Milwaukee Tool & Forge Company

Logo from a Milwaukee Tool & Forge Ratchet.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Selected Tools
• References and Resources
• What's New (Last Updated May 20, 2008)
  Recent changes to this page:

  • 05/20/2008: Added a rare MTF 15/16x1-1/16 Open-End Wrench.
  • 02/22/2008: Added a rare MTF [HS-6] 1/2-Drive Offset Handle.
  • 01/30/2008: Added a rare MTF MS3112 3/4-Drive Socket and a MTF MS5212 3/4-Drive Socket.
  • 01/10/2007: Added a very rare Milwaukee Tool & Forge 5/8-Drive 5Z1948 Ratchet.
  • 09/05/2006: Page just added, only a few photos.

Introduction

Company History

Milwaukee Tool & Forge Company was a maker of automotive service tools operating in the Milwaukee area in the late 1920s. Although not much information has been found for this company, a recently acquired catalog from 1928 shows that it had a surprisingly extensive line of tools available at that time. The description of the tools shows an emphasis on the use of high-quality alloy steel, with careful heat-treating after machining or forging.

The 48-page catalog lists a variety of tools including open-end wrenches, a large selection of punches and chisels, a few 12-point box-end wrenches, sockets and drive tools in 1/2 and 3/4 (square) drive, toolboxes, and other specialty tools. The catalog uses the "True-Fit" brand for most of listed the tools, but no trademark registration has been found for this mark. The catalog also shows the use of an "MTF" logo, and this was frequently marked on tools when space was limited.

The 1928 catalog names W.D. Kyle as the President of the company, and the company address is given as just South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The back of the catalog shows branch offices in 28 cities in the U.S. and Canada, suggesting a fairly substantial operation. The company was listed in the 1930 Donnelley's Industrial Directory, with the address again as just South Milwaukee.

In addition to offering tools under its own name, a recent discovery shows that MTF also provided contract manufacturing services, in particular for Blue Point Tools of Chicago. A canvas tool roll (found by another collector) clearly identifies Milwaukee Tool & Forge as the maker of "Milwaukee Blue Points" tools. The interested reader can refer to our article on Blue Point Tools for more information.

Selected Tools

Although Milwaukee Tool & Forge produced a variety of tools, at the present time most of our examples are sockets or drive tools. We hope to acquire more examples and will expand this page as possible.

To avoid needless repetition in the descriptions, we'll refer to the company as simply "Milwaukee" or "MTF" when the meaning is clear from the context.

Sockets and Drive Tools

Milwaukee Tool & Forge offered sockets in two drive sizes, the 1/2-drive S-xx series and 3/4-drive MS-xx series. Drive tools included ratchets, offset handles, T-sliders, and extensions.

HS-7 1/2-Drive Ratchet

Fig. 1. Milwaukee Tool & Forge 1/2-Drive Ratchet and Sockets, ca. 1928.

Fig. 1 shows a Milwaukee 1/2-drive ratchet, marked "Milwaukee Tool & Forge Co." and "So. Milwaukee Wis." in forged raised letters. The overall length is 9.6 inches.

Also shown are three 12-point sockets with tapered walls, each marked "MTF". Note that the sockets all have different lengths; the catalog touted this as a design feature.

Although the model numbers aren't marked on the tools, the catalog identifies the ratchet as a model HS-7. The 1/2-drive sockets were given model numbers of the form S-xx, where "xx" is the size in 32nds.

This tool is a former Tool of the Week selection in the article MTF Ratchet and Sockets.

HS-3 1/2-Drive Breaker Bar

Fig. 2. Milwaukee Tool & Forge [HS-3] 1/2-Drive T-Slider Breaker Bar, with Inset for Detail.

Fig. 2 shows a Milwaukee 1/2-drive T-slider breaker bar, marked "Milwaukee Tool & Forge Co." with the word "True" sharing the "T". No model number is marked, but the catalog identifies this as a model HS-3. The overall length is 9.0 inches.

The inset with the marking detail shows the only known example of the "True-Fit" brand marked on a tool, although only the "True" is clearly visible. The catalog shows a printed design with the "T" shared by "Tool" and "True", and the "F" shared by "Forge" and "Fit".

HS-4 1/2-Drive Swivel-Grip Extension

Fig. 3. Milwaukee Tool & Forge [HS-4] 1/2-Drive Swivel-Grip Extension, ca. 1928.

Fig. 3 shows a Milwaukee 1/2-drive swivel-grip extension, marked "MTF" on the head. No model number is marked, but the catalog identifies this as a model HS-4. The overall length is 5.0 inches.

This tool bears a striking resemblance to the swivel-grip extension in the patent illustration filed by Sigmund Mandl for patent #1,775,4021. No connection is known between Mandl (of Husky Wrench fame) and the present company, but since both were in the Milwaukee area, there's certainly a possibility.

The rotating grip is secured on the shaft by a flat washer held by two stop-balls, one of the construction details in the above-mentioned patent. This same construction can be seen on the rotating grip of a Husky Wrench 9/32-Drive Extension.

True-Fit HS-6 1/2-Drive Offset Handle

Fig. 4. True-Fit [HS-6] 1/2-Drive Offset Handle, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 4 shows a very rare 1/2-drive True-Fit HS-6 offset handle, stamped with the True-Fit brand and "Milwaukee Tool & Forge Co." on the shank. No model number is marked, but the catalog identifies this as a model HS-6.

The overall length is 11.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The knurled hand grip was machined separately and press-fit to the shank, a construction technique also used by Snap-On for some of their early handles.

SAD-45 1/2-Drive 5/8 Adapter

Fig. 5. Milwaukee Tool & Forge [SAD-45] 1/2-Drive to 5/8-Drive Adapter.

Fig. 5 shows a Milwaukee 1/2-drive adapter with a 5/8-drive plug, marked "MTF" and identified in the catalog as a model SAD-45 adapter.

The overall length is 1.3 inches.

Milwaukee Tool & Forge 5Z1948 5/8-Drive Ratchet

Fig. 6. Milwaukee Tool & Forge 5/8-Drive 5Z1948 Ratchet, with Insets for Model and Ford Logo.

Fig. 6 shows a very rare 5/8-drive Milwaukee ratchet with a 5Z1948 Ford part number, marked "Milwaukee Tool & Forge Co." and "So. Milwaukee Wis." in forged raised letters.

The overall length is 17.3 inches, and the finish is black oxide (or perhaps natural rust).

The insets to the photograph show the Ford script logo and part number, as stamped on the reverse face.

The handle forging also shows an interesting hex logo with "Milwaukee Tools" and an open-end wrench.

3/4-Drive Tools

MS3112 3/4-Drive 31/32 Socket

Fig. 7. MTF MS3112 3/4-Drive 31/32 Socket, with Insets for Broaching and Marking Detail, ca. 1929-1930.

Fig. 7 shows a rare 3/4-drive MTF MS3112 31/32 double-hex socket, stamped "MTF" with the size as "31-32".

The finish is nickel plating.

The 1928 catalog offered 3/4-drive hex sockets in the MS-series, but double-hex sockets were not yet available at that time.

MS5212 3/4-Drive 1-5/8 Socket

Fig. 8. MTF MS5212 3/4-Drive 1-5/8 Socket, with Inset for Broaching, ca. 1929-1930.

Fig. 8 shows a rare 3/4-drive MTF MS5212 1-5/8 double-hex socket, stamped "MTF" with the size as "1-5-8".

The finish is nickel plating.

The 1928 catalog offered 3/4-drive hex sockets in the MS-series, but double-hex sockets were not yet available at that time.

Wrenches

15/16x1-1/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 9. MTF 15/16x1-1/16 Open-End Wrench, with Insets for Reverse Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 9 shows a very rare MTF 15/16x1-1/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Milwaukee Tool & Forge Co." on one face, with "5/8 S.A.E." and "3/4 S.A.E." on the reverse faces.

The overall length is 11.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

References and Resources

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

Catalog Coverage

We currently have only a single catalog for Milwaukee Tool & Forge, a 48 page booklet dated April, 1928. It describes their line of open-end and box wrenches, punches and chisels, sockets and drive tools, and other automotive specialty tools.

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

If any readers have additional information about Milwaukee Tool & Forge, please let us know via the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of any page. Your comments and suggestions are welcome as well.