External Links

This page will provide links to various external web sites with content that may be of interest to readers of Alloy Artifacts. These sites have been chosen based on informational content, although some may include limited commercial activities as well, such as listings of tools for sale or auction catalogs.

Please note that Alloy Artifacts is not affiliated with these other sites and has no control over their content or policies.

Tool Company History Sites

These are links to sites providing information on old tools and old tool companies, similar in spirit to Alloy Artifacts.

• Collecting Snap-on. The name says it all — a site dedicated to Snap-on tools and related brands. Includes a useful collection of early catalog scans.

• P&C Tools. A site with historical information for P&C Tools.

• The History of PLOMB Tools. This is the original Plomb Tools history site as archived by R. VanNatta.

Alloy Artifacts has many international visitors, including some who have set up websites with information on the tools of their country or region. These sites will generally have much better coverage of country-specific tools than what we can offer.

• コンビネーションレンチ･コレクション Combination Wrench Collection. A Japanese site specializing in combination wrenches, with coverage for more than 100 Japanese brands, plus information on some of the well-known American brands.

• Gamla Skiftnycklar ("Old Wrenches"). A Swedish site specializing in adjustable wrenches, currently mostly from BAHCO but with plans to cover other manufacturers as well.

• Grace's Guide to British Industrial History. A site based in the UK with extensive information on British industrial companies, including many early tool companies.

Tool Collector's Clubs

These are generally membership organizations for people with an interest in collecting older tools. Some content may be limited to members only.

• Mid-West Tool Collectors Association.

• Missouri Valley Wrench Club.

• The Wrenching News. A site with information on farm and implement wrenches, and with catalogs for auctions by the Missouri Valley Wrench Club.

Tool Catalog Resources

Catalogs are a very important source of information on older tool companies and their products. The sites in this list have substantial selections of tool company catalogs available for download in PDF or other formats.

• International Tool Catalog Library. This site is run by archive.org and has an extensive collection of tool catalogs, currently skewing towards woodworking tools but with increasing coverage for mechanic's tools.

• Collecting Snap-on. A site for Snap-on with a number of early catalogs available.

• P&C Tools. A site for P&C Tools with a number of rare catalogs available.

Tool Discussion Boards

These sites all have active discussion boards where you can post photographs and ask questions.

• Papawswrench. A site with a mix of tools for sale, photographs, and an active discussion board.

• Garage Gazette. A site with active discussion boards for tool-related (or not) topics.

• Garage Journal Forum. An active discussion board for repair, maintenance, tools, and other topics.

Tool Museums

This section provides links to physical tool museums, to help you plan your next vacation trip.

• Attleboro Area Industrial Museum. An industrial museum (with some tool exhibits) located in Attleboro, Massachusetts, the city where the Frank Mossberg Company operated.

• Bolt's Antique Tool Museum. A tool museum located in Oroville, California.

• Davistown Museum. A tool museum located in Liberty, Maine.

Tool Applications

• VanNatta's Mechanics Tools. A unique site with information on maintaining the huge equipment needed to run a logging company. Torque multipliers, anyone?

• Understanding and Using Calipers. An in-depth study of machinist's calipers as well as modern dial and electronic (slide) calipers.