Erie Tool Works

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Erie Tool Works was a maker of pipe wrenches, adjustable wrenches, vises, and other tools operating in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Company History

The Erie Tool Works was founded by Frank W. Bacon in Erie, Pennsylvania as a maker of pipe wrenches, pipe vises, and other tools. The company was established in 1902 and then incorporated in 1907.

Fig. 1. 1907 Notice of Incorporation for Erie Tool Works. [External Link]

Fig. 1 shows a notice of incorporation for Erie Tool Works, as published on page 204 of the February 9, 1907 issue of The Industrial World.

The text lists the capital stock as $30,000 and the treasurer as Frank W. Bacon.

Fig. 2. 1907 Notice of Charter for Erie Tool Works. [External Link]

Fig. 2 shows a notice of the corporate charter for Erie Tool Works, as published on page 59 of the 1907 List of Charters of Corporations for Pennsylvania.

The text notes that the company was incorporated on January 31, 1907.

Pipe Vises

Fig. 3. 1905 Advertisement for Erie Tool Works Pipe Vise. [External Link]

Pipe vises appears to have been one of the company's first products.

Fig. 3 shows an ad for the company's malleable iron pipe vise, as published on page 8 of the August 26, 1905 issue of Domestic Engineering.

Fig. 4. 1915 Notice for Erie Tool Works Catalog. [External Link]

Fig. 4 shows a notice for catalog No. 7 from Erie Tool Works, as published on page 986 of the April 29, 1915 issue of The Iron Age.

Stillson-Pattern Pipe Wrenches

By 1920 the company was producing Stillson-pattern pipe wrenches with both wooden and steel handles, and the company had already adopted a distinctive "Guaranteed" marking forged into a recessed panel on the shank of its wrenches. This marking makes it easy to identify the company's production.

Fig. 5. 1921 Advertisement for Erie Tool Works.

The scan in Fig. 5 shows an ad for Erie Tool, as published on page 58 [External Link] of the August, 1921 issue of American Exporter.

The illustration shows tools including pipe vises, Stillson pipe wrenches, and pipe cutters.

A condensed catalog from 1932 shows the company's products as pipe vises, pipe threading dies, "Pipemaster" and Stillson-pattern pipe wrenches, and pipe cutters in Saunders and Barnes patterns.

Contract Production

During the 1930s the company supplied Stillson-pattern pipe wrenches for the Sears Roebuck "Merit" brand and for a number of other tool companies as well. Production by Erie Tool Works can be easily recognized by the distinctive "Guaranteed" marking.

Acquisition of Lakeview Forge

In the early 1950s the company moved to a larger facility and also acquired the Lakeview Forge Company to provide additional forging capacity.

Continuing Operations

The company continues today as a division of the Lakeview Forge Company, and more information can be found at the Lakeview Forge Company [External Link] home page.

Patents

Bacon, Edwin W. Pipe vise 1,617,364 Feb. 15 Karol T. Dyczynski 2,700,911 6/30/1953 2/01/1955

Trademarks

On April 19, 1954 Erie Tool Works filed a trademark application for "PIPEMASTER" for use with pipe wrenches, with the first use date claimed as January 27, 1932. The application was published on March 8, 1955 with serial 664,743 and issued as trademark #606,374 on May 24, 1955.

On June 13, 1955 the company filed another application for "PIPEMASTER" for use with pipe cutters and pipe vises, with the same first use date as the previous application. This second application was published on December 6, 1955 with serial 689,371 and issued as trademark #622,149 on February 28, 1956.

References and Resources

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

Catalog Resources

Industrial Distributors

Erie Tool Works tools were available from some industrial distributors. We'll add references as time permits.

Selected Tools

Erie Tool Works No. 10 Automatic Pipe Wrench

Fig. 6. Erie Tool Works No. 10 Automatic Pipe Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 6 shows an Erie Tool Works No. 10 automatic pipe wrench, marked with "Erie Tool Works" and "Erie, PA U.S.A." forged into the shank, with "Auto No 10" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 10.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Erie Tool Works 18 Inch Stillson-Pattern Pipe Wrench

Fig. 7. Erie Tool Works 18 Inch Stillson-Pattern Pipe Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1930s to 1940s.

Fig. 7 shows an Erie Tool Works 18 inch Stillson-pattern pipe wrench, marked with "Guaranteed" forged into a recessed panel on the shank, with "The Erie Tool Works" and "Erie, PA U.S.A." stamped on the back side.

The overall length is 16.0 inches closed and 18.4 inches fully extended. The finish is plain steel.