ratcheting box wrench, as shown in the lower table in Fig. 130 below. This is a somewhat unusual size and style for a ratcheting wrench, but it very closely matches a former "mystery" tool in our collection, allowing us to identify Detroit Tool and Forge as the previously unknown maker.

The mystery tool is marked with a logo showing the letters "DTM" inside a hexagon, which leads us to the hypothesis that Detroit Tool and Forge changed its name to (or was otherwise succeeded by) Detroit Tool & Manufacturing, aka D.T.M. Corporation.

We believe that the close match between the catalog scan and the actual tool in Fig. 131 provides strong evidence for Detroit Tool and Forge as the maker, and for the D.T.M. Corporation as the business successor.

Later Operations

Currently we don't have any information on the later operations of the D.T.M. Corporation. However, searches for "surface drive" sockets have turned up some references in the mid 1950s to the Apex Machine & Tool Company, a major player in factory automation. This offers at least a hint that the D.T.M. Corporation might have been acquired by Apex.

Tool Identification

Currently all of our tool examples are marked with the DTM-Hex logo, indicating later production after the company changed its name. However, it's reasonable to think that Detroit Tool and Forge might have used a similar "DTF" logo in its earlier years.

DTM-Hex Logo

Fig. 129. DTM-Hex Logo from SSR14 Wrench.

Tools made by the D.T.M. Corporation can be identified by a stamped logo with "DTM" in a hexagonal outline, which we refer to as the DTM-Hex logo in the text.

Fig. 129 shows a close-up of the DTM-Hex logo stamped on the SSR14 wrench shown in a later figure.

The DTM-Hex logo has not been found in any published references and is currently known only from stamped markings on tools.

Catalog Coverage

Currently we have only one catalog for Detroit Tool and Forge.

Selected Tools

Detroit Tool and Forge SSR14 7/16 Square Ratcheting Box Wrench

Fig. 130. 1930s Catalog Listing for Detroit Tool Ratcheting Wrenches.

The scan in Fig. 130 shows a listing for ratcheting box wrenches, as published on page 1 of a Detroit Tool and Forge catalog from the 1930s.

As the listing shows, the wrenches were available in an SR-xx series with hexagonal openings and an SSR-xx series with square openings. With a suitable male-to-male adapter, the latter series could operate as a light-duty ratchet for sockets.

The next figure below shows a ratcheting wrench with an SSR14 model number and 7/16 square opening, matching the specifications listed in the lower table at the left, and closely matching the illustration as well.

The matching appearance, model number, and specifications allow us to identify Detroit Tool and Forge as the maker of the SSR14 wrench.

Fig. 131. Detroit Tool and Forge SSR14 7/16 Square Ratcheting Box Wrench, with Insets for Edge View and Marking Detail, ca. Mid 1930s to 1940s.

Fig. 131 shows a Detroit Tool and Forge SSR14 7/16 square ratcheting box wrench, stamped with a "DTM-Hex" logo on the back side, as seen in the lower inset.

The overall length is 6.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Several other tools with this same "DTM-Hex" marking have been found and will be added as time permits.

DTM ST-10001 3/8-Drive Specialty Socket

Fig. 132. DTM ST-10001 3/8-Drive Specialty Socket, with Insets for Top View and Marking Detail, ca. Mid 1930s to 1940s.

Fig. 132 shows a DTM 3/8-drive ST-10001 specialty socket, stamped with the "DTM-Hex" logo on the base.

The overall height is 2.0 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

The socket has a long hollow barrel with two projecting tabs, possibly for servicing a slotted nut for a carburetor jet.

Currently we do not have a catalog reference for this tool.

E.T. Company

The E.T. Company was a maker of pliers operating in Norwalk, Connecticut. Currently the company is known only for the Woodworth patent chain repair pliers shown in the figure below, but we hope to locate other examples of their production.

As no other examples of E.T. Company tools have shown up, we now think that the company was probably just the customer of a contract producer of the pliers, for example, the "Eastern Tire Company" offering chain repair pliers for their customers.

E.T. Company Woodworth Patent Chain Repair Pliers

Fig. 133. E.T. Company Woodworth Patent Chain Repair Pliers, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 133 shows a pair of E.T. Company chain repair pliers of the Woodworth patent design. The pliers are stamped "E.T. Co. Norwalk CT" with a "Pat. May 4'20" patent date, with "Woodworth" and "Lewiston, ME." stamped on the back side.

The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is polished steel with a thin nickel plating.

The patent date corresponds to patent 1,338,804, filed by D.C. Woodworth in 1919 and issued in 1920.

Another example of the Woodworth patent pliers can be seen as the Stevens Walden T-615 Chain Repair Pliers.

Eagle Claw Wrench Company

The Eagle Claw Wrench Company is best known for a series of plier-wrench tools of the same name. The company was founded in 1912 and initially operated in Chicago, Illinois.

An entry for the company on page 106 [External Link] of a 1912 report from the Secretary of State of Illinois lists the incorporation date as January 19, 1912 and the capital as $25,000.

The company's plier-wrench tool was covered by patent 1,016,296, filed by J. Schlehr in 1910 and issued in 1912. The patent refers to the tool as a "bolt-holder", and describes a fairly conventional slip-joint plier mechanism but with the jaws arranged to give considerable clamping leverage.

An announcement on page 1319 [External Link] of the December 4, 1913 issue of Iron Age noted that the company had moved its headquarters from 36 West Randolph Street in Chicago to Rockford, Illinois. The company seems to have maintained an office in Chicago though, as some later ads give the Chicago address.

Fig. 134. 1914 Advertisement for Eagle Claw Wrenches. [External Link]

Fig. 134 shows an ad illustrating the various models and sizes of the tools, as published in the January 1914 issue of the Plumbers, Gas and Steam Fitters' Journal.

The text lists the company address as 36 West Randolph Street in Chicago.

Mechanics Tool Company

By 1919 the Eagle Claw Wrench Company had changed its name to (or been acquired by) the Mechanics Tool Company of Rockford, Illlinois, with its address at 23rd Avenue and 7th Street. A notice for the Eagle Claw Wrench on page page 28 [External Link] of the December, 1919 issue of the Railway Journal notes the maker as the Mechanics Tool Company.

Later production of the tool is known to have been marked with "Mechanics Tool Co." or with "M. T. Co." in a triangle logo.

A few notices for the Eagle Claw Wrench have been found from the early 1920s, with Jessop & Thompson of Chicago as the distributor.

Currently we don't have any further information on the company, but the tool (and company) did merit a mention in Kenneth Cope's book American Wrench Makers, 1830-1930 (Second Edition), which shows an advertisement for several sizes of the plier-wrenches.

Trademarks

Fig. 135. 1913 Trademark Application for Eagle Claw Wrenches. [External Link]

Fig. 135 shows a trademark application for "Eagle Claw Wrench", as published on page 1041 of the November 25, 1913 issue of Official Gazette of the USPTO.

The application was filed by the company on September 2, 1913 and claimed a first use date of September 1, 1912. The trademark was registered as #95,078 on February 3, 1914.

Eagle Claw 7 Inch Plier-Wrench

Fig. 136. Eagle Claw 7 Inch Plier-Wrench, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1912-1913.

Fig. 136 shows an Eagle Claw 7 inch plier-wrench, stamped "Eagle Claw Wrench Co." and "Chicago, U.S.A." on the handle, with a "Pat'd. Feb. 6, 1912" patent date below.

The overall length is 7.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The "Chicago" marking suggests an early production date of 1912-1913, before the move to Rockford.

The patent date corresponds to patent 1,016,296, filed by J. Schlehr in 1910 and issued in 1912. The patent refers to the tool as a "bolt-holder", and describes a fairly conventional slip-joint plier mechanism but with the jaws arranged to give considerable clamping leverage.

Eagle Claw 10 Inch Wrench Pliers

Fig. 137. Eagle Claw 10 Inch Wrench Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1919 to Early 1920s.

Fig. 137 shows a pair of Eagle Claw 10 inch wrench pliers, stamped on the back with "...ANICS TOOL CO." and "EAGLE CLAW WRENCH" with "ROCKFORD, ILL. U.S.A." below.

The pliers are also stamped with a "PAT. FEB. 6, 19.." patent date, with the year (1912) partially obscured by the nut.

The overall length is 10.6 inches retracted and 11.6 inches fully extended. The finish is plain steel.

The marking for the Mechanics Tool Company indicates production in 1919 or later.

The patent date corresponds to patent 1,016,296, filed by J. Schlehr in 1910 and issued in 1912. The patent refers to the tool as a "bolt-holder", and describes a fairly conventional slip-joint plier mechanism but with the jaws arranged to give considerable clamping leverage.

Eastern Machine Screw Corporation

The Eastern Machine Screw Corporation operated in New Haven, Connecticut and produced a well designed "H & G" socket set during the 1920s.

Fig. 138. 1922 Advertisement for H & G Socket Set.

The scan in Fig. 138 shows an advertisement illustrating the H & G socket set, as published on page 241 [External Link] of the May, 1922 issue of the Automobile Trade Journal. The ad lists the company address as 11-12 Barclay Street in New Haven.

The H & G socket sets were one of the few examples of sockets using hexagonal male drive tangs, a design previously explored by the short-lived Edgar C. Guthard Company with their Billmont "Master Wrench" Sets.

We have an example of an H & G socket set and will prepare it for display.

Efficiency Device Corporation

The Efficiency Device Corporation was the maker of lathe dogs and "Stix-On" self-adjusting wrenches, both based on the 1918 Vivarttas patent 1,276,596.

Fig. 139. 1919 Ad for Efficiency Device Lathe Dogs. [External Link]

Fig. 139 shows an ad for Efficiency Device lathe dogs, as published on page 347 of the December 25, 1919 issue of the The Iron Age.

By April of 1921 the company was offering a "Stix-On" wrench based on the same principle as the lathe dogs.

Fig. 140. 1922 Notice for Efficiency Device Stix-On Wrench. [External Link]

Fig. 140 shows a notice for a "Stix-On" self-adjusting wrench, as published on page 90 of the May 1, 1922 issue of the Automobile Trade Journal.

Trademarks

Stix-On No. 1 Self-Adjusting Wrench

Fig. 141. Stix-On No. 1 Self-Adjusting Wrench, with Insets for Bottom View and Marking Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 141 shows a Stix-On No. 1 wrench, stamped with "Stix-On Wrench" and "Trademark" on the front.

The back side is stamped with "Efficiency Device Corp." and "Manufacturers New York, N.Y." at one end, with "Patented Aug. 20 '18" and "Other Pat. Pending" on the other end. (The markings have been rotated for readability.)

The overall length is 5.6 inches closed and 6.8 inches fully extended, and the finish is plain steel.

The wrench handle is constructed of folded sheet metal, as illustrated in the top inset.

The patent date refers to patent 1,276,596, filed by W.O. Vivarttas in 1916 and issued on the stated date. The patent actually describes a lathe dog device for gripping a round object, but the wrench version operates on a similar principle. The pending patent is not known.

The wrench is normally fitted with a spring to keep the jaw closed, but our example had already lost its spring when acquired.

Elgin Tool & Socket Company

The Elgin Tool & Socket Company was founded in 1895 in Elgin, Illinois and was best known as the original maker of the "Elgin" adjustable alligator wrench.

Fig. 143. 1895 Notice for Elgin Tool & Socket. [External Link]

Fig. 143 shows a notice of the formation of Elgin Tool & Socket, as published on page 20 of the January 31, 1895 issue of the Chicago Journal of Commerce.

The text notes the incorporators as Harrison P. Nichols, Frederick D. Woodruff, and James M. Stimpson.

In 1899 production of the Elgin wrench was assumed by the Star Manufacturing Company.

Elgin Adjustable Alligator Wrench

Fig. 144. Elgin Adjustable Alligator Wrench, ca. Late 1890s to Early 1900s.

Fig. 144 shows an Elgin adjustable alligator wrench, stamped "The Elgin" and "Pat. June 8, '97" on the handle.

The overall length is 6.9 inches, and the finish is polished nickel, with some losses due to rust.

The patent date refers to patent 584,019, filed by H.A. Smith in 1896 and issued on the noted date.

Enderes Tools

Fig. 145. Enderes Logo from 1918 Trademark

Enderes Tools was founded in 1896 in Littleport, Iowa by Ernst Enderes as a maker of nippers, pliers, and chisels. The company's earliest tools were 14 inch nippers, staple-pulling pliers, and cold chisels.

The Move to Albert Lea

In 1910 the company merged with the Albert Lea Machinery Company of Albert Lea, Minnesota, but the move to Minnesota was apparently delayed by some years.

Fig. 146. 1916 Notice of Move to Albert Lea, Minnesota. [External Link]

Fig. 146 shows a notice of the move to Albert Lea, as published on page 806 of the October 5, 1916 issue of The Iron Age.

Later Operations

The company continues in business today as a maker of chisels, punches, mason's tools, farrier's tools, and other tools. Interested readers can find more information at the EnderesTools [External Link] web site.

Patents

Trademarks

Selected Tools

Enderes 6 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers

Fig. 147. Enderes 6 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers, with Insets for Back Side, Edge View, and Marking Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 147 shows a pair of Enderes 6 inch combination pliers, stamped with the Enderes logo in the front, with "Pat-Jan-11-21" on the back side.

The overall length is 6.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel with traces of nickel plating.

The top inset shows an edge view of the pliers, illustrating the wedge-shaped nose.

These pliers are described by patent 1,393,399, issued to J.A. Schlehr on October 11, 1921.

Note that the stamped patent date is incorrect, although we've seen other examples of Enderes pliers with the correct date.

J.H. Faw "Fawsco" Company

The J.H. Faw Company was a maker of automotive tools and accessories operating in New York City from around 1915 until about 1930. The company sold products under the "Fawsco" brand and is believed to have been founded by Julian H. Faw, an inventor with several tool patents.

Fig. 154. 1922 Advertisement for Fawsco Wrenches. [External Link]

Fig. 154 shows an ad for Fawsco wrenches, as published on page 64 of the August, 1922 edition of Automobile Dealer and Repairer.

The text notes the company address as 27 Warren Street in New York.

The illustration shows a No. 56 wrench set for Dodge service, and a No. 47 wrench set for Buick service..

Fawsco 1085 5/8 Offset Socket Wrench

Fig. 155. Fawsco 1085 5/8 Offset Socket Wrench, with Insets for Construction and Marking Detail.

Fig. 155 shows a Fawsco 1085 5/8 offset socket wrench, stamped "Made in U.S.A." with the model and fractional size.

The overall length is 10.2 inches. The finish is plain steel with some of the original black paint.

The socket size and distinctive offset in the shank suggest that this wrench was probably designed for servicing the infamous fourth connecting rod of the Model T Ford.

Flexible Carbon Scraper Company

The Flexible Carbon Scraper Company was established in Los Angeles around 1916 as a maker of carbon scrapers.

Fig. 156. 1916 Notice for Flexible Carbon Scraper Company. [External Link]

Fig. 156 shows a notice for the Flexible Carbon Scraper Company, as published on page 172 of the October, 1916 issue of the Automobile Trade Journal.

The text lists the address as 717 South Olive Street in Los Angeles.

A slightly later notice on page 90 of the December 16, 1916 issue of Hardware Age gives the company's address as 2011½ South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles.

The company's products were based on patent 1,177,333, filed by Orland H. Ihrig in 1915 and issued on March 28, 1916.

It seems likely that the company was founded and operated by the inventor, but we haven't found any documents establishing a formal connection. The company may have operated as a sole proprietorship without becoming incorporated.

By 1919 listings in trade publications show the company at 1421 West Washington Street in Los Angeles.

Fig. 157. 1920 Ad for Flexible Carbon Scraper Company. [External Link]

Fig. 157 shows an ad for the Flexible Carbon Scraper Company, as published on page 78 of the August, 1920 issue of the Accessory and Garage Journal.

The company had some success at getting its products into distribution; in particular, the 1923 Beckley-Ralston catalog lists flexible carbon scrapers.

By 1925 the company had moved again, but remained in Los Angeles. An ad on page 55 of the July 15, 1925 issue of Motor West gives the company address as 1007 North Main Street.

References to the company at the 1007 North Main address have been found from as late as 1929.

Contract Manufacturing for Plomb Tool

In 1929 reports in the trade press indicate that the Plomb Tool Company had started offering flexible carbon scrapers. The 1929 Plomb catalog shows a K37 scraper that closely resembles the product from the Flexible Carbon Scraper Company, strongly suggesting that the tools were being provided as contract manufacturing.

Acquisition by Wrae Durston

References to the Flexible Carbon Scraper Company in the trade press disappear after the early 1930s. In seeking to determine the fate of the company, we found a source claiming that the Flexible Carbon Scraper Company was founded by Wrae Durston in 1932 and operated in Pasadena, California. Given the extensive prior history of the company established above, this source is obviously not completely correct, but does suggest that a change of ownership probably occurred in 1932.

Plomb continued to offer flexible carbon scrapers throughout the 1930s, and by 1940 the New Britain Machine catalog was also listing the scrapers. This suggests that under the new ownership the company was primarily focused on contract manufacturing, so that there was no longer a need for advertisements or notices in the trade press.

The Acquisition of Vim Tool

In 1944 the Flexible Carbon Scraper Company acquired the Vim Tool Company, a maker of automotive tools founded in 1927 and operating in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 1944 date was found on the web site of the current VIM Tool, but there is some evidence that the acquisition may have occurred by September 1, 1943, which was the first use date claimed on the much later application for trademark #2,908,054.

The Formation of Durston Manufacturing

Some time later the Flexible Carbon Scraper Company was renamed to Durston Manufacturing. The current VIM Tool web site places the name change in 1946; however, the earliest reference to Durston Manufacturing we've found in the trade press is from 1951.

From the mid 1940s onward Durston Manufacturing used the "Vim" brand for a line of automotive service tools and accessories.

By 1959 Durston Manufacturing had outgrown its facility in Pasadena and moved to 1395 Palomares Avenue in La Verne, California.

Continuing Operations

Durston Manufacturing remains in business today and continues to use the VIM brand for a line of automotive specialty tools. More information can be found at the VIM Tools [External Link] web site.

Trademarks

On August 13, 1946 Wrae M. Durston filed a trademark application for "Vim", which was later amended on March 5, 1948. The application was published with serial #507,302 on July 26, 1949 and issued as trademark #517,326.

The first use date with this application shows that Wrae Durston knew that Vim was in operation by January 1, 1928.

H. Foot & Company

H. Foot & Company was an early hardware dealer in Springfield, Massachusetts, established in 1831 by Homer Foot and George Dwight. The company was a major importer and dealer in hardware, iron, and steel.

In 1901 the company was incorporated with $40,000 in capital, and a notice of the incorporation can be found on page 52 [External Link] of the March 21, 1901 issue of The Iron Age. The text of the notice provides additional background information on the company.

Merrick Patent Wrenches

By the mid 1830s H. Foot & Company was the maker of screw-adjusting wrenches based on the 1835 Merrick patent 9,030X, which are believed to have been the first screw-adjusting wrenches made in America.

Fig. 158. 1836 Notice for Merrick Patent Wrench.

The scan in Fig. 158 shows a commentary on the 1835 wrench patent issued to Solyman Merrick, as published on page 205 [External Link] of the March, 1936 edition (Volume XVII, No. 3) of the Journal of the Franklin Institute.

The text notes "N. Foot & Co."[SIC] as the maker of the wrench, but this should be "H. Foot & Co." based on known examples of the wrench.

H. Foot & Company likely began producing the Merrick patent wrenches in 1835, as examples were available to the author of the above commentary by early 1836.

The Coes brothers in Worcester Massachusetts were also familiar with the wrenches, as Loring Coes refers to a drawing of the Merrick wrench in his 1841 patent 2,054 for screw-wrenches.

Wrenches based on the 1835 Merrick patent were also produced by S.C. Bemis & Company, who later formed Bemis & Call.

H. Foot & Company is also known to have produced wrenches using the later 1848 Merrick patent 5,707.

Patents

H. Foot & Company is known to have made screw-adjusting wrenches based on the Merrick 1835 and 1848 patents, and Homer Foot was one of the witnesses for the 1948 patent.

H. Foot & Company 12 Inch Merrick Patent Screw-Adjusting Wrench

Fig. 159. H. Foot & Company 12 Inch Merrick Patent Screw-Adjusting Wrench, with Insets for Side View, Construction, and Marking Detail, ca. Late 1830s to 1840s?

Fig. 159 shows a rare early H. Foot 12 inch Merrick patent screw-adjusting wrench, stamped with "H. FOOT [& CO.] SPRINGFIELD MASS" and "PATENT" on the back side of the fixed jaw, as seen in the middle inset.

The overall length is 12.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The lower inset shows a close-up of the ferrule construction, with a dovetail tab to keep the band closed.

The adjustment mechanism consists of an octagonal nut moving on a threaded shaft, with the movable jaw attached by means of a collar fitted into a wide groove at the top of the nut.

The wrench closely resembles the illustration in the 1835 patent.

Gellman Manufacturing Company

Gellman Manufacturing of Rock Island, Illinois, also known earlier as the Gellman Wrench Corporation, was the maker of a distinctive "Polly" sliding-jaw adjustable wrench. This wrench was based on patent 1,451,906, filed by I.C. Gellman in 1921 and issued in 1923. (Gellman also received patent 1,451,873 on the same date, for an adjustable socket wrench.)

Gellman Wrench filed a trademark application for "Polly" in a cute design that made the wrench look like a parrot. The application was filed on January 22, 1923 and published as serial #174,896 on April 17, 1923, with the first use date claimed as November 1, 1922.

The trademark (if issued) is not yet known.

Gellman "Polly" No. 91 Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 160. Gellman "Polly" No. 91 Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Mid 1920s.

Fig. 160 shows a Gellman "Polly" No. 91 adjustable wrench with a spring-loaded jaw held in place by serrated teeth.

The shank has forged markings "Gellman Manufacturing Company" and "Rock Island, Ill. U.S.A." on the front, with the "Polly" name in script.

The opposite side has forged markings "Drop Forged Steel" and "9 In. No. 91", with a "Patented Apr. 17, 1923" patent notice.

The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The patent date corresponds to patent 1,451,906, filed by I.C. Gellman in 1921.

Information sent by a reader indicates that other (probably earlier) versions of this model were marked "Gellman Wrench Corp." instead of Gellman Manufacturing.

Gellman "Polly" No. 121 12 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 161. Gellman "Polly" No. 121 Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Mid 1920s.

Fig. 161 shows a larger example of the "Polly" wrench, a Gellman "Polly" No. 121 adjustable wrench. The shank has forged markings "Gellman Manufacturing Company" and "Rock Island, Ill. U.S.A." on the front, with the "Polly" name in script.

The back side has forged markings "Drop Forged Steel" and "12 In. No. 121", with a "Patented Apr. 17, 1923" patent notice.

The overall length is 11.7 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The patent date corresponds to patent 1,451,906, filed by I.C. Gellman in 1921.

Gendron Iron Wheel Company

The Gendron Iron Wheel Company was a maker of bicycles and tools operating in Toledo, Ohio. The company was founded in 1880 by Peter Gendron, an inventor with more than ten patents issued for wire wheels, tires, and related items.

Tool Identification

Gendron tools were sometimes stamped only with a G-Diamond logo, as shown in the figure below.

G-Diamond Logo

Fig. 162. G-Diamond Logo.

Fig. 162 shows the G-Diamond logo, as stamped on the Gendron 5 Inch Bicycle Wrench shown below.

Gendron 5 Inch Bicycle Wrench

Fig. 163. Gendron 5 Inch Bicycle Wrench, with Inset for Marking Detail.

Fig. 163 shows a Gendron 5 inch bicycle wrench, stamped with a "G" in a diamond logo, with "Pat'd June 7th, 1892" around the outline.

The overall length is 4.6 inches closed, and the maximum opening is 1.3 inches. The finish is plain steel.

The patent date refers to patent 476,629, filed by P. Gendron in 1892.

Girard Wrench Manufacturing Company

The Girard Wrench Manufacturing Company was a maker of adjustable wrenches active from 1875 through at least the 1920s.

The company was initially founded as a reorganization of the T.B. Walton Wrench Company of Cleveland, Ohio, which in 1874 had built a new factory in Girard, Pennsylvania.

Fig. 164. May, 1874 Notice for T.B. Walton Wrench Company.

The scan in Fig. 164 shows a notice of a factory being built in Girard, Pennsylvania by the T.B. Walton Wrench Company, as published on page 9 of the May 7, 1874 issue of The Iron Age.

By October of 1874 the Walton company had relocated to Girard, Pennsylvania and the new factory was up and running, according to a report in The Iron Age.

Fig. 165. October, 1874 Notice for Walton Wrench Company.

The scan in Fig. 165 shows a small notice for the Walton Wrench factory, as published on page 9 of the October 22, 1874 issue of The Iron Age.

The text notes the factory as employing 55 workers with a capacity as 600 wrenches per day.

The dimensions are stated as 100 by 180 feet, which is substantially larger than the initial report in May. The factory equipment included 25 milling machines.

One of the tools made by the Walton factory was an adjustable wrench based on the 1871 Phillips patent 117,679.

New Ownership

After a promising start, the Walton Wrench operations in Girard failed in 1875, and the company was purchased at auction by C.F. Rockwell, W.C. Culbertson, and R.S. Battles. The new owners formed a partnership and operated as the Girard Wrench Manufacturing Company. (This information on the formation of the Girard Wrench Manufacturing Company was found in a 1909 History of Erie County Pennsylvania by John Miller.)

The early products made by the Girard Wrench Manufacturing Company included screw-adjusting wrenches based on the 1875 Battles patent 165,655 and the 1875 Campfield patent 166,587.

In May of 1888 the Girard Wrench factory was destroyed by fire and had to be rebuilt.

By the early 1890s Girard was offering two main product lines, its "Agricultural" and "Standard" wrenches.

Fig. 166. 1891 Catalog Listing for Girard Wrenches.

Fig. 166 shows a catalog listing for Girard "Agricultural" and "Standard" wrenches, as published on page 128 [External Link] of the 1891 catalog from Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company.

The two wrenches were similar in appearance and price.

Fig. 167. 1893 Ad for Girard Wrench. [External Link]

Fig. 167 shows an ad for the Girard Wrench Manufacturing Company, as published in the 1893 Marvel Cyclopedia. (This section of the publication doesn't have page numbers.)

Note that the text at the bottom mentions that the wrenches were being offered by Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company, a major retailer as well as manufacturer of tools.

Bicycle Wrenches

By around 1890 the company had added bicycle wrenches to their product line.

Fig. 168. 1896 Ad for Girard Bicycle Wrench.

Fig. 168 shows an 1896 ad for a Girard bicycle wrench, as published on page 100 of the March 13, 1896 issue of Wheel and Cycling Trade Review.

On July 17, 1902 the Girard Wrench Manufacturing Company was incorporated with $100,000 in capital.

By the early 1900s Girard was offering a "Girard Special" line of all-steel wrenches.

Later Operations

Girard Wrench appears to have continued operations at least in the late 1920s, based on references in trade publications.

Patents

Trademarks

Girard Wrench is known to have registered a number of trademarks. The earliest known trademark was for the text "STANDARD GIRARD", which was issued as #5,880 on April 16, 1878.

In 1923 the company filed a trademark application for a logo with "GIRARD" in a diamond outline, and the trademark was issued as #188,484 on August 26, 1924.

Girard "Special" 10 Inch Monkey Wrench

Fig. 169. Girard "Special" 10 Inch Monkey Wrench, with Inset for Marking Detail.

Fig. 169 shows a Girard "Special" all-steel 10 inch monkey wrench, stamped with the Girard logo on the fixed jaw.

The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the maximum opening is 2.0 inches. The finish is black paint.

Globemaster, Incorporated

Globemaster was a distributor of low-cost imported tools and was initially founded as B & W Wholesale Supply in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From later reports the founders were Robert Bernstein, Harold Klebanoff, and Edmund Perwein, the latter sometimes spelled "Perwien".

Currently our earliest reference to B & W Wholesale is from a 1952 report of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, which noted the company as a supplier of surplus tools.

Fig. 170. 1953 Advertisement for B & W Wholesale Supply.

By 1953 the company was offering imported tools.

Fig. 170 shows an ad for drill bits imported from Denmark, as published on page 276 of the November 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics.

The text lists the company's address as 1413 Washington Avenue South in Minneapolis.

An Early Flyer

An early flyer for B & W Wholesale (available for Download [External Link] from the ITCL) shows the company offering a variety of tools in a "Tool Sale" display. The word "Globemaster" is visible on the tools in the illustrations, but not actually mentioned in the text.

An order form in the flyer gives the company address as 2642 30th Avenue South in Minneapolis.

The flyer is undated but some clues suggest the late 1950s.

Fig. 171. Detail from Flyer for B & W Wholesale Supply, ca. Late 1950s.

This flyer shows the sales modus operandi for the company: a table or tray of tools with a brightly colored cartoon placard announcing a "99¢ Tool Sale".

Fig. 171 shows the detail for the "Tool Sale" display, as published on the front of a late 1950s flyer for B & W Wholesale.

From a close look at the tools in the illustration, the "Globemaster" Globe logo was not yet in use, suggesting a time before 1959.

Illustrations in other parts of the flyer show tools with the text "Globemaster" visible.

One odd aspect of the company is that it actually involved numerous business entities, all believed to have similar ownership involving the three original principals. An early agreement dated October 3, 1959 appointed M. Matsumoto & Co. as the Japanese buying agent (see next section) for the following businesses:

1. B & W Wholesale Supply Co.
2. B & W Atlanta Corp.
3. Denver Tool Co.
4. Northwest Tool Co.
5. Perwien Tool and Supply Co., Inc.
6. B & W Southwest Corporation

Imports from Japan

In 1958 B & W Wholesale began importing tools from Japan, but interestingly decide to "roll their own" imports rather than going with the omnipresent Daido Corporation. Court transcripts from customs disputes report that company principal Robert L. Bernstein traveled to Japan twice a year to meet with M. Matsumoto & Co., Ltd., a Japanese export distribution ("trading") company in Kobe, Japan.

Background information on the company's Japanese imports can be found in a court case B & W Wholesale v. United States [External Link].

The GLOBEMASTER Globe Logo

By December of 1959 the company was using a logo with "GLOBEMASTER" in an expanded globe design, which was later trademarked. The graphic for this logo can be seen in the section on trademarks below.

Shortly after adopting the "GLOBEMASTER" logo, the company began establishing Globemaster subsidiary companies, beginning with Globemaster Japan in 1961.

A 1962 Minneapolis directory listed the officers of B & W Wholesale as Robert L. Bernstein as president and Edmund A. Perwien as vice-president. By this time the company had established a Globemaster subsidiary in Minneapolis, which filed a trademark application for the "GLOBEMASTER" logo in June of 1962. The application was registered as trademark #789,828 on May 25, 1965.

Beginning in the early 1960s B & W Wholesale established a number of regional branch offices as subsidiaries, in locations including Atlanta, Houston, and New England. The Houston branch was especially active, as this appears to have been the port of entry for many of their imported products. Globemaster of Houston used the same "GLOBEMASTER" in an expanded globe logo, which was registered as trademark #887,014 on March 3, 1970.

No Advertisements for Globemaster?

One puzzling aspect of the company is that they apparently didn't place any advertisements in the trade press, with the exception of the early ad in Popular Mechanics shown previously. This suggests that B & W Wholesale adopted its "Tool Sale" displays early on and thereafter relied relied exclusively on a direct sales force. The company's customers were likely small retail establishments such as variety stores or surplus centers.

Globemaster Suppliers

A review of Globemaster tools available in online listings shows that the company definitely lived up to its name, with countries of origin including England, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and West Germany from a brief survey.

Globemaster probably sourced tools from hundreds of companies around the world, and in some cases it may be impossible to identify the maker of a tool. Sometimes the Globemaster brand may not have even been marked on a tool, so that once the packaging was discarded the tool became effectively anonymous.

In other cases though the manufacturer made custom forging dies incised with the "Globemaster" brand, and in some cases included their own forge mark. For example, we found an online photograph of an adjustable wrench from Japan with "Globemaster" and the distinctive Lobster-Logo forged into the shank, which identifies the maker as the Nippon Riki/Lobtex Company. The "Lobster-Logo" has also been observed on the head of a claw hammer with a tubular steel handle and rubber hand grip.

Another Japanese supplier was the Matsusaka Iron Works, identified by their "MCC" trademark cast into the handle of a pipe wrench.

Combination wrenches made for Globemaster have been identified as production from AIGO Kōgyō based on distinctive forge marks.

Globemaster tools were typically marked with a four or five-digit model number, and it would be very helpful if a catalog or list of those numbers could be found.

Trademarks

B & W Wholesale and its Globemaster subsidiaries were fairly active in the trademark arena, and we're still trying to track down their various filings. After 1969 all of the known trademarks were filed by Globemaster of Houston.

Fig. 172. 1963 Publication for "GLOBEMASTER" Trademark.

On June 13, 1962 Globemaster of Minneapolis filed an application for "GLOBEMASTER" in an expanded globe design, which was published as serial 146,814 on September 10, 1963. The first use date was noted as December 10, 1959.

Fig. 172 shows the trademark application for "GLOBEMASTER", as published on page TM53 of the September 10, 1963 issue of the Official Gazette.

The trademark was registered as #789,828 on May 25, 1965 and was renewed on August 27, 1985.

Fig. 173. 1970 Publication for "LONE STAR" Trademark.

On August 13, 1968 Globemaster filed a trademark application for "LONE STAR" in a design, with the first use claimed as April 22, 1968. The application was published as serial 305,043 on October 20, 1970.

Fig. 173 shows the trademark application for "LONE STAR", as published on page TM118 of the October 20, 1970 issue of the Official Gazette.

The trademark was registered as #905,464 on January 5, 1971.

[Globemaster] 6113 5.5 Inch Diagonal Cutting Pliers

Fig. 174. [Globemaster] 6113 5.5 Inch Diagonal Cutting Pliers, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Marking Detail, ca. 1960s-1970s?

Fig. 174 shows a pair of [Globemaster] 6113 5.5 inch diagonal cutting pliers, stamped with "Sheffield, England" and the model number around the pivot.

The overall length is 5.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The top inset shows a side view of the pliers, illustrating the distinctive gripping pattern.

These pliers are not marked with a brand name, but are widely reported as a Globemaster product by online sources. We've tentatively posted them under Globemaster, but hope to find better documentation for their origin.

In our search for more information on these cutters, we contacted Worldwide Tools [External Link], a manufacturer and distributor in the UK who also used the "Globemaster" brand at some point. The company representative said that Worldwide didn't make our diagonal cutters, but suggested that the maker might have been Footprint Tools or Gordon Tools, both well-known hand tool makers in Sheffield.

Incidentally though the representative noted that Worldwide did supply tools such as handsaws to the American Globemaster brand during the 1960s.

In following up on these leads, we noted that a 1960s catalog from Gordon Tools offers No. 545 5 inch diagonal cutters that might be a candidate for our example. Gordon Tools is no longer active, but we have sent an inquiry to Footprint Tools to see if they were the makers of the pliers.

Globemaster 60820-R 16 Ounce Ripping Hammer

Fig. 174B. Globemaster 60820-R 16 Ounce Ripping Hammer, with Insets for Marking Detail, ca. 1960s-1970s.

Fig. 174B shows a Globemaster 60820-R 16 ounce ripping hammer, stamped with "Globemaster" and "No. 60820 R" on the head, with "Drop Forged" and "Japan" on the back.

The head is also stamped with a distinctive Lobster-Logo, a registered trademark of Nippon Riki, now known as Lobtex.

The overall length is 12.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with traces of chrome plating on the tubular handle.

The Lobster logo indicates that the hammer was made by Nippon Riki, one of Japan's oldest tool makers. Globemaster also offered a very similar claw hammer with model 60820-TC.

This hammer is characterized by its forged head, tubular steel handle, and rubber handle grip. Based on the very similar construction, Nippon Riki is known to have supplied this type of hammer to the Fuller, Companion (Sears), and Truecraft brands.

Goodell-Pratt Manufacturing Company

Goodell-Pratt Manufacturing operated in Greenfield, Massachusetts as the maker of a wide variety of tools and hardware products.

Although better known as a maker of tools for the carpentry and building trades, by 1918 Goodell-Pratt was producing tools for automobile service as well.

Fig. 175. 1918 Advertisement for Goodell-Pratt Socket Wrenches. [External Link]

Fig. 175 shows an ad for fixed socket wrenches, as published on page 85 of the September 25, 1918 issue of Motor Age.

The illustration shows the company's No. 378 set of fixed socket wrenches, with two wrenches providing openings of 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, and 7/8.

Fig. 176. 1920 Advertisement for Goodell-Pratt Socket Wrench Set.

By 1920 the company was producing a ratchet wrench with interchangeable sockets.

The scan in Fig. 176 shows an advertisement illustrating the company's No. 589 Socket Wrench Set, as published on page 112 [External Link] of the June 3, 1920 issue of Motor Age. The set consisted of a ratchet handle, an extension, and nine hexagonal sockets from 1/2 to 1 inch.

The text describes the ratchet handle as having a 3/4 hexagonal socket, implying that the eight additional sockets must have had a non-standard 3/4 hexagonal male drive stud. This was the same drive arrangement used by the "Billmont" socket sets produced by the Edgar C. Guthard Company.

Goodell-Pratt 11/16 Offset Socket Wrench

Fig. 177. Goodell-Pratt 11/16 Offset Socket Wrench, with Insets for Construction and Marking Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 177 shows a Goodell-Pratt 11/16 offset socket wrench, stamped with "Goodell Pratt Co." and "Greenfield, Mass. U.S.A." on the socket.

The overall length is 10.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This wrench has a distinctive appearance due to the use of a malleable cast socket with a 90 degree offset.

Greene, Tweed & Company

Greene, Tweed & Company was a hardware distributor and tool manufacturer operating in New York City.

The exact date of the company's founding is not yet known, but our earliest reference to the company is from a notice for "Blake's Patent Belt Studs" published on page 267 [External Link] of the October 30, 1867 issue of American Artisan.

Fig. 178. 1883 Ad for Greene, Tweed & Company. [External Link]

Fig. 178 shows an ad for Greene, Tweed & Company, as published on page XXV of the 1883 Farley's Directory of Metal Workers.

In 1889 the company registered trademark #17,054 for machinery packing.

The "Favorite" Ratchet Wrench

Fig. 179. 1892 Notice for Favorite Reversible Ratchet Wrench. [External Link]

One of the company's best-known products was a heavy-duty reversible ratchet with interchangeable sockets, marketed by Greene Tweed as the "Favorite" wrench. This wrench was advertised extensively beginning in the 1890s.

Fig. 179 shows a notice for the "Favorite" ratchet wrench, as published on page 699 of the October 13, 1892 issue of The Iron Age.

Fig. 180. 1906 Ad for Favorite Reversible Ratchet Wrench. [External Link]

Fig. 180 shows an ad for the Favorite ratchet wrench, as published on page 91 of the August, 1906 issue of Machinery.

Favorite No. A Ratchet Socket Wrench

Fig. 181. Favorite No. A Ratchet Socket Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 181 shows a Favorite No. A ratchet socket wrench, marked with "No. A" and "Favorite Reversible Ratchet Wrench" forged into the handle, with "Patented" and "Greene, Tweed & Co. Mnfrs., N.Y." forged into the back side.

The overall length is 15.0 inches.

The patent notice corresponds to patent 461,603, issued to C.T. Burr and G.B. Hankins on October 20, 1891.

The wrench is shown fitted with dual sockets marked with U.S.S. sizes 5/8 and 3/4, corresponding to nominal openings 1-1/16 and 1-1/4 respectively. The socket sizes can be changed by removing the retaining screw and inserting a new socket unit.