Alloy Artifacts |
The Champion De Arment Tool Company became most famous for their Channellock plier design, described by patent #1,950,362 and arguably one of the most important tool patents of the 20th century. The company later changed its name to Channellock, Inc., but we'll use the older name here.
Champion De Arment is actually one of the older American tool makers in continuous operation, with original roots going back to 1886 when its founder, George B. De Arment, operated a blacksmith shop. The company maintains a web site with an interesting page on the Company History [External Link], and readers are encouraged to check there for further information.
Fig. 1 shows an early advertisement for Champion Tool, as published on page 117 of the December 27, 1900 issue of The Iron Age.
At this time the company was located in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania and specialized in farrier's tools.
The scan in Fig. 2 shows an advertisement for Champion Tool, as published on page 2 [External Link] of the January, 1909 edition of The American Blacksmith.
The ad shows several Champion products, including the No. 80 "Favorite" pincer and No. 81 "Our Pride" hoof shears, the latter of which are noted as having a ball bearing joint and interchangeable knives. Note also the small "Patented January 5, 1909" text between the handles; the patent for the hoof shears was issued to G.B. De Arment as 908,969 in 1909.
It's also interesting that the ad shows an "Electric Sharpening Hammer" (an electric hammer?) apparently intended for sharpening calks. This shows that the company was offering at least some types of hammers by 1909, somewhat before the time noted in the official company history.
According to the company history, the founder's two sons Almon W. De Arment and J. Howard De Arment became partners in the business in 1911.
By 1924 the company had changed its name from Champion Tool to Champion De Arment Tool, reflecting its operation as a family business under the founder's sons.
Fig. 3 shows an ad for the Champion No. 99 utility cutters, as published on page 14 of the September, 1924 issue of American Garage & Auto Dealer.
As a note of interest, this ad shows the "Champion De Arment" name being used even before the first use date of January 15, 1925 in a later trademark filing.
Champion De Arment is rightfully famous for its brilliant 1934 Manning "Channellock" patent #1,950,362, easily one of the most important tool patents of the 20th century.
Patent No. | Inventor | Filed | Issued | Notes and Examples |
---|---|---|---|---|
11/13/1906 | Compound Hoof Nipper
Patent date from catalog |
|||
908,969 | G.B. De Arment | 03/07/1908 | 01/05/1909 | Hoof Shears ("Our Pride") |
07/26/1910 | Date from catalog | |||
1,162,141 | G.B. De Arment | 01/20/1915 | 11/30/1915 | Tongs |
07/15/1921 | Compound Leverage Utility Clipper
Patent date from catalog |
|||
1,950,362 | H.H. Manning | 02/08/1932 | 06/08/1934 | Tongue-and-Groove Pliers ["Channellock"]
Early No. 407 Pliers |
D94,156 | H.H. Manning | 10/27/1933 | 12/25/1934 | Design for Battery Pliers
No. 307 Battery Pliers |
1,986,588 | H.H. Manning | 05/19/1932 | 01/01/1935 | Hub Puller |
2,592,927 | H.H. Manning | 08/04/1949 | 04/15/1952 | Improved Tongue-and-Groove Pliers
Middle No. 420 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers |
2,640,381 | H.H. Manning | 07/09/1951 | 06/02/1953 | Improved Tongue-and-Groove Pliers
Middle No. 420 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers |
2,997,903 | R. Rommel et al | 08/19/1959 | 08/29/1961 | Used for "GripLock" pliers. |
3,192,805 | H.H. Manning | 04/17/1963 | 07/06/1965 | Improved Tongue-and-Groove Pliers
Late No. 420 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers |
4,603,607 | B.P. Schaffner Jr. | 02/25/1982 | 08/05/1986 | Rivet Construction for Slip-Joint Pliers
No. 440 Tongue-and-Groove Pliers |
Champion registered the trademark "Champion De Arment" with the first use listed as January 15, 1925. The "Channellock" trademark was registered with the first use listed as May 1, 1932.
The scan in Fig. 3B shows the Champion Anvil-Logo as it was presented for trademark #166,796.
Champion De Arment tools are not known to be marked with any date codes, so estimates of manufacturing dates must be made on the basis of markings, patents, or other factors.
Photographs and observations of particular tools are based on items in the Alloy Artifacts Collection.
Channellock maintains a web site with an informative page on the Company History [External Link], and readers are encouraged to check there for more information on this company.
Product information was obtained from several Champion De Arment and Channellock catalogs, as summarized in the table below.
Catalog | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|
No. 67 | 1928 | No copyright. Rare catalog.
Notes Almon W. De Arment as president. |
No. 353 | 1953 | No copyright, undated. 20 pages.
Price list dated April 24, 1953 applies to catalog No. 353. Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Illustration shows advantages of new "Channellock" patents. Lists Channellock pliers Nos. 407, 410, 417, 420, and 424. |
No. 556 | 1956 | No copyright. Loose-leaf pages in binder. 16 pages.
Price list dated October 1, 1956 applies to catalog No. 556. Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Lists Channellock pliers Nos. 407, 410, 415, 417, 420, and 424. |
Net Price List | 1962 | No copyright, dated July 16, 1962. 12 pages.
Net price list with small illustrations applies to catalog No. 361. |
No. 68 | 1968 | No copyright. 20 pages.
Came with price list dated October 23, 1967. Available for Download [External Link] from ITCL. Channellock, Inc. company name. Blue grip handles available. Lists Channellock pliers Nos. 410, 415, 420, 426, 430, 440, 442, and 460-G. Lists adjustable wrenches in sizes 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 15 inches. Lists No. 910 "GripLock" pliers based on patent #2,997,903. |
Champion De Arment tools were widely available through industrial distributors. We'll add references as time permits.
According to the company's history page, Champion De Arment first started making hammers in 1914. Champion offered a wide selection of ballpeen hammers, with head weights ranging from 3 ounces up to 40 ounces.
Ballpeen hammer sizes are commonly specified by a number indicating the weight of the head without the handle. In this number system a No. 0 hammer head weighs approximately 16 ounces, but since hammers with lighter heads are often needed, the system was extended to include Nos. 00, 000, and so on, up six zeros.
Marking a long string of zeros could become a bit cumbersome, so an alternate notation is commonly used, with a number followed by a "/0" to indicate the number of zeros. For example, 2/0 indicates No. 00, 3/0 is No. 000, and so on. But to add confusion, the slash separator is sometimes omitted, so that a "3/0" size may be marked "30".
Fig. 4 shows a catalog listing for Champion ballpeen hammers, as published on page 13 of the 1928 catalog.
The table shows the specifications for hammers ranging in size from 6/0 to 8.
The next two figures show examples of Champion ballpeen hammers in the 3/0 or 8 ounce size.
Fig. 5 shows a Champion 3/0 8 ounce ballpeen hammer, stamped with "Champion De Arment Tool Co." and an anvil logo on the face.
The overall length is 13.2 inches, and the head is 3.3 inches long.
Fig. 6 shows a Champion 3/0 8 ounce ballpeen hammer, marked on the face with "Champion De Arment Tool Co." and an anvil logo.
The overall length is 13.0 inches, and the head is 3.2 inches long.
Fig. 7 shows a much larger Champion No. 6 40 ounce ballpeen hammer, stamped "Champion De Arment" on the face.
The size "6" is marked on the underside of the head, as shown in the lower inset.
The overall length is 16.1 inches, and the head measures 1.7x5.3 inches.
Fig. 8 shows a catalog listing for Champion Stillson-pattern pipe wrenches, as published on page 16 of the 1928 catalog.
Two models were available, No. 33 with a wooden handle in sizes 6, 8, 10, and 14 inches, and No. 34 with a metal handle in sizes 6, 8, 10, 14, 18, and 24 inches.
The listing notes that the wrenches were forged from tool steel. A separate page offered spare parts for the wrenches.
Fig. 9 shows a Champion De Arment [No. 33] 10 inch Stillson-pattern pipe wrench, marked with "Champion De Arment" and an anvil logo forged into the shank.
The back side is marked with "Champion De Arment" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." forged into the shank, but partially obscured by the jaw carrier assembly (see middle inset).
The jaw is also marked with the anvil logo forged into the top, with "Meadville, Penna. U.S.A." partially visible on the shank, and "Champion Dearment" on the back side (not shown).
The overall length is 9.4 inches closed and 10.8 inches full extended.
The wooden handle is secured to a tapered tang by a nut on the end. We didn't find a model number marked on the tool, but the wooden handle identifies this as a No. 33 wrench.
While perusing the 1928 Champion catalog we ran across a listing for "S"-shaped double-open wrenches, tools we hadn't known were produced by Champion. We recall seeing some wrenches like this with a "Champion" marking, but since many companies used "Champion" as a brand, we didn't make the connection to Champion Tool.
The scan in Fig. 10 shows a catalog listing for Champion "S"-shaped wrenches, as published on page 20 of the 1928 catalog. Ten sizes in a 5xx model series were available.
The listing has been stamped "Discontinued", suggesting that the tools had been dropped shortly after the catalog had been prepared.
Hopefully we'll be able to find some examples of these wrenches and put them on display.
The famous 1934 Manning Channellock patent #1,950,362 changed the course of Champion De Arment, as the company quickly realized the importance of this innovation.
In conventional pliers the pivot pin is forced to bear both tensile and shear loads, limiting the force that can be applied without distorting or breaking the pin. The Channelllock patent transfers the shear load to a curved ridge and groove of a much larger radius, leaving only a modest tensile load (to hold the jaws together) for the pin. It was a startling innovation to a sleepy tool that had been largely unchanged for hundreds of years.
And since it was easy to make the pliers with multiple ridges (or "tongues"), Channellock pliers could be easily adjusted for different opening sizes without losing overall strength.
We'll begin with an early example of the Channellock design.
Fig. 11 shows a pair of Channellock No. 410 pliers, marked "Champion De Arment" and "Meadville, PA." on one handle, with the model number and Channellock logo on the other.
The inset shows the "Pat. Appl'd For" notice on the back side.
The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The patent pending status for these pliers suggests a manufacturing date from 1932-1934, between the patent filing and issue dates.
Fig. 12 shows a pair of Channellock No. 420 tongue-and-groove pliers of the original patented design, stamped with the Channellock logo and "Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." on the lower handle (but barely visible), with "Champion De Arment" and "Meadville, PA." on the upper handle.
The inset in the middle shows a close-up of the patent notice "Pat. In Can. 1933 U.S. Pat. 1950362" on the back side.
The overall length is 10.0 inches when fully extended, and the finish is plain steel.
The top inset shows a side view of the pliers, illustrating the simple linear gripping pattern on the handles.
The patent notice refers to the original Channellock patent #1,950,362, filed by H.H. Manning in 1932 and issued in 1934.
Fig. 13 shows a pair of Channellock No. 407 tongue-and-groove pliers, stamped with the Channellock logo and "Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." on the handle, with "Champion De Arment" and "Meadville, PA." on the back side.
The upper inset shows a close-up of the patent notice "Pat. In Can. 1933 U.S. Pat. 1950362" on the back side.
The overall length is 7.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 14 shows a pair of Channellock No. 427 tongue-and-groove pliers, stamped with the Channellock logo and "Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." on the handle, with "Champion De Arment" and "Meadville, PA." on the back side.
The overall length is 7.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The original "Channellock" patent expired in 1951, and as the expiration date approached Champion De Arment worked on improvements to the original design, hoping to extend the life of the product line. The first of these improvements was the addition of a flat rib extending outside the machined grooves, designed to provide greater strength. This design change is described by patent #2,592,927, filed by H.H. Manning in 1949 and issued in 1952. Several other patents followed in later years.
In this section we'll look at examples of these later generation Channellock pliers.
Fig. 15 shows a pair of Channellock No. 420 tongue-and-groove pliers, marked "Champion De Arment" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A.", and with the patent notice "US Pats. 2592927 - 2640381" on the back side.
The overall length is 10.2 inches, and the finish is polished steel.
The first patent number noted on the pliers is #2,592,927, issued to H.H. Manning in 1952. It describes an improvement to the basic tongue-and-groove design for greater strength, consisting of a flat rib extending outside the machined grooves.
The second patent is #2,640,381, issued to H.H. Manning in 1953. This patent describes the use of undercut ridges on tongue-and-groove pliers.
Fig. 16 shows a pair of Channellock No. 410 tongue-and-groove pliers, stamped "Champion De Arment" and "Meadville, PA." on the upper handle, with the model number and Channellock logo on the lower handle.
The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 17 shows a pair of Channellock No. 426 tongue-and-groove pliers, marked "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." with the Channellock logo, and with the patent notice "US Pats. 2592927 2640381 Can. 1953" on the back side.
The overall length ranges from 6.6 inches closed to 7.1 inches fully extended. The finish is plain steel.
In 1965 H.H. Manning received one additional patent related to the Channellock pliers design, an improved way of machining the undercut ridge. Patent #3,192,805 was filed in 1963.
Fig. 18 shows a later pair of Channellock No. 420 tongue-and-groove pliers, stamped with the Channellock name and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." on the handle, and with "US Pats. 2592927 3192805" stamped on the back side.
The overall length is 10.0 inches, and the finish is polished steel.
The first patent number noted is the Manning 1952 patent #2,592,927, describing a ridge extending beyond the grooves for greater strength.
The second number is patent #3,192,805, filed by H.H. Manning in 1963 and issued in 1965. This patent describes a machining technique to cut a specific shape for the undercut ridge on the pliers.
Channellock later began providing pliers with plastic handgrips in a distinctive blue color, and in 1988 registered "Channellock Blue" as a color trademark, a new concept in trademark protection at the time.
Fig. 19 shows a fairly recent pair of Channellock 440 tongue-and-groove pliers, marked "Meadville, PA U.S.A." and equipped with the familiar blue hand grips.
The overall length is 12.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Although not marked with a patent number, these pliers are held together by a rivet as described in patent #4,603,607.
Fig. 20 shows another example of recent Channellock production, the Channellock 460 tongue-and-groove pliers, marked "Made in U.S.A." and fitted with blue hand grips.
The overall length (fully extended) is 18.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
The pliers are equipped with eight grooves, and can provide a parallel opening up to 3.8 inches wide. The rivet construction is described by patent #4,603,607.
Although best known for their tongue-and-groove pliers, Champion De Arment also produced pliers in conventional designs.
Fig. 21 shows a pair of Champion De Arment No. 307 battery pliers, stamped with "Champion De Arment" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." on one handle.
The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
These pliers are described by design patent #D94,156, filed by H.H. Manning in 1933.
Fig. 22 shows a pair of Channellock 317-1/2 7.5 inch needlenose pliers with side cutters, stamped with "Channellock" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." around the pivot, with the model number on the back side.
The overall length is 7.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel with polished faces.
Fig. 23 shows a pair of Channellock 326 6 inch needlenose pliers with side cutters, marked "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." near the pivot.
The overall length is 6.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel with polished faces.
Fig. 24 shows a pair of Channellock 436 6 inch diagonal cutters, stamped "Channellock" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." around the pivot, with the model number on the back side face.
The overall length is 6.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel with polished faces.
Fig. 25 shows a pair of Channellock 437 7 inch diagonal cutters, stamped "Channellock" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." around the pivot, with the model number across the center.
The overall length is 7.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel with polished faces.
Fig. 26 shows a pair of Channellock 447 7 inch diagonal cutters with an angled head, stamped "Channellock" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." on the back side.
The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.
Fig. 27 shows a pair of Channellock 3048-1/2 8-1/2 inch lineman's pliers, stamped "Channellock" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." around the pivot, and with the model number on the back side.
The overall length is 8.6 inches, and the finish is polished steel.
The Champion De Arment catalog No. 556 of 1956 refers to this model as "Bevel Nose Lineman's Pliers". Three sizes were available as models 3046, 3047, and 3048-1/2, with nominal sizes 6, 7, and 8.5 inches respectively.
Fig. 28 shows a pair of Channellock 516 6 inch slip-joint combination pliers, stamped "Channellock" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." on the handle.
The overall length is 6.4 inches, and the finish is polished steel.
Fig. 29 shows a pair of Channellock 548 slip-joint combination pliers, stamped "Channellock" and "Meadville, PA. U.S.A." on the handle.
The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the finish is polished steel.
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