Hinsdale In Hindsight

Logo from Hinsdale No. 10 Socket Set with "Fat" H-Circle Logo, ca. 1920.

Hinsdale Manufacturing was a Chicago tool company with a significant role as an early maker of automotive service tools. This page will offer a retrospective look at Hinsdale and its tools.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Early Tools
• Later Production
• The Craftsman Connection
• References and Resources
• What's New (Last Updated Mar. 12, 2008)
  Recent changes to this page:

  • 03/12/2008: Added a Hinsdale F4 Offset Socket Wrench.
  • 12/31/2007: Added a Hinsdale HD3 Offset Box Wrench.
  • 12/19/2007: Added a Hinsdale 3/8-Drive Socket.
  • 12/16/2007: Added a Hinsdale 1/2-Drive Nickel-Chrome Socket.
  • 12/03/2007: Added a Hinsdale HD2628 Offset Box Wrench.
  • 06/07/2007: Added a Hinsdale No. 00 Socket Set.
  • 04/19/2007: Added a Hinsdale CV Open-End Wrench.
  • 04/01/2007: Updated company information and added patent table.
  • 02/27/2007: Added a Hinsdale Fixed Socket Wrench.
  • 01/23/2007: Added a Hinsdale Early 1/2-Drive Universal.
  • 01/22/2007: Added a Hinsdale Pressed-Steel Socket Set.
  • 12/09/2006: Added a Hinsdale 1723 Chrome Vanadium Open-End Wrench.
  • 10/05/2006: Renumbered figures.
  • 10/04/2006: Added an HD4 Offset Box Wrench.
  • 10/03/2006: Added an HD2 Offset Box Wrench.
  • 08/10/2006: Added a pair of Hinsdale No. L-10 Pliers.
  • 06/11/2006: More tools from the early set, Early 1/2-Drive Ratchet.
  • 06/10/2006: Added an Early 1/2-Drive Socket Set.
  • 06/07/2006: Updated with more catalog information.
  • 05/27/2006: Added information from a 1931 Sears catalog.
  • 05/18/2006: Added a 1/2-Drive H6R Flex-Head Breaker Bar.
  • 01/26/2006: Added tags for indexing.
  • 12/15/2005: Updated text to include info from 1924 Beckley-Ralston catalog Other Early Tools.
  • 11/22/2005: Added Craftsman 9/32-Drive Socket Set.
  • 11/20/2005: Added 11M 9/32-Drive Socket Set.
  • 10/28/2005: Added SR30 Socket and BR34 Flare-Nut Wrench.
  • 10/27/2005: Added DS-1 Long Speeder.
  • 10/24/2005: Added DR-1 Short Speeder.
  • 10/23/2005: Added H-12-R Ratchet.
  • 10/22/2005: Just started, but added lots of photos.

Introduction

This page will look at the Hinsdale Manufacturing Company, a maker of hand tools active in the Chicago area during the 1920s through 1940s. Although not very well known today, at one time Hinsdale products were sold widely through Western Auto, Sears Roebuck, and automotive supply distributors.

We'll briefly review the history (what little is known) of the company, then look at some examples of tools produced by Hinsdale. Although both tools and information are in short supply, hopefully the material presented here will be useful.

Company History

The Hinsdale Manufacturing Company was founded in 1919 by Fred W. Miller, and operated initially in Hinsdale, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The founding date can confirmed by at least two sources: a reprinted early advertisement in AWM2e, and a 1947 Hinsdale catalog that provides a brief company history.

Hinsdale Manufacturing's first factory was located at 47th and County Line Road in Hinsdale, but the company remained in Hinsdale only briefly. By 1921 the company had moved into a factory at 1857 Fulton Street in Chicago, and apparently also established a business or sales office at 215-217 North Desplaines Avenue, a few blocks away from the Fulton Street address. The 1930 Donnelley's Industrial Directory listed Hinsdale Manufacturing at 217 North Desplaines, and an advertising brochure from 1933 lists the address at 215 North Desplaines. The company remained at the 1857 Fulton Street location for its subsequent years.

During the 1920s the company produced a variety of wrenches, socket sets, fixed-socket wrenches, and automotive specialty tools. Recently found catalog information has shown that Hinsdale products were widely available through high-volume catalog retailers, including Western Auto and Sears Roebuck; this would have given Hinsdale a national footprint for sales. In addition, at least some of their socket sets and specialty tools were sold through Beckley-Ralston, a large distributor-dealer of automotive tools and equipment.

The 1924 Western Auto "Ford Owner's Supply Book" offered a Hinsdale socket set by name, and a group of specialty tools are shown with the Hinsdale logo, a rounded "H" with a circle. Another of Hinsdale's products, the G-20 socket set, became widely associated as the tool set for the popular Ford Model T, and likely sold in high volumes for that time. By 1929 the Sears catalog offered several socket sets identifiable as Hinsdale by the mention of the distinctive T-L handle. (The 1931 Sears catalog offered Hinsdale sets by name.)

An interesting snippet of Hinsdale history comes from the web site of Berland's Tools, a company with connections to the founders of Sherman-Klove (S-K) tools. According to the historical information posted there, Sherman-Klove was the manufacturer of the socket sets sold by Hinsdale, and in the early 1930s Hinsdale ceased operations. This left Sherman-Klove with a large inventory of unsold goods, and handling the leftover inventory provided the impetus to form S-K Hand Tools in 1932. S-K of course went on to find considerable success on its own.

In spite of whatever difficulties occurred during the depression years, Hinsdale was able to resume operations sometime later. By 1933 the company was advertising box-end wrenches and socket sets made of chrome vanadium steel, including wrenches in the HD-series identified as being sold under the Sears Craftsman brand.

During the 1930s the company developed a line of heavy-duty tools for use in oilfield or other industrial applications, a line which included socket tools of 1-1/4 inch drive size. A catalog from around 1947 shows them with a modest line of service and maintenance tools, including socket sets, open and box-end wrenches, combination wrenches, and other tools. The catalog also includes pictures of their production facilities and of the Hinsdale booth at a trade show.

Patents and Trademarks

Hinsdale developed or licensed a number of patents for its tool production, and these are summarized in the table below. Also included are patents issued to Fred W. Miller, the company's founder, although it's uncertain whether these were used in production by Hinsdale.

Trademarks

Hinsdale Manufacturing does not appear at all in a search of the USPTO trademark records, despite their references to trademark registration in company literature and even in tool forgings!

Early Tools

Fixed Socket Wrenches

In the years before 1920, fixed socket wrenches were among the most important tools for automobile repair. Standard configurations and sizes were available for popular cars (i.e. the Model T), and most service jobs could be performed with a selection of 5 or 10 wrenches. Although the popularity of the fixed socket wrenches declined as interchangeable sockets improved, these tools continued selling well into the 1920s.

Hinsdale is known to have produced a number of models of fixed socket wrenches, based on the listings in the 1924 Western Auto Supply catalog. However, these tools are now fairly uncommon, and currently we have only a single model to display.

9/16 Ell-Shaped Socket Wrench

Fig. 1A. Hinsdale 9/16 Ell-Shaped Socket Wrench, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1919-1925.

Fig. 1A shows a Hinsdale 9/16 Ell-shaped socket wrench, stamped with the Hinsdale name and Fat-H-Circle logo.

F4 11/16 Offset Socket Wrench

Fig. 1B. Hinsdale F4 11/16 Offset Socket Wrench, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1919-1925.

Fig. 1B shows a Hinsdale F4 11/16 offset socket wrench, stamped with the Hinsdale name and Fat-H-Circle logo.

The overall length is 11.4 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

This wrench was designed for servicing the Model T flywheel bolts, a job requiring an offset in the shank to clear obstacles. Similar wrenches by other manufacturers include the Blackhawk 4122 Socket Wrench and Walden 3822 Socket Wrench.

Hex-Drive Sockets and Tools

No. 10 7/16-Hex Drive Socket Set

Fig. 2 shows an early Hinsdale No. 10 socket set, with a hex ell handle and two types of hex-drive sockets. None of the tools have any markings, not even for the socket sizes. The shallow sockets have sizes 1/2, 5/8, 11/16, 25/32, and 7/8 inches, with the "deep" sockets (possibly not original with the set, and broken anyway) at 9/16, 5/8, and 3/4 inches. The overall length of the box is 9 inches. This set was probably manufactured in the early 1920s.

The tapered steel box has an embossed lid that slides into place to close, a popular style of container for socket sets at the time. Note the prominent rounded "H" in a circle between "Hins" and "Dale"; this is the standard logo used by Hinsdale on tools. (I like to call it "Fat-H-Circle".)

Fig. 2. Early Hinsdale No. 10 Socket Set with "B-R", ca. 1920.

One unusual detail for this socket set is the 7/16 drive hex handle; such handles were usually 1/2-drive, or 3/8-drive for smaller sockets.

Another detail to note is the "B-R" marking on the right hand side of the lid. This is the mark used by the Beckley-Ralston Co., a large distributer-dealer of automobile accessories and related products, and indicates that the set was probably distributed by them.

No. 12 1/2-Hex Drive Socket Set

In Fig. 3 we see a slightly later socket set, the Hinsdale No. 12 set. This socket set now includes a ratchet as well as a hex handle, and the drive size has been increased to a more conventional 1/2 instead of 7/16. The nine 6-point sockets have sizes 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 19/32, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 25/32, and 7/8 inch.

Fig. 3. Hinsdale No. 12 Socket Set with "B-R", ca. 1924-1927.

Another difference with this set is that some of the tools have part numbers; for example, the hex handle is marked C-1, the 1/2 socket is a C-1/2, and even the ratchet drive stud has a number, C-3 1/2. The sockets are all marked with at least the size if not a part number.

The ratchet in this set is marked as model S-15 and has a "Pat. Pend." notation on the handle. After a search of the patent records, the corresponding patent was found to be #1,650,085, issued to John W. McDonough (and assigned to Hinsdale Mfg. Co.) on Nov. 22, 1927. As the patent was filed in 1924, this particular ratchet was likely manufactured between 1924 and 1927.

As with the previous set, the lid is stamped with the "B-R" notation for Beckley-Ralston, indicating that it was sold by the distributor.

Fig. 4. Sockets from the Hinsdale No. 12 Socket Set.

Fig. 4 at the left shows the sockets from the No. 12 set. The construction is typical for this type of set: thin-walled sockets made of hardened steel, with a knurled band in the center.

No. 00 1/2-Hex Drive Compact Socket Set

Fig. 5 shows a 1/2-hex drive Hinsdale No. 00 socket set in a compact metal holder, consisting of an L-handle, an S-15 ratchet, a drive plug, and eight hex sockets. The retaining clip is marked with the Hinsdale name and Fat-H-Circle logo, plus the "No. 00" set number and a "Pat. Pend." notice.

Fig. 5. Hinsdale No. 00 Socket Set, with Inset for Top View, ca. 1924-1927.

The hex sockets have sizes 1/2, 9/16, 19/32, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 25/32, and 7/8 inch. (The original 3/4 socket was missing when the set was acquired, so this socket was borrowed from the No. 12 set above for the photograph.) The sockets are all marked with the fractional size, but only two (excluding the borrowed socket) are marked with the Fat-H-Circle logo, and the 19/32 socket is marked with a "C-19/32" model number.

The patent pending notice probably refers to a patent filed for the socket set holder, but the corresponding patent (if issued) has not yet been found.

Fig. 6. Sockets from Hinsdale No. 00 Socket Set, ca. 1924-1927.

Fig. 6 at the left shows the eight hex sockets from the Hinsdale No. 00 set. The sizes are, from the left, 7/8, 25/32, 3/4, 11/16, 5/8, 19/32, 9/16, and 1/2. (As mentioned above, the 3/4 socket was borrowed from the No. 12 set shown above.)

Square-Drive Sockets and Tools

Hinsdale's earliest products probably included square-drive sockets of pressed-steel construction, as socket sets of this type were very popular as automobile tool kits. These Hinsdale pressed-steel socket sets are now rather rare, but we've been able to acquire one example for display.

Sometime in the early 1920s, Hinsdale began producing heavy-wall machined sockets and heavy-duty drive tools, as it became apparent that stronger tools would be needed for typical automobile repairs.

Early 1/2-Drive Pressed-Steel Socket Set

Fig. 7 shows a rare early Hinsdale 1/2-drive pressed-steel socket set, all neatly contained in a wooden box with an organizer to hold the tools in place. The label on the inside of the lid reads "Hinsdale Manufacturing Company" with "Tools of Quality" and "Chicago", and the Fat-H-Circle logo is printed in red between the "Hins" and "Dale".

Fig. 7. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive Pressed-Steel Socket Set, ca. 1919-1924.

The tools in the set consist of 14 hex sockets, 6 square sockets, a double-male extension, and a universal joint. The original drive tool was no longer with the set when acquired, but might have been a ratchet or possibly just an L-handle.

The sockets in the set are all marked on the base with the fractional size, plus "Made in U.S.A." and the Hinsdale Fat-H-Circle logo. The hex sockets have sizes 3/8, 7/16, 17/32, 9/16, 21/32, 11/16, 3/4, 27/32, 29/32, 31/32, 1-1/32, 1-3/32, 1-1/8, and 1-1/4. Several of the sockets are cracked, in some cases at the hex opening and in others at the drive end.

The square sockets are sized 1/2, 19/32, 11/16, 25/32, 7/8, and 1-1/4, and are shown in detail in the next figure.

1/2-Drive Pressed-Steel Square Sockets

Fig. 8. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive Pressed-Steel Square Sockets, ca. 1919-1924.

Fig. 8 at the left shows the square sockets from the early pressed-steel socket set, all marked "Made in U.S.A." with the Fat-H-Circle logo.

The sizes are, front row from the left, 1/2, 19/32, 11/16, and back row from the left, 25/32, 7/8, and 1-1/4.

Note that the 1/2 square socket would have served as a coupler as well as a socket, to allow the extension to be used with the universal, or for either tool to be used with a male drive handle.

1/2-Drive Forged Universal

Fig. 9. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive Forged Universal, ca. 1919-1924.

Fig. 9 shows the 1/2-drive forged universal from the pressed-steel socket set, marked with the Fat-H-Circle logo forged into the base of the fork. (The logo resembles a dash between parentheses, somewhat like this "(-)".)

The overall length is 3.3 inches.

Early 1/2-Drive Socket Set

Fig. 10 shows a significant early Hinsdale socket set, consisting of a ratchet with drive stud, an extension, a universal, and 16 heavy-wall machined sockets (with one missing). The label on the inside of the lid is worn away in one area, but reads "Hinsdale Manufacturing Company" with "Tools of Quality" and "Chicago". The Fat-H-Circle logo appears in red between the "Hins" and "Dale".

Fig. 10. Early Hinsdale 1/2-Drive Socket Set, with Ratchet Patented Aug. 15, 1922, ca. 1922-1924.

The ratchet is notable in its patent date of Aug. 15, 1922, corresponding to patent #1,425,816, the earliest of the patents used by Hinsdale. Based on this early patent, this set is believed to be one of the first Hinsdale sets to use square-drive machined sockets. Earlier sets contained sockets suitable for lighter duty work, with thin-wall hex drive or pressed steel square drive.

Later Hinsdale socket sets are usually found with the more robust model H-1 ratchet shown later in this article. The relatively thin sheet-metal head of the present ratchet was not a sufficient match for the stronger sockets.

Of the other drive tools, the double-female universal is marked with model H-3, and appears to be substantially the same as the later H-3 universal shown below. The extension is marked "2" and has a square shaft with pinched tabs, a characteristic of early drive tools.

1/2-Drive Ratchet with Early Patent

Fig. 11 shows the early ratchet from the set, with "Made in U.S.A." curved around the Hinsdale logo, and the "Pat. Aug. 15 1922" patent date. The overall length is 9.2 inches.

Fig. 11. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive Ratchet with Early Patent, ca. 1922-1924.

The drive plug for the ratchet was unmarked, but is comparable to the model 3 1/2 plug shown below.

1/2-Drive Model 2 Extension

Fig. 12 shows the extension from the set, marked with the Hinsdale logo and "2". The overall length is 7.5 inches.

Fig. 12. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive No. 2 Extension, ca. 1922-1924.

This early extension has a square shaft with pinched tabs as stops, which was typical construction for this type of tool in the early 1920s.

Early 1/2-Drive 6-Point Sockets

Fig. 13. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive Sockets from Early Set, ca. 1922-1924.

Fig. 13 shows a selection of the 6-point sockets from the set, all marked with the Hinsdale Fat-H-Circle logo and the fractional size. (The sizes are on the opposite side, not visible in the photograph.)

The sizes are, from the left in front, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, and 1/2, and in the back, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, and 1 inch.

The full set included 15 hex sockets from 5/16 up to 1 inch, and one square socket of size 1/2.

These sockets are very similar to those in later 1/2-drive sets, as shown in the 1/2-drive 6-point sockets below.

H-1 1/2-Drive Ratchet

Fig. 14. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive H-1 Ratchet with "Pat. Pend.", ca. 1924-1927.

Fig. 14 shows a 1/2-drive Hinsdale H-1 ratchet acquired with a set of other Hinsdale 1/2-drive tools. In this ratchet design the pawl tooth is part of the handle, which pivots around the larger pin to either engage the gear or release it completely. The ratchet was typically used with a model 3 1/2 drive plug (see Fig. 12 below) but could be used with a double-male extension as well.

This ratchet has the same design as the model S-15 ratchet shown with the No. 12 Socket Set, and also happens to be marked with a "Pat. Pend." notation. The ratchets are covered by patent #1,650,085, which places the likely date of manufacture in the range 1924-1927.

TL-1 1/2-Drive Tee/Ell Handle

Fig. 15. Hinsdale TL-1 1/2-Drive Breaker Bar with "Pat. Apld. For", ca. 1923-1926.

Fig. 15 shows a Hinsdale model TL-1 "convertible" ell and tee-handle. The metal sheath slides down the handle and can be turned at right angles to make a tee-handle, or used at the long end as an ell-handle.

This tool has a "Pat. Apld. For" notation as was the case with the H-1 ratchet. After a lengthy search of the patent records, the patent was found to be #1,597,747, issued to F. Wermes on Aug. 31, 1926. The patent application was dated Oct. 4, 1923, placing the estimated production date in the range 1923-1926.

H-2 1/2-Drive Extension

Fig. 16. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive Extensions, from Bottom: H-2 Extension, Model 3 1/2 Drive Plug, ca. 1924-1926.

In Fig. 16 we see a Hinsdale H-2 double-male extension and a model 3 1/2 drive plug, both for 1/2-drive, and both pieces are marked with the Fat-H-Circle logo. These pieces were part of the set that included the H-1 ratchet and TL-1 breaker shown above.

Overall lengths are 1.25 inches for the model 3 1/2 and 7.75 inches for the H-2.

6-Point 1/2-Drive Sockets

Fig. 17. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive 6-Point Sockets, from Left: 11/32, 1/2, 3/4, 1", ca. 1924-1926.

Fig. 17 shows a representative selection of the 1/2-drive 6-point sockets from the set with the H-1 ratchet and TL-1 breaker described above. The sockets are marked with the Hinsdale Fat-H-Circle logo and the fractional size, with sizes ranging from 5/16 to 1-1/8. (The set included a number of 4-point sockets as well.)

The knurled band in the center is coarse enough that it could be considered functional, to assist with turning the socket by hand.

The sockets have typical early construction: the openings were first machined, then broached, and finally hardened. The finish appears to be a nickel plate, and rather well done for sockets dating to the mid-1920s.

Fig. 18. Closeup of Hinsdale 1/2-Drive 6-Point Sockets, from Left: 3/4, 1".

Fig. 18 shows a closeup of the inside of the larger sockets to illustrate the construction. The center of the flats show tooling marks where the interior was first drilled out. A careful look at the shelf below the broached area shows dents below the broached corners, showing that the broaching was done after all of the boring and turning operations.

H-3 1/2-Drive Universal

Fig. 19. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive H-3 Double-Female Universal Joint, ca. 1924-1926.

Fig. 19 shows a Hinsdale 1/2-drive H-3 double-female universal joint, again from the same set of tools as the ratchet and sockets described above.

DR-1 1/2-Drive Universal

Fig. 20. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive DR-1 Short Speeder with Inset.

Fig. 20 shows a Hinsdale 1/2-drive DR-1 short speeder with a knurled end piece. The overall length is 13 inches.

Note that the drive end has a raised shoulder (as a stop) on only one facet of the square, rather than on all four. This seems to have been a characteristic of Hinsdale production.

DS-1 1/2-Drive Universal

Fig. 21. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive DS-1 Long Speeder with Inset.

In Fig. 21 we see a similar but longer 1/2-drive speeder, the Hinsdale DS-1. This speeder has a knurled end piece and an overall length of 18.9 inches.

The two speeders were acquired separately from the H-1 ratchet and socket set above, so their time relationship with the other tools is unknown. The DS-1 model has a heavy nickel plate finish and appears to be of later production than the DR-1 example; though the manufacturing dates are uncertain, these tools were likely made in the 1920s.

G-20 1/2-Drive Socket Set

Fig. 22. Hinsdale G-20 Socket Set to be added.

1/2-Drive Nickel-Chrome Socket

In the late 1920s Hinsdale began producing some sockets using a nickel-chrome alloy steel, as the next example illustrates.

Fig. 23. Hinsdale Nickel-Chrome 1/2-Drive 1-1/16 Hex Socket, with Inset for Broaching, ca. late 1920s.

Fig. 23 shows a rare 1/2-drive Hinsdale 1-1/16 hex socket of nickel-chrome alloy steel, stamped on the base with the Fat-H-Circle logo and "Nickel Chrome".

The socket has a band of cross-hatched knurling around the center, and the construction shows a recessed area below the broaching. Note that the upper walls are slightly tapered.

Open-End Wrenches

No. 5 7/8x15/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 24. Hinsdale 7/8x15/16 No. 5 Open-End Wrench, with Inset Showing Reverse, ca. 1929.

Fig. 24 shows a Hinsdale 7/8x15/16 No. 5 open-end wrench, with forged raised letters for the name and logo. The reverse is marked "Chrome-Vanadium-Steel", also in raised letters.

The overall length is 8.5 inches.

This wrench resembles those in the 1929 advertisement reprinted in AWM2e (p. 167), where the ad copy notes they were "Guaranteed Forever Against Breakage".

Vanadium 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 25. Hinsdale 5/8x3/4 Open-End "Vanadium" Wrench, with Inset for Reverse, ca. 1930-1932.

Fig. 25 shows a Hinsdale Vanadium 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench, marked with the Hinsdale logo and "Vanadium", with "Forged in U.S.A." on the reverse. The overall length is 7.6 inches.

The Hinsdale "Fat-H-Circle" logo is somewhat different than the typical form, as there are actually two circles around the center "H". The construction for this wrench also differs from the earlier open-end wrenches, with a depressed panel and very sharp forged lettering.

The manufacturing date for this wrench is uncertain, but may date from the early 1930s. The 1931 Sears catalog offered a set of Hinsdale Vanadium open-end wrenches, and this may be an example.

1723 Chrome Vanadium 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 26 shows a Hinsdale 1723 3/8x7/16 open-end wrench, marked "Chrome Vanadium" with the Fat-H-Circle logo. The overall length is 4.9 inches.

Fig. 26. Hinsdale 1723 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench.

The finish is nickel plating, though now worn off in some areas.

Other Early Tools

L-10 Slip-Joint Pliers

Fig. 27 shows a pair of Hinsdale slip-joint pliers, with a model number that appears to be "No. L-10", though the marking is unclear. The pliers are marked "Chicago, U.S.A." with the Hinsdale name and Fat-H-Circle logo, and the overall length is 6.4 inches.

Fig. 27. Hinsdale No. L-10 Slip-Joint Pliers, with Insets for Handle Pattern and Nose Detail.

The pliers are constructed of stamped steel, as can be seen from the shear marks visible on the edges. The stamped parts were hardened after pressing, providing a serviceable pair of pliers that probably sold very inexpensively. The finish is plain steel.

Other Tools

At least two other early Hinsdale tools deserve mention, although currently these are known only from catalog listings; no examples have been found yet.

The first is the model F-5 ratchet wrench, used for adjusting Ford brake and reverse bands. This tool is illustrated on p. 217 of the 1924 Beckley-Ralston catalog, along with the notation "PATD 8-15-22". The patent has been identified as #1,425,816 and was issued to V. Van Horn on Aug. 15, 1922. (This patent date is incorrectly listed as 8-11-22 in AWM2e.)

The second tool is a single-ended flex-socket wrench intended for connecting rod bolts, and is shown on p. 219 of the above-mentioned catalog. No model number is given, but the illustration shows a "Pat. Pend." notation with the Hinsdale Fat-H-Circle logo. The corresponding patent has been identified as #1,597,939, issued to F. Wermes in 1926. This tool appears to be quite significant as the earliest example (to my knowledge) of a flex-socket wrench, a form that was later offered by a number of companies including Snap-On, Herbrand, Cornwell, and others.

Later Production

1/2-Drive Sockets and Tools

H6R 1/2-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar

Fig. 28. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive H6R Flex-Head Breaker Bar, with Inset for Detail, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 28 shows a 1/2-drive Hinsdale H6R flex-head breaker bar, marked "Hinsdale" with the Fat-H-Circle logo. The overall length is 17.6 inches.

The handle is knurled and has a cross-bar hole, but no end broaching. The finish is cadmium plating, which suggests a likely manufacturing date during the wartime years.

H-12-R 1/2-Drive Ratchet

Fig. 29. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive H-12-R Ratchet with Inset, ca. 1946-1949.

Fig. 29 shows a Hinsdale 1/2-drive reversible ratchet with model number H-12-R. This example matches the dimensions for the ratchet illustrated in their 1947 catalog, which notes that the reversible ratchet is a new model and so likely dates from that time. (The Hinsdale catalog is unusual in that it gives engineering drawings of the tools with dimensions.) The overall length is 10.5 inches.

One feature to note is the use of the pressed flange construction to allow assembly without screws or rivets; this construction method was patented by Duro Metal Products in the early 1930s. The head of this ratchet appears to be nearly identical to some Duro-Chrome ratchets, suggesting that Hinsdale may have licensed the method or purchased the tooling from Duro.

SR30 1/2-Drive 15/16 Socket

Fig. 30. Hinsdale 1/2-Drive SR30 15/16 12-Point Socket.

Fig. 30 shows a 1/2-drive SR30 15/16 12-point socket, which is listed in the 1947 catalog as part of their standard 1/2-drive socket line. The catalog also notes that Hinsdale had in-house capability for hot-broaching sockets at this time.

3/8-Drive Sockets and Tools

Hinsdale 3/8-drive tools are relatively uncommon, but we do have one significant example to display.

Early 3/8-Drive 12-Point Socket

Fig. 31. Hinsdale 3/8-Drive 12-Point Socket, with Inset for Broaching, ca. early 1930s.

Fig. 31 shows a rare 3/8-drive Hinsdale 12-point socket in the 13/16 size, marked with the Hinsdale name and Fat-H-Circle logo.

The inset shows the interior of the socket. The construction is cold-broached with a recess below the broached area, and the walls have chatter marks from the broaching.

This socket is very similar in design and construction to the Craftsman Vanadium 3/8-Drive Sockets shown in our article on early Craftsman tools.

9/32-Drive Sockets and Tools

Hinsdale was one of a small number of companies that produced 9/32-drive sockets and tools, in addition to the more popular 3/8- and 1/2-drive (and larger) sizes. (Other companies in this group included Snap-On, Plomb, and Williams.)

H5M 9/32-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar

Fig. 32. Hinsdale 9/32-Drive H5M Flex-Head Breaker Bar, with SM10 5/16 Socket.

Fig. 32 shows an example, a 9/32 drive flex-head breaker bar. No model number is marked, but the 1947 catalog lists this tool as an H5M "Hinged Tee Handle".

The overall length is 5.7 inches.

The photograph also shows a 9/32-drive SM10 5/16 12-point socket.

11M 9/32-Drive Socket Set

Fig. 33. Hinsdale 11M 9/32-Drive Socket Set.

Fig. 33 shows a rare Hinsdale 11M 9/32-drive socket set, consisting of 9 sockets, a combination handle and extension, and a sliding-T breaker bar. The metal box features a raised shelf with holes specifically sized to hold the sockets in place, plus small tabs to organize the drive tools. The overall length is 8.0 inches.

The handle/extension is marked with the Hinsdale logo and "Chrome Vanadium", but without a model number; however, the 1947 catalog identifies this tool as a model HXM5. The sliding-T breaker is marked "Chrome Vanadium" with the Fat-H-Circle logo, and is catalog model H7M.

The sockets range in size from 7/32 to 7/16 in 12-point plus 1/4 and 5/16 in 8-point. Each of the sockets are marked with "Hinsdale Vanadium" and the Fat-H-Circle logo.

Fig. 34. Hinsdale 11M Socket Set Showing Cover with Logo and Model.

Fig. 34 shows the exterior of the 11M set, with the embossed cover showing the Hinsdale logo and "Tools of Quality". (At least one other tool company, Indestro Mfg., also used the phrase "Tools of Quality" in its catalogs and advertising.)

The manufacturing date for this set is uncertain, but is probably of early to mid-40s vintage. The 1947 catalog does offer a model 11M socket set, but with a different sized box, 6.1 inches vs. the present 8.0 inches.

Open-End Wrenches

Chrome Vanadium Open-End Wrench

Fig. 35 shows a Hinsdale 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench, marked "Chrome Vanadium" with the Hinsdale name and Fat-H-Circle logo.

Fig. 35. Hinsdale CV 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench.

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This is a rather roughly finished wrench, possibly intended for a vehicle tool kit.

Box-End Wrenches

Box-end wrenches in the HD-series were listed in a 1933 Hinsdale advertising brochure, with six models being offered at exceptionally low prices. The models available were the HD1 (3/8x7/16), HD2 (1/2x9/16), HD3 (5/8x11/16), HD4 (3/4x25/32), HD5 (13/16x7/8), and HD6 (15/16x1). The brochure description noted that the wrenches were made of chrome vanadium steel and finished in chrome plating.

The HD-series wrenches are significant in that matching examples have been found marked with the Sears Craftsman brand, and an example can be seen later in this article as the Craftsman HD5 Box Wrench.

In later years Hinsdale updated the model numbers for the HD series to include both sizes encoded in 32nds, a fairly standard practice in the tool industry. By 1947 the box wrenches were available in a very wide range of sizes, ranging from the 5/16x3/8 model HD10-12 up to the huge 2-9/16x2-3/4 model HD82-88.

HD2 1/2x9/16 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 36. Hinsdale HD2 1/2x9/16 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 36 shows a Hinsdale HD2 1/2x9/16 offset box-end wrench, marked with the Hinsdale name and Fat-H-Circle logo, with "Chrome Vanadium Steel" on the reverse.

The overall length is 8.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends.

The model HD2 wrench was offered in early 1933 at a dealer price of just $0.21, for a retail price of $0.40, prices comparable to the aggressive pricing being offered by Western Auto and Plomb Tool around that time.

HD3 5/8x11/16 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 37. Hinsdale HD3 5/8x11/16 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 37 shows a Hinsdale HD3 5/8x11/16 offset box-end wrench, stamped with the Hinsdale name and Fat-H-Circle logo, with "Made in U.S.A." and "Chrome Vanadium" on the reverse.

The overall length is 9.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends.

HD4 3/4x25/26 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 38. Hinsdale HD4 3/4x25/32 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 38 shows a Hinsdale HD4 3/4x25/32 offset box-end wrench, marked with the Hinsdale name and Fat-H-Circle logo, with "Chrome Vanadium Steel" on the reverse.

The overall length is 10.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends.

HD26-28 13/16x7/8 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 39. Hinsdale HD26-28 13/16x7/8 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View, ca. 1940s.

Fig. 39 shows a later example of the HD-series, a Hinsdale HD26-28 13/16x7/8 offset box-end wrench, marked with the Hinsdale name and Fat-H-Circle logo.

The overall length is 11.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends.

Combination Wrenches

BE-Series Combination Wrenches

Fig. 40. Hinsdale Combination Wrenches (See Text).

Fig. 40 shows a set of five combination wrenches, all marked with the Hinsdale name and the Fat-H-Circle logo. The model numbers and sizes are, from the bottom, BE-24 (3/4), BE-22 (11/16), BE-20 (5/8), BE-16 (1/2), and BE-12 (3/8). The overall length of the BE-24 3/4 wrench is 8 inches.

The finish appears to be a cadmium plate, making it likely that these were made during 1943-1945. These wrench models are listed in the 1947 catalog.

Flare-Nut Wrenches

BR34 Flare-Nut Wrench

The final figure for this section shows Hinsdale BR34 1-1/16 flare-nut wrench, which was offered only in the offset-handle format shown. The overall length is 9.0 inches.

Fig. 41. Hinsdale BR34 1-1/16 Offset Flare-Nut Wrench, with Inset for Reverse.

The particular wrench in Fig. 41 is chrome-plated, but these wrenches are more commonly found with a plain or industrial finish. The 1947 catalog offered these in a wide range of sizes, from the 5/16 BR10 to a huge 2-3/4 BR88.

The Craftsman Connection

Hinsdale is sometimes mistakenly identified as the maker of the Craftsman "BE" and H-Circle line of tools, perhaps due to similarities between the Hinsdale and Craftsman H-Circle logos. The actual manufacturer of that line was the New Britain Machine Co.; for an in-depth look at those tools, see our article Craftsman "BE" and H-Circle Tools.

However, apart from the "BE" and H-Circle tools, there is good evidence that Hinsdale supplied at least some tools to Craftsman, in particular box-end wrenches. We'll see some examples of these in the sections below.

In addition to producing tools for the Craftsman line, Hinsdale also supplied tools to Sears to be sold under the Hinsdale name. A 1931 Sears Spring and Summer catalog listed several Hinsdale tools by name; for example, a 46-piece alloy steel socket set in a hip-roof box was offered for $5.85. Another smaller set included 17 cadmium-plated sockets and a T-L handle in a sliding box, all for just 98 cents. In 1931 the Craftsman brand had not yet been extended to socket sets, and several other brands of socket sets were offered, including Merit, Bobcat, and Durobilt.

The 1931 Sears catalog did offer Craftsman "Vanadium" open-end wrenches and several models of Craftsman pliers, along with competing models from Fulton, Merit, and Pexto. A 5-piece set of Hinsdale Vanadium open-end wrenches was offered for somewhat less than the Craftsman Vanadium wrench set.

Craftsman HD5 and Hinsdale HD6 Box-End Wrenches

Fig. 42 below shows two rarely-seen round shank box-end wrenches, a Hinsdale HD6 15/16x1 model on the bottom and a Craftsman HD5 13/16x7/8 model at the top.

Fig. 42. Hinsdale HD6 15/16x1 and Craftsman HD5 13/16x7/8 Box-End Wrenches, with Insets, ca. 1932-1934.

The pairs of insets show the reverse-side markings on the left and a close-up of the front markings on the right. Although the wrenches are of different sizes, the similarities of the "HD Chrome Vanadium Steel" mark clearly show a common source for the wrenches. It's unclear whether the "HD" (or possibly "H.D.") stands for "Hins Dale", "Heavy Duty", or perhaps something else.

To estimate the date of manufacture for these tools, we can note that both wrenches have a plain (unplated) finish, and that the Craftsman model has the original (non-underlined) logo registered in 1927. Both of these observations would be consistent with a manufacturing date in the late 1920s to early 1930s range. However, no Craftsman box-end wrenches were found in a 1931 Sears catalog, so the likely manufacturing date can be narrowed to 1932-1934.

After the above estimates were made, a Hinsdale advertising brochure was acquired which confirmed that the HD-series wrenches were available in early 1933.

Craftsman Vanadium 9/32-Drive Socket Set

Another likely Craftsman connection is shown in Fig. 43, a recently acquired 9/32-drive socket set in a metal box. The tools in the set are marked "Craftsman Vanadium" (with the exception of the unmarked breaker bar), and the sockets in particular very closely resemble the Hinsdale 11M Socket Set shown above.

Fig. 43. Craftsman Vanadium 9/32-Drive Socket Set.

As with the 11M set, the box for these tools has a raised shelf with holes sized to hold the sockets and tabs to restrain the drive tools. The overall length of the box is 6.2 inches, shorter than the 11M example above, but nearly the same as the 11M set listed in the 1947 Hinsdale catalog. (This set substitutes a plain extension for the handle extension of the 11M set, and therefore can fit in a smaller box.)

Another clue to the maker here is that the Hinsdale 9/32 sockets have unusually thin walls, so that 9/32-drive sockets from other makers (e.g. Plomb or Snap-On) do not fit properly in the recess holes of the box. The Craftsman and Hinsdale sockets fit interchangeably though, providing further evidence of the Hinsdale maker.

References and Resources

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

Hinsdale is mentioned briefly in American Wrench Makers 1830-1930, 2nd Edition by Kenneth Cope (Astragal Press, 2002) (AWM2e in the text), which reprints an early advertisement stating the 1919 founding date. (Note though that one of the patent dates mentioned there is incorrect.)

A web page maintained by Berland's Tools has a brief historical note on Hinsdale.

Catalog Coverage

Product information was obtained from a Hinsdale brochure dated in early 1933 and a Hinsdale catalog dating to around 1947, currently our only Hinsdale company catalog.

Hinsdale tools were offered by a number of automotive suppliers and retail chains, and some of the catalogs from these companies include information on Hinsdale products.

• The 1924 catalog No. 91 from Beckley-Ralston, a distributor of automotive tools and supplies, shows several tools with the Hinsdale logo, and may have sourced other private-branded tools from Hinsdale.

• The 1924 "Ford Owner's Supply Book" from Western Auto Supply, a major retailer, illustrates an early Hinsdale socket set and shows specialty tools with the Hinsdale logo.

• A 1929 Sears Roebuck catalog shows several socket sets recognizable as Hinsdale, and the 1931 Sears catalog shows several Hinsdale products by name.

Patents and Trademarks

Information on Hinsdale patents was obtained from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) uspto.gov web site. Patent documents were obtained from web sites offering free downloads, notably freepatentsonline.com.

No trademark information for Hinsdale has been found in the USPTO trademarks database, in spite of statements in Hinsdale literature that the name was a registered trademark.

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