Lounging With Barcalo

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Selected Tools
• Late Production
• Contract Production
• References and Resources
• What's New (Last Updated Mar. 12, 2008)
  Recent changes to this page:

  • 07/02/2008: Added a Barcalo Chrome-Molybdenum 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench.
  • 03/12/2008: Added a Barcalo N6 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench.
  • 03/08/2008: Added Barcalo "Barcaloy" 3/8 Combination Wrench.
  • 02/22/2008: Added a Barcalo Open-End Wrench Tool Roll.
  • 01/24/2008: Updated catalog information.
  • 12/05/2007: Added a Barcalo 9 Inch Auto Wrench.
  • 12/02/2007: Added a Barcalo 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench and a Barcalo 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench.
  • 11/30/2007: Added a Barcalo 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench and a Barcalo 13/16x7/8 Open-End Wrench.
  • 10/23/2007: Added a Barcalo "Forged Vanadium" Offset Box Wrench.
  • 10/08/2007: Added Barcalo Chrome Vanadium Combination Wrench.
  • 10/03/2007: Added Barcalo Lineman's Pliers.
  • 05/16/2007: Updated patent table.
  • 03/02/2007: Added a Barcalo Chrome Vanadium Combination Wrench.
  • 03/01/2007: Added a Hall No. 10 Bicycle Wrench.
  • 02/23/2007: Expanded patent listings.
  • 02/20/2007: Added patent table.
  • 02/06/2007: Added a Wards Eclipse 4732 Open-Box Wrench.
  • 01/26/2007: Added a Barcalo Open-Box Wrench.
  • 01/22/2007: Added a Barcalo Panelled Open-End Wrench.
  • 01/08/2007: Added a Hall No. 14 Bicycle Wrench.
  • 12/08/2006: Added a Western Auto Open-End Wrench.
  • 11/22/2006: Added Barcalo Waterpump Pliers.
  • 11/19/2006: Added page, moved contents from other-makers.

Introduction

It's not every day that a tool company is acquired by a furniture maker, but such was the case with Barcalo Manufacturing of Buffalo. Barcalo was a diversified maker of metal products including metal beds, tools, and later the Barcalounger line of reclining furniture. Eventually the fame of the Barcalounger chairs eclipsed the tool operations, and Barcalo was purchased by a furniture maker in North Carolina.

In this page we'll look at some of the company's "Barcalo-Buffalo" line of hand tools.

Company History

Barcalo Manufacturing was founded in Buffalo, New York by Edward J. Barcalo, and was in operation by 1896, based on a later catalog that noted "Quality Products Since 1896". Barcalo's early products included metal bed frames and cribs, and patent records going back to 1903 show the development of products of this type. The company apparently met with some success, as the company founder was able to build an impressive Georgian Revival House around 1907, a well-known landmark to those interested in the architecture of the Buffalo area.

In 1914 Barcalo Manufacturing acquired the operations of the Charles E. Hall Company, a maker of tools such as adjustable wrenches. This presumably was Barcalo's introduction to the tool industry, and in the following years the company's engineers divided their development efforts between tools and the older line of beds and cribs.

Barcalo tools were sold through distributors to hardware stores, and the company was a supplier to at least one high-volume retailer, the Western Auto Supply Company. A 1937 Western Auto catalog shows an illustration of an adjustable wrench marked "Barcalo Mfg", as part of Western Auto's "Master Quality" intermediate line of tools. Though not shown in the illustrations, Barcalo may have supplied a variety of open-end and box-end wrenches to Western Auto. Barcalo also produced tools under contract for various automobile tool kits.

In 1940 the company licensed patents to make a new type of reclining chair, and after some refinements the chairs became the trademark Barcalounger line. The Barcalounger chairs proved to be very successful, and over time the company became more famous for its furniture than its tools. In the early 1960s Barcalo was purchased by a furniture maker and the Barcalounger operations were moved to Rocky Mount, North Carolina. However, as the furniture company was not particularly interested in tools, Barcalo's tool operations were sold to Crescent Niagara, a company formed a few years previously to acquire Crescent Tools. (See our article on Crescent Tool History for more information.)

Shortly after its formation Crescent Niagara went on to acquire other tool companies, including Billings & Spencer, Barcalo, and Bridgeport Hardware. The combined company continued to produce the various tool lines for some years, and in fact sometimes combined designs from one company with brands and trademarks from other acquisitions. One will occasionally find a wrench with a Barcalo-like design marked with a Crescent logo and bearing the Life-Time (Billings) trademark.

Crescent Niagara was eventually acquired by Cooper Industries, and most of the tool brands (except for Crescent) were eventually discontinued.

Patents

Barcalo Manufacturing was very active in product design and development, and received numerous patents for its efforts. The earlier patents (beginnning in 1903) were related to bed frames and adjustable cribs, but later patents covered tool designs and wrench holders.

Trademarks

Barcalo Manufacturing is not known to have registered any trademarks. A search of the USPTO trademarks database (TESS) found no records under the name "Barcalo".

Barcalo used the "Barcaloy" mark as an informal trademark for its later alloy-steel tools, particularly combination wrenches. This mark was in use by the late 1940s or earlier.

Tool Identification

Barcalo tools are generally easy to identify, and were typically marked in some variant of "-Barcalo-Buffalo-U.S.A." or just "Barcalo Buffalo".

Selected Tools

Charles E. Hall Tools

We'll begin with some rarely-seen examples of bicycle wrenches produced by the Charles E. Hall Company, the company acquired by Barcalo Manufacturing in 1914.

Hall No. 10 Bicycle Wrench

Fig. 1. Hall No. 10 Bicycle Wrench.

Fig. 1 shows a Hall No. 10 bicycle wrench, marked "Charles E. Hall Co." and "Buffalo, N.Y. U.S.A." with the H-Shield logo. (The logo is shown in the inset, as it's covered by the movable jaw in the photograph.)

The overall length is 4.8 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

Hall No. 14 Bicycle Wrench

The next figure continues with another example of the Charles E. Hall Company production, a bicycle wrench of somewhat different design.

Fig. 2. Hall No. 14 Bicycle Wrench.

Fig. 2 shows a Hall No. 14 bicycle wrench, marked "Charles E. Hall Co." and "Buffalo, N.Y. U.S.A." with the H-Shield logo.

The overall length is 4.2 inches retracted and 5.8 inches fully extended. The original finish appears to have been nickel plating, but most has been lost due to wear.

Open-End Wrenches

Barcalo Early 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 3. Barcalo Early 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Barcalo 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 4. Barcalo 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench.

Fig. 4 shows a Barcalo 19/32x11/16 wrench in a style similar to the previous example, with depressed panels for the markings and sizes. The wrench is marked "Barcalo Buffalo USA" in raised letters, with "Drop Forged" on the reverse.

The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is nickel plate.

Barcalo 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 5. Barcalo 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench.

Fig. 5 shows a Barcalo 15/16x1 wrench with depressed panels for the markings and sizes, marked "Barcalo Buffalo USA" in raised letters with "Drop Forged" on the reverse.

The overall length is 8.9 inches, and the finish is nickel plate.

Barcalo Panelled 7/16x1/2 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 6. Barcalo 7/16x1/2 Panelled Open-End Wrench.

Barcalo 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench, Chrome-Molybdenum Steel

The next example shows a similar panelled design, but notes the use of chrome molybdenum alloy steel.

Fig. 7. Barcalo Chrome-Molybdenum 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

In Fig. 7 we see a Barcalo 19/32x11/16 wrench with depressed panels for the markings, marked "Barcalo Buffalo USA" with "Forged Chrome Molybdenum" on the reverse.

The overall length is 5.5 inches. Most of the finish has been lost, but the original finish may have been nickel plating.

Barcalo 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, Chrome-Molybdenum Steel

Fig. 8. Barcalo Chrome-Molybdenum 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 8 shows another example of the depressed panel design in alloy steel, a Barcalo 5/8x3/4 wrench marked "Barcalo-Buffalo-USA", with "Forged-Chrome-Molybdenum" on the reverse.

The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

Barcalo 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench, Chrome-Molybdenum

Fig. 9. Barcalo Chrome-Molybdenum 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 9 shows a Barcalo 15/16x1 open-end wrench, marked with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" and the sizes forged into depressed panels, with "Forged-Chrome-Molybdenum" in the reverse panel.

The overall length is 10.6 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

Barcalo Tappet Wrench

Fig. 10. Barcalo Chrome-Molybdenum 5/8x11/16 Tappet Wrench.

Fig. 10 shows a Barcalo 5/8x11/16 tappet wrench, stamped "Barcalo Buffalo, U.S.A." and "Chrome Molybdenum" on the shank.

The overall length is 8.2 inches. The finish is nickel plate, now worn through in several areas.

This type of tappet wrench is listed in the 1934 Barcalo catalog No. 22, although at that time the finish options were cadmium plating or sand-blasted steel.

Convex Open-End Wrenches

In 1938 Barcalo received design patent #D111,094 for an open-end wrench design with a distinctive convex shank. These wrenches proved to be quite popular and thus are easy to find (and easy to spot) among older tools.

Wrenches of this style were no longer listed in a catalog from the late 1940s, so we can estimate their production dates as late 1930s to mid 1940s.

15/16x1 Convex Open-End Wrench

Fig. 11. Barcalo 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1938-1945.

Fig. 11 shows a Barcalo 15/16x1 open-end wrench with a distinctive convex handle, marked "Forged in U.S.A." with the Barcalo name embedded. The overall length is 9.4 inches.

The distinctive shape of this wrench was registered as design patent #D111,094 in 1938. More commonly these wrenches are seen with a plain finish, but for this example the finish is nickel plate, now worn through in several areas.

Five Piece Open-End Wrench Set in Tool Roll

Barcalo was well known as a maker of wrenches for tool kits, including kits for military vehicles. The next several figures will show a set of wrenches from a green canvas tool roll, believed to have been supplied for a military vehicle.

Fig. 12. Barcalo Open-End Wrenches in Tool Roll.

Fig. 12 shows a set of five wrenches in a green canvas tool roll, with each wrench stamped "Barcalo-Buffalo-USA" on the shank.

The wrench sizes are, from left to right, 3/8x7/16, 1/2x9/16, 19/32x11/16, 5/8x3/4, and 13/16x7/8.

The individual wrenches are shown in the next several figures.

Barcalo 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench from Tool Roll

Fig. 13. Barcalo 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench from Tool Roll.

Fig. 13 shows a Barcalo 3/8x7/16 open-end wrench from the tool roll, stamped "Barcalo-Buffalo-USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 4.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Barcalo 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench from Tool Roll

Fig. 14. Barcalo 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench from Tool Roll.

Fig. 14 shows a Barcalo 1/2x9/16 open-end wrench from the tool roll, stamped "Barcalo-Buffalo-USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 5.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Barcalo 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench from Tool Roll

Fig. 15. Barcalo 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench from Tool Roll.

Fig. 15 shows a Barcalo 19/32x11/16 open-end wrench from the tool roll, stamped "Barcalo-Buffalo-USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 6.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Barcalo 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench from Tool Roll

Fig. 16. Barcalo 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench from Tool Roll.

Fig. 16 shows a Barcalo 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench from the tool roll, stamped "Barcalo-Buffalo-USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 7.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Barcalo 13/16x7/8 Open-End Wrench from Tool Roll

Fig. 17. Barcalo 13/16x7/8 Open-End Wrench from Tool Roll.

Fig. 17 shows the largest wrench from the tool roll, a Barcalo 13/16x7/8 wrench stamped "Barcalo-Buffalo-USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 8.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Pliers

Barcalo Universal Slip-Joint Pliers

Fig. 18. Barcalo Universal Slip-Joint Pliers, with Inset for Handle Pattern.

Barcalo 6 Inch Lineman's Pliers

Fig. 19. Barcalo 6 Inch Lineman's Pliers, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 19 at the left shows a pair of Barcalo 6 inch lineman's pliers, marked "Barcalo Buffalo" around the pivot with "U.S.A." across the center.

The overall length is 6.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This style of lineman's pliers was listed in the 1934 Barcalo catalog No. 22. Three sizes were available, 6-1/4, 7-1/4, and 8-1/2 inch nominal lengths.

Barcalo Waterpump Pliers

Fig. 20. Barcalo Waterpump Pliers.

The overall length is 7.3 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Adjustable Wrenches

Barcalo 4 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 21. Barcalo 4 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 21 shows a Barcalo 4 inch adjustable wrench, marked "Buffalo-Barcalo" and "Made in USA" in forged raised letters, with "4In" and "Drop-Forged-Steel" on the reverse.

The overall length is 4.4 inches.

N6 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 22. Barcalo N6 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 22 shows a Barcalo N6 6 inch adjustable wrench, marked "Drop Forged" and "Barcalo" in forged raised letters, with "Model - N6" and "Buffalo U.S.A." on the reverse.

The overall length is 6.2 inches, with a maximum opening of 0.6 inches and a head thickness of 0.49 inches. The finish is polished steel.

The wrench has a distinctive design with two oval panels on the handle and a dart-shaped hole in the end. Wrenches of this style were illustrated in the 1934 Barcalo catalog, in both standard and thin models, the latter being of vanadium steel. The relatively thick head of this example suggests a standard (non-alloy) model.

Barcalo 9 Inch Auto Wrench

Fig. 23. Barcalo 9 Inch Auto Wrench.

Fig. 23 shows a Barcalo 9 inch auto wrench, marked on the shank with "Barcalo-Buffalo" and "Made in USA" plus "Drop-Forged", all in forged raised letters.

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

Specialty Tools

Ford Utility Multi-Wrench

Fig. 24. Barcalo Ford Utility Multi-Wrench, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 24 shows a Barcalo specialty multi-wrench intended for Ford service applications, stamped "Barcalo-Buffalo, U.S.A." and "Patent No. 1,870,612" on the shank.

The overall length is 10.3 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

The tool is marked for patent #1,870,612, issued in 1932 to A. DeSchebeko.

This wrench is listed in the 1934 catalog No. 22 as a "Ford Utility Wrench", and the description notes that it fits 15 different service parts on Ford models "A", "B", and V-8, including spark plugs, brakes, and drain plugs. The openings are, from left to right, 5/8 square, 7/16 double-square, 7/8 hex, 3/8 square plug, and 1-1/8 hex.

5/8x3/4 Open-Box Wrench

Barcalo was one of several manufacturers to produce a style of open-box wrench popular for automotive tool kits.

Fig. 25. Barcalo 5/8x3/4 Open-Box Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

An example of this style is shown in Fig. 25, a Barcalo 5/8x3/4 open-box wrench marked "Forged U.S.A." with "Barcalo Buffalo" on the reverse. The fractional sizes are forged into the face and shank, as was typical for this style.

The overall length is 6.5 inches.

Other makers of this style include Auto-Kit and Indestro, and examples can be seen in the Auto-Kit No. 100 Open-Box Wrench and Indestro Chicago Open-Box Wrench.

Box-End Wrenches

5/8x11/16 Short Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 26. Barcalo 5/8x11/16 Short Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1944.

Fig. 26 shows a Barcalo 5/8x11/16 short offset box-end wrench with raised panels, marked "-Barcalo-Buffalo-U.S.A." with "Forged" on the reverse.

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

The wrench has a forged-in marking like a reversed "E", which together with the rough finish suggests production during the wartime years. (Snap-On used an "E" date code specifically for 1944.)

"Forged Vanadium" 5/8x11/16 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 27. Barcalo "Forged Vanadium" 5/8x11/16 Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 27 shows a Barcalo 5/8x11/16 offset box-end wrench with raised panels, stamped "Barcalo-Buffalo-U.S.A." on the front panel, with "Forged Vanadium" and the fractional sizes stamped on the reverse. (The inset has been left in its natural orientation.)

The overall length is 10.3 inches, and the finish is nickel plating with polished panels and ends.

A forged-in code "O" can be seen on the reverse shank, to the left of the panel.

Combination Wrenches

Barcalo's combination wrenches were among their highest quality tools. Many examples of these have been found with extensive wear to the finish and other signs of hard use, but almost invariably the box and open ends are still in good shape.

The earlier combination wrenches were generally made with chrome vanadium steel, but on later wrenches the alloy is noted as "Barcaloy", Barcalo's private brand for its alloy steel. A catalog from the late 1940s identifies the alloy as being nickel chrome molybdenum steel, and actually gives the specific alloy as SAE 8645 steel. (Herbrand frequently used the very similar AISI 8642 alloy.)

Chrome Vanadium 5/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 28. Barcalo Chrome Vanadium 5/8 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 28 shows a Barcalo 5/8 combination wrench, stamped "Chrome Vanadium Steel" on the raised panel, with "Barcalo-Buffalo-U.S.A." on the reverse.

The overall length is 7.0 inches. The original finish was nickel plating, but most has been lost due to wear and rust.

Chrome Vanadium 3/4 Combination Wrench

Fig. 29. Barcalo Chrome Vanadium 3/4 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 29 shows a Barcalo 3/4 combination wrench with raised panels, stamped "Barcalo-Buffalo-U.S.A." on the front panel with "Chrome Vanadium Steel" on the reverse.

The overall length is 9.0 inches. The original finish was nickel plating, but most has been lost due to wear and rust.

Chrome Vanadium 15/16 Combination Wrench

Fig. 30. Barcalo 15/16 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 30 shows a Barcalo 15/16 combination wrench with raised panels, marked "Chrome Vanadium Steel" with "Barcalo-Buffalo-U.S.A." on the reverse.

The overall length is 12.0 inches. The finish is nickel plating with polished faces.

Barcaloy 3/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 31. Barcalo "Barcaloy" 3/8 Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 31 shows the smallest of the combination wrench series, a Barcalo 3/8 combination wrench. The raised panel is stamped with the size and "-Barcalo-Buffalo-USA-" on the front, with "-Forged-Barcaloy-Steel-" on the reverse panel. Note the use of a script for the "Barcaloy" marking, although other examples may show block letters instead.

The overall length is 4.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Barcaloy 3/4 Combination Wrench

Fig. 32. Barcalo "Barcaloy" 3/4 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 32 shows a Barcalo 3/4 combination wrench with raised panels, marked with the size and "-Barcalo-Buffalo-USA-". The reverse panel is marked "-Forged-Barcaloy-Steel-" using a script for "Barcaloy", although other examples in this series may show block letters instead.

The overall length is 9.4 inches. The finish is a heavy plating with a yellowish tint, probably nickel or nickel and chrome.

Barcaloy 5/8 Combination Wrench with Size Field

Another variation on the Barcalo combination wrench design placed the wrench size in a depressed box on the open end.

Fig. 33. Barcalo "Barcaloy" 5/8 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

An example of this style with the size field is shown in Fig. 33, a Barcalo "Barcaloy" 5/8 combination wrench with the size field on the face. The front panel is marked with "-Barcalo-Buffalo-USA-" and the size, and the reverse panel shows "-Forged-Barcaloy-Steel-" using a script for "Barcaloy". The overall length is 6.9 inches.

The finish is a heavy plating with a yellowish tint.

Later Production

Barcalo tools may occasionally be found with features markedly different from the more common styles, including "scooped" box ends, raised/depressed panels, and even model numbers! (Most of the Barcalo's production wasn't marked with a model number.) At first it seemed very puzzling that the company would suddenly start producing tools of such different styles; however, with an understanding of the 1960s acquistion of Barcalo by Crescent Niagara, these new styles are now thought to represent the company's late production.

By 1964 Crescent Niagara had acquired the tool operations of Crescent, Billings & Spencer, Barcalo, and Bridgeport Hardware. Each of these companies had substantial design and manufacturing capabilities, and Crescent Niagara seems to have experimented with combining some of the tool designs from the various operations.

In this section we'll look at examples of this late Barcalo production.

Transitional 9/16 Combination Wrench

In the previous figure we saw a combination wrench with a depressed size field on the open end, and the figure after this will show a modern style with a distinctive angled broaching of the box end. Positioned between these two styles, the present figure will show a transitional combination wrench, with both the size field and the angled broaching of the box end.

Fig. 34. Barcalo Transitional 9/16 Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 34 at the left shows a Barcalo 9/16 combination wrench in a rare transitional form, marked "Barcalo" on raised panel with the size forged into the open face, and with "Forged U.S.A." on the reverse (depressed) panel.

The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces and ends.

This example shows some apparent experimentation at Barcalo as they worked to develop the new wrench designs. In addition to the noted mix of features, the wrench has an odd combination of one raised and one depressed panel.

The distinctive design for the box end is covered by design patent #D177,636, filed by W.R. Meier et al in 1955 and issued in 1956. The patent reference was actually found in a Crescent catalog from 1967, as Crescent had continued using the wrench design after their acquisition of Barcalo.

Barcalo TC26 Combination Wrench

In its later years Barcalo produced wrenches with distinctive designs, quite different from their earlier production. The tools were given bright chrome finishes, and even had model numbers instead of just size markings.

Fig. 35. Barcalo TC26 13/16 Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

An example of the later production is shown in Fig. 35, a Barcalo TC26 13/16 combination wrench with polished raised panels, marked "Forged-Alloy-U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 10.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plate with polished panels and faces.

The top inset shows a side view of the wrench, illustrating some of the unusual and distinctive design features. Note that the top of the box end is flat and flush with the shank, with the bottom protruding at an angle. Other manufacturers typically forge the box end at an angle, but Barcalo has forged it flat and then broached at an angle.

Another quirky feature is that the raised panels on the top and bottom of the shank are of different lengths.

Contract Production

Barcalo was active as a contract manufacturer for automobile tool kits and as a supplier to retail stores.

Western Auto Open-End Wrench

Our next figure shows an example of Barcalo's production for Western Auto Supply, a major retailer of automotive supplies and tools.

Fig. 36. Western Auto 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench.

Fig. 36 shows a Western Auto 1/2x9/16n open-end wrench of obvious Barcalo production, marked "Western Auto Stores" on the distinctive convex shank.

The overall length is 5.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This tool can be recognized as Barcalo production by its distinctive convex shank, a style described by design patent #D111,094, issued in 1938.

Wards Eclipse 4732 Open-Box Wrench

Montgomery Ward sold tools under several brand names, including Master Quality, Lakeside, and Eclipse. Our next figure shows an example of a Wards Eclipse tool of apparent Barcalo production.

Fig. 37. Wards Eclipse 4732 3/4x7/8 Open-Box Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 37 shows a Wards Eclipse 4732 3/4x7/8 open-box wrench, marked "Forged USA" in forged-in raised letters.

The overall length is 7.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The style of this wrench closely resembles the Barcalo Open-Box Wrench shown earlier.

References and Resources

Photographs and observations of particular tools are based on items in my personal collection.

Barcalo Manufacturing is mentioned briefly in American Wrench Makers 1830-1930, 2nd Edition by Kenneth Cope (Astragal Press, 2002), referred to as AWM2e in the text. AWM2e reprints an advertisement stating that the Charles E. Hall business has been acquired by Barcalo Manufacturing.

Catalog Resources

Currently we have only limited catalog resources for Barcalo, consisting of catalog No. 22 from 1934, a line card (e.g. for hardware stores) from about 1947, and catalog 29 from about 1948.

Catalog No. 22 lists pliers, adjustable wrenches, open-end wrenches in both carbon and alloy steel, chrome-molybdenum box-end wrenches, and a selection of chisels and punches.

The 1947 line card shows a selection of wrenches and pliers for automotive or general service applications. The front of the card states "Manufacturing Quality Products Since 1896", providing a reference for the founding date of Barcalo Manufacturing.

Barcalo tools were sold through some industrial distributors and by at least one high-volume retailer, Western Auto Supply.

Patents and Trademarks

Patent information was obtained from the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO) web site at uspto.gov. Patent documents were obtained from sites offering free downloads, notably freepatentsonline.com.

Feedback

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