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Crescent Tool CompanyTable of Contents
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IntroductionCompany HistoryThe Crescent Tool Company of Jamestown, New York was founded by Karl Peterson in 1907. Peterson was an active inventor who had previously been associated with the J.P. Danielson Company and Wm. Hjorth & Company, two other tool makers also in the Jamestown area. Crescent Tool was initially a maker of adjustable wrenches, and their particular wrench design became very well known, even to the point that all makes of this style came to be called "crescent" wrenches. The actual wrench design did not originate with Crescent, however, and there is some debate as to its origins. The 1857 patent #17,531 by Edward J. Worcester describes the basic design of a movable jaw sliding in a slot below a fixed jaw, and all modern designs clearly owe a debt to this early patent. The Swedish company BAHCO also claims to have invented the modern style of adjustable wrench. Crescent was also a producer of pliers and other tools, and within a few years was offering a wide selection of pliers. By the mid 1920s Crescent had acquired the Smith and Hemenway Company, a tool maker with a factory in Irvington, New Jersey. Smith & Hemenway offered a wide variety of pliers, chisels, screwdrivers, and related tools, with many of the items marked with the "Red Devil" trademark. The 1926 Crescent catalog (No. 17) printed separate sections for each company's tools, with the Smith & Hemenway section being substantially larger than the Crescent section at that time. (See our brief article on Smith & Hemenway for more information on their early products.) Around 1930 Crescent introduced a line of alloy steel pliers and wrenches, which were sold under their "Crestoloy" brand, a registered trademark. In the late 1940s and 1950s Crescent benefitted from the general post-war economic expansion as well as the rising popularity of "Do-It-Yourself" projects. By the mid 1950s the product line included fixed wrenches in open-end, combination, and box-end styles, as well as sockets and drive tools in 1/4-drive through 3/4-drive sizes. The sockets and drive tools closely resembled the production of Wright Tool and are believed to have been contract production by Wright. Crescent Tool continued as a family-run business until 1960, when it was purchased by a group of investors and became the Crescent Niagara Corporation. Over the next few years Crescent Niagara acquired several more tool companies, beginning with the 1962 purchase of Billings & Spencer. (See our article on Billings & Spencer for more information.) In 1963 Crescent Niagara acquired the tool operations of Barcalo Manufacturing, a diversified manufacturer that had become famous for its Barcalounger line of recliner chairs. (The furniture operations of Barcalo were acquired by a furniture company in North Carolina.) In 1964 another acquisition added Bridgeport Hardware Manufacturing as a subsidiary of Crescent Niagara. By 1967 the Crescent catalog had been expanded considerably with the addition of tools from the acquired companies. Crescent-branded wrenches were offered in combination, box, and open-end styles, with the "scooped" style box ends seen on late Barcalo wrenches. (See for example the Barcalo TC26 Combination Wrench.) Also included was the Bridgeport Hardware product line of screwdrivers and miscellaneous tools. Crescent continued the operations of the acquired companies for some time, but eventually merged the more important products into its own tool lines and dissolved the other corporations. In 1968 Crescent Niagara itself was acquired by the Cooper Industries conglomerate, and Crescent brand continues today as part of the Hand Tools division of Cooper. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Patents
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TrademarksCrescent Tool registered several trademarks for its products, including the "Crescent" name and a "CTCO" logo, both used as early as 1907. The "Cee Tee Co" trademark was used beginning in 1913, and the "Crestoloy" trademark (for alloy-steel tools) was first used in 1930. Crescent acquired the "Red Devil" trademark as part of its Smith & Hemenway acquisition. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustable WrenchesAdjustable wrenches were one of the earliest products of Crescent Tool, and Crescent's particular design became very popular, perhaps too popular. Even today it's common to hear an adjustable wrench referred to as a crescent wrench regardless of the brand. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent 8-10 Inch Double Adjustable WrenchWe'll begin with an early double-ended wrench, a once common tool that's now regarded as a novelty. Fig. 1 shows an early Crescent 8-10 inch double-ended adjustable wrench, marked "Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." in forged raised letters, with "Crescent" and "Drop Forged Steel" on the reverse. The overall length is 10.1 inches, and the maximum jaw openings were measured at 1.0 and 1.1 inches for the 8 and 10 inch ends, respectively. The finish is polished steel. The head thickness was measured at 0.58 and 0.73 inches for the 8 and 10 inch ends, respectively. This wrench has an additional "Patented" marking forged into the shank, and this is believed to be a reference to patent #1,133,236, issued to K. Peterson in 1915. The patent describes the use of a tension spring to help hold the adjusting screw in position. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent 6-8 Inch Double Adjustable WrenchFig. 2 shows a later Crescent 6-8 inch double-ended adjustable wrench, marked "Mfd. By Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." in forged raised letters, with "Drop Forged Steel" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 8.1 inches, and the maximum jaw openings were measured at 0.8 and 1.0 inches for the 6 and 8 inch ends, respectively. The finish is polished steel. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent 8 Inch Adjustable WrenchFig. 3 shows a Crescent 8 inch adjustable wrench, marked "Mfd. By Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." in forged raised letters, with "Drop Forged Steel" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 8.1 inches, and the maximum jaw opening is 1.0 inches. The head thickness was measured at 0.56 inches. The finish is plain steel. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent 12 Inch Adjustable WrenchFig. 4 shows a Crescent 12 inch adjustable wrench, marked "Mfd. By Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." in forged raised letters, with "Drop Forged Steel" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 12.3 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.3 inches. This wrench is made of carbon steel wrench and has a relatively thick head, measured at 0.88 inches. The finish is plain steel. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Crestoloy EraIn 1930 Crescent introduced a line of alloy-steel tools under the "Crestoloy" trademark. The extra strength of the alloy steel allowed the new wrenches to be thinner and lighter than the older models, but still stronger. Advertisements for the new wrenches typically claimed them to be "30% Thinner" but "200% Stronger". The next several figures will shows examples of Crestoloy adjustable wrenches. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 4 Inch Adjustable WrenchesThe next two figures show examples of Crestoloy wrenches in the 4 inch size. Fig. 5 at the left shows a Crescent 4 inch adjustable wrench, marked "Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." in forged raised letters, with "Crestoloy Steel" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 4.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel with traces of red paint. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Fig. 6 shows another example of the Crescent 4 inch adjustable wrench, marked "Crestoloy Steel" and "Made in U.S.A." in forged raised letters, with "Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." on the reverse. The overall length is 4.3 inches, and the maximum opening is 0.5 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 12 Inch Adjustable WrenchFig. 7 shows a Crescent Crestoloy 12 inch adjustable wrench, marked "Forged Crestoloy Steel" and "Made in U.S.A." in forged raised letters, with "Mfd. By Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." on the reverse. The overall length is 12.2 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.3 inches. The maximum head thickness was measured at 0.72 inches. The finish is plain steel, with some pitting due to rust. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Later ProductionIn later years Crescent redesigned its adjustable wrenches, extending the depressed panel in the handle all the way to the adjusting screw. At the opposite end, the panelled region was terminated sharply in a line, leaving a squared off area around the hole. (Previously the hole had been within the panel, and had not had a ridge around it.) Based on a review of catalog illustrations, the new handle design went into production sometime after 1958 but before 1967. The 1967 catalog refers to the "open handle design" as an improvement in the ease of adjustment, and the design gave their wrenches a distinctive appearance as well. From our standpoint, the redesign had an additional advantage, in that it makes it easier to identify Crescent as the contract maker for other brands. (However, later wrench production from Diamond Tool used a similar handle design.) The next several figures will show examples of later production with this updated design. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench, Later DesignFig. 8 shows a later Crescent 8 inch adjustable wrench, marked "Forged Crestoloy Steel" and "Made in U.S.A." in forged raised letters, with "Mfd. By Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." on the reverse. The overall length is 8.1 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.0 inch. The maximum head thickness was measured at 0.47 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 10 Inch Adjustable Wrench, Later DesignFig. 8B shows a later Crescent 10 inch adjustable wrench, marked "Forged Crestoloy Steel" and "Made in U.S.A." in forged raised letters, with "Mfd. By Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." on the reverse. The overall length is 10.1 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.1 inches. The maximum head thickness was measured at 0.61 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 4 Inch Adjustable Wrench, Late ProductionIn still later production the forged-in markings were replaced by stamped markings, except for some small production codes at the end of the handle. Fig. 9 shows a Crescent 4 inch adjustable wrench, stamped "Crescent" and "U.S.A." with a registered trademark symbol, with "Forged Crestoloy Steel" and and another registered symbol on the reverse. The overall length is 4.3 inches, and the maximum opening is 0.5 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Slip-Joint Pliers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent L25 Thin-Nose Slip-Joint PliersThe overall length is 5.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent L26 Thin-Nose Slip-Joint Combination PliersThe next two figures show earlier and later examples of the Crescent L26 thin-nose combination pliers. Fig. 11 shows an earlier pair of Crescent L26 thin-nose pliers, marked "Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y. U.S.A." on the handle. The overall length is 6.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel. The distinctive pattern on the handles of these pliers (and other models) is called "Checkerdot Knurling" in some catalog listings. This pattern was in use at least as early as 1921. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Fig. 12 shows a later pair of Crescent L26 pliers marked "U.S.A." on the handle. The overall length is 6.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent Thin-Nose Bent Combination PliersFig. 13 shows a pair of Crescent thin-nose pliers with bent or angled jaws, marked "Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y. U.S.A." with the CTCo logo. The overall length is 6.7 inches. The original finish was nickel plating, but most has been lost due to wear and rust. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CeeTeeCo 5 Inch Slip-Joint PliersFig. 14 at the left shows a pair of CeeTeeCo 5 inch slip-joint pliers, marked "Jamestown, N.Y." on the handle. The overall length is 5.5 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CeeTeeCo Slip-Joint Specialty PliersFig. 15 shows a pair of CeeTeeCo slip-joint specialty pliers, marked "Jamestown NY U.S.A." on the handle. The overall length is 6.4 inches, and the finish is black oxide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Red Devil 925-10 Slip-Joint Combination PliersWith the Smith & Hemenway acquisition Crescent inherited the "Red Devil" brand, used for a line of pliers and window glass specialty tools. Fig. 16 shows a pair of Red Devil 925-10 combination pliers, marked "U.S.A." on the handle with "Forged Steel" on the underside. The overall length is 9.9 inches, and the finish is nickel plating. These are heavy, well-built pliers with numerous features to earn their rating as "combination pliers". The jaws include two gripping areas for round objects, plus a V-groove for holding small pins (see lower inset). There's also a slot for cutting wire, and the end of one handle is flattened for use as a screwdriver or light-duty prybar. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed-Pivot PliersAs late as 1926 Crescent itself offered only a single model of fixed-pivot pliers, a long-nose design intended for radio work. However, with its purchase of Smith & Hemenway, Crescent had acquired an extensive line of fixed-pivot pliers and cutters, including lineman's pliers, diagonal and end cutters, and needlenose pliers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 23-7 Duckbill PliersFig. 17 shows a pair of Crescent 23-7 duckbill pliers, marked "Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." around the pivot, with "Crestoloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 7.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 654-7 Needlenose PliersFig. 18A shows a pair of Crescent 654-7 needlenose pliers, stamped "Crescent Tool Co." and Jamestown, N.Y." on the front, with "Crestoloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 7.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 1033-6 Needlenose PliersFig. 18B shows a recent pair of Crescent 1033-6 needlenose pliers, marked "U.S.A." on the pivot. (The markings are etched rather than stamped and are a bit difficult to read.) The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is black oxide with polished faces. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 940-6 Diagonal Cutter PliersFig. 19 shows a pair of Crescent 940-6 diagonal cutters marked "Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y.", with "Crestoloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel. The pliers are also marked "PWA 1057", indicating that these were contract production for Pratt-Whitney Aircraft. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 942-4 Diagonal Cutter PliersFig. 20 shows a pair of Crescent 942-4 diagonal cutters marked "Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." near the pivot, with "Crestoloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 4.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel. The top inset shows a side view of the head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crestoloy 72-8 End NippersFig. 21 shows a fairly recent pair of Crescent 72-8 end nippers, marked "Crescent" on one side with "Crestoloy" and "U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 8.3 inches, and the width of the cutters is 1.1 inches. The finish is plain steel with polished faces. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Red Devil 1906 Fencing PliersFig. 22 shows a pair of Red Devil 1906 fencing pliers, marked "S.&H. Co. U.S.A." near the pivot. The overall length is 10.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Tools | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent No. 175 1 Inch Wood ChiselReaders who know Crescent Tools only as a maker of wrenches and pliers may be a bit surprised by the next figure. Fig. 23 shows a Crescent No. 175 1 inch wood chisel with a four-lobed steel handle, marked "Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y.", with "No. 175 1 Inch" and "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel. The No. 175 chisel is listed in a 1928 Crescent catalog and was available in three widths, 3/4, 1, and 1-1/4 inches. The catalog notes that the chisels were popular with electricians and plumbers, and that the blade was hardened for its full length, to permit numerous resharpenings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent K24 T-Handle Folding ScrewdriverFig. 24 shows an unusual Crescent K24 folding screwdriver, marked "Crescent Tool Co." and "Jamestown, N.Y." on the shank, with "4 In" and "Patented" on the reverse. The overall length is 6.4 inches in the "T" position and 7.6 inches when extended. The finish is chrome plating. Although the model number is not marked on the tool, a Crescent catalog from 1928 lists this as an "All Steel Screwdriver" with model number K24. Larger versions were available as models K25 and K26, with blade lengths of 5 and 6 inches, respectively. The design for this tool is described by patent #1,215,308, issued in 1917 to J.E. Johnson and assigned to Crescent Tool. (Thanks to a diligent reader for the patent reference.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The patent document calls this a "Combination Tool" and mentions an additional feature: the ability to drive sockets inserted in the handle when in the "T" position. The present tool did not come with any such sockets, and it's not clear that Crescent actually made such accessories for the tool. Another feature intended by the patent is the use as a light-duty hammer, with the screwdriver blade acting as a handle. The patent was filed in 1914, so this model may have been in production as early as that time, and it remained in production at least through the late 1920s. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent C1731-B Open-End WrenchFig. 25 shows a Crescent C1731-B 13/16x7/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Made in U.S.A." on the reverse shank. The overall length is 9.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crescent "Life-Time" LS70 1/2-Drive Ratchet
Fig. 26. Crescent "Life-Time" LS70 1/2-Drive Ratchet, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1963+.
Fig. 26 shows a 1/2-drive Crescent LS70 ratchet, marked with the "Life-Time" brand stamped into the panelled handle, with "Patent No. 2982161" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the reverse. The overall length is 10.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating. This ratchet is covered by patent #2,982,161, issued to T.F. Angquist et al in 1961 with assignment to Crescent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References and ResourcesPhotographs and observations of particular tools are based on items in my personal collection. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Catalog CoverageProduct information was obtained from several Crescent Tool catalogs, as summarized in the table below.
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Crescent Tools were widely available through automotive and industrial suppliers, and the catalogs from these companies provide an additional source of information.
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Patents and TrademarksPatent and trademark 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FeedbackIf any readers have additional information about Crescent, please let us know via the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of any page. Your comments and suggestions are welcome as well. |
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