Champion DeArment Tool Company

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Hammers and Striking Tools
• The Channellock Patent
• Other Pliers
• References and Resources
• What's New (Last Updated June 9, 2008)
  Recent changes to this page:

  • 06/09/2008: Updated catalog resources.
  • 03/09/2008: Added Channellock No. 420 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers.
  • 03/03/2008: Updated patent table.
  • 10/30/2007: Added Channellock Early No. 410 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers.
  • 04/18/2007: Added Channellock No. 426 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers.
  • 04/05/2007: Added more patents.
  • 03/07/2007: Added a Champion DeArment No. 6 Ballpeen Hammer.
  • 03/06/2007: Moved to separate page, added Channellock No. 420 Pliers.
  • 02/22/2007: Added Champion DeArment No. 307 Battery Pliers.
  • 02/08/2007: Added Channellock No. 460 Pliers.
  • 02/01/2007: Added Channellock No. 420 Pliers.
  • 01/25/2007: Added Channellock No. 440 Pliers.
  • 01/10/2007: Added a Champion DeArment 3/0 Ballpeen Hammer.
  • 12/16/2006: Added Channellock 326 Needlenose Pliers.
  • 12/02/2006: Added Channellock 407 Pliers and Channellock 410 Pliers.
  • 07/20/2006: Added Channellock 437 Cutters.
  • 07/14/2006: Added No. 427 Pliers.

Introduction

The Champion DeArment Tool Company became most famous for their Channellock plier design, described by patent #1,950,362 and arguably one of the most important tool patents of the 20th century. The company later changed its name to Channellock, Inc., but we'll use the older name here.

Company History

Champion DeArment is actually one of the older American tool makers in continuous operation, with original roots going back to 1886 when its founder, George B. DeArment, operated a blacksmith shop. The company maintains a web site with an interesting page on the Channellock Company History, and readers are encouraged to check there for further information.

Patents

Trademarks

Champion registered the trademark "Champion DeArment" with the first use listed as January 15, 1925. The "Channellock" trademark was registered with the first use listed as May 1, 1932.

Manufacturing Dates

Champion DeArment tools are not known to be marked with any date codes, so estimates of manufacturing dates must be made on the basis of markings, patents, or other factors.

• Early Channellock Patent. Tongue-and-Groove pliers made with the original patented design were produced from 1932 until the early 1950s.
• Middle Channellock Patents. Pliers in the second-generation design were produced from the early 1950s onward.
• Channellock Name. Tools marked with the Channellock name instead of Champion DeArment were made in 1963 or later.
• Late Channellock Patent. Pliers marked with patent #3,192,805 were produced from 1965 onward.
• Rivet Construction. In 1982 Channellock filed a patent for the use of a rivet for tongue-and-groove pliers, replacing the bolt and nut used previously.
• Blue Handles. Pliers were being supplied with blue plastic handgrips by the mid 1980s (or possibly earlier).

Hammers and Striking Tools

Champion DeArment offered a wide selection of ballpeen hammers, with head weights ranging from 3 up to 40 ounces.

Ballpeen hammer sizes are commonly specified by a number indicating the weight of the head without the handle. In this number system a No. 0 hammer head weighs approximately 16 ounces, but since hammers with lighter heads are often needed, the system was extended to include Nos. 00, 000, and so on, up six zeros.

Marking a long string of zeros could become a bit cumbersome, so an alternate notation is commonly used, with a number followed by a "/0" to indicate the number of zeros. For example, 2/0 indicates No. 00, 3/0 is No. 000, and so on. But to add confusion, the slash separator is sometimes omitted, so that a "3/0" size may be marked "30".

The Champion ballpeen hammers are summarized in the table below, as listed in a 1933 Ducommun catalog.

Champion DeArment 3/0 8 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer

Fig. 1. Champion DeArment 3/0 8 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer, with Inset for Marking Detail.

Fig. 1 shows a Champion 3/0 8 ounce ballpeen hammer, marked on the face with "Champion DeArment Tool Co." and an anvil logo.

The overall length is 13.0 inches, and the head is 3.2 inches long.

Champion DeArment No. 6 40 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer

Fig. 2. Champion DeArment No. 6 40 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer, with Insets for Marking Detail.

A much larger Champion hammer is shown in Fig. 2, a Champion No. 6 40 ounce ballpeen hammer marked "Champion DeArment" on the face. The size "6" is marked on the underside of the head, as shown in the lower inset.

The overall length is 16.1 inches, and the head measures 1.7x5.3 inches.

The Channellock Patent

Early Channellock No. 410 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

We'll begin with an early example of the Channellock design.

Fig. 3. Channellock No. 410 Pliers, with Inset for Reverse Detail, ca. 1932-1934.

Fig. 3 shows a pair of Channellock No. 410 pliers, marked "Champion DeArment" and "Meadville, PA." on one handle, with the model number and Channellock logo on the other. The inset shows the "Pat. Appl'd For" notice on the reverse.

The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The patent pending status for these pliers suggests a manufacturing date from 1932-1934, between the patent filing and issue dates.

Original Channellock No. 420 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Fig. 4. Channellock No. 420 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1934-1951.

Fig. 4 shows a pair of Channellock No. 420 tongue-and-groove pliers of the original patented design, marked "Champion DeArment" and "Meadville, PA." on the handle. The inset in the middle shows a close-up of the patent notice "Pat. In Can. 1933 U.S. Pat. 1950362" on the reverse.

The overall length is 10.0 inches when fully extended, and the finish is plain steel.

The top inset shows a side view of the pliers, illustrating the simple linear gripping pattern on the handles.

The patent notice refers to the original Channellock patent #1,950,362, filed by H.H. Manning in 1932 and issued in 1934.

Channellock No. 407 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Fig. 5. Channellock No. 407 Pliers, with Insets for Marking Detail and Handle Pattern.

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

Channellock No. 427 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Fig. 6. Channellock No. 427 Pliers, with Inset For Reverse Detail.

Second-Generation Patents

Channellock No. 420 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Fig. 7. Channellock No. 420 Pliers, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1953-1962.

Fig. 7 shows a pair of Channellock No. 420 tongue-and-groove pliers, marked "Champion DeArment" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A.", and with the patent notice "US Pats. 2592927 - 2640381" on the reverse.

The overall length is 10.2 inches, and the finish is polished steel.

The first patent number noted on the pliers is #2,592,927, issued to H.H. Manning in 1952. It describes an improvement to the basic tongue-and-groove design for greater strength, consisting of a flat rib extending outside the machined grooves.

The second patent is #2,640,381, issued to H.H. Manning in 1953. This patent describes the use of undercut ridges on tongue-and-groove pliers.

Channellock No. 410 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Fig. 8. Channellock No. 410 Pliers.

The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Channellock No. 426 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Fig. 9. Channellock No. 426 Pliers, with Inset for Reverse Detail, ca. 1963+.

Fig. 9 shows a pair of Channellock No. 426 tongue-and-groove pliers, marked "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." with the Channellock logo, and with the patent notice "US Pats. 2592927 2640381 Can. 1953" on the reverse.

The overall length ranges from 6.6 inches closed to 7.1 inches fully extended. The finish is plain steel.

Third-Generation Patent

In 1965 H.H. Manning received one additional patent related to the Channellock pliers design, an improved way of machining the undercut ridge. Patent #3,192,805 was filed in 1963.

Channellock No. 420 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers with Late Patent

Fig. 10. Channellock No. 420 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers, with Insets for Construction and Marking Detail, ca. 1965+.

Fig. 10 shows a later pair of Channellock No. 420 tongue-and-groove pliers, stamped with the Channellock name and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." on the handle, and with "US Pats. 2592927 3192805" stamped on the reverse.

The overall length is 10.0 inches, and the finish is polished steel.

The first patent number noted is the Manning 1952 patent #2,592,927, describing a ridge extending beyond the grooves for greater strength.

The second number is patent #3,192,805, filed by H.H. Manning in 1963 and issued in 1965. This patent describes a machining technique to cut a specific shape for the undercut ridge on the pliers.

The Blue Handle Era

Channellock later began providing pliers with plastic handgrips in a distinctive blue color, and in 1988 registered "Channellock Blue" as a color trademark, a new concept in trademark protection at the time.

Channellock No. 440 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Fig. 11. Channellock No. 440 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers, ca. 1980s+.

Fig. 11 shows a fairly recent pair of Channellock 440 tongue-and-groove pliers, marked "Meadville, PA U.S.A." and equipped with the familiar blue hand grips.

The overall length is 12.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Although not marked with a patent number, these pliers are held together by a rivet as described in patent #4,603,607.

Channellock No. 460 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Fig. 12. Channellock No. 460 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers, ca. 1980s+.

Fig. 12 shows another example of recent Channellock production, the Channellock 460 tongue-and-groove pliers, marked "Made in U.S.A." and fitted with blue hand grips.

The overall length (fully extended) is 18.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The pliers are equipped with eight grooves, and can provide a parallel opening up to 3.8 inches wide. The rivet construction is described by patent #4,603,607.

Other Pliers

Champion DeArment No. 307 Battery Pliers

Fig. 13. Champion DeArment No. 307 Battery Pliers.

The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

These pliers are described by design patent #D94,156, filed by H.H. Manning in 1933.

Channellock 326 Needlenose Pliers with Side Cutters

Fig. 14. Channellock 326 Needlenose Pliers, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1963+.

Fig. 14 shows a pair of Channellock 326 needlenose pliers with side cutters, marked "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." near the pivot.

The overall length is 6.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel with polished faces.

Channellock 437 Diagonal Cutters

Fig. 15. Channellock 437 Diagonal Cutters, with Insets for Head and Handle Pattern, ca. 1963+.

References and Resources

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

Channellock maintains a web site with an informative page on the Channellock Company History, and readers are encouraged to check there for more information on this company.

Catalog Coverage

Product information was obtained from several Champion DeArment and Channellock catalogs, as sumamrized in the table below.

Patent and Trademark Information

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

If any readers have additional information regarding Champion DeArment or Channellock, please let us know via the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of any page. Your comments and suggestions are welcome as well.