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Various Tool Makers

This page shows examples from various tool makers for which we do not yet have enough material for a separate page.


Table of Contents

Introduction


Artisan (Gambles Stores)

Artisan was a brand name used for tools sold by Gamble Auto Supply stores, a chain of retail stores operated by Gamble-Skogmo Inc.


Artisan 1/2-Drive Socket Set

[Artisan 1/2-Drive Socket Set]
Fig. 1. Artisan 1/2-Drive Socket Set, ca. 1940s.

Fig. 1 shows a 1/2-drive Artisan socket set in a metal case, consisting of a ratchet, flex-head breaker bar, extension, and 13 sockets ranging in size from 7/16 up to 1-1/8.

Readers familiar with S-K Tools will immediately recognize this as an S-K set, and in fact no attempt has been made to disguise the maker, with all of the tools (except the ratchet) bearing standard S-K markings. The flex-head breaker bar is an S-K model 41653, and the 10 inch extension is an S-K model 40162. The distinctive forged-handle model 4270 ratchet was produced by S-K from the late 1930s through mid 1940s.

The sockets in the set all have the distinctive knurled base and tapered upper walls of the S-K 401xx model series. The models and sizes are, from the left, 40114 (7/16), 40116 (1/2), 40118 (9/16), 40119 (19/32), 40120 (5/8), 40122 (11/16), 40124 (3/4), 40126 (13/16), 40128 (7/8), 40130 (15/16), 40132 (1 inch), 40134 (1-1/16), and 40136 (1-1/8).

Further information on S-K can be found in our article on Sherman-Klove and S-K Tools.


Artisan 4270 1/2-Drive Forged-Handle Ratchet

[Artisan Model 4270 1/2-Drive Forged-Handle Ratchet]
Fig. 2. Artisan Model 4270 1/2-Drive Forged-Handle Ratchet, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1940s.

Fig. 2 shows the 1/2-drive Artisan 4270 ratchet from the above set, marked with the Artisan brand on the raised panel, and with the model number and "Pat. No. 2232477" on the reverse.

The overall length is 10.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

This ratchet can be readily identified as S-K production by the patent #2,232,477, assigned to the Sherman-Klove Company. In addition, the distinctive forged handle is identical to the S-K Model 42470 Ratchet shown in our article on S-K.


Atha Tool Company

The Atha Tool Company was a maker of hammers and other hardware items, active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.


Atha 20 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer

[Atha 20 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer]
Fig. 3. Atha 20 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 3 shows an Atha 20 ounce ballpeen hammer, marked "Made in U.S.A." with the Atha Horseshoe logo on the reverse head. The weight is not marked on the head, but the head dimensions indicate a 20 ounce nominal weight.

The overall length is 13.8 inches, and the head measures 1.4 inches wide by 4.3 inches long.


Bemis & Call (B & C)

Bemis & Call was an early maker of tools and hardware dating back to an 1844 partnership between Stephen C. Bemis and Amos Call. The company produced a variety of tools including pipe wrenches, monkey wrenches, and other adjustable wrenches, and was especially well known for their S-shaped adjustable wrenches.

In 1928 Bemis & Call acquired the rights to the wrench designs of the Coes Wrench Company, a well-known maker of adjustable wrenches operating in Worcester, Massachusetts. In 1939 B&C was acquired by Billings & Spencer, which continued production of the B&C (and Coes) wrench models for some years thereafter. (See our article on Billings & Spencer for more information.)


B&C 8 Inch S-Shaped Adjustable Wrench

In 1894 Bemis & Call introduced a line of S-shaped adjustable wrenches that proved to be very popular. The sliding jaw design was very similar to the E.J. Worcester patent #17,531 of 1857, with a slotted jaw running in a rectangular keyed passageway.

[B&C 8 Inch S-Shaped Adjustable Wrench]
Fig. 4. B&C 8 Inch S-Shaped Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Side View and Reverse Detail.

Fig. 4 shows our first example of the B&C "S" wrenches, a B&C 8 inch adjustable wrench stamped "Bemis & Call Co." on the face. The nominal size "8In" is forged into the handle, with "B&C" forged into the reverse (see lower inset).

The overall length is 8 inches, and the finish is black paint with polished steel faces.

The upper inset shows a profile view of the wrench. Note the details of the jaw construction, with the milled slot in the jaw running in the keyed opening.


B&C 10 Inch S-Shaped Adjustable Wrench

[B&C 10 Inch S-Shaped Adjustable Wrench]
Fig. 5. B&C 10 Inch S-Shaped Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

B&C No. 80 Adjustable Wrench

[B&C No. 80 Adjustable Wrench]
Fig. 6. B&C No. 80 Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail, ca. 1915.

Barnes Tool Company

The Barnes Tool Company operated in New Haven, Connecticut as a maker of pipe tongs, pipe wrenches, and other types of tools. The company was founded in the 1880s by Elbridge F. Barnes and remained in business at least through 1909.


Barnes Tool 5 Inch Bicycle Wrench

[Barnes 5 Inch Adjustable Wrench]
Fig. 7. Barnes 5 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

The overall length is 5.5 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.


Bergman Tool Manufacturing Company

The Bergman Tool Manufacturing Company operated in Buffalo, New York during the early part of the 20th century. The company was a maker of adjustable wrenches, pliers, and possibly other tools, and their products were sold under the Bergman or "Queen City" brands.


Bergman N0. 708 Combination Pliers

[Bergman No. 708 8 Inch Combination Pliers]
Fig. 8. Bergman No. 708 8 Inch Combination Pliers, with Inset for Side View and Marking Detail.

Fig. 8 shows a pair of Bergman No. 708 combination pliers in the 8 inch size, stamped "Guaranteed" and "Buffalo U.S.A." near the pivot (see lower inset).

The overall length is 8.1 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.


Bethlehem Spark Plug Company

During the 1920s the Bethlehem Spark Plug Company offered a series of well-designed socket sets under the "Quickway" brand. These sets featured distinctive copper-coated sockets and tools in various sizes of hex drive.


Bethlehem "Quickway" 1/2-Hex Drive Model D Socket Set

[Bethelehem Quickway Model D 1/2-Hex Drive Socket Set]
Fig. 9. Bethlehem "Quickway" Model D 1/2-Hex Drive Socket Set, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 9 shows a 1/2-hex drive Bethlehem "Quickway" Model D socket set in its metal case. The Model D set was actually two sets in one, as it included a complete Model A set to cover the smaller sizes. The larger tools consist of a ratchet, sliding Tee handle, three extensions, a universal, and 16 1/2-hex drive deep format sockets covering all sizes from 15/32 to 15/16 by 32nds. In addition, the Model A set (the small box at the back center) provides seven 3/8-hex drive sockets, with sizes ranging from 9/32 up to 1/2.

The set as acquired was reasonably complete, but is missing one of the extensions and the 15/32 socket.

The sturdy steel box measures 11.5 long by 5.2 wide by 2.0 high.


Bethlehem "Quickway" 1/2-Hex Drive Ratchet

[Bethelehm Quickway 1/2-Hex Drive Ratchet]
Fig. 10. Bethlehem "Quickway" 1/2-Hex Drive Ratchet, with Insets for Reverse and Side View, 1923.

Fig. 10 shows a 1/2-hex drive Bethlehem ratchet from the Model D socket set, marked with "Bethlehem Spark Plug Co." and "Bethlehem PA" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Steel" and "Made in USA" forged into the reverse.

The overall length is 9.5 inches, and the finish is copper plating.

The shank is also marked with a forged-in shield symbol enclosing a "B", as can be seen at the righthand side. Readers familiar with our article on Bonney will immediately recognize this as the Bonney B-Shield Logo, a marking frequently found on early Bonney tools. The reverse has a forged-in code "JO.." visible at the end of the handle, another type of marking generally found on Bonney tools, and recently determined to be a date code. These markings indicate that the ratchet (or at least the forged body) was produced for Bethlehem by Bonney, and the "JO" date code indicates production in 1923.


Bethlehem "Quickway" 1/2-Hex Drive Sliding Tee Handle

[Bethelehm Quickway 1/2-Hex Drive Sliding Tee Handle]
Fig. 11. Bethlehem "Quickway" 1/2-Hex Drive Sliding Tee Handle, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 11 shows a 1/2-hex drive Bethlehem sliding Tee handle from the Model D socket set, unmarked but with the characteristic copper finish.

The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the finish is copper plating.

The sliding head has a threaded hole in the top for a thumbscrew, now missing from this example.


Bethlehem "Quickway" 1/2-Hex Drive 15/16 Hex Socket

[Bethelehm Quickway 1/2-Hex Drive Socket]
Fig. 12. Bethlehem "Quickway" 1/2-Hex Drive Socket, with Insets for Drive End and Broaching, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 12 shows a 1/2-hex drive Bethlehem 15/16 hex socket from the Model D socket set, marked only with the size as "15-16".

The left inset shows the 1/2-hex drive end in the turned-down base.


H. Boker & Company

H. Boker & Company was the American branch of a company with roots going back to the 17th century in Remscheid, Germany. The company was primarily known as a maker of knives, but also produced pliers and other tools.

Boker USA maintains a web site with an interesting History of the company, and readers can visit there for the full story.


Boker Lineman's Pliers

[Boker Lineman's Pliers]
Fig. 13. Boker Lineman's Pliers, with Inset for Side View.

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


Boos Tool Corporation

The Boos Tool Corporation is currently known only for an adjustable wrench of distinctive design, as shown in the next figure.


Boos Tool Adjustable Wrench

[Boos Tool Adjustable Wrench]
Fig. 14. Boos Tool Adjustable Wrench, ca. 1941.

Fig. 14 shows a Boos Tool adjustable wrench, stamped "Boos Tool Corp." and "Chrome Molybdenum" with "Pat. Pend." and "K.C. MO." below.

The overall length (retracted) is 7.6 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.

The patent pending status refers to design patent #D130,015, filed in 1941 for J.B. Boos by the executor of his estate.


Brownbilt

Brownbilt was an obscure maker in Syracuse, New York, currently known only by the speeder wrench shown below.


Brownbilt 664 Speeder Socket Wrench

Fig. 15 shows a Brownbilt 664 1/2 socket wrench of the speeder style, marked "Syracuse, N.Y. U.S.A." as shown in the inset. The overall length is 11.0 inches, and the finish is nickel plate.

[Brownbilt 664 1/2 Speeder Socket Wrench]
Fig. 15. Brownbilt 664 1/2 Speeder Socket Wrench, with Inset for Detail.

The end of the shank is missing the original rotating end piece, and a hole near the end suggests that it was secured with a spring-loaded pin.


Buffum Tool Company

The Buffum Tool Company operated in Louisiana, Missouri during the early years of the 20th century. Their products included adjustable wrenches, alligator wrenches, chisels, punches, bearing scrapers, and other forged tools.

Buffum tools are generally marked with the company name and notably with a logo resembling a swastika, the design that later became infamous as the symbol of Nazi Germany. (Buffum's use of the swastika design predated the Nazi party by some decades.)


Buffum Forged Steel Screwdriver

[Buffum Forged Steel Screwdriver]
Fig. 16. Buffum Forged Steel Screwdriver, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 16 shows a rare Buffum forged steel screwdriver, marked with "Buffum Tool Co." and "Louisiana, MO." forged into the handle, and with the Swastika logo forged into the reverse.

The overall length is 9.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.


Buffum 12 Inch Bearing Scraper

[Buffum 12 Inch Bearing Scraper]
Fig. 17. Buffum 12 Inch Bearing Scraper, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail.

Fig. 17 shows a rare Buffum bearing scraper with a wooden handle, stamped "Buffum Tool Co." and "Louisiana, MO." on the shank, with the Swastika logo forged into the reverse.

The overall length is 11.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.


Buhl Sons Company

Buhl was a maker of farm and implement wrenches, and occasionally of automotive tools, as will be seen below. Currently we have no further information on the company.


Buhl 29 Open-End Wrench

[Buhl 29 11/16x25/32 Open-End Wrench]
Fig. 18. Buhl 29 11/16x25/32 Open-End Wrench.

Fig. 18 shows a Buhl 29 11/16x25/32 open-end wrench, marked "Buhl" in raised letters on the shank.

The overall length is 6.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.


Buhl Double Alligator Wrench

[Buhl Double Alligator Wrench]
Fig. 19. Buhl Double Alligator Wrench.

Fig. 19 shows a rare Buhl alligator wrench made of stamped steel, marked "Buhl Sons Co." on one side.

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


Buhl 9 Inch Auto Wrench

[Buhl 9 Inch Auto Wrench]
Fig. 20. Buhl 9 Inch Auto Wrench.

Fig. 20 shows a rare Buhl 9 inch auto wrench, marked "Buhl Sons Co" on the shank.

The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.


Carll, Addison B.

In 1913 Addison B. Carll received a patent for a novel reversible adjustable wrench, which featured a sliding jaw that could be removed and reversed to switch between flat or serrated jaws. The Carll wrench design was produced by one or more companies and apparently achieved some degree of popularity, as examples of this tool can be found readily.


Carll Reversible Adjustable Wrench

[Carll Reversible Wrench]
Fig. 21. Carll Reversible Adjustable Wrench.

Fig. 21 shows a Carll reversible adjustable wrench in its standard flat-jaw position, with the marking "Carll" forged into the shank, and with a "Pat'd May 6 - 13" patent notice on the reverse.

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

The patent notice corresponds to patent #1,060,891, filed by A.B. Carll in 1912 and issued in 1913.

[Carll Reversible Wrench in Pipe Wrench Position]
Fig. 22. Carll Reversible Wrench in Pipe Wrench Position.

Fig. 22 shows the Carll wrench with the jaw reversed to operate as a pipe wrench.


Cochran Pipe Wrench Mfg. Company


Cochran Speednut Adjustable Wrench

[Cochran Speednut Adjustable Wrench]
Fig. 23. Cochran Speednut Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail, ca. 1912-1916.

The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The patent pending notice corresponds to patent #1,181,654, issued to J. Eifel in 1916. The Eifel patent actually describes a plier-wrench, with one handle holding a fixed jaw while the other handle pivots to move the sliding jaw. The Cochran design has simplified the tool by eliminating the fixed handle; reaction against the work piece allows the jaws to clamp the nut firmly.

A later patent #1,830,033 issued to J.V. Larson in 1931 appears to describe a very similar tool; its relation to Cochran (if any) is not known.


Cronk & Carrier Manufacturing Company

Cronk & Carrier was a maker of pliers, wrenches, and other tools, and operated in Elmira, New York during the early part of the 20th century. Cronk & Carrier was the successor (after 1902) to the Cronk Hangar Company, an earlier company founded by William Cronk in the 1890s.

William Cronk was a noted inventor with numerous patents for pliers and other tools.

Cronk 8 Inch Staple-Pulling Pliers

[Cronk 8 Inch Staple-Pulling Pliers]
Fig. 24. Cronk 8 Inch Staple-Pulling Pliers, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 24 shows a pair of Cronk 8 inch staple-pulling pliers, stamped with the Cronk name (upside-down in the photograph) on the upper handle.

The overall length is 8.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

These pliers have the characteristic raised ridges on both sides, used by Cronk's design for grasping staples and cutting wire. The pliers have another unusual feature with concave and convex surfaces on the inside of the handles just before the pivot, possibly intended for bending wire into staples.

Cronk 8 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers

[Cronk 8 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers]
Fig. 25. Cronk 8 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers.

Fig. 25 shows a pair of Cronk 8 inch combination pliers, stamped with the Cronk name and "Elmira, N.Y." near the pivot.

The overall length is 8 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.


Cunha Patent Ratchet

In 1919 Anthony M. Cunha received patent #1,307,485 for an unusual ratchet, incorporating a fully rotating head and an advanced progressive-engagement pawl mechanism. This innovative design was an milestone in the development of ratchets, and influenced later (and better known) models such as the OTC H-160 Flex Ratchet and S-K Roto-Ratchet.

Cunha Patent "Peerless" 1/2-Hex Drive Ratchet

[Peerless 1/2-Hex Drive Cunha Patent Ratchet]
Fig. 26. "Peerless" 1/2-Hex Drive Cunha Patent Ratchet, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 26 shows a rare 1/2-hex drive "Peerless" ratchet of the Cunha patented design, marked with the patent notice "Pat'd June 24, 1919 March 1, 1921" forged into the shank. The rotating head is fitted with a hex drive stud that can be pushed through to reverse the operation.

The overall length is 8.3 inches, and the finish is polished steel.

The first patent date refers to patent #1,307,485, filed by A.M. Cunha in 1918 and issued in 1919.

The second date refers to patent #1,370,194, filed by A.M. Cunha in 1919 and issued in 1921. This later patent described a removeable accessory handle that could be added to the base ratchet to form a Tee handle.

This ratchet was acquired as part of a socket set in a metal case, but this tool was the only marked piece in the set. The "Peerless" marking is likely just a superlative used in a descriptive sense, rather than a real brand, and at this point we're unsure of the manafacturer for the set.


E.T. Company

The E.T. Company was a maker of pliers operating in Norwalk, Connecticut. Currently the company is known only for the Woodworth patent chain repair pliers shown in the figure below, but we hope to locate other examples of their production.

E.T. Company Woodworth Patent Chain Repair Pliers

[E.T. Company Woodworth Patent Chain Repair Pliers]
Fig. 27. E.T. Company Woodworth Patent Chain Repair Pliers, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 27 shows a rare pair of E.T. Comapny chain repair pliers of the Woodworth patent design. The pliers are stamped "E.T. Co. Norwalk CT" with a "Pat. May 4'20" patent date, with "Woodworth" and "Lewiston, ME." stamped on the reverse.

The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is polished steel with a thin nickel plating.

The patent date corresponds to patent #1,338,804, filed by D.C. Woodworth in 1919 and issued in 1920.


Eagle Claw Wrench Company

The Eagle Claw Wrench Company was a somewhat obscure tool maker operating in Chicago, best known for a series of plier-wrench tools of the same name. Currently we don't have any further information on this company, but the tool (and company) did merit a mention in Kenneth Cope's book American Wrench Makers, 1830-1930 (Second Edition), which shows an advertisement for several sizes of the plier-wrenches.

Eagle Claw Plier-Wrench

[Eagle Claw 7 Inch Plier-Wrench]
Fig. 28. Eagle Claw 7 Inch Plier-Wrench, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1912.

Fig. 28 shows a rare Eagle Claw plier-wrench, stamped "Eagle Claw Wrench Co." and "Chicago, U.S.A." on the handle, with a "Pat'd. Feb. 6, 1912" patent date below.

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

The patent date corresponds to patent #1,016,296, filed by J. Schlehr in 1910 and issued in 1912. The patent refers to the tool as a "bolt-holder", and describes a fairly conventional slip-joint plier mechanism but with the jaws arranged to give considerable clamping leverage.


F.H. Ayer Manufacturing Company

The F.H. Ayer Manufacturing Company was founded in 1904 as a machine shop in Chicago Heights, Illinois, and was incorporated in 1906. The company produced a number of different products, including a distinctive Tee-handle ratchet used in early pressed-steel socket sets.

The F.H. Ayer ratchets are sometimes found in socket sets of the "Ray" brand made by the Packer Auto Specialty Company, another Chicago-area tool maker. Currently it's not known whether Packer Auto Specialty was associated with F.H. Ayer, or simply had the ratchets made under contract. (It's also possible that some owners of Ray socket sets added an F.H. Ayer ratchet later.)

Interestingly enough, the F.H. Ayer company remains in business today, and their web site offers an informative page on the Company History.


F.H. Ayer Tee Handle Ratchet

[F.H. Ayer Tee Handle Ratchet]
Fig. 29. F.H. Ayer Tee Handle Ratchet, with Inset for Marking Detail.

Fig. 29 shows an F.H. Ayer Tee handle ratchet, stamped "F.H. Ayer Mfg. Co." and "Chicago Heights, Ill. U.S.A." on the upper body. The ratchet is also marked with the "Pat. Sep. 9, 1913 Sep. 26, 1916" patent dates.

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The earlier date refers to patent #1,072,807, filed by F.H. Ayer in 1912 and issued in 1913.


Fulton

Fulton was the "house brand" for the United Hardware and Tool Manufacturing Company, a hardware wholesaler, but is probably best known as an early tool brand sold by Sears Roebuck. In the pre-Craftsman days, Fulton appeared to be the most popular tool brand offered by Sears, and even after Craftsman had become well established, Sears continued to carry Fulton tools as lower-cost alternatives.

Fulton tools were likely made for United Hardware by a contract manufacturer, and the great similarity between some Fulton and Craftsman tools suggests that the same manufacturer later produced tools for Sears.


Fulton 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench

[Fulton 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench]
Fig. 30. Fulton 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

Fig. 30 shows a Fulton 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench, with the Fulton name forged into a small depressed panel, and with "Forged in U.S.A." on the reverse.

The overall length is 7.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The inset shows a forged-in "CI" code on the reverse side, a mark frequently seen on both Fulton and Craftsman tools. The meaning is not yet known, but it may indicate the manufacturer.

An example of the "CI" mark on a Craftsman tool can be seen on the Craftsman Vanadium 1033C Wrench.


Fulton 25/32x7/8 S-Shaped Wrench

[Fulton 25/32x7/8 S-Shaped Wrench]
Fig. 31. Fulton 25/32x7/8 S-Shaped Wrench, with Insets for Detail.

Fig. 31 shows a Fulton 25/32x7/8 S-shaped wrench, with the Fulton name forged into a small depressed panel, and with "Forged in U.S.A." on the reverse.

The overall length is 10.0 inches, and the finish is black paint.

The upper right inset shows a forged-in "CI" code frequently seen on both Fulton and Craftsman tools. The meaning is not yet known, but it may indicate the manufacturer.


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