European Tool Makers

Table of Contents

Introduction

AB BAHCO (Sweden)

AB BAHCO is a maker of industrial hand tools based in Stockholm, Sweden. The company was founded in 1886 as Enköpings Mekaniska Verkstad in Enköping, Sweden by Johann Petter Johansson, and the company's early products included pipe wrenches and adjustable wrenches based on patents by Johansson.

Fig. 1. 1892 Johansson Adjustable Wrench Patent No. 4066.

The scan in Fig. 1 shows J.P. Johansson's 1892 patent for an adjustable wrench, as printed on page 5 of the 1926 BAHCO catalog No. 1602.

As a side note, the Johansson adjustable wrench served as the design inspiration for the Crescent Adjustable Wrench, which was introduced in the United States in 1909.

In 1890 the sales and marketing rights to the company's products were acquired by Berndt August Hjorth, and in 1916 Enköpings Mekaniska Verkstad became a subsidiary of B A Hjorth & Company.

Fig. 2. 1926 Illustration of B A Hjorth & Company Factory.

The scan in Fig. 2 shows one of the Hjorth factories in Stockholm, as published on page 3 of the 1926 BAHCO catalog No. 1602.

By the mid 1920s B A Hjorth & Company was producing a number of models of adjustable wrenches, including combination adjustable and alligator wrenches, as well as pipe wrenches, pipe cutters, and other tools.

The company name was later shortened to AB BAHCO.

Ergonomic Design

In the 1980s BAHCO pioneered ergonomic design for hand tools, with the intention of reducing fatigue and injury associated with tool use. The redesigned tools were sold under the "ERGO" brand, initially for screwdrivers in 1982. ERGO adjustable wrenches and pliers soon followed, and the brand has now been extended to a wide range of hand tools.

Acquisition by Snap-on

In 1999 BAHCO was acquired by Snap-on, and the company currently operates as a division of SNA Europe.

Information on the company's products and history can be found at the BAHCO [External Link] web site. One warning though: the product selection is dramatically limited (to just Bandsaws and Pruning Tools!) if you select US English! We've set the link for the United Kingdom, which shows the full range of the company's products in slightly accented English.

Catalog Resources

Historical BAHCO catalogs appear to be rather scarce, as the International Tool Catalog Library shows only one available, the 1926 BAHCO Catalog No. 1602 [External Link]. The catalog lists a variety of adjustable wrenches, pipe wrenches, pipe cutters, and a few other tools.

BAHCO No. 70 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench

By the mid 1920s BAHCO was producing adjustable wrenches in a variety of styles and sizes.

Fig. 3. 1926 Catalog Listing for BAHCO Adjustable Wrenches.

The scan in Fig. 3 shows a catalog listing for the BAHCO 15 degree offset models, as published on page 7 of the 1926 BAHCO catalog No. 1602. Six sizes were available, from No. 70 (6 inches) up to No. 75 (18 inches).

The standard finish was plain steel, but the No. 70 model was also available with a nickel finish.

Fig. 4. BAHCO No. 70 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 4 shows a BAHCO No. 70 6 inch adjustable wrench, marked with "BAHCO" and the model number forged into the shank, with "Made in Sweden" and "Drop Forged Steel" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 6.1 inches, and the maximum opening is 0.8 inches. The head thickness was measured at 0.44 inches.

The finish is plain steel.

Note that the shank has a depressed channel running all the way to the adjusting knurl on both sides. This feature provides extra clearance when making an adjustment and is believed to have originated with BAHCO. The illustration in Fig. 3 shows a wrench with a depressed channel, indicating that this feature was already in use by 1926.

The depressed channel feature was later adopted by Crescent, and still later by Diamond Tool.

BAHCO No. 31 8 Inch "Volvo" Adjustable and Alligator Wrench

Fig. 5. BAHCO No. 31 8 Inch "Volvo" Adjustable and Alligator Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 5 shows a BAHCO No. 31 8 inch adjustable and alligator wrench, marked with "BAHCO 31" plus "V-Steel" and "Made in Sweden" forged into the shank, with "AB BAHCO Stockholm" and a "229" code forged into the back side.

The overall length is 8.0 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.2 inches. The head thickness was measured at 0.52 inches.

The finish is plain steel with polished faces.

The back side is also stamped "Volvo", suggesting that this wrench was probably made for a Volvo tool kit.

The No. 31 adjustable wrench was already being offered in the 1926 BAHCO catalog.

BAHCO 224 10 Inch Waterpump Pliers

Fig. 6. BAHCO 224 10 Inch Waterpump Pliers, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 6 shows a pair of BAHCO 224 10 inch waterpump pliers, marked with "BAHCO 224" and "Made in Sweden" forged into the front, with "AB BAHCO Stockholm" and "V-Steel" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 10.1 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating with a matte surface.

The pliers have a slip-joint mechanism with six adjustment positions, and the maximum parallel opening is approximately 1.7 inches.

The current equivalent to these pliers can be seen as the 22xD Series Water Pump Pliers [External Link] on the company's web site. Five sizes in models 221D to 225D are available, and the tools have a black phospate finish with plastic hand grips.

BAHCO UD 12x13mm Open-End Wrench

Fig. 7. BAHCO UD 12x13mm Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 7 shows a BAHCO UD 12x13mm open-end wrench, marked with "BAHCO UD" and the metric sizes forged into oval panels on the front, with "BAHCO" and the metric sizes forged into the back side panels.

The overall length is 6.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

BAHCO UD 18x19mm Open-End Wrench

Fig. 8. BAHCO UD 18x19mm Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 8 shows a BAHCO UD 18x19mm open-end wrench, marked with "BAHCO UD" and the metric sizes forged into oval panels on the front, with "BAHCO Industria Argentina" and the metric sizes forged into the back side panels.

The overall length is 8.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The current BAHCO catalog (2022) shows that the UD series wrenches have been superseded, and the successor tools can be seen as the 6M Metric Open-End Wrenches [External Link] on the company's web site. The 6M series wrenches are available in a range of sizes from 4x5mm up to 46x50mm.

BAHCO PU 13mm Offset Combination Wrench

Fig. 9. BAHCO PU 13mm Offset Combination Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 9 shows a BAHCO PU 13mm offset combination wrench, marked with "BAHCO PU" and the metric size forged into oval panels on the front, with "BAHCO" and the metric size forged into the back side panels.

The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The top inset shows the offset at the box end, a characteristic feature of this design.

BAHCO PU 18mm Offset Combination Wrench

Fig. 10. BAHCO PU 18mm Offset Combination Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 10 shows a BAHCO PU 18mm offset combination wrench, marked with "BAHCO PU" and the metric size forged into oval panels on the front, with "BAHCO" and the metric size forged into the back side panels.

The overall length is 8.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The top inset shows the offset at the box end, a characteristic feature of this design.

The current BAHCO catalog (2022) shows that the PU series wrenches are being discontinued, with only a few sizes still available. The successor to the PU series can be seen as the 1952M Metric Offset Combination Wrenches [External Link] on the company's web site. The 1952M series wrenches are available in a wide range of sizes from 6mm to 80mm.

BAHCO PU 1 Inch Offset Combination Wrench

Fig. 11. BAHCO PU 1 Inch Offset Combination Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 11 shows a BAHCO PU 1 inch offset combination wrench, marked with "AB BAHCO STOCKHOLM" and the size forged into oval panels on the front, with "BAHCO PU 1" plus "V-Steel" and "Made in Sweden" forged into the back panels.

The overall length is 12.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The top inset shows the offset at the box end, a characteristic feature of this design.

BAHCO PS 11/16x3/4 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 12. BAHCO PS 11/16x3/4 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 12 shows a BAHCO PS 11/16x3/4 offset box-end wrench, marked with "BAHCO PS" and "Made in Sweden" forged into oval panels on the front, with "AB BAHCO Stockholm" and "V-Steel" forged into the back side panels.

The fractional sizes are also forged into panels on the shank.

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

The current BAHCO catalog (2022) shows that the PS series wrenches have been discontinued, but a similar series can be seen as the 2Z Imperial Offset Ring End Wrenches [External Link] on the company's web site. The 2Z series wrenches are available in sizes from 1/4x5/16 up to 1-1/16x1-1/4.

BAHCO L18-19 18x19mm Flex-Box Wrench

Fig. 13. BAHCO L18-19 18x19mm Flex-Box Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 13 shows a BAHCO L18-19 18x19mm flex-box wrench, marked with "AB BAHCO Stockholm" and the metric sizes forged into the shank, with "V-Steel" and a "Made in Sweden" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 10.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished sockets.

The current BAHCO catalog (2022) shows that the L series of flex-box wrenches have been superseded, and the successor tools can be seen as the 4040M Swivel Head Socket Wrenches [External Link] on the company's web site. The 4040M series wrenches are available in a range of sizes from 6x7mm up to 24x27mm.

The company also offers a 4040Z series of flex-box wrenches in fractional inch sizes from 3/8x7/16 up to 13/16x7/8.

BAHCO 801050 3/8-Drive Quick-Release Ratchet

This next figure shows an example of fairly recent production from BAHCO.

Fig. 14. BAHCO 801050 3/8-Drive Quick-Release Ratchet, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Marking Detail, ca. 2011+

Fig. 14 shows a BAHCO 801050 3/8-drive quick-release ratchet, stamped with "BAHCO" on the shank, with "801050" and a "USA" on the back side.

The retaining plate is stamped with the 1996 patent 5,522,288, filed by R.J. Slusar et al and assigned to Snap-on.

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

The ratchet has a flat handle fitted with a textured rubberized grip, a characteristic feature of BAHCO's ergonomic design.

The drive stud is fitted with a quick-release mechanism functionally equivalent to the mechanism described in the 1965 Roberts patent 3,208,318, which was first used on Sears Craftsman ratchets in the mid 1960s. An example can be seen as the Craftsman "V" 3/8-Drive Quick-Release Ratchet.

BAHCO S 1/2-Drive 7/8 Socket

Fig. 15. BAHCO 1/2-Drive S 7/8 Socket, with Inset for Top View.

Fig. 15 shows a BAHCO 1/2-drive S 7/8 socket, stamped with "BAHCO" and "S 7/8" on the body, with "Made in Sweden" and "V-Steel" on the back (not shown).

The overall height is 1.5 inches, and the finish is polished chrome plating.

The inset shows a top view of the socket, illustrating the hot broached construction.

The base of the socket has a hole to help secure the socket to the drive tool.

BAHCO S 1/2-Drive 1-1/16 Socket

Fig. 16. BAHCO 1/2-Drive S 1-1/16 Socket, with Inset for Top View.

Fig. 16 shows a BAHCO 1/2-drive S 1-1/16 socket, stamped with "BAHCO" and "S 1-1/16" on the body, with "Made in Sweden" and "V-Steel" on the back (not shown).

The overall height is 1.7 inches, and the finish is polished chrome plating.

The inset shows a top view of the socket, illustrating the hot broached construction.

The base of the socket has a hole (not shown) to help secure the socket to the drive tool.

Belzer

Belzer was a tool maker founded in 1884 by Robert A. Belzer, with initial operations in Cronenberg, Germany. (Cronenberg later became part of Wuppertal.) Belzer began producing automotive service tools around 1920, and by 1925 was using vanadium alloy steel for wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers, which were sold under the "Belzer" brand.

In the mid 1970s the company was acquired by Dowidat to form DWU Belzer-Dowidat. This began a period of conglomeration, as Belzer-Dowidat was acquired by BAHCO in 1988, then BAHCO was acquired by Sandvik, then Snap-on bought BAHCO (with Belzer) from Sandvik, and when the smoke cleared the Apex Tool Group ended up with the Belzer brand, at least for some parts of the world. (This site is not very interested in conglomerated tool companies, but is reporting this information for completeness.)

Additional information on the history of Belzer (in German) can be found in Cronenberg und seine alten Werkzeugfabriken [External Link], written by Hinrich Heyken.

The ITMA Brand

In addition to its main "Belzer" brand, by the 1950s the company was also producing tools under the "ITMA" brand. The 1957 Belzer catalog No. 500 [External Link] includes a 20 page supplement catalog No. A of ITMA tools at the back. The ITMA tools include open-end wrenches, box-end wrenches, socket tools, pliers, screwdrivers, and a few specialty tools.

The ITMA brand appears to have been intended primarily for the export market, based on its inclusion of limited but popular styles, and by the availability of tools in metric, fractional inch, and Whitworth size conventions.

Catalog Resources

The 1957 Belzer catalog No. 500 [External Link] can be downloaded from International Tool Catalog Library.

Belzer "Winkelratsche" No. 2058 Ratchet Right-Angle Screwdriver

Fig. 17. 1957 Catalog Listing for Belzer No. 2058 Ratchet Screwdriver.

The scan in Fig. 17 shows a catalog listing for the Belzer No. 2058 ratchet and screwdriver bits, as published on page 178 of the Belzer catalog No. 500 from 1957.

The ratchet was available with three sizes of flat bits, two sizes of Phillips bits, and two sizes of cross-point bits.

Fig. 18. Belzer No. 2058 Ratchet Screwdriver with 8mm Flat Bit, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 18 shows a Belzer No. 2058 ratchet screwdriver with an 8mm flat bit, marked with "Belzer" and "Winkelratsche" forged into the paneled handle, with "D.R.G.M." and "Vanadium-Extra" plus "Germany" forged into the back.

The overall length is 4.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The ratchet drive size was measured at 3/16 inches.

The "D.R.G.M." marking stands for "Deutsches Reich Gebrauchsmuster", a registered design roughly equivalent to a design patent.

The "Winkelratsche" marking translates as "angle ratchet", a reference to its function as a right-angle screwdriver.

ITMA [No. 10000] Technic 3/4x25/32 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 19. ITMA [No. 10000] Technic 3/4x25/32 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 19 shows an ITMA [No. 10000] 3/4x25/32 open-end wrench, marked with "ITMA Technic" and "Germany" forged into a panel on the shank, with "Chrom-Vanadium" forged into a panel on the back side.

The fractional sizes are forged into small panels on the shank.

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

Although not marked with a model number, the 1957 ITMA catalog identifies this style as a No. 10000 wrench. The catalog offered this style in a wide range of metric, fractional inch, and British Whitworth sizes.

Dowidat

Dowidat was a tool company operating in Remscheid, Germany, founded by Willi Dowidat in 1949. Willi Dowidat along with brothers Karl and Otto had founded the GEDORE tool company in 1919, with the company name formed as an acronym for "GEbruder DOwidat REmscheid". GEDORE grew to become a major tool manufacturer, but after differences of opinion in 1949, Willi left the company to form Dowidat while Otto continued to run GEDORE. (The third brother Karl had passed away in 1933.)

In the mid 1970s Dowidat merged with Belzer to form DWU Belzer-Dowidat, which was later acquired by BAHCO.

Dowidat uses a numbering system in which the "model number" specifies a design or style of a tool, with the particular sizes marked separately.

Dowidat DIN895 14x17mm "Mercedes-Benz" Open-End Wrench

The next two figures show examples of Dowidat's production for Mercedes Benz, which were probably made for vehicle tool kits.

Fig. 20. Dowidat DIN895 14x17mm Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 20 shows a Dowidat DIN895 14x17mm open-end wrench, marked with "Dowidat" and "Made in Germany" forged into the shank, with "Mercedes-Benz" forged into the back side.

The metric sizes are also forged into the shank on both sides.

The overall length is 6.2 inches, and the finish is black oxide.

The DIN895 model number indicates compliance with the German national standard (DIN) for open-end wrenches, with depressed panels on the shank and a reinforcing ridge around the open ends.

Dowidat DIN895 17x19mm "Mercedes-Benz" Open-End Wrench

Fig. 21. Dowidat DIN895 17x19mm Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 21 shows a Dowidat DIN895 17x19mm open-end wrench, marked with "Dowidat" and "Made in Germany" forged into the shank, with "Mercedes-Benz" forged into the back side.

The metric sizes are also forged into the shank on both sides.

The overall length is 6.7 inches, and the finish is black oxide.

The DIN895 model number indicates compliance with the German national standard (DIN) for open-end wrenches, with depressed panels on the shank and a reinforcing ridge around the open ends.

Dowidat 3/8-Drive No. 3093R Ratchet

Fig. 22. Dowidat 3/8-Drive No. 3093R Ratchet, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 22 shows a Dowidat 3/8-drive No. 3093R reversible ratchet, marked with "Dowidat" and "Chrom Vanadium" forged into the shank, with "No. 3093R" and "Made in Germany" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 7.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with traces of nickel plating.

Elora (Germany)

Elora is a German tool company founded in 1924 and continuing today as a family-run business. Interested readers can find more information at the Elora [External Link] web site.

Elora 100 18x19mm Open-End Wrench

Fig. 23. Elora 100 18x19mm Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 23 shows an Elora 100 18x19mm open-end wrench, marked with "Elora 100 W. Germany" forged into a panel on the shank, with "Chrom-Vanadium" forged into a panel on the back side.

The (metric) sizes are forged into small panels on the front shank.

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

Elora 205 14mm Offset Combination Wrench

Fig. 24. Elora 205 14mm Offset Combination Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side Views.

Fig. 24 shows an Elora 205 14mm offset combination wrench, marked with "Elora 205 W. Germany" forged into a panel on the shank, with "Chrom-Vanadium" forged into the back side panel.

The (metric) size is stamped on the shank near the open end.

The overall length is 7.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Elora 1305/5 27x36mm Single-Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 25. Elora 1305/5 27x36mm Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side Views.

Fig. 25 shows an Elora 1305/5 27x36mm single-offset box wrench, marked with "Elora - Chrom - Vanadium" forged into the shank, with "Elora" and "Germany" plus the model number forged into the back side.

The overall length is 14.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with extensive losses due to rust.

FACOM (France)

FACOM is a French tool company founded in 1918, with the name representing Société Franco-Américaine de Construction d'Outillage Mécanique. The company continues today as a multinational manufacturer, and interested readers can find more information at the FACOM [External Link] web site. The site includes a web catalog of their extensive product line and a history of the company (in English) on their History of FACOM [External Link] page.

FACOM No. 44 "Vanachrome" 11/16x25/32 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 26. FACOM No. 44 "Vanachrome" 11/16x25/32 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 26 shows a FACOM No. 44 11/16x25/32 open-end wrench, marked with "No. 44" and "France" forged into front panel, with "Vanachrome" forged into the back side panel.

The overall length is 7.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished heads.

FACOM No. 40 "Vanachrome" 5/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 27. FACOM No. 40 "Vanachrome" 5/8 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 27 shows a FACOM No. 40 5/8 combination wrench, marked with "No. 40" and "France" forged into front panel, with "Vanachrome" forged into the back side panel.

The overall length is 7.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Footprint Tools (UK)

Footprint Tools is a British hand tool manufacturer with operations in Sheffield, England and other locations. The company's roots go back to the 1760s when Alfred Ridge & Sons provided wood-boring tools to the Royal Navy.

The company remains in business today and interested readers can find more information at the Footprint Tools [External Link] website.

Garrington (UK)

Garrington (or Garringtons) was a British maker of tools and other forged products, initially founded by John Garrington in 1837 with operations at Albert Works, Darlaston, Staffordshire. (Some sources give the founding date as 1830.)

After the death of the founder in 1877, the company continued to be run by his sons Richard and Benjamin as John Garrington and Sons. Around 1912 John Garrington and Sons became part of F.W. Cotterill of Darlaston, a maker of nuts and bolts.

In 1919 Cotterill (and Garrington) were acquired by Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds (GKN) to form the largest nut and bolt company in England. After the acquisition by GKN, Garrington's primary business lines were drop-forgings for automobiles, aviation, and tools.

By the 1940s Garrington was advertising tools such as "Kestrel" box-end wrenches and "Magpie" open-end wrenches. In 1951 the company changed its name to Garringtons.

Our information for the company was found on a page for John Garrington and Sons [External Link] at Grace's Guide to British Industrial History [External Link]. Information on the company's later operations can be found on a page for Garringtons [External Link], which notes that by 1961 the company had 3,000 employees.

Additional information on John Garrington and Sons can be found in the book GKN: The Making of a Business, 1759-2009 by Andrew Lorenz.

A two page linecard for John Garrington and Sons from 1951 can be found as The Craftsmans' Choice [External Link] at the International Tool Catalog Library.

Garrington "Blue Diamond" 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 28. Garrington "Blue Diamond" 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 28 shows a Garrington "Blue Diamond" 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench, stamped "Blue Diamond" on the shank with "Garringtons England" on the back side.

The overall length is 6.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Garrington "Blue Diamond" 3/4x7/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 29. Garrington "Blue Diamond" 3/4x7/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 29 shows a Garrington "Blue Diamond" 3/4x7/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Blue Diamond" on the shank with "Garringtons England" on the back side.

The overall length is 7.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Garrington "Jaguar" 11/32x3/8 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 30. Garrington "Jaguar" 11/32x3/8 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 30 shows a Garrington "Jaguar" 11/32x3/8 tappet wrench, with forged-in markings "Jaguar" on the front and "Garrington" on the back side.

The overall length is 6.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This wrench is believed to be from a Jaguar automobile toolkit.

Garrington "Jaguar" 9/16x5/8 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 31. Garrington "Jaguar" 9/16x5/8 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 31 shows a Garrington "Jaguar" 9/16x5/8 tappet wrench, with forged-in markings "Jaguar" on the front and "Garrington" on the back side.

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

This wrench is believed to be from a Jaguar automobile toolkit.

GEDORE

GEDORE is a major tool maker based in Remscheid, Germany. The company was founded in 1919 by the three Dowidat brothers Karl, Otto, and Willi, with the company name formed as an acronym for "GEbruder DOwidat REmscheid".

In 1949 the surviving brothers had a falling out and Willi left to form the Dowidat company, with Otto continuing to run GEDORE. (Karl Dowidat had passed away in 1933.)

GEDORE continues today as a family-owned business with more than 2,000 employees in 70 countries. Information on the company's products can be found at the GEDORE [External Link] web site, which includes a Company History [External Link] page.

Catalog Resources

Scanned copies of several older GEDORE Catalogs [External Link] can be found at the International Tool Catalog Library. Note that GEDORE uses a numbering system in which the model number specifies a design or style of the tool, with the particular sizes marked separately.

GEDORE DIN894 19mm Single Open-End Wrench

Fig. 32. GEDORE DIN894 19mm Single Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 32 shows a GEDORE DIN894 19mm single open-end wrench, marked with the "GEDORE" logo and "Germany" forged into the shank, with "GEDORE-VANADIUM" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is black oxide.

The DIN894 model number indicates compliance with the (German) national standard for single-ended open-end wrenches, with depressed panels on the shank and a reinforcing ridge around the open end.

GEDORE "Vanadium" No. 6 1-1/8x1-1/4w Open-End Wrench

Fig. 33. GEDORE "Vanadium" No. 6 1-1/8x1-1/4w Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 33 shows a GEDORE No. 6 1-1/8x1-1/4w open-end wrench, marked with "GEDORE No. 6" and "Germany" forged into the shank, with "GEDORE-VANADIUM" forged into the back side.

The back side faces are stamped with the Whitworth sizes and the British Standard equivalents.

The overall length is 17.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

GEDORE 1B 5.5mm Offset Combination Wrench

Many European tool makers offer a style of combination wrench with an offset box end, as the tools in the next two figures illustrate.

Fig. 34. GEDORE 1B 5.5mm Offset Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 34 shows a GEDORE 1B 5.5mm offset combination wrench, marked with "GEDORE-VANADIUM" forged into the shank, with "GEDORE" and "GERMANY" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 4.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The top inset shows the distinctive offset to the box end, a style popular in Europe.

GEDORE 1B 16mm Offset Combination Wrench

Fig. 35. GEDORE 1B 16mm Offset Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 35 shows a GEDORE 1B 16mm offset combination wrench with depressed panels, marked with "GEDORE" and "GERMANY" forged into the front panel, with "GEDORE" and "VANADIUM" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 8.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

GEDORE No. 91 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 36. GEDORE No. 91 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 36 shows a GEDORE No. 91 6 inch adjustable wrench, marked with "No. 91" and "Original GEDORE" forged into the front, with "Made in Germany" and "GEDORE Standard-Material" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 6.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with some pitting due to rust.

Gordon Tools (UK)

Gordon Tools operated in Sheffield, England as a maker of hand tools. The company was in business at least as early as 1950, based on a listing for Gordon Tools [External Link] at a 1950 industry fair in Grace's Guide to British Industrial History [External Link]. The company's address was listed as Assam Works, Rockingham Street in Sheffield.

Catalog Resources

Additional information on the company's products can be found in a 1968 catalog of Gordon Engineers' Hand Tools [External Link] at the International Tool Catalog Library. The catalog notes that the company's tools are made of drop-forged chrome-vanadium steel.

Gordon Tools 7/16x1/2W Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 37. Gordon Tools 7/16x1/2W Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 37 shows a Gordon Tools 7/16x1/2W offset box-end wrench, marked with "Gordon Tools" and the (Whitworth) fractional size forged into the shank, with "Chrome Vanadium" and the fractional size forged into the back side.

The overall length is 11.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Hazet (Germany)

Hazet is a tool maker established in 1868 by Hermann Zerver in Remscheid, Germany. The company continues today as a fifth-generation family business and offers an extensive selection of standard and specialty tools for automotive and industrial maintenance.

Information on the company's products (in German, English, and French) can be found at the Hazet [External Link] web site.

Catalog Resources

A 1963 Hazet Price List [External Link] with illustrations is available at the International Tool Catalog Library. Note that Hazet uses a numbering system in which the model number specifies a design or style of a tool, with a suffix or separate marking to indicate the particular sizes.

Hazet No. 450 16x17mm Open-End Wrench

The next several figures show examples of Hazet No. 450 metric open-end wrenches. The 1963 Hazet price list offered the No. 450 wrenches in 54 sizes ranging from 4x5mm up to 46x50mm.

Also available was a No. 450A model series in fractional inch sizes and a No. 450W model series in British Whitworth sizes.

Fig. 38. Hazet No. 450 16x17mm Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 38 shows a Hazet No. 450 16x17mm open-end wrench, marked with "Hazet 450" and "Chrom Vanadium" forged into front panel, with "Original Hazet" and "Remscheid Germany" forged into the back side panel.

The overall length is 8.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Hazet No. 450 24x26mm Open-End Wrench

Fig. 39. Hazet No. 450 24x26mm Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 39 shows a Hazet No. 450 24x26mm open-end wrench, marked with "Original Hazet" and "Germany" forged into front panel, with "Hazet" and "Chrom-Vanadium" forged into the back side panel.

The overall length is 10.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel with polished faces.

Hazet No. 450 25x28mm Open-End Wrench

Fig. 40. Hazet No. 450 25x28mm Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 40 shows a Hazet No. 450 25x28mm open-end wrench, marked with "Original Hazet" and "Germany" forged into front panel, with "Hazet" and "Chrom-Vanadium" forged into the back side panel.

The overall length is 10.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel with polished faces.

Hazet 2513 24mm Tappet Wrench

Fig. 41. Hazet 2513 24mm Tappet Wrench.

Fig. 41 shows a Hazet 2513 24mm tappet wrench, marked with "Chrom Vanadium" and "Germany" forged into the shank.

The overall length is 9.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Hazet 645 1/2x9/16 Flex-Box Wrench

Fig. 42. Hazet 645 1/2x9/16 Flex-Box Wrench, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 42 shows a Hazet 645 1/2x9/16 flex-box wrench, marked with "Chrom Vanadium" and "Germany" forged into the shank, and with the fractional sizes stamped on the sockets.

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

Heyco GmbH & Company (Germany)

Heyco is a maker of high-quality tools, forgings, and molded parts, with operations in Remscheid, Germany and several other countries. The company was founded in 1937 by brothers Max and Ernst Heynen.

The company maintains a website in English at HEYCO [External Link] with information on the company's divisions and products, and a Corporate History [External Link] page shows a timeline of the company's development.

Heyco uses a numbering system in which the model number specifies a design or style of a tool, with a separate marking to indicate the particular size.

Heyco 350 "BMW" 17x19mm Open-End Wrench

Fig. 43. Heyco 350 "BMW" 17x19mm Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 43 shows a Heyco 350 17x19mm open-end wrench, marked with "Heyco" and "W. Germany" forged into the shank, with "Chrom-Vanadium" and "BMW" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 8.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with a satin texture.

Heyco 475 17x19mm Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 44. Heyco 475 17x19mm Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 44 shows a Heyco 475 17x19mm offset box-end wrench with depressed panels, marked with "Heyco" and "Germany" forged into the front panel, with "Chrom-Vanadium" forged into the back side panel.

The overall length is 11.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Heyco 497 30x32mm Double Flare-Nut Wrench

Fig. 45. Heyco 497 30x32mm Double Flare-Nut Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 45 shows a Heyco 497 30x32mm double flare-nut wrench, marked with "Heyco" and "W. Germany" forged into the shank, with "Chrom-Vanadium" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 10.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with a satin texture.

Heyco 1/2-Drive 7 Inch Ell Handle

Fig. 46. Heyco 1/2-Drive 7 Inch Ell Handle.

Fig. 46 shows a Heyco 1/2-drive 7 inch ell handle, stamped with "Heyco-Vanadium" on the handle.

The overall length is 7.5 inches, and the finish is black oxide.

Heyco 50-03 1/2-Drive 12 Inch Sliding Tee Handle

Fig. 47. Heyco 50-03 1/2-Drive 12 Inch Sliding Tee Handle, with Inset for Marking Detail.

Fig. 47 shows a Heyco 50-03 1/2-drive 12 inch sliding tee handle, stamped with "Heyco" and "W. Germany" on the handle bar at the left, with "Chrom-Vanadium" at the right.

The overall length is 11.7 inches, and the finish is polished chrome plating.

Heyco 50-6 1/2-Drive 14mm Hexagon Socket

Fig. 48. Heyco 50-6 1/2-Drive 14mm Hexagon Socket, with Inset for Top View.

Fig. 48 shows a Heyco 50-6 1/2-drive 14mm hexagon socket, stamped with "Heyco" and "Chrom-Vanadium" on the base, with "50-6" and "W. Germany" at the back (not shown).

The inset shows a top view of the service opening. The socket appears to have been made as an extrusion, with separate mandrels for the drive and service ends.

The overall height is 1.6 inches, and the finish is polished chrome plating.

Knipex (Germany)

Knipex is a German tool company specializing in high-quality pliers. The company was founded in 1882 by C. Gustav Putsch in Cronenberg (now a part of Wuppertal) and initially produced carpenter's and farrier's pincers. The company is now run by the fourth generation of the family.

Information on the company's products and history can be found at the Knipex.com [External Link] web site.

Knipex No. 300 180mm Lineman's Universal Pliers

Fig. 49. Knipex No. 300 180mm Lineman's Universal Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail.

Fig. 49 shows a pair of Knipex No. 300 180mm lineman's universal pliers, incorporating flat and rounded gripping surfaces, side-cutters, and Button's style cutting slots. The pliers are stamped with the model number and "Germany" on the underside of the handles.

The overall length is 7.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The upper inset shows the slim flat profile of this style of pliers.

In addition to the side cutters, the pliers are equipped with cutting notches on each side of the handles.

Lindström, F.E. (Sweden)

F.E. Lindström was founded in 1856 in Eskilstuna, Sweden as a maker of pliers, cutters, and other precision tools. The company operates today as a division of BAHCO, which in turn has the Snap-on Tools Corporation as its parent.

More information on the company can be found at the Lindström [External Link] web site.

Lindström PR-50 Box-Joint Needlenose Pliers

Fig. 50. Lindström PR-50 Needlenose Pliers, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 50 shows a pair of Lindström PR-50 box-joint needlenose pliers, marked "F.E. Lindstrom" and "Sweden" near the pivot, with "PR-50" stamped on the underside of one handle (not shown).

The overall length is 5.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Lindström 4 Inch Diagonal Cutters

Fig. 51. Lindström 4 Inch Diagonal Cutters, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 51 shows a pair of Lindström 4 inch box-joint diagonal cutters, marked "Lindstrom" and "Sweden" near the pivot.

The overall length is 4.5 inches, and the finish is polished steel.

Orencoverken AB (Sweden)

Orencoverken AB was a tool company operating in Eskilstuna, Sweden, a major center for machinery and tool manufacturing.

Currently we don't have much information about Orencoverken, but based on some online searching the company is believed to have been established in 1951.

Fig. 52. Directory Listing for Orencoverken AB.

The scan in Fig. 52 shows a business directory listing for Orencoverken AB (in Swedish), found on a web page at Runeberg.org [External Link].

The text notes that the company made socket wrench sets, socket wrenches, and combination wrenches. One of the principals is listed as Erik Olof Renvall, and the founding year is given as 1951.

An additional search found a message from someone in Sweden who worked at Orencoverken in 1979, so the company was apparently still active at that time.

We haven't found a web site for the company, suggesting that it may have closed, or possibly merged with another company. If any of our readers have additional information about Orencoverken, please let us know via email!

Orencoverken sold tools under the Orenco, Ray, and possibly Okay brands, and is best known (in our limited experience) for a line of well-made flex-box wrenches.

Note that the "Ray" brand was also used by the Packer Auto Specialty company from approximately 1912 to 1930, but there is no known connection between Packer Auto Specialty and Orencoverken. In order to avoid confusion, we will use "Ray (Sweden)" in the index to denote the Orencoverken Ray brand.

Orencoverken produced both the familiar swiveling double socket (flex-box) wrenches as well as a series of unusual swiveling double hexagonal driver wrenches, which we will refer to as flex-driver wrenches. In addition, photographs found online show that the company also made combination wrenches.

Orenco tools are known to have been produced in metric, fractional inch, and (British) Whitworth sizes, suggesting that the company was oriented towards the export market.

We have a substantial collection of Orenco and Ray flex-box and flex-driver wrenches and will expand this section as time permits.

Orenco 14x15mm Flex-Box Wrench

Fig. 53. Orenco 14x15mm Flex-Box Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Edge View.

Fig. 53 shows an Orenco 14x15mm flex-box wrench, with "CHROM VANADIUM" and "ORENCO" forged into the front panel, and with "MADE IN" and "SWEDEN" forged into oval panels on the back side.

The (metric) sizes are stamped in the center of the back side.

The overall length is 8.7 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating with polished sockets.

Orenco 19x22mm Flex-Box Wrench

Fig. 54. Orenco 19x22mm Flex-Box Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Edge View.

Fig. 54 shows an Orenco 19x22mm flex-box wrench, with "CHROM VANADIUM" and "ORENCO" forged into the front panel, and with "MADE IN" and "SWEDEN" forged into oval panels on the back side.

The (metric) sizes are stamped in the center of the back side.

The overall length is 11.0 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating with polished sockets.

Ray No. 50 24x27mm Flex-Box Wrench

Fig. 55. Ray No. 50 24x27mm Flex-Box Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Edge View.

Fig. 55 shows a Ray No. 50 24x27mm flex-box wrench, with "No. 50 MADE IN SWEDEN" and "Ray" forged into the front panel, and with "CROM" and "VANADIUM" forged into oval panels on the back side.

The (metric) sizes are stamped in the center of the back side.

The overall length is 12.6 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating with polished sockets.

Ray No. 50 5/8x11/16 Flex-Box Wrench

Fig. 56. Ray No. 50 5/8x11/16 Flex-Box Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Edge View.

Fig. 56 shows a Ray No. 50 5/8x11/16 flex-box wrench, marked with "No. 50 MADE IN SWEDEN" and "Ray" forged into the front panel, with "CROM" and "VANADIUM" forged into oval panels on the back side.

The fractional sizes are stamped in the center of the back side.

The overall length is 9.7 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating with polished sockets.

Ray No. 50 7/16x1/2W Flex-Box Wrench

Fig. 57. Ray No. 50 7/16x1/2W Flex-Box Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Edge View.

Fig. 57 shows a Ray No. 50 7/16x1/2W flex-box wrench, marked with "No. 50 MADE IN SWEDEN" and "Ray" forged into the front panel, with "CROM" and "VANADIUM" forged into oval panels on the back side.

The (Whitworth) fractional sizes are stamped in the center of the back side.

The overall length is 12.4 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating with polished sockets.

Orenco 3x4mm Flex-Driver Wrench

The next figures show examples of flex-driver wrenches, a less common style with swiveling hexagonal drivers instead of sockets.

Fig. 58. Orenco 3x4mm Flex-Driver Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 58 shows an Orenco 3x4mm flex-driver wrench, marked with "CHROM VANADIUM" and "ORENCO" forged into the front panel, with "MADE IN" and "SWEDEN" forged into oval panels on the back side.

The (metric) sizes are stamped in the center of the back side.

The overall length is 6.3 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating with polished heads.

Ray 1/4x5/16 Flex-Driver Wrench

Fig. 59. Ray 1/4x5/16 Flex-Driver Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 59 shows a Ray 1/4x5/16 flex-driver wrench, marked with "CHROM VANADIUM" and "Ray" forged into the front panel, with "MADE IN" and "SWEDEN" forged into oval panels on the back side.

The fractional sizes are stamped in the center of the back side.

The overall length is 7.3 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating with polished heads.

Orenco 9/16x5/8 Flex-Driver Wrench

Fig. 60. Orenco 9/16x5/8 Flex-Driver Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 60 shows an Orenco 9/16x5/8 flex-driver wrench, marked with "CHROM VANADIUM" and "ORENCO" forged into the front panel, with "MADE IN" and "SWEDEN" forged into oval panels on the back side.

The fractional sizes are stamped in the center of the back side.

The overall length is 11.2 inches fully extended, and the finish is chrome plating with polished heads.

Smith, Thomas & Sons of Saltley, Ltd. (UK)

Thomas Smith & Sons was established in 1843 and operated in Saltley Mill, Birmingham. The company was the maker (at various times) of harnesses, edge tools, bicycle parts, and hand tools including hammers, wrenches, and adjustable wrenches.

Snail Brand Tools

It's not every day that a tool company decides to use a mollusk as its mascot, but such was the case with Thomas Smith & Sons. By the 1930s the company was advertising "Snail Brand" tools including hammers, hatchets, wrenches, and adjustable wrenches, with a distinctive Snail-Logo slithering across the tool.

By this time the company also advertising its capabilities in forging carbon and alloy steel, as well as aluminum for the aircraft industries, suggesting that it was actively seeking opportunities for contract production.

Our information for the company was found on the Grace's Guide Thomas Smith and Sons [External Link] web page, which shows some period literature, including several 1938 advertisements for "Snail Brand" tools.

Tool Identification

Tools made by Thomas Smith & Sons were frequently marked with a stamped or forged-in Snail-Logo, as shown below.

Snail Logo

Fig. 61. Snail-Logo.

Fig. 61 shows the Snail-Logo, as found forged into a wrench for the Colchester Lathe Company.

This logo was stamped on or forged into tools by Thomas Smith & Sons, and serves as a forge-mark for contract production.

Thomas Smith "Snail Brand" 5/8x11/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 62. Thomas Smith "Snail Brand" 5/8x11/16 Open-End Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Marking Detail.

Fig. 62 shows a Thomas Smith 5/8x11/16 open-end wrench, marked with "The Colchester Lathe Co. Ltd." forged into the shank, with the Snail-Logo and fractional sizes forged into the back side.

The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The distinctive Snail-Logo identifies the wrench as contract production by Thomas Smith & Sons, in this case for the Colchester Lathe Company.

Stahlwille (Germany)

Stahlwille is a tool maker in Wuppertal, Germany, with operations going back to its founding in 1862 by Eduard Wille. The company continues today as a major tool manufacturer with an extensive range of products, and readers can find more information (in English or German) at the Stahlwille [External Link] web site.

Stahlwille "Motor" No. 10 1/4x5/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 63. Stahlwille "Motor" No. 10 1/4x5/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 63 shows a Stahlwille "Motor" No. 10 1/4x5/16 open-end wrench, marked with "Stahlwille" and "Motor 10" forged into the shank, with "Chrome Alloy Steel" and "Germany" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 5.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Stahlwille "Open Box" No. 14 12mm Offset Combination Wrench

Fig. 64. Stahlwille "Open Box" No. 14 12mm Combination Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 64 shows a Stahlwille "Open Box" No. 14 12mm combination wrench with an offset box end, marked with "Stahlwille" and "Open Box 14" forged into the shank, with "Chrome Alloy Steel" and "Germany" forged into the back side.

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

The top inset shows the slight offset to the box end of the wrench, a characteristic of this model of combination wrench.

Stahlwille also offered model No. 13 combination wrenches with an angled box end.

Stahlwille Stabil 22x24mm Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 65. Stahlwille Stabil 22x24mm Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 65 shows a Stahlwille Stabil 22x24mm offset box-end wrench, marked with "Stahlwille Stabil" and the (mm) sizes forged into the shank, with "Alloy Steel" and "Made in Germany" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 13.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Stahlwille Flexi 3/16x1/4W Flex-Box Wrench

Fig. 66. Stahlwille Flexi 3/16x1/4W Flex-Box Wrench, with Insets for Back Side Detail and Top View.

Fig. 66 shows a Stahlwille Flexi 3/16x1/4W flex-box wrench, marked with "Stahlwille Flexi" forged into the shank, with "Alloy Steel" and "Made in Germany" forged into the back side. (The middle inset has been rotated for readability.)

The overall length is 9.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished sockets.

The sockets are marked "1/4" and "3/16", presumed to be British Whitworth sizes.

Stahlwille 1/2-Drive 10 Inch Ratchet

Fig. 67. Stahlwille 1/2-Drive 10 Inch Ratchet, with Insets for Back Side and Side View.

Fig. 67 shows a Stahlwille 1/2-drive ratchet with a plastic handle grip, stamped with "Stahlwille" on the shank, with "Made in Germany" on the back side.

The overall length is 10.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Stubai (Austria)

The Stubai brand represents a co-operative of tool companies operating in the Stubai Valley area of Austria, a region with a long history of metal working going back to the 14th century. The member companies produce a wide range of tools for industries such as automotive service, industrial maintenance, construction, wood working, forestry, and mountaineering.

More information on the cooperative's products can be found at the Stubai ZMV GmbH [External Link] web site.

Trademarks

Stubai registered trademark #1,066,998 in multiple classes, including class 23 for tools. The application was filed on August 16, 1973 with serial #465,752 and published on March 8, 1977.

Fig. 68A. Application for Stubai Trademark #1,066,998.

The scan in Fig. 68A shows part of the application for the "Stubai" trademark, as published on page TM110 of the March 8, 1977 issue of the Official Gazette.

The illustration shows a design with three mountain peaks, with the text "Stubai" below.

The trademark was registered as #1,066,998 on May 31, 1977.

Stubai DIN895 14x17mm Open-End Wrench

Fig. 68. Stubai DIN895 14x17mm Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 68 shows a Stubai DIN895 14x17mm open-end wrench, marked with the "Stubai" logo and "Austria" forged into the shank, with "DIN895" forged into the back side.

The (metric) sizes are forged into the shank near the ends.

The overall length is 6.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel with traces of plating, possibly cadmium.

The "DIN895" marking indicates compliance with the (German) national standard for open-end wrenches.

Stubai 4 Inch Locking Carabiner

Fig. 68B. Stubai 4 Inch Locking Carabiner, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. Early to Mid 1970s.

Fig. 68B shows a Stubai 4 inch locking carabiner, stamped with "Stubai" and "Made in Austria", seen as a close-up in the inset.

The overall length is 3.9 inches, and the finish appears to be nickel plating.

The spring-loaded gate is fitted with a threaded locking knurl to prevent accidental opening.

Carabiners are essential safety tools for mountaineering, rock climbing, cave exploring, and other activities where safety ropes need to be conveniently and securely attached.

Super-Ego (Spain)

Super-Ego was founded in 1946 as a maker of pipe tools and operates in Abadiano, Spain.

We haven't found much information on the company's history, but Super-Ego is known to have provided contract production for the Daido Corporation's Truecraft brand during the 1970s and 1980s.

In addition, the company supplied tools to Sears Roebuck in the 1980s, and at least one tool from the late 1960s is known.

More information on the company can be found at the Super-Ego [External Link] website.

[Super-Ego] Truecraft 1618 18 Inch Heavy-Duty Pipe Wrench

Fig. 69. Truecraft 1618 18 Inch Heavy-Duty Pipe Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Marking Detail, ca. Late 1970s to 1980s.

Fig. 69 shows a Truecraft 1618 18 inch heavy-duty pipe wrench, stamped with "Truecraft" and "1618" in a recessed panel on the handle, and marked with "Heavy Duty" and "18" cast into both sides of the handle.

The jaw is marked with "Drop Forged" and "Spain" forged into the recess.

The overall length is 15.4 inches closed and approximately 18.6 inches fully extended.

The finish is plain steel and red paint.

The "Spain" marking indicates production by Super-Ego, one of Truecrafts's suppliers for pipe tools in the 1970s and 1980s.

[Super-Ego] [Sears 30884] "BF" 18 Inch Stillson-Pattern Pipe Wrench

Fig. 69B. [Sears 30884] "BF" 18 Inch Stillson-Pattern Pipe Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Top View, and Marking Detail, ca. 1968.

Fig. 69B shows a [Sears 30884] 18 inch Stillson-pattern pipe wrench, marked with "Drop Forged" forged into the handle, with "Drop Forged" and "BF Spain" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 16.3 inches closed and approximately 18.0 inches fully extended. The finish is plain steel and red paint.

The wrench is not marked with a model number, but based on the catalogs would have been model 30884.

Note that the handle has leaf springs riveted at the top and bottom to control the motion of the jaw carrier, a common feature for Stillson-pattern wrenches in the U.S. and Europe.

The leaf springs supporting the jaw carrier identify this as part of the first generation of Stillson wrenches sold by Sears, and this wrench is quite similar to the Sears "BF" 14 Inch Stillson Pipe Wrench.

However, there are also some significant differences to be noted. In particular, the surface of the jaw carrier has been milled flat, and the small panel for the wrench size is triangular instead of oval. In addition, the handle is paneled differently and maintains a constant width, and the hanging hole is round instead of elongated.

The biggest difference though is the "BF Spain" marking. Yes, that's "Spain", not "Japan"! We didn't notice this when we acquired the wrench, as the marking wasn't clear in the photograph. This is the only tool we've seen marked with "BF Spain".

The "Spain" marking allows us to identify the maker as Super-Ego. The forged-in "BF" marking makes it clear that this tool is part of the Sears "BF" series, and the absence of a marked brand may indicate that the wrench originally had a decal or paper label.

To estimate the production date of the wrench, we note that this Spanish variant of the Sears first generation Stillson wrenches appears to be quite rare, as this is the only example we've seen. This leads to a 1968 production estimate, the last year before the change to the second generation wrenches.

Tracht-Odenthal Spezialzangen (Germany)

Tracht-Odenthal Spezialzangen is a tool company specializing in pliers with operations in Remscheid, Germany. The company was created in 2001 by a merger between Odenthal & Company, originally founded in 1920, and Tracht Spezialzangen, founded in 1948. The company makes a variety of pliers for automotive service and other applications.

As of 2023 Tracht-Odenthal is now part of Elora, and information on the acquisition can be found at the Tracht-Odenthal Acquisition [External Link] web page.

Rotfuss (Rotfuß) 10 Inch Waterpump Pliers

Fig. 70. Rotfuss 10 Inch Waterpump Pliers, with Insets for Detail.

Fig. 70 shows a pair of Rotfuss pliers with a unique adjusting mechanism, a circular bearing element moved along a threaded shaft. The patterned handles have forged markings for "Rotfuß" and "Chrom-Vanadium", and the underside of one handle is marked "D. Pat. 806779" and "Germany" in raised letters.

The overall length is 10.1 inches.

The finish is plain steel with a few traces of red paint on the tips of the handles, probably part of the original finish. (Rotfuss means "Red Foot" in German, so red handle tips would fit.)

These pliers were listed as "0021 'Original Rotfuß' Waterpump Pliers" on the company's web site, but the page is no longer available after the Elora takeover.

Williams, T. Company (UK)

The T. Williams Company was a British maker of wrenches, pliers, and other forged tools, most frequently found as the "Superslim" brand. The company was incorporated on March 29, 1906 and was located at Tilton Road Works, Small Heath, Birmingham, England.

In 1958 the company was acquired by Eva Brothers and afterwards operated as a subsidiary of Eva Industries.

Our information for the company was found on the Grace's Guide T. Williams [External Link] web page, which shows some period literature, including a 1957 ad for "Superslim" box-end wrenches ("Ring Spanners").

Tools made by T. Williams were frequently marked with a forged-in logo showing a "T/W" in a circle.

Tool Identification

Tools made by T. Williams can be identified by a forge mark consisting of a circle with "T" and "W" letters stacked vertically with a horizontal bar between them, referred to as the TW-Circle logo in the text.

TW-Circle Logo

Fig. 71. TW-Circle Logo.

Fig. 71 shows the TW-Circle logo, as forged into the Superslim 15/16x1-1/8 Wrench shown below.

Superslim 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 72. Superslim 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 72 shows a Superslim 1/2x9/16 open-end wrench, marked with the fractional sizes and "AF" forged into the shank, with "Made in England" and the TW-Circle logo forged into the back side.

The overall length is 6.2 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Superslim 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 73. Superslim 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 73 shows a Superslim 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench, marked with the fractional sizes and "AF" forged into the shank, with "Made in England" and the TW-Circle logo forged into the back side.

The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Superslim 15/16x1-1/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 74. Superslim 15/16x1-1/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 74 shows a Superslim 15/16x1-1/8 open-end wrench, marked with "Made in England" and the TW-Circle logo forged into the shank, with "Superslim" forged into the back side.

The shank is also marked with the fractional sizes and "AF" forged at each end.

The overall length is 10.7 inches, and the finish is black oxide.

Superslim 5/16Wx3/8W Open-End Wrench

Fig. 75. Superslim 5/16Wx3/8W Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 75 shows a Superslim 5/16Wx3/8W open-end wrench, marked with Superslim" forged into the front, with "Made in England" and the TW-Circle logo forged into the back side.

The shank is also marked with the Whitworth (and BSF) fractional sizes forged at each end.

The overall length is 7.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The Whitworth and BSF sizes indicate that this wrench was likely made for the domestic market (England) rather than for export.