Lounging With Barcalo

Illustration of Barcalo Factory from 1934 Catalog.

Table of Contents

Introduction

It's not every day that a tool company is acquired by a furniture maker, but such was the case with Barcalo Manufacturing of Buffalo. Barcalo was a diversified maker of metal products including metal beds, tools, and later the Barcalounger line of reclining furniture. Eventually the fame of the Barcalounger chairs eclipsed the tool operations, and Barcalo was purchased by a furniture maker in North Carolina.

In this page we'll look at some of the company's "Barcalo-Buffalo" line of hand tools.

Company History

Barcalo Manufacturing was founded in Buffalo, New York by Edward J. Barcalo, and was in operation by 1896, based on a later catalog that noted "Quality Products Since 1896". Barcalo's early products included metal bed frames and cribs, and patent records going back to 1903 show the development of products of this type.

The company apparently met with some success, as the company founder was able to build an impressive Georgian Revival House [External Link] around 1907, a well-known landmark to those interested in the architecture of the Buffalo area. A 1907 issue of The Foundry printed a brief notice that Barcalo Manufacturing was adding a foundry of size 95 by 135 feet to its existing facility, and also planned a three-story addition to the factory.

An example of Barcalo's metal bed frames can be seen in an advertisement for Barcalo Beds [External Link] on page 80 of the 1911 issue of The American Magazine.

Acquisition of Charles E. Hall Company

In 1914 Barcalo Manufacturing acquired the operations of the Charles E. Hall Company, a maker of tools such as adjustable wrenches and pliers.

Fig. 1. 1908 Advertisement for Charles E. Hall Company.

The scan in Fig. 1 shows an advertisement for Charles E. Hall Company's tools, as published on page 303 of the July, 1908 edition of the Automobile Trade Directory. The illustration shows examples of the company's tools.

The acquisition of Charles E. Hall was presumably Barcalo's introduction to the tool industry, and in the following years the company's engineers divided their development efforts between tools and the older line of beds and cribs.

For more information please refer to our article on the Charles E. Hall Company.

Crescent-Style Adjustable Wrenches

By 1919 Barcalo had introduced a "Model N" series of Crescent-style adjustable wrenches. A full-page ad on page page 355 [External Link] of the August 14, 1919 issue of The Iron Age illustrates the wrenches, and may have been the official announcement.

Fig. 2. 1921 Notice for Barcalo Model N Adjustable Wrench. [External Link]

Fig. 2 shows a notice for the Model N wrench, as published on page 27 of the February, 1921 issue of The Automobile Journal.

The model N wrench had a distinctive handle design described by patent D59,786, and the teardrop-shaped hanging hole makes the wrench easy to identify.

A closely related design patent D57,153 was filed later but issued sooner, and appears to add cross-hatched knurling to the edge of the wrench.

Fig. 3. 1921 Advertisement for Barcalo Pliers. [External Link]

Barcalo tools were sold through distributors to hardware stores, as the advertisement in Fig. 3 from page 60 of the July, 1921 National Hardware Bulletin illustrates.

Note the "Barcalo B Buffalo" logo in the lower right corner, issued as trademark #158,322 in 1922.

The application for the "Barcalo" trademark #403,467 provides some information on first-use dates for different tools. According to the application, Barcalo was using the trademark for creepers by November of 1923, for ballpeen hammers by October of 1927, and for chisels and punches by June of 1934.

(Note however that Barcalo filed a tool holder patent #1,822,070 in 1928, and the illustration shows it holding chisels and punches. Perhaps the earlier chisels were using a different trademark.)

Socket Sets

By 1919 Barcalo was producing socket sets in addition to wrenches and pliers, based on the products listed in the application for the "Barcalo B Buffalo" trademark. However, our earliest commercial reference to socket tools is from a 1923 Condensed Catalogue of Mechanical Equipment, and thus far no advertisements for socket tools have been found.

Supplier to High-Volume Retailers

Barcalo was also a supplier to high-volume retailers such as Western Auto Supply and Montgomery Ward. A 1937 Western Auto catalog shows an illustration of an adjustable wrench marked "Barcalo Mfg", as part of Western Auto's "Master Quality" intermediate line of tools. Though not shown in the illustrations, Barcalo may have supplied a variety of open-end and box-end wrenches to Western Auto. Barcalo also produced tools under contract for various automobile tool kits.

Barcalo also supplied tools to New Britain Machine in the 1930s for the "None Better" brand, based on the close similarity of the tools.

Fig. 4A. 1937 Advertisement for Barcalo Tools.

The scan in Fig. 4A shows an advertisement for Barcalo tools, as published on page 167 of the October 21, 1937 issue of Hardware Age.

The tools in the illustration include a box-end wrench, flat and Phillips screwdrivers, pliers, and an open-end wrench of a new design.

Illustration No. 1 shows an example of a Vanadium Steel Box-End Wrench, and illustration No. 5 shows a Convex-Handle "Double Grip" Open-End Wrench.

The convex-handle wrench was a new design based on patent D111,094, filed by J.M Vallone in 1937 and issued in 1938.

The Reclining Chair Patent

In 1940 the company licensed patents to make a new type of reclining chair, and after some refinements the chairs became the trademark Barcalounger line. The Barcalounger chairs proved to be very successful, and over time the company became more famous for its furniture than its tools. In the early 1960s Barcalo was purchased by a furniture maker and the Barcalounger operations were moved to Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

The Post-War Era

Fig. 4B. 1951 Advertisement for Barcalo Tools.

The scan in Fig. 4B shows a full-page ad for Barcalo tools, as published on page 2 of the July 26, 1951 issue of Hardware Age.

The Crescent-style adjustable wrench illustrated in the lower right corner has a different style than earlier adjustable wrenches from Barcalo, as the opening is square rather than hexagonal in the corner. In addition, a close examination shows a "Forged Alloy Steel" marking forged into the shank.

Acquisition by Crescent Niagara

When Barcalo was acquired by the furniture company, in March of 1963 the company's tool operations were sold to Crescent Niagara, a company formed a few years previously to acquire Crescent Tools. (See our article on Crescent Tool History for more information.) Shortly after its formation Crescent Niagara went on to acquire other tool companies, including Billings & Spencer, Barcalo, and Bridgeport Hardware.

The combined company continued to produce the various tool lines for some years, and in fact sometimes combined designs from one company with brands and trademarks from other acquisitions. One will occasionally find a wrench with a Barcalo-like design marked with a Crescent logo and bearing the Life-Time (Billings) trademark.

Later Operations

Crescent Niagara was eventually acquired by Cooper Industries, and most of the tool brands (except for Crescent) were eventually discontinued.

In 2010 the tool operations of Cooper Industries were combined with the corresponding parts of the Danaher Corporation to form the Apex Tool Group.

Patents

Barcalo Manufacturing was very active in product design and development, and received numerous patents for its efforts. The earlier patents (beginning in 1903) were related to bed frames and adjustable cribs, but later patents covered tool designs and wrench holders.

Trademarks

Barcalo Manufacturing made use of a number of trademarks in its business, but for some reason no registrations have been found in the USPTO trademarks database (TESS) under the name "Barcalo". A more extensive search for documents has turned up a few registered trademarks, and more will probably be found with additional searching.

Tool Identification

Barcalo tools marked as the company's own production are generally easy to identify, as these typically have stamped or forged-in markings of some variant of "-Barcalo-Buffalo-U.S.A." or just "Barcalo Buffalo".

However, tools made as contract production may be difficult to attribute to Barcalo, unless certain distinctive design features can be identified. For example, designs such as the "convex handle" (patent D111,094) and tapered box ends (patent D177,636) are helpful for identification.

Manufacturing Dates

Barcalo did not mark their tools with a date code, and it is therefore difficult to estimate the manufacturing date with any precision. Estimates for manufacturing dates must be made on the basis of tool design, markings, patents, catalog listings, and other such factors.

The fact that Barcalo commonly offered multiple finish options for its tools further compounds the difficulty of estimating manufacturing dates.

The following factors may be helpful in estimating the manufacturing date for some tools.

• Adjustable Wrench Design Patent.

• Tool Holder Patents.

• Alloy Steel Markings. Alloy steel tools were commonly marked with "Chrome Molybdenum" or "Chrome Vanadium" in earlier years, from the late 1920s to the early 1940s.

• "Convex" Handles. Barcalo's "convex handle" design patent was filed in 1937. The catalogs referred to the design as "Double Grip" wrenches.

• Flat Shank Style. Barcalo's own production used a simple flat shank style in the post-war years from 1945 to the mid 1950s. The one exception was the combination wrenches, which continued to have raised panels similar to the pre-war design.

• "Barcaloy" Marking. "Barcaloy" was registered as a trademark and used for alloy steel combination wrenches from 1945 to the 1950s. The earlier "Barcaloy" markings used a script font, but this changed to a block font after the mid 1950s.

• Size Panels on Combination Wrenches. By 1951 Barcalo was making its Barcaloy combination wrenches with a forged-in size panel on the face. Wrenches with this feature are illustrated in an ad placed on page 2 of the July 26, 1951 issue of Hardware Age.

• Adjustable Wrenches with Square Gullet. By 1951 Barcalo was offering Crescent-style adjustable wrenches in alloy steel with square gullets. (Earlier adjustable wrenches of this style were made with hexagonal gullets.)

• Open+Box Wrenches. By 1953 Barcalo was making open+box wrenches in nested sets under the "Pocket-Pack" brand, which the company registered as a trademark.

• Taper Design Wrenches. In 1955 Barcalo filed a design patent for a distinctive tapered box end, with the opening broached at an angle. These "taper design" wrenches were in production by 1958 based on magazine advertising. The "Barcaloy" marking was eliminated when "taper design" wrench production started.

• Model Numbers. Barcalo tools were marked with a model numbers sometime after the acquisition by Crescent Niagara, probably around 1964.

References and Resources

Photographs and observations of particular tools are based on items in the Alloy Artifacts collection.

Barcalo Manufacturing is mentioned briefly in American Wrench Makers 1830-1930, 2nd Edition by Kenneth Cope (Astragal Press, 2002), referred to as AWM2e in the text. AWM2e reprints an advertisement stating that the Charles E. Hall business has been acquired by Barcalo Manufacturing.

Catalog Resources

Our catalog resources for Barcalo are summarized in the table below.

Catalog No. 22 (undated, but acquired with price list No. 27 from 1934) lists pliers, adjustable wrenches, a selection of chisels and punches, open-end wrenches in both carbon and alloy steel, chrome-molybdenum tappet wrenches, and chrome-molybdenum box-end wrenches. Open-end and tappet wrenches were available in sets in patented wrench holders.

A line card from the late 1940s(?) shows a selection of wrenches and pliers for automotive or general service applications. The front of the card states "Manufacturing Quality Products Since 1896", providing a reference for the founding date of Barcalo Manufacturing.

Industrial Distributors

Barcalo tools were sold through some industrial distributors and by at least one high-volume retailer, Western Auto Supply.

• Monnier Auto Supply 1909. The 1909 catalog from the Monnier Auto Supply Company of Detroit lists the Charles E. Hall No. 18 auto wrench on page 62. The company name is not identified in the text, but is visible in the illustration.

• Cray Brothers 1912. The 1912 catalog from Cray Brothers, an industrial distributor in Cleveland, lists several Charles E. Hall tools on page 55. The listings include the No. 15 auto wrench and cotter pin puller, No. 18 auto wrench, and No. 20 auto wrench. The company name is not identified in the text, but is visible in the illustrations.

• Cray Brothers 1916. The 1916 catalog from Cray Brothers of Cleveland lists Charles E. Hall tools on pages 52 and 54. The listings include the No. 15 auto wrench and cotter pin puller, No. 18 auto wrench, No. 20 auto wrench, and combination pliers in sizes 6 and 8 inches. The company name is not identified in the text, but is visible in the illustrations.

• Pittsburgh Auto Equipment 1920. The 1920 catalog No. 7 from the Pittsburgh Auto Equipment Company, a wholesale distributor, lists Barcalo adjustable wrenches on page 221, in sizes 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 15 inches. Barcalo combination pliers are listed on page 253.

• Tool Specialty Company 1920. The 1920 catalog No. 4 from the Tool Specialty Company of Kansas City, Missouri lists Barcalo slip-joint pliers on page 39.

• Ducommun "H" 1933. The 1933 catalog "H" from the Ducommun Corporation lists Barcalo auto wrenches on page 154.

Adjustable Wrenches

Fig. 5A. 1917 Ad for Barcalo "S" Handle Adjustable Wrench. [External Link]

Fig. 5A shows an ad for Barcalo "S" handle adjustable wrenches, as published on page 847 of the October, 1917 issue of the Hardware Dealers' Magazine.

Auto Wrenches

Barcalo's earliest tools included adjustable wrenches of the "auto wrench" style, as these were among the products made by the Charles E. Hall company.

Barcalo 9 Inch Auto Wrench

Fig. 5. Barcalo 9 Inch Auto Wrench.

Fig. 5 shows a Barcalo 9 inch auto wrench, marked on the shank with "Barcalo-Buffalo" and "Made in USA" plus "Drop-Forged", all in forged raised letters.

The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Crescent-Style Adjustable Wrenches

Fig. 6. 1919 Ad for Barcalo Adjustable Wrench.

By 1919 Barcalo had developed their own version of a Crescent-style adjustable wrench, referred to as the "Model N" wrench in advertisements.

Fig. 6 shows a full-page advertisement for the Barcalo Model N adjustable wrenches, as published on page 372 [External Link] of the December 18, 1919 issue of The Iron Age.

A slightly earlier full-page ad on page page 355 [External Link] of the August 14, 1919 issue of The Iron Age may have been the official announcement for the wrenches.

These wrenches can be recognized by the distinctive handle design with two oval panels on the handle and a dart-shaped hole in the end. The design is described by patent #D59,786, filed by L.A. Safford in 1919 and issued in 1921.

The N-series wrenches were available in sizes 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 15 inches. Wrenches were initially marked with model numbers (e.g. N4, N6), but this was soon replaced with the size in inches, probably by the mid 1920s.

By 1934 Barcalo was offering adjustable wrenches in a "thin" style made of vanadium steel, in addition to its carbon-steel models. The alloy models weighed only about 60 percent of the standard wrenches.

By 1940 the vanadium-steel thin models had been discontinued, but carbon-steel adjustable wrenches in the Model N-style remained in production.

By the late 1940s Barcalo was no longer offering adjustable wrenches in its catalogs.

By the early 1950s Barcalo was again offering adjustable wrenches, but in a more conventional style with a single oval panel, and made of alloy steel.

Early N6 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 7. Barcalo Early N6 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1919 to Mid 1920s.

Fig. 7 shows an early Barcalo N6 6 inch adjustable wrench in the distinctive paneled design, marked "Drop Forged" and "Barcalo" in forged raised letters, with "Model - N6" and "Buffalo U.S.A." forged into the back side.

The overall length is 6.2 inches, with a maximum opening of 0.6 inches and a head thickness of 0.49 inches. The finish is polished steel.

The wrench has a distinctive design with two oval panels on the handle and a dart-shaped hole in the end.

This design was registered as patent #D59,786, filed by L.A. Safford in 1919 and issued in 1921.

This is currently our only example marked with its N-series model number. The early forged-in model numbers were replaced by the size in inches, probably by the mid 1920s.

12 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 8. Barcalo 12 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1920s to 1930s.

Fig. 8 shows a somewhat later Barcalo 12 inch adjustable wrench with a distinctive handle design, marked with "12 Inch" and "Barcalo-Buffalo" forged into the shank, with "Made in U.S.A." and "Drop Forged" on the back side.

The overall length is 12.2 inches and the maximum opening is 1.6 inches.

The finish is plain steel with polished faces.

The top inset shows a side view of the wrench. Note the relatively thick head, measured at 0.81 inches and typical of early carbon steel adjustable wrenches. Note also the relatively rough finish of the wrench, which has left the parting line of the forging dies clearly visible. (There are even a few sharp remnants of the trimming operation.)

The wrench has a distinctive design with two oval panels on the handle and a dart-shaped hole in the end, as described by design patent #D59,786.

This wrench is marked with the size in inches instead of the earlier N-series model number.

8 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 9. Barcalo 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s to 1940s.

Fig. 9 shows a later Barcalo 8 inch adjustable wrench with a distinctive paneled handle, marked with "U.S.A." and "Barcalo-Buffalo" forged into the front panels, with "8 Inch" and "Drop-Forged" forged into the back panels.

The overall length is 8.0 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches. The finish is plain steel, with traces of black paint in the handle panels.

The top inset shows a side view of the wrench. Note the relatively thick head, measured at 0.51 inches and typical of early carbon steel adjustable wrenches. Note also the relatively rough finish of the wrench, which has left the parting line of the forging dies clearly visible.

The wrench has a distinctive design with two oval panels on the handle and a dart-shaped hole in the end, as described by design patent #D59,786.

Note that this wrench has a raised ridge around the hole, a feature probably introduced sometime in the 1930s.

10 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 10. Barcalo 10 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s to 1940s.

Fig. 10 shows a later Barcalo 10 inch adjustable wrench with a distinctive paneled handle, marked with "10 Inch" and "Barcalo Buffalo" forged into the front panels, with "Made in U.S.A." and "Drop Forged" forged into the back panels.

The overall length is 10.1 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.1 inches. The finish is plain steel, with traces of black and red paint in the handle panels.

The top inset shows a side view of the wrench. Note the relatively thick head, measured at 0.75 inches and typical of early carbon steel adjustable wrenches. Note also the relatively rough finish of the wrench, with the parting line of the forging dies visible in places.

The wrench has a distinctive design with two oval panels on the handle and a dart-shaped hole in the end, as described by design patent #D59,786.

Note that this wrench has a raised ridge around the hole, a feature probably introduced sometime in the 1930s.

Barcalo 4 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 11. Barcalo 4 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1940s to Early 1950s?.

Fig. 11 shows a transitional Barcalo 4 inch adjustable wrench in a more conventional Crescent-style design. The wrench is marked with "Buffalo-Barcalo" and "Made in USA" forged into the shank, with "4 In" and "Drop-Forged-Steel" on the back side.

The overall length is 4.4 inches.

Currently we don't have a catalog reference for this wrench. It has the hexagonal gullet of the earlier models, but with a single depressed panel and a round hanging hole. By the early 1950s Barcalo was offering this style of wrench, but with a square gullet and made of (and marked for) alloy steel.

Pliers

Pliers were among the products made by the Hall company, and Barcalo continued to produce a number of models of pliers.

Barcalo 10 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers

Fig. 12. Barcalo 10 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 12 shows a pair of Barcalo 10 inch slip-joint combination pliers, stamped "Barcalo Buffalo" and "U.S.A." on the handle.

The overall length is 9.9 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The inset provides a side view of the pliers to illustrate the cross-hatched diamond gripping pattern on the handles. The pattern appears to have been applied by a knurling process rather than as a secondary forging, as traces of the parting line from the primary forging can be seen.

Barcalo 7 Inch Slip-Joint Universal Pliers

Fig. 13. Barcalo 7 Inch Slip-Joint Universal Pliers, with Inset for Handle Pattern.

Fig. 13 shows a pair of Barcalo 7 inch slip-joint universal pliers, stamped "Barcalo Buffalo" and "U.S.A." on the handle.

The overall length is 7.1 inches.

The "universal" style of pliers was a variant of the combination style, incorporating one flat jaw and one with rounded gripping surfaces. In addition, these pliers include a wire-cutting slot between the jaws, and one handle has a screwdriver tip.

Barcalo 6 Inch Lineman's Pliers

Fig. 14. Barcalo 6 Inch Lineman's Pliers, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 14 shows a pair of Barcalo 6 inch lineman's pliers, marked "Barcalo Buffalo" around the pivot with "U.S.A." across the center.

The overall length is 6.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This style of lineman's pliers was listed in the 1934 Barcalo catalog No. 22. Three sizes were available, 6-1/4, 7-1/4, and 8-1/2 inch nominal lengths.

Barcalo 8 Inch Battery Pliers

Fig. 15. Barcalo 8 Inch Battery Pliers, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 15 shows a pair of Barcalo 8 inch battery pliers, stamped "Barcalo Buffalo" and "U.S.A." on one handle, with "Drop Forged" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 7.9 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Barcalo 7 Inch Waterpump Pliers

Fig. 16. Barcalo 7 Inch Waterpump Pliers.

Fig. 16 shows a pair of Barcalo 7 inch waterpump pliers, stamped "Barcalo Buffalo" and "USA" near the pivot.

The overall length is 7.3 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

The pliers have a slip-joint mechanism with four positions.

Carbon-Steel Tools

Barcalo was probably producing carbon-steel open-end wrenches by the 1920s, if not earlier. Their early design had depressed panels with forged-in markings, with a small depressed panel for the fractional size at each end.

Barcalo offered several different finish options for its open-end wrenches. The options listed in the 1934 catalog were black rust-proof, cadmium plating, and satin nickel plating with polished ends, and additional options may have been available at other times.

Barcalo 5/16x13/32 Open-End Wrench from 6-Piece Set

Fig. 17. Barcalo 5/16x13/32 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1931-1933.

Fig. 17 shows a Barcalo 5/16x13/32 wrench with depressed panels for the markings and sizes, marked with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" forged into the front panel, with "Drop Forged" and the fractional sizes forged into the back side.

The overall length is 3.4 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

This is the smallest wrench from the [4706R] 6-piece wrench set shown in a later figure. The details of the patented holder for the set have allowed an unusually precise estimate of the manufacturing date for the wrenches.

Barcalo 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 18. Barcalo 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1920s to Late 1930s.

Fig. 18 shows a Barcalo 19/32x11/16 wrench with depressed panels for the markings and sizes, marked with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" forged into the front panel, with "Drop Forged" and the fractional sizes forged into the back side.

The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is nickel plate.

Barcalo 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 19. Barcalo 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1920s to Late 1930s.

Fig. 19 shows a Barcalo 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench with depressed panels for the markings and sizes, marked with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" forged into the front panel, with "Drop Forged" and the fractional sizes forged into the back side.

The overall length is 6.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel with traces of black paint.

The size markings are difficult to read but appear to be forged as "5-8" and "3-4", which may indicate that this is an early model.

Barcalo 25/32x7/8 Open-End Wrench from 6-Piece Set

Fig. 20. Barcalo 25/32x7/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1931-1933.

Fig. 20 shows a Barcalo 25/32x7/8 open-end wrench with depressed panels for the markings and sizes, marked with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" forged into the front panel, with "Drop Forged" and the fractional sizes forged into the back side.

The overall length is 7.9 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

This is the largest wrench from the [4706R] 6-piece Wrench Set shown in a later figure. The details of the patented holder for the set have allowed an unusually precise estimate of the manufacturing date for the wrenches.

Barcalo 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 21. Barcalo 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1920s to Late 1930s.

Fig. 21 shows a Barcalo 15/16x1 open-end wrench with depressed panels for the markings and sizes, marked with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" forged into the front panel, with "Drop Forged" and the fractional sizes forged into the back side.

The overall length is 8.9 inches, and the finish is nickel plate.

Barcalo [4706R] 6-Piece Open-End Wrench Set

Fig. 22. Barcalo [4706R] 6-Piece Open-End Wrench Set, with Insets for Top and Detail View, ca. 1931-1933.

Fig. 22 shows a set of six Barcalo open-end wrenches in a patented metal holder, stamped with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" and "Pat. Nov. 3-31 1830577" on the front of the holder.

The wrench sizes are 5/16x13/32, 3/8x7/16, 1/2x9/16, 19/32x11/16, 5/8x3/4, and 25/32x7/8. The wrenches are in the same style as the previous several figures, with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" forged into a depressed panel on the front, and with "Drop Forged" and the fractional sizes forged into the back side panels. The finish on the wrenches is cadmium plating.

The overall length is 7.9 inches and the height is 3.3 inches. The metal holder retains most of its original red paint.

The metal holder is marked for patent #1,830,577, filed by C. Vallone in 1928 and issued in 1931.

This set was offered in Barcalo's catalog No. 22 of 1934, and the red enamel holder with cadmium plated wrenches identify it as model 4706R. The metal holder was slightly more advanced by that time though, with corrugations on the cover to keep each wrench in place. (The catalog did note the same patent number however.) The simpler holder suggests a likely 1931-1933 manufacturing date for this set.

The 1934 catalog offered similar sets with 5 or 6 wrenches and with different wrench size options, as well as a number of finish options. The wholesale price for this set was $0.46 in 1934.

"Convex" Open-End Wrenches

In 1938 Barcalo received design patent #D111,094 for an open-end wrench design with a distinctive convex shank and a hexagonal gullet. This new design appears to have replaced the older depressed-panel carbon-steel wrenches.

Barcalo sometimes called these "Double Grip" wrenches, probably a reference to the extra sides in the hexagonal gullet.

These wrenches proved to be quite popular and thus are easy to find (and easy to spot) among older tools. As was the case with the earlier open-end wrenches, Barcalo offered the convex wrenches in multiple finish options. A 1940s price list noted the finishes as black rust-proof, cadmium plating, nickel plating with polished faces, and "steel gray" with polished faces and panels.

Wrenches of this style were no longer listed in a catalog from the late 1940s, so we can estimate their production dates as ranging from 1937 (when the patent was filed) to the mid 1940s. Barcalo may have continued producing these as contract production after the 1940s.

19/32x11/16 "Convex" Open-End Wrench

The next several figures show examples of the convex wrenches with various finish options.

Fig. 23. Barcalo 19/32x11/16 "Convex" Open-End Wrench, ca. 1937-1945.

Fig. 23 shows a Barcalo 19/32x11/16 open-end wrench with a distinctive convex handle, marked "Forged in U.S.A." with the Barcalo name embedded.

The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating. Note that the panel and faces have been left with a rough forged surface.

The distinctive shape of this wrench was registered as design patent #D111,094 in 1938.

25/32x7/8 "Convex" Open-End Wrench

Fig. 24. Barcalo 25/32x7/8 "Convex" Open-End Wrench, ca. 1937-1945.

Fig. 24 shows a Barcalo 25/32x7/8 open-end wrench with a distinctive convex handle, marked "Forged in U.S.A." with the Barcalo name embedded.

The overall length is 8.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel. The wrench appears to have been polished originally, but is now pitted due to rust.

The distinctive shape of this wrench was registered as design patent #D111,094 in 1938.

15/16x1 "Convex" Open-End Wrench

Fig. 25. Barcalo 15/16x1 "Convex" Open-End Wrench, ca. 1937-1945.

Fig. 25 shows a Barcalo 15/16x1 open-end wrench with a distinctive convex handle, marked "Forged in U.S.A." with the Barcalo name embedded.

The overall length is 9.4 inches.

More commonly these wrenches are seen with a plain finish, but for this example the finish is nickel plating, now worn through in several areas.

The distinctive shape of this wrench was registered as design patent #D111,094 in 1938.

Barcalo 7/16x1/2 Open-End Wrench with Depressed Panel

Fig. 26. Barcalo 7/16x1/2 Open-End Wrench with Depressed Panel.

Fig. 26 shows a Barcalo 7/16x1/2 open-end wrench with a depressed panel, marked with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" forged into the panel. The shank also has a forged-in code "A" visible at the right.

Barcalo 9/16x5/8 Open-End Wrench with Depressed Panel

Fig. 27. Barcalo 9/16x5/8 Open-End Wrench with Depressed Panel.

Fig. 27 shows a Barcalo 9/16x5/8 open-end wrench with a depressed panel, marked with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" forged into the panel. The back side also has a forged-in code "A" (not shown).

The overall length is 6.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Specialty Tools

In addition to open-end wrenches, Barcalo produced a number of specialty tools made of carbon-steel, including such items as head bolt wrenches, tack pullers, and socket sets.

Ford Utility Multi-Wrench

Fig. 28. Barcalo Ford Utility Multi-Wrench, ca. 1932+.

Fig. 28 shows a Barcalo specialty multi-wrench intended for Ford service applications, stamped "Barcalo-Buffalo, U.S.A." and "Patent No. 1,870,612" on the shank.

The overall length is 10.3 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

The tool is marked for patent #1,870,612, issued in 1932 to A. DeSchebeko.

This wrench is listed in the 1934 catalog No. 22 as a "Ford Utility Wrench", and the description notes that it fits 15 different service parts on Ford models "A", "B", and V-8, including spark plugs, brakes, and drain plugs. The openings are, from left to right, 5/8 square, 7/16 double-square, 7/8 hex, 3/8 square plug, and 1-1/8 hex.

Spark Plug and Head Bolt Wrench

Fig. 29A. Barcalo 5/8x15/16 Spark Plug and Head Bolt Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 29A shows a Barcalo 5/8 box and 15/16 open-end wrench, a popular style widely used for Ford Model T spark plug and head bolt service. The paneled shank is marked with "Barcalo-Buffalo-U.S.A." forged into the front, with "Drop-Forged-Steel" and a B-Circle logo on the back side.

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

Tack Puller

Fig. 29B. Barcalo Tack Puller, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 29B shows a Barcalo tack puller, marked with "Drop Forged" forged into the handle, with "Barcalo Buffalo USA" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Socket Sets

By 1923 Barcalo Manufacturing was listed as a maker of socket wrenches in a Condensed Catalogue of Mechanical Equipment published by the ASME. Currently we have very little information on Barcalo's socket tools, as no advertisements have been found, and our only catalog reference is from catalog No. 22 of 1934.

Based on our limited information, Barcalo socket sets were 1/2-hex drive tools supplied in small sets with from five to eight sockets, with an Ell-handle or (for some sets) a ratchet as the drive tools.

Barcalo [No. 1808] 1/2-Hex Drive 8-Piece Socket Set

Fig. 30A. 1934 Catalog Listing for Barcalo Socket Sets.

The scan in Fig. 30A shows a catalog listing for Barcalo socket sets, as published on page 11 of catalog No. 22 from 1934.

The "Extension Bar" mentioned at the bottom is the Ell-handle drive tool, which was included in all of the sets. In addition, set No. 1810 included a ratchet and drive plug.

The sizes listed in the catalog are a mix of S.A.E. and A.L.A.M. bolt sizes, which is a bit odd since these older size systems were phased out in 1927.

Fig. 30B. Barcalo [No. 1808] 1/2-Hex Drive 8-Piece Socket Set, with Insets for Top and Exploded View, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 30B shows a rare Barcalo [No. 1808] 1/2-hex drive 8-piece socket set, consisting of an Ell-handle and eight 6-point sockets in a metal holder.

The holder is stamped with "Barcalo Mfg. Co." and "Buffalo, N.Y. U.S.A." on the side, but the Ell-handle and sockets are not marked.

The socket sizes were measured (across the flats) as 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 7/8, and 15/16.

Although not marked with a model number, the set is similar to the No. 1808 set in the 1934 catalog, but with 6-point sockets and a slightly different metal holder.

The socket sizes are the same as the S.A.E. and A.L.A.M. sizes in the 1934 catalog, with 11/16 socket fitting the A.L.A.M. 7/16 Special bolt and 15/16 socket fitting the A.L.A.M. 5/8 bolt.

The 6-point socket broachings suggest production during the 1920s, before the change to 12-point sockets.