H.D. Smith & Company

[1893 Illustration of the H.D. Smith Factory]

1893 Catalog Illustration of the H.D. Smith Factory.

Introduction

H.D. Smith & Company was an important early drop-forge merchant and later became well known for its line of "Perfect Handle" tools.

Company History

H.D. Smith & Company was established in 1850 by Henry D. Smith as a maker of carriage hardware. The company operated a foundry in Plantsville, Connecticut, and in addition to making its own drop-forgings, the company offered its services as a merchant drop-forger. In this latter role H.D. Smith claimed to be the first of many such businesses.

A review of the company's 1893 Catalogue reveals a bewildering variety of strange hardware for the carriage trade, but no tools. The last page of the catalog solicits inquiries for bicycle forgings or other custom forging work.

Reorganization in 1900

In 1900 the company underwent a reorganization and tools became a major part of the business.

Fig. 1. 1900 Notice of Reorganization of H.D. Smith.

Fig. 1 shows a notice of reorganization of H.D. Smith & Company, as published on page 20 of the February 10, 1900 issue of Hardware.

The new president was Webster R. Walkley, who previously had worked for Peck, Stow, & Wilcox, a major maker of hardware and tools.

The "Perfect Handle" Brand

Under the new management the company's best known product became a line of tools with riveted wooden handles sold under the "Perfect Handle" brand. The tools supplied with "Perfect" handles began with monkey wrenches and proceeded to include screwdrivers, hammers, pipe and nut wrenches, open-end wrenches, draw knives, and even a valve lifter.

Fig. 2. 1919 Advertisement for H.D. Smith Tools. [External Link]

Fig. 2 shows an ad illustrating a number of the tools available from H.D. Smith, as published on page 132 of the January 2, 1919 issue of American Machinist.

The illustration shows (from top to bottom) a "Perfect Handle" screwdriver, a rubber covered screwdriver for electrical work, a cold chisel, "encased" joint pliers, a "Perfect Handle" pipe wrench, a "Perfect Handle" open-end wrench, and a "Perfect Handle" monkey wrench.

Note that the text at the bottom of the ad makes the claim that the company was the first drop-forger.

Departure of William S. Thomson

In 1923 William S. Thomson, vice-president and general manager of H.D. Smith, left the company to establish the Tobrin Tool Company.

Fig. 3. 1923 Notice for H.D. Smith. [External Link]

Fig. 3 shows a notice of the resignation of William S. Thomson, as published on page 456 of the February 8, 1923 issue of the Iron Trade Review.

Tobrin Tool was founded with the intent of manufacturing tools similar to those made by H.D. Smith.

Later Events

In 1929 Grover C. Lassen acquired control of the H.D. Smith Company, with the stated intent of continuing its tool business. Lassen was associated with several oil companies and had an interest in the hardware business.

Fig. 4. 1931 Notice of Sale of H.D. Smith Company.

The scan in Fig. 4 shows a notice of the sale of the H.D. Smith Company at public auction, as reported on page 706f [External Link] of the April 30, 1931 issue of American Machinist.

The text notes that Grover V. Lassen had purchased the buildings, land, and other property for $35,000, and that future plans were undecided.

H.D. Smith: Issued and Licensed Patents
Patent No.	Inventor	Filed	Issued	Notes and Examples
D33,079	W.S. Ward	07/19/1900	08/14/1900	Carpenter's Nippers
D33,468	A. Shepard	10/05/1900	10/30/1900	Handle Design for Wrench H.D. Smith 8 Inch Monkey Wrench
666,029	A. Shepard	07/05/1900	01/15/1901	Adjustable Wrench H.D. Smith 8 Inch Monkey Wrench
D34,136	W.S. Ward	01/30/1901	02/26/1901	Wrench Handle Design H.D. Smith 8 Inch Monkey Wrench
855,079	W.S. Ward	09/26/1905	05/28/1907	Forged Steel Hammer
D45,919	W.S. Thomson	11/01/1913	06/09/1914	Design for Offset Pliers H.D. Smith Offset Pliers
1,122,335	W.S. Thomson	11/01/1913	12/29/1914	Pipe Wrench H.D. Smith 14 Inch Pipe Wrench
1,123,423	W.S. Thomson	11/17/1911	01/05/1915	Adjustable Wrench
1,159,621	W.S. Thomson	02/04/1915	11/09/1915	Pliers with Encased Joint
1,216,886	W.S. Thomson	11/01/1913	02/20/1917	Offset Pliers H.D. Smith Offset Pliers
1,410,521	W.S. Thomson	05/05/1921	03/21/1922	Screwdriver H.D. Smith 660-6 Screwdriver

Trademarks

H.D. Smith used a logo with an "S" inside a circle and claimed it as a trademark in their 1893 catalog. We haven't found the official registration yet, but it appears to be trademark #521, issued on November 7, 1871.

Fig. 5. 1893 Notice of Trademark for H.D. Smith & Company.

Fig. 5 shows the entry for H.D. Smith trademark #521, as published on page 89 of an 1893 Digest of Trade-marks.

H.D. Smith: Registered Trademarks
Text Mark or Logo	Reg. No.	First Use	Date Filed	Date Issued	Notes
S	521			11/07/1871	"S" in a circle. For carriage hardware.
	45,334		04/27/1905	08/15/1905	"S" in a circle. For drop-forged irons for vehicles. Serial 3,299. Published 06/20/1905. Renewed 08/15/1925.
SIX-SIXTY	162,894	04/24/1922	05/22/1922	12/26/1922	For screwdrivers. Serial 164,277. Published 09/26/1922.
4	182,060	10/01/1922	07/17/1923	04/01/1924	For screwdrivers. "4" in a black dot? Serial 183,345. Published 01/15/1924.

Tool Identification

Tools made by H.D. Smith were typically marked with the full company name.

Some production may be marked with the company's S-Circle trademark as a forge-mark.

S-Circle Logo

Fig. 6. S-Circle Logo.

Fig. 6 shows the S-Circle logo forged into a H.D. Smith 660-6 Screwdriver shown in a later figure.

References and Resources

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

Catalog Resources

Currently we don't have any catalogs for H.D. Smith, but the company's 1893 Catalogue is available via Google Books.

Industrial Distributors

Tools from H.D. Smith were widely available from industrial distributors.

Monnier Auto Supply 1909. The 1909 catalog from the Monnier Auto Supply Company of Detroit lists "Perfect Handle" auto hammers, machinists' screwdrivers, and regular screwdrivers on page 67.
Biddle Hardware 1910. The 1910 catalog from the Biddle Hardware Company of Philadelphia lists "Perfect Handle" hammers on page 20, "Perfect Handle" screwdrivers with blades from 2 to 12 inches on page 148, and "Perfect Handle" draw knives on page 154.
Chandler & Farquhar 1910. The 1910 catalog from the Chandler & Farquhar Company of Boston lists "Perfect Handle" screwdivers on page 196.
Chanslor & Lyon 1910. The 1910 catalog from the Chanslor & Lyon Motor Supply Company, a West Coast dealer, lists "Perfect Handle" screwdrivers in blade lengths 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 inches on page 173, and machinist screwdrivers in lengths 9.5 and 10.5 inches on page 173. Also listed are "Perfect Handle" hammers on page 170.
H. Channon 1916. The 1916 catalog No. 80 from the H. Channon Company lists "Perfect Handle" monkey wrenches in sizes 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, and 21 inches on page 185, No. 642 straight handle adjustable wrenches in sizes 6, 8, and 10 inches on page 186, pipe wrenches in sizes 8, 10, 14, 18, and 24 inches on page 188, draw knives in sizes 8, 10, and 12 inches on page 206, screwdrivers in blade lengths from 3 to 12 inches on page 224, and machinist's screwdrivers in sizes 9.5 and 10.5 inches on page 224.

Also listed are "SharpenEzy" cold chisels on page 227, "Gittatit" offset pliers on page 230, and enchased joint pliers on page 232.
Cray Brothers 1916. The 1916 catalog from Cray Brothers of Cleveland lists "Perfect Handle" monkey wrenches on page 51, No. 641 adjustable "S" wrenches on page 52, No. 642 straight handle adjustable wrenches on page 52, and Nos. 609, 610, and 611 screwdrivers on page 58.
J.M. Waterston 1916. The 1916 catalog No. 22 from J.M. Waterston, a tool distributor based in Detroit, lists "Perfect Handle" No. 650 valve spring lifters on page 167, No. 641 adjustable "S" wrenches on page 173, monkey wrenches in sizes 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, and 21 inches on page 175, pipe wrenches in sizes 6, 8, 10, 14, and 18 inches on page 177, and Nos. 609, 610, 611, 612, and 613 screwdrivers on pages 202-204.
Buhl Sons Company 1918. The 1918 catalog from the Buhl Sons Company of Detroit lists "Perfect Handle" pipe wrenches in sizes 8, 10, 14, 18, and 24 inches on page 257, monkey wrenches in sizes 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, and 21 inches on page 258, regular screwdrivers in sizes from 2 to 12 inches on page 352, and machinists' screwdrivers in sizes 9.5 or 10.5 inches on page 352.
General Sales 1918. The 1918 catalog No. 18 from the General Sales Company of Detroit lists "Perfect Handle" monkey wrenches on page 178, screwdrivers on page 181, and auto hammers on page 187.
Chandler & Farquhar 1919. The 1919 catalog from the Chandler & Farquhar Company, an industrial distributor in Boston, lists "Perfect Handle" tools on pages 151 and 575. The listings include No. 615 monkey wrenches, No. 641 machinists' "S" wrenches, No. 642 machinists' straight wrenches, and No. 643 pipe wrenches on page 151, with regular screwdrivers and machinists' screwdrivers on page 575.
Pittsburgh Auto Equipment 1920. The 1920 catalog No. 7 from the Pittsburgh Auto Equipment Company, a wholesale distributor, lists "Perfect Handle" monkey wrenches on page 221, and "Perfect Handle" screwdrivers on page 246.
Tool Specialty Company 1920. The 1920 catalog No. 4 from the Tool Specialty Company of Kansas City, Missouri lists "Perfect Handle" wrenches and a hammer on page 55. Other listings include a "Perfect Handle" valve lifter on page 78, a lever-type valve lifter from H.D. Smith on page 78, "Sharpen Ezy" chisels on page 104, "Perfect Handle" screwdrivers in lengths from 2 to 12 inches on page 104, machinists' screwdrivers on page 104, and "Git-at-it" offset pliers on page 104.
Ducommun "G" 1926. The 1926 catalog "G" from the Ducommun Corporation lists "Perfect Handle" No. 660 screwdrivers on page 329, in blade lengths from 3 to 12 inches. The same page also lists "Perfect Handle" No. 610 machinists' screwdrivers in lengths 9.5 and 10.5 inches.

Selected Tools

The "Perfect Handle" line of tools were probably H.D. Smith's best known products. Beginning with a monkey wrench around 1901, the line expanded to include several types of wrenches, screwdrivers, a hammer, a draw knife, and even a valve lifter!

The handle design for the "Perfect Handle" tools is described in design patents D33,468, issued to A. Shepard on October 30, 1900, and D34,136, issued to W.S. Ward on February 26, 1901.

Particular tools in the "Perfect Handle" line might bear other patents describing the function and construction of the tool.

Fig. 7. 1920 Catalog Listing of H.D. Smith "Perfect Handle" Tools.

Fig. 7 shows a catalog listing of "Perfect Handle" tools, as published on page 55 of the 1920 catalog No. 4 from the Tool Specialty Company of Kansas City, Missouri.

H.D. Smith [No. 615] "Perfect Handle" 8 Inch Monkey Wrench

Fig. 8. H.D. Smith "Perfect Handle" 8 Inch Monkey Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. Early 1900s to 1920s.

Fig. 8 shows an H.D. Smith 8 inch monkey wrench, stamped on the shank with "The H.D. Smith & Co." and "Perfect Handle" in circular arcs, with patent dates and "Made in U.S.A." in the center. (The markings are partially obscured by the moving jaw.)

The overall length is 8.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The patent dates are marked "Pat'd Oct. 30-1900 Jan. 15-1901 Feb. 26-1901", with the first date corresponding to design patent #D33,468, issued to Amos Shepard on October 30, 1900. This patent shows a "Perfect Handle" design for the body and handle of a wrench very similar to the present item.

The second date corresponds to patent #666,029, issued to Amos Shepard on January 15, 1901. The patent describes the construction of the monkey wrench.

The third date corresponds to design patent #D34,136, issued to W.S. Ward on February 26, 1901. This patent is a refinement of the "Perfect Handle" design for a monkey wrench handle.

H.D. Smith [No. 643] "Perfect Handle" Stillson-Pattern 10 Inch Pipe Wrench

[H.D. Smith Perfect Handle 10 Inch Pipe Wrench]

Fig. 9. H.D. Smith "Perfect Handle" Stillson-Pattern 10 Inch Pipe Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1914 to 1920s.

Fig. 9 shows an H.D. Smith Stillson-pattern 10 inch pipe wrench, marked with "Perfect Handle" and "Patented" forged into an oval panel on the shank, with "The H.D. Smith & Co." and "10 Made in U.S.A." forged into the back side panel.

The overall length is 9.9 inches closed and 11.5 inches fully extended. The finish is plain steel.

The patent notice refers to patent #1,122,335, filed by W.S. Thomson in 1913 and issued in 1914. The patent illustration shows a pipe wrench closely resembling the present example.

H.D. Smith [No. 643] "Perfect Handle" Stillson-Pattern 14 Inch Pipe Wrench

[H.D. Smith Perfect Handle 14 Inch Pipe Wrench]

Fig. 10. H.D. Smith "Perfect Handle" Stillson-Pattern 14 Inch Pipe Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1914 to 1920s.

Fig. 10 shows an H.D. Smith Stillson-pattern 14 inch pipe wrench, marked with "Perfect Handle" and "Patented" forged into the shank, with "The H.D. Smith & Co." and "14 In." forged into the back side.

The overall length is 13.4 inches closed and 15.4 inches fully opened. The finish is plain steel.

The patent notice refers to patent #1,122,335, filed by W.S. Thomson in 1913 and issued in 1914. The patent illustration shows a pipe wrench closely resembling the present example.

H.D. Smith [No. 650] "Perfect Handle" Valve Spring Lifter

Fig. 11. H.D. Smith "Perfect Handle" Valve Spring Lifter, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1910s to 1920s.

Fig. 11 shows an H.D. Smith valve spring lifter of a unique design, employing a hook and chain to provide the fulcrum for the lever. The lever is marked with "The H.D. Smith Co." and "Made in Plantsville, Conn, U.S.A." forged into the shank, with "Perfect Handle" and "Patented" forged into the back side. The forged hook is also marked, with the same company information on one side and "Drop Forged" on the back side (not shown).

The finish is plain steel.

The overall length of the lever is 12.7 inches, and the maximum length of the chain and hook is 17.5 inches.

Although not marked with a model number, this tool is listed as No. 650 in a 1916 J.M. Waterston tool catalog.

The operation of this tool may not be immediately apparent due to its unusual design. The point of the large hook is first placed in a suitable depression on the top of the engine block, with the chain hanging over the side near the valves. With the small "S" hook removed from the end, the chain is then passed through one of the holes in the lever arm, and the "S" hook is inserted below to set the fulcrum at a suitable point. The valve spring can then be lifted using the lever handle.

H.D. Smith 660-6 "Perfect Handle" Screwdriver

Fig. 12. H.D. Smith 660-6 "Perfect Handle" Screwdriver, with Insets for Back Side and Side View, ca. 1921-1922.

Fig. 12 shows an H.D. Smith 660-6 flat-tipped screwdriver, marked with the S-Circle logo forged into one side, with "Improved" and "660" plus "Pat Ap'l'd For" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 11.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The patent applied notice refers to patent 1,410,521, filed by W.S. Thomson in 1921 and issued on March 21, 1922.

H.D. Smith Offset Combination Pliers

Fig. 13. H.D. Smith Offset Combination Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1917-1930.

Fig. 13 shows a pair of H.D. Smith offset combination pliers, stamped on the back side with "The H.D. Smith & Co." and "Plantsville, Conn.", plus two patent dates and a small "Made in U.S.A." at the bottom.

The overall length is 6.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The first patent date "Pat. June 9, 1914" refers to design patent #D45,919, filed by W.S. Thomson in 1913. The second date "Pat. Feb. 20, 1917" refers to patent #1,216,886, also filed by W.S. Thomson in 1913, but not issued until 1917.