Herbrand, The Vanguard of Van-Chrome

Logo from an Early Herbrand Wrench.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Company History

The Herbrand Company was founded in 1881 in Fremont, Ohio by Jacob Herbrand, Charles Thompson, and J.B. Van Doren. The company's early products included drop forgings for vehicle springs and suspension systems, and some of the company's products were based on patents by Jacob Herbrand. At least one Herbrand patent is known to have been assigned to the Herbrand Company. Charles Thompson was a native of Fremont who had previously worked in the hardware business, and he was later joined at Herbrand by his son Creighton Fuller (CF) Thompson.

Fig. 1. 1884 Ad for Buggies with Herbrand Running Gear.

Fig. 1 shows an early ad for buggies featuring Herbrand running gear, as found on page 7 of the August 13, 1884 edition of the Weekly Marysville Tribune.

The "Fifth Wheel" mentioned in the text was an invention by Jacob Herbrand used for steering the front wheels of a vehicle. (Initially "vehicle" meant a horse-drawn buggy!)

Fig. 2. 1909 History of The Herbrand Company. [External Link]

Further information on the founding of the company can be seen in Fig. 2, as published in a 1909 Twentieth Century History of Sandusky County, Ohio. This source notes that by 1909 (the publication date) Herbrand's products included carriage hardware, bicycle and automobile wrenches, and safety razors.

By that time Charles Thompson had become president and general manager of the company. Further information on Charles Thompson can be found in the book A History of Northwest Ohio.

By the early 1900s Creighton Fuller Thompson had become a vice-president at Herbrand.

Development as a Tool Company

As the automobile gained popularity in the early 20th century, Herbrand expanded production of drop-forged tools for automobile tool kits. Tools produced at this time would likely have been marked with the Herbrand H-Diamond logo.

Fig. 3. 1918 Ad for Herbrand Tool Kit. [External Link]

Fig. 3 shows an ad for the Herbrand "Standard" tool kit in a canvas roll, as published on page 539 of the January, 1918 edition of the Chilton Automobile Directory.

Note the use of the H-Diamond logo below the Herbrand name.

The "Big Nine"

By mid 1918 the American involvement in World War I was increasing rapidly, and the War Industries Board was seeking changes in certain industries, in order to conserve manpower and materials in the event of a long conflict.

In late summer Herbrand was one of nine major tool companies to sign a agreement for the changes requested by the Board. The war ended shortly after that, so the changes had only a short-term effect, but the statement is significant in showing the structure of the tool industry at that time.

Fig. 3B. 1918 Notice of War Conservation Changes.

The scan in Fig. 3B shows the "Conservation!" statement issued by the group, as published on page 367 of the September, 1918 issue of Machinery. The text notes that the nine companies signing the agreement accounted for almost the entire production of the drop-forged wrench industry.

Most of the companies on the list were the known and expected heavyweights of the industry, but the presence of Lakeside Forge and Page-Storms Drop Forging was a surprise to us. (We rarely see examples of tools from these two companies.)

Catalog No. 35

Herbrand catalog No. 35 from late 1918 provides a snapshot of the company's products in the era before alloy steel. All of their products were forged from carbon steel, and more than half of the catalog pages are devoted to open-end wrenches in various styles. In addition, there are listings for bicycle wrenches, auto wrenches, a Crescent-style adjustable wrench in sizes from 4 to 18 inches, pliers, hammers, and forged all-steel screwdrivers.

At the back of the catalog there are eleven pages of wrench sets and automobile tool kits, and the last few pages show examples of custom forgings. Every page of the catalog has the H-Diamond logo at the bottom.

Although there are no alloy steel products listed, a page describing the company's production facilities does note the ability to properly harden and temper alloy steel. This suggests that some customers were ordering forgings of alloy steel.

In 1922 Creighton Fuller Thompson became the president of Herbrand after the death of Charles Thompson.

Early Use of Alloy Steel

In its 1929 filing for the "Van-Chrome" trademark, Herbrand claimed a first use date going back to 1919, a date that would place Herbrand among the earliest companies to use alloy steel for mechanics' tools. However, we have not been able to find any advertisements or catalogs to verify Herbrand's use of chrome-vanadium steel (or any alloy) at this early date, and we are now inclined to dismiss the 1919 claim as advertising hyperbole. (If any readers have run across information on Herbrand's early alloy usage, please let us know!)

Although the 1919 date is dubious, it is clear that Herbrand was producing alloy-steel tappet wrenches at a relatively early date.

Fig. 4. 1924 Ad for Herbrand Van Chrome Tappet Wrenches.

The scan in Fig. 4 shows an advertisement for Herbrand Van Chrome tappet wrenches, as published on page 66 of the June 22, 1924 edition of the Dayton Daily News. This is very early reference to the "Van Chrome" trademark, although since then we've found an earlier advertisement from November of 1923.

Herbrand's tappet wrenches were offered in an H-1 to H-4 series with "Vanadium Motor Tappet" forged into the shank and were likely the company's first alloy steel tools. Herbrand tappet wrenches were listed in a 1924 Beckley-Ralston catalog, and may have been available earlier in the 1920s as well.

Expansion During the 1930s

During the 1920s and early 1930s Herbrand expanded their line of tools and became a supplier to high-volume retailers such as Western Auto Supply and Montgomery Ward. Western Auto catalogs from the early 1930s offered Herbrand tools and mentioned their brand names "Van-Chrome", "Multihex", and "Obstructo".

By the mid 1930s Herbrand had broadened their tool line to include a full range of automotive service tools, including sockets and drive tools, a wide variety of wrenches, pliers, gear pullers, and a large number of specialty tools. This period seems to mark a turn away from the high-volume contract manufacturing of its earlier history, and a focus on the higher end professional market.

Herbrand continued as a full-service independent tool company through the 1940s and 1950s. In the mid to late 1950s Herbrand established a economy line of tools called "Vi-Chrome".

Later Operations

By the 1960s the increasing competition in the tool industry had made it difficult to remain independent, and in 1961 Herbrand was acquired by the Kelsey-Hayes Corporation, an industrial manufacturer. Kelsey-Hayes had previously acquired Utica Tools in 1956, and Herbrand became part of their Utica Tools Division. The parent company built a huge new factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina for the combined Utica-Herbrand manufacturing operations, and by 1962 Utica and Herbrand had relocated to Spartanburg. A further acquisition in 1964 added Bonney Forge and Tool to the Utica Tools Division.

In 1967 the Utica Tools Division was acquired from Kelsey-Hayes by the Triangle Corporation. Initially all three tool brands remained in production under Triangle, and tools made during this era were marked with a small triangle symbol. Triangle was eventually acquired by Cooper Industries, and at some point the Herbrand line was discontinued.

Patents

Trademarks

In 1909 the Herbrand Company filed a trademark application for an early form of the Herbrand script logo using a solid (filled-in) underline stroke. No first use date is noted on the document, and the applicable products are given as "Razors". The trademark was issued as #75,371 on September 28, 1909.

In 1917 the Herbrand Company filed a trademark application for the H-Diamond logo, a design with in "H" inside a diamond shape. The applicable products were listed as wrenches, screwdrivers, and hammers, and the first use date was given as July 1, 1908. The trademark was issued as #130,511 on April 27, 1920.

In 1922 Herbrand filed an application for another variant of the Herbrand script logo, with the illustration showing an open underline stroke very similar to the marking used on tools. The first use date was given as November 1, 1921, and the applicable products were listed as wrenches (all kinds), pliers, hammers, screwdrivers, and chisels. The trademark was issued as #168,970 on May 29, 1923.

In 1929 the Herbrand Company filed an application for the "Van Chrome" trademark, with the products described as "wrenches of all kinds" and with the first use date listed as 1919. The trademark was issued as #266,707 on January 28, 1930. This trademark was renewed by the Bingham-Herbrand Corporation in 1950.

In 1947 and 1948 the Bingham-Herbrand Corporation filed a flurry of trademark applications with first-use dates occurring 15 or more years earlier. These included the new trademarks "Obstructo", "Multihex", "Multiflex", and "Multitype", along with variants of existing trademarks. Of these late trademarks, the "Multiflex" application is known to have an incorrect first-use date, as this brand appeared in an early catalog along with "Obstructo" and "Multihex".

The known Herbrand trademarks are summarized in the table below.

Tool Identification

Herbrand tools are generally easy to identify, except possibly for some tools made as a contract manufacturer. Most Herbrand tools will be marked with the company name, either in block letters or in script form as a logo, in the latter case with "Fremont, O U.SA." underneath.

Tools made for the later Vi-Chrome economy line will be marked "Vi-Chrome USA".

H-Diamond Logo

Fig. 4B. H-Diamond Logo.

Earlier Herbrand tools were frequently marked with the H-Diamond logo, and the company name may or may not have been marked as well.

The scan in Fig. 4B shows the Herbrand H-Diamond logo as it was presented in the application for trademark #130,511.

This logo was typically forged into the shank of a tool.

CFT-Oval Logo

Fig. 4C. "CFT" Logo from Gas Pliers.

During the 1910s to mid 1920s Herbrand produced tools marked with a distinctive "CFT" logo, with interlocking "CFT" letters in an oval outline. The letters are the initials of Creighton Fuller Thompson, the son of the founder of Herbrand.

Fig. 4C shows the marking as it appeared on a pair of gas pliers.

More information of this marking can be found in the section on "CFT" Tools.

The Puzzle of the Missing Trademark

Herbrand tools made with chrome-vanadium steel were commonly marked with the well-known "Van-Chrome" trademark, although a substantial number of presumably alloy tools can be found without the trademark. For a while this omission seemed a puzzling anomaly, since most tool companies are very consistent in the use of their trademarks. Eventually though we discovered a likely explanation by examination of certain other markings on their tools.

Herbrand tools will occasionally be found with a four-digit number forged into the shank, with "8742" appearing to be the most common combination, but other numbers such as "8640" or "8740" also noted. A search of various sources found that these numbers appear in tables of AISI (or SAE) alloy steel types, and a check of the specific properties of AISI 8742 steel showed it to be suitable for hand tools. Thus these forged-in numbers are almost certainly an indication of the specific steel used to make the tools. And at least on the examples found so far, the forged-in numbers appear on tools without a "Van-Chrome" marking.

So how does this relate to the missing "Van-Chrome" mark? A quick check of Machinery's Handbook for the composition of AISI 8742 steel showed a medium-carbon triple alloy steel with nickel, chromium, and molybdenum, but no vanadium. (The 8640 and 8740 steels are very similar.) Thus when Herbrand substituted nickel-chrome-moly steel for their standard chrome-vanadium alloy, they apparently felt obliged to omit the trademark that promised vanadium. (One can appreciate the value of trademarks such as Armstrong's Armaloy or Barcalo's Barcaloy that suggest alloyed goodness without a specific composition.)

Manufacturing Dates

Herbrand tools were generally not marked with any type of date code, so the estimation of manufacturing dates must be based on other factors. In this section we'll try to develop guidelines for estimating the manufacturing dates.

The following list of observations may be helpful in determining the manufacturing date for some tools.

• H-Diamond Trademark. The trademark document gives the first use date for the H-Diamond logo as 1908. This mark is frequently found on older tools and remained in use into the 1920s or later.

• Herbrand Script Trademark. The Herbrand script logo with an open underline was registered as a trademark and was first used on tools in 1921.

• "Vanadium Motor Tappet" Marking. Early tappet wrenches have been found marked with "Vanadium Motor Tappet" forged into a panel. These likely date from the early 1920s or possibly earlier, and may be the source of the 1919 use date claimed in the Van-Chrome trademark.

• Van-Chrome Trademark. The Van-Chrome trademark was filed in 1929 with a first use claimed in 1919. However, we have been unable to find public documents supporting this early use date. The presence of a stamped or forged-in "Van-Chrome" probably indicates production in 1929 or later.

• Herbrand Script Logo with "Since 1881". Herbrand tools were frequently marked with the fancy script logo, with "Fremont, O." appearing in the underline and "U.S.A." below and to the right. A small number of tools have been found with the "U.S.A." marking replaced by "Since 1881", and the style of these tools places them in the early 1930s. We now believe that the change in markings may have been done just in 1931, in order to mark the 50th anniversary of the company's founding.

• End Broaching for S-15 Flex Handles. The handle of the S-15 flex handle was broached for 1/2-drive from the 1930s to mid 1940s to allow use as an extension, but the end broaching had been discontinued by 1948.

• Cadmium Plating. Nickel or chrome plating was standard for most Herbrand tools from the mid 1930s onward, but cadmium finishes were substituted during the wartime years 1942-1945.

• Fremont Marking. Herbrand was founded in Fremont, Ohio in 1881 and remained there until 1962.

• Triangle Marking. Late production under Triangle Tool management (1967 and later) was sometimes marked with a small triangle symbol.

Socket Design

Herbrand produced sockets in three different design styles, and the production dates for these can be estimated based on catalog illustrations. The earliest style is identified by a band of parallel knurled lines around the center and was in production from the early 1930s until around 1943.

The second style used a cross-hatched knurled band instead of the simple parallel knurling of the previous style. This style was produced from about 1944 until sometime in the early to mid 1950s.

The third style dropped the knurled band in favor of a simple polished finish, and this remained in production from the mid 1950s onward.

For all three of the design styles, the socket format and construction remained similar. Herbrand preferred sockets with turned-down bases for the larger sizes and a reduced upper diameter for the smaller sizes.

References and Resources

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

Herbrand is mentioned briefly in American Wrench Makers 1830-1930, 2nd Edition by Kenneth L. Cope (Astragal Press, 2002), cited as AWM2e in the text.

Information on particular steels was obtained from Machinery's Handbook, Revised 21st Edition, published in 1979 (and many other editions) by Industrial Press Inc. (New York). This tome of 2,400+ pages is a standard reference for machinists, mechanical engineers, and anyone needing information on machine shop practice.

Catalog Coverage

We are fortunate to have a number of Herbrand catalogs covering the 1930s decade, a time when the company's tool business was in transition. However, a number of these catalogs were published without copyright dates, making it somewhat difficult to estimate the publication date. In addition, Herbrand catalog numbers don't bear any obvious association with calendar years, suggesting that the company wasn't publishing on a strict calendar year basis anyway.

Fig. 5. 1934 Discount Sheet for Herbrand Catalog 47-M.

Since knowing the publication date for a catalog is very helpful in interpreting the contents, we spent some time going through the catalogs with a magnifying glass (literally!) for looking for clues.

Sometimes these were obvious, as in the case of the scan in Fig. 5, a discount sheet found in catalog 47-M and dated June 4, 1934. This unambiguously establishes that catalog 47-M applies to 1934, regardless of the exact publication date.

For cases without obvious dates, we looked for things like statements about the company's history (Herbrand was founded in 1881), trademarks mentioned, and even specialty tools applying to specific model years of automobiles.

In this latter category, we found that Chevrolet main bearing wrenches changed several times over the course of a few years, resulting in four different tools to cover model years 1929-1935.

The various clues gathered from the catalogs have been added to the "Notes" column of the table below.

To demonstrate how these clues can be analyzed to provide an estimated publication date, let's consider the case of catalog 44-M.

1. Since Herbrand was founded in 1881, the statement "Over 50 years progress..." would imply 1931 or later.

2. Claiming "Multi Grip" as a trademark implies a date of July 21, 1931 or later.

3. The catalog listings include both "Multihex" and "Obstructo", later filed as trademarks with a first use date of August 1, 1931. This first use date could reasonably be claimed if the catalog illustrations were being prepared on August 1, 1931.

4. The No. 1935 Chevrolet main bearing wrench was noted as applying to the 1929-1932 model years. In the auto industry a "model year" starts in late summer/early fall of the prior year, so in order to state that this tool applied to the 1932 model year, Herbrand would have needed to know the main bearing specs by late summer of 1931.

The above considerations all point to a printing date (for catalog 44-M) in late summer of 1931. As Herbrand's tool business became more focused on automotive service tools, it would have been natural to synchronize its catalogs with the auto makers' model year schedule. Herbrand's tool designers would have needed to work with automobile company engineers in advance, to ensure that any needed specialty tools would be available when the new autos went on sale. And once a new specialty tool had been developed, there would have been an incentive to offer it at the earliest possible date.

Similar arguments can be made for the other catalogs in the table below, leading us to conclude that Herbrand followed the auto industry "model year" schedule for its catalogs, at least during this formative period in the early to mid 1930s. The catalogs were generally printed in late summer or early fall and were intended to apply through the following summer. Usually the distinction between the "model year" and calendar year for catalogs won't really matter, but in a few cases we may need to refer to the slightly earlier printing date.

Catalog 48-M may be a special case, as the clues and sequential number would be consistent with model year 1935, but the "9-1-35" copyright date added by the printing company would suggest model year 1936. One reasonable explanation would be that the product line was relatively unchanged, so that the 1935 catalog was simply reprinted for the 1936 model year. (And our copy happens to be from the second printing.)

Another special case likely occurred for our copy of catalog 50-M, for which a second printing in May of 1937 was needed to update the bound-in price list. This pattern seems to continue after 1937, as new catalog editions become less frequent and catalogs are reprinted to update prices as needed.

The interpretation of the Herbrand catalogs as covering a "model year" schedule raises an interesting possibility for the nominal 1933 catalog 46-M. With a likely printing date in late summer of 1932, it's possible that the undated insert announcing "Multitype" combination wrenches could have come in late 1932 or early 1933, making Herbrand the first-mover in combination wrenches.

There is some evidence against this, as the later trademark filing for "Multitype" gave November 1, 1933 as the first use date. But this same date in the "Multiflex" filing is known to be incorrect, and first use claims in trademarks filed much later are sometimes inaccurate. (See the Trademark Table above for more information.)

At this point we don't enough information to settle the argument, but for those who delight in overturning the "conventional wisdom", it would be an interesting area to explore.

Industrial Distributors

Herbrand product information was also found in catalogs from various industrial and automotive tools distributors.

• C.W. Marwedel 1922. The 1922 catalog No. 11 from the C.W. Marwedel Company, an industrial supplier, lists a Herbrand "Vest Pocket Adjustable Wrench" on page 323. The wrench resembles a Billings Model A bicycle wrench, and was priced at just $0.50, compared with $1.65 for the Billings wrench. (The catalog may have more listings for Herbrand, but doesn't include a manufacturer's index.)

• Beckley-Ralston 1924. A 1924 Beckley-Ralston catalog shows Herbrand tappet wrenches, not mentioned by name but identified by the model numbers H-1 through H-4.

• Western Auto Supply 1931-1933. The 1931, 1932, and 1933 Western Auto catalogs list a number of Herbrand products by name, in some cases showing the Herbrand script, and mentioning the Van-Chrome, Multihex, and Obstructo brands. Herbrand remained as a supplier to Western Auto for their ChromeXQuality brand.

• J&R Motor Supply 1932. The 1932 J&R Motor Supply catalog lists Herbrand open-end and "Obstructo" angle-head wrenches on page 73, with the "Van-Chrome" trademark mentioned in the text or visible in the illustration. Tappet wrenches are also listed, but without clear identification of the maker.

• Thorsen Tools 1935-1936. More surprisingly, a 1935-1936 catalog for Thorsen Tools devotes almost half of its pages to listings of Herbrand products, clearly showing the Herbrand script and Van-Chrome logos. (It appears that Thorsen at this time was as much a tool retailer as manufacturer.)

Early Tools

In this section we'll look at examples of Herbrand's early tool production, spanning the period from the early 1900s to the late 1920s. Some examples may be from later periods if the tools were substantially the same as their earlier counterparts.

Open-End Wrenches

23 13/32x1/2 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 6. Herbrand 23 13/32x1/2 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1921-1927.

Fig. 6 shows a Herbrand 23 13/32x1/2 open-end wrench, stamped with the Herbrand logo on the face, with the industry-standard model number "23" forged into the shank on the back side.

The overall length is 4.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The back side faces are stamped "3/16 U.S.S." and "1/4 U.S.S.", references to the older U.S.S. size convention.

The use of the Herbrand script logo indicates production in 1921 or later, and the use of the older U.S.S. size convention suggests production in 1927 or earlier.

25 1/2x19/32 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 7. Herbrand 25 1/2x19/32 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1910s to Early 1920s.

Fig. 7 shows a Herbrand 25 1/2x19/32 open-end wrench, marked with the the H-Diamond logo forged into the shank, with the model number forged into the back side.

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

[No. 27] 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 8. Herbrand [No. 27] 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1910s to Early 1920s.

Fig. 8 shows an early Herbrand [No. 27] 19/32x11/16 open-end wrench, marked with the the H-Diamond logo forged into the shank. The faces are stamped "5/16" and "3/8", references to the older U.S.S. size convention for the 19/32 and 11/16 openings, respectively.

The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

733 7/8x1 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 9. Herbrand 733 7/8x1 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1921 to Late 1920s.

Fig. 9 shows a Herbrand 733 7/8x1 open-end wrench, stamped "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo on the face, and with the the H-Diamond logo forged into the shank.

The overall length is 8.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The use of the Herbrand script logo indicates production in 1921 or later, and the forged-in H-Diamond marking suggests production in the 1920s or earlier.

30 11/16x7/8 Open-End Wrenches

Fig. 10. Herbrand 30 11/16x7/8 Open-End Wrench, with Insets for Back Side Detail, ca. 1921-1927.

Fig. 10 shows an earlier Herbrand model 30 11/16x7/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo on the face, and with the H-Diamond logo forged into the shank.

The overall length is 7.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The insets show the back side face markings "3/8 U.S.S." and "1/2 U.S.S.", references to the older U.S.S. size convention.

The use of the Herbrand script logo indicates production in 1921 or later, and the use of the older U.S.S. size convention suggests production in 1927 or earlier.

Fig. 11. Herbrand 30 11/16x7/8 Open-End Wrench, ca. Late 1920s to 1940s.

Fig. 11 shows a later Herbrand model 30 11/16x7/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo on the face.

The use of the Herbrand script logo indicates production in 1921 or later. The absence of the forged-in H-Diamond logo suggests production in the late 1920s or later.

37 1-1/4x1-7/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 12. Herbrand 37 1-1/4x1-7/16 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1921 to Late 1920s.

Fig. 12 shows a Herbrand model 37 1-1/4x1-7/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo on the face. The shank is marked with the model number forged into the front, with the H-Diamond logo forged into the back side (nto shown).

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

The use of the Herbrand script logo indicates production in 1921 or later, and the forged-in H-Diamond marking suggests production in the 1920s or earlier.

13/16x7/8 S-Shaped Open-End Wrench

Fig. 13. Herbrand Early 13/16x7/8 S-Shaped Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1910s to Early 1920s.

Fig. 13 shows an early Herbrand 13/16x7/8 S-shaped open-end wrench, marked with the H-Diamond logo forged into the shank.

The back side has a number forged into the shank, possibly "834" but difficult to read.

The overall length is 7.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The use of the forged-in H-Diamond marking without the Herbrand script logo suggests production before 1921.

681A 3/4x7/8 S-Shaped Open-End Wrench

Fig. 14. Herbrand 681A 3/4x7/8 S-Shaped Open-End Wrench, ca. 1928+.

Fig. 14 shows a later Herbrand 681A 3/4x7/8 S-shaped open-end wrench, stamped "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo on the face.

The overall length is 9.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel with traces of black paint.

The use of the Herbrand script logo indicates production in 1921 or later, and the use of fractional sizes suggests production in 1928 or later.

Specialty Tools

8323 Early 1 Inch Spark Plug Wrench

Fig. 15. Herbrand 8323 Early 1 Inch Spark Plug Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1910s to Early 1920s.

Fig. 15 shows an early Herbrand 8323 1 inch offset open-end wrench, marked with the model number and the H-Diamond logo forged into the shank.

The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Currently we don't have a catalog reference for this model, but it is believed to have been a spark plug wrench.

The use of the forged-in H-Diamond marking without the Herbrand script logo suggests production before 1921.

Early 13689 Spark Plug and Drain Plug Wrench

Fig. 16. Herbrand Early 13689 Spark Plug and Drain Plug Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1910s to Early 1920s.

Fig. 16 shows an early Herbrand 13869 spark plug and drain plug wrench, featuring a 1-1/8 offset opening on one end and a 1/2 square stud on the other end. The wrench is marked with "Spark Plug and Oil Reservoir Drain Plug Wrench" forged into the shank, with the "13689" model number and the H-Diamond logo forged into the back side.

The overall length is 11.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The use of the forged-in H-Diamond marking without the Herbrand script logo suggests production before 1921.

Early 993 9/16x1 Inch Spark Plug Wrench

Fig. 17. Herbrand 993 9/16x1 Inch Spark Plug Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1910s to Early 1920s.

Fig. 17 shows an early spark plug wrench marked with a previously unknown "Herbrand Fremont" logo, a Herbrand 993 wrench with a 9/16 open end and an offset 1 inch hex box opening. The forged-in markings on the shank have the text "Herbrand Co." and "Fremont, O." arranged in an oval, with the H-Diamond logo in the center.

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

The use of the forged-in H-Diamond marking without the Herbrand script logo suggests production before 1921.

Did any of our sharp-eyed readers notice anything odd in the markings on this wrench? The "N" letters in Herbrand and Fremont are inverted, as apparently the incised markings in the forging die were done by hand and the mistake went unnoticed.

Early 9/16x15/16 Open-Box Spark Plug Wrench

Fig. 18. Herbrand 9/16x15/16 Open-Box Spark Plug Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1910s to Early 1920s.

Fig. 18 shows another early Herbrand 9/16x15/16 open-box wrench, marked with an early form of the "Herbrand Fremont" logo. The markings are forged into the shank and include the text "Herbrand Co." and "Fremont, O." arranged in an oval around the H-Diamond logo.

The overall length is 8.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The use of the forged-in H-Diamond marking without the Herbrand script logo suggests production before 1921.

Although this wrench is not marked with a model number, an early Herbrand catalog page shows a very similar tool as a No. 993A spark plug wrench. The No. 993A wrench has the same distinctive forged shape and length, but with the open end sized at 11/16 instead of 9/16. The catalog notes that the wrench was "... designed for convenient service about automobiles, motor boats, gas engines and [...] for flush or depressed plugs."

2334 5/8x15/16 Spark Plug and Head Bolt Wrench

Fig. 19. Herbrand 2334 Spark Plug and Head Bolt Wrench, with Insets for Back Side Detail, ca. 1921-1930.

Fig. 19 shows a Herbrand 2334 spark plug and head bolt wrench for Model T service. The wrench is stamped with the Herbrand script logo on the face, and with the model number forged into the back of the shank.

The overall length is 10.1 inches, and the finish is black oxide.

2335 5/8x15/16 Spark Plug and Head Bolt Wrench

Fig. 21. Herbrand 2335 Spark Plug and Head Bolt Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Detail, ca. 1921-1930.

Fig. 21 shows a Herbrand 2335 15/16 open-end and 5/8 hexagonal socket wrench, designed for Ford model T spark plug and engine service. The wrench is stamped "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo on the face, with the model number forged into the back side shank.

The overall length is 11.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

2336 5/8x15/16 Spark Plug and Head Bolt Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the Herbrand 2336 wrench, a popular tool for Model T service.

Fig. 22. Herbrand 2336 Spark Plug and Head Bolt Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Construction Detail, ca. 1921-1930.

Fig. 22 shows a Herbrand 2336 15/16 open-end and 5/8 socket wrench, designed for Ford model T spark plug and engine service. The wrench is marked "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo, and a somewhat muddled H-Diamond logo appears at the left of the forged-in model number.

The overall length is 12.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This wrench is listed in an early Herbrand catalog as a "Ford No. 4 Connecting Rod, Cylinder Head and Spark Plug Wrench", and the description goes on to itemize some of the additional applications for this tool. The distinctive bend in the shank was designed for clearance when servicing the notorious fourth connecting rod.

Fig. 23. Herbrand "CFT" 2336 Spark Plug and Head Bolt Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Construction Detail, ca. 1921-1930.

Fig. 23 shows another example similar of the Herbrand 2336 wrench, but marked as contract production with "CFT" in an oval logo (see lower inset). As with the previous example, the wrench is marked with the H-Diamond logo and the model number forged into the shank, shown as a close-up in the middle left inset.

The overall length is 12.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This wrench was important in helping to identify the "CFT" marking as a secondary brand for Herbrand. See the section on CFT Tools for more information and examples.

5Z-209 9/16 Single-Open Wrench

Fig. 24. Herbrand 5Z-209 9/16 Single-Open Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1920-1927.

Fig. 24 shows a Herbrand 5Z-209 9/16 single-open wrench, designed for servicing the Ford Model T connecting rod clamp bolts. The wrench is marked with the model number and H-Diamond logo forged into the shank, and with a faint "EE" code at the right (see inset).

The overall length is 10.5 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The model number on this wrench indicates that it was made as an official Ford service tool. The 5Z-209 wrench was introduced in late 1920 as a successor to the earlier 3Z-647 connecting rod clamp bolt wrench.

5Z-210 11/16 Ford Flywheel Capscrew Wrench

Fig. 25. Herbrand 5Z-210 11/16 Flywheel Capscrew Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1920-1927.

Fig. 25 shows a Herbrand "Ford" 5Z-210 11/16 single-open wrench designed for servicing the flywheel capscrews on the Ford Model T. The wrench is stamped with the Ford script logo and model number, followed by the Herbrand H-Diamond logo.

The overall length is 13.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The Ford script logo and model number on this wrench indicate that it was made as an official Ford service tool. The 5Z-210 wrench was introduced in late 1920 as a successor to the earlier 3Z-601 flywheel capscrew wrench.

19/32 Square Main Bearing Socket Wrench

Fig. 26. Herbrand 19/32 Square Main Bearing Socket Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1921-1930.

Fig. 26 shows an early Herbrand 19/32 square socket wrench, believed to be intended for Model T main bearing service. The wrench is stamped "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo, as shown in the lower right inset.

The overall length is 13.5 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The use of the Herbrand script logo marking indicates production in 1921 or later.

7/8 Brace Socket Wrench

Fig. 27. Herbrand 7/8 Brace Socket Wrench, with Insets for Construction and Marking Detail, ca. 1921-1935.

Fig. 27 shows a Herbrand 7/8 brace socket wrench, intended for demountable rims or other service applications. The socket is stamped with Herbrand script logo and size, as shown in the lower right inset.

The brace has an overall length of 13.3 inches with a throw of 5.0 inches. The finish is plain steel.

The use of the Herbrand script logo marking indicates production in 1921 or later.

901 5/8 Single-Open Construction Wrench

Fig. 28. Herbrand 901 5/8 Single-Open Construction Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 28 shows a Herbrand 901 5/8 single-open wrench with a spud handle, marked with "Herbrand Co." and "Fremont, O." plus the model number forged into the shank. The back side face is stamped with the fractional size (not shown).

The overall length is 7.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel with some remaining black paint.

905-A 13/16 Single-Open Construction Wrench

Fig. 29. Herbrand 905-A 13/16 Single-Open Construction Wrench, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 29 shows a Herbrand 905-A 13/16 single-open wrench with a spud handle, stamped "Herbrand" and "Made in U.S.A." with the model and fractional size on the handle.

The overall length is 13.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel with traces of black paint.

A faint forged-in number "1038" (inverted in the photograph) can be seen on the handle just before the offset. This is a reference to AISI 1038 steel, a medium-carbon steel with some manganese content.

This type of "spud handle" wrench is frequently used for construction jobs such as steel erection, for which the pointed handle is useful for lining up holes.

949 1-1/4 Check-Nut Wrench

The next two figures show similar check-nut wrenches that were recently identified as contract production for the Delta Machinery Company, specifically for their 11 inch "Double Duty Lathe" and the No. 1460 12 inch wood lathe. A 1932 manual for the Double Duty Lathe lists a "949 Arbor Wrench", and a 1939 manual for the No. 1460 lathe clearly shows the 949 wrench in an illustration. A later 1949 parts list shows the DDL124 wrench as being the same as the 949 tool. (Thanks to a diligent reader for sending us this information!)

The No. 1460 operating manual can be found as the No. 1460 Manual [External Link] on the vintagemachinery.org site. The 1939 manual lists a number of replacement parts with a "DDL" prefix, but not the DDL124 tool. This suggests that the initial production used the 949 number, and that later production (by 1949) used the DDL124 number.

It's interesting to note that both tools include the forged-in H-Diamond marking, an early Herbrand trademark. These tools show that this early trademark remained in use for contract production into the 1940s and beyond.

Fig. 30. Herbrand 949 1-1/4 Check-Nut Wrench, ca. Early 1930s to 1940s.

Fig. 30 shows a Herbrand 949 1-1/4 check-nut single-open wrench with the H-Diamond logo on the shank.

The overall length is 10.1 inches.

The use of the 949 model number suggests production from the early 1930s to 1940s.

DDL124 1-1/4 Check-Nut Wrench

Fig. 31. Herbrand DDL124 1-1/4 Check-Nut Wrench, ca. Late 1940s+.

Fig. 31 shows a Herbrand DDL124 1-1/4 check-nut single-open wrench, marked with the Herbrand script logo on the face, and with the H-Diamond logo on the shank.

The overall length is 10.0 inches.

The DDL124 number had superseded the 949 number by 1949, suggesting production from the late 1940s onward.

Pliers and Adjustable Wrenches

Early 5 Inch Combination Pliers

Fig. 32. Herbrand Early 5 Inch Combination Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1921 to Late 1920s.

Fig. 32 shows a pair of Herbrand 5 inch combination pliers with a fixed pivot, stamped "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo, and with "Drop Forged" forged into the underside of the handles.

The overall length is 5.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The handles have a distinctive gripping pattern consisting of three rows of raised diamonds within a depressed panel.

The use of the Herbrand script logo indicates production in 1921 or later.

Early 8 Inch Gas Pliers

Fig. 33. Herbrand Early 8 Inch Gas Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1921 to Late 1920s.

Fig. 33 shows an early pair of Herbrand 8 inch gas pliers, stamped "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo on one handle, with "Drop Forged" forged into the back side.

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

The top inset shows a side view of the pliers. Note the clearly visible marks from the trimming operation, suggesting that these pliers are of relatively early production.

The use of the Herbrand script logo indicates production in 1921 or later.

6 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers

The next two figures show examples of slip-joint combination pliers made by Herbrand.

Fig. 34. Herbrand 6 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers, with Insets for Handle Pattern and Logo.

The overall length is 6.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The lower inset shows the only marking on the tool, the H-Diamond logo stamped on the underside of the handles.

Fig. 35. Herbrand 6 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers, with Insets for Side View, ca. 1921 to Late 1920s.

Fig. 35 shows another pair of Herbrand 6 inch combination pliers, stamped "Fremont, O USA" with the Herbrand script logo.

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

These pliers have a fairly rough finish, with a plainly visible ridge left after the trimming operation, as seen in the upper inset.

The use of the Herbrand script logo indicates production in 1921 or later.

Chain Repair Pliers

Fig. 36. Herbrand Chain Repair Pliers, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1921 to Late 1920s.

Fig. 36 shows a pair of Herbrand chain repair pliers, stamped with "Fremont, O." and the Herbrand script logo.

The overall length is 10.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with extensive pitting due to rust.

These Herbrand pliers are similar to the McKaig-Hatch Chain Repair Pliers shown elsewhere on this site, but have a slightly different jaw design.

The use of the Herbrand script logo indicates production in 1921 or later.

A later example of chain repair pliers can be seen as the Herbrand 161 Chain Repair Pliers.

Auto Wrenches

Auto wrenches were an early style of adjustable wrench and were popular for working on autos, motorcycles, and machinery. These tools were considered to be essential for servicing early autos, and most of the automobile and motorcycle tool kits of the time included an auto wrench.

Fig. 37. 1918 Catalog Illustration for Herbrand Auto Wrenches.

The scan in Fig. 37 shows an illustration of auto wrenches on page 15 of the 1918 Herbrand catalog 35. The 1918 catalog offered auto wrenches in sizes 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 18, and 24 inches.

The wrenches were available in several finishes. For example, the 7 inch (model 110) wrench was available in a black, mottled, black nickel, or nickel plated finish. The larger sizes typically had fewer finish options.

Spare parts were available if repairs were needed. The wrenches were composed of four parts: the beam, jaw, burr, and screw, and each part could be purchased separately.

The next several figures show examples of Herbrand auto wrenches.

7 Inch Auto Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of Herbrand's 7 inch auto wrench.

Fig. 38. Herbrand 7 Inch Auto Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1921-1930.

Fig. 38 shows an earlier Herbrand 7 inch auto wrench, stamped with the Herbrand script logo and "Fremont, O. U.S.A." on the shank, with the H-Diamond logo forged into the back side.

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.8 inches. The original finish was nickel plating, but much has been lost due to rust.

The inset shows a closeup of the H-Diamond logo on the back side shank, although pitted from the extensive rust. (The wrench was treated to an electrolytic de-rusting bath prior to display.)

Fig. 39. Herbrand 7 Inch Auto Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 39 shows a Herbrand 7 inch auto wrench, marked with the Herbrand script logo and "Fremont, O. U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.8 inches. The finish is plain steel.

9 Inch Auto Wrenches

Fig. 40. Herbrand 9 Inch Auto Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1910s to 1920.

Fig. 40 shows an early Herbrand 9 inch auto wrench, marked with "Herbrand" and "Fremont, O." forged into the handle, with the H-Diamond logo forged into the back side.

The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the maximum opening is 2.1 inches.

The finish is plain steel, with some pitting due to rust.

Fig. 41. Herbrand 9 Inch Auto Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 41 shows a later Herbrand 9 inch auto wrench, stamped with the Herbrand script logo on the back side.

The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the maximum opening is 2.2 inches. The finish is black paint.

Hammers and Striking Tools

11 Inch Auto Hammer

Fig. 42. Herbrand 11 Inch Auto Hammer, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 42 shows a Herbrand 11 inch auto hammer, constructed as a one-piece forging with a ballpeen head and a flat steel handle. The head is stamped "Fremont, U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo (see middle inset).

The overall length is 11.2 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The end of the handle is curved with a slightly sharpened edge, allowing it to be used for removing a tire from the rim. The 1918 Herbrand catalog lists a No. 165 "All Steel Ball-Pein Hammer" very similar to this example.

BP-16 16 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer

Fig. 43. Herbrand BP-16 16 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer, with Insets for Head Detail.

Fig. 43 shows a Herbrand BP-16 16 ounce ballpeen hammer, marked "Made in U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo.

The length of the head is 4.0 inches, and the overall length is 14.2 inches.

BP-20 20 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer

Fig. 44. Herbrand BP-20 20 Ounce Ballpeen Hammer, with Insets for Marking Detail.

Fig. 44 shows a Herbrand BP-20 20 ounce ballpeen hammer, stamped "Made in U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo on the head, with the model number on the back side.

The length of the head is 4.2 inches, and the overall length is 14.5 inches.

406 1 Inch Flat Chisel

Fig. 45. Herbrand 406 1 Inch Flat Chisel.

Fig. 45 shows a Herbrand 406 1 inch flat chisel, marked "Made in U.S.A." with the Herbrand script logo.

The overall length is 7.0 inches.

Male-Drive Sockets and Tools

During the 1920s Herbrand produced socket tools based on forged sockets with male drive tangs, a style also produced by Billings & Spencer, and used by Plomb for their largest ("Big Bertha") drive size. The Herbrand examples of this early male-drive style are less commonly found, suggesting that production may have been quite limited.

These early socket tools are known only in 1/2 square drive, with each drive tool offering a 1/2 square female opening to fit the square drive tang of the service socket. The drive tools were fitted with a spring clip to help secure the inserted sockets.

The Herbrand socket tools were all made as forgings with only minimal machining afterwards, leaving them with a rough surface finish.

As the Herbrand male-drive socket tools are difficult to find, we currently have only a few examples to display. A representative example of a socket set built in the male-drive style can be seen in the Billings No. 52 Socket Set.

Early Male-Drive 6 Inch Extension with Spring-Clip

Fig. 46. Herbrand Early Male-Drive 6 Inch Extension, with Insets for Broaching and Marking Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 46 shows an early Herbrand male-drive 6 inch extension, stamped "Herbrand Co." and "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the H-Diamond logo.

The overall length is 6.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The upper right inset shows a close-up of the drive socket of the extension. Note the spring clip fitted in the opening, which provides a bit of friction to hold the inserted socket.

The male end of the extension (the drive end for this style) has two pinched tabs on the corners, a typical construction technique for early drive tools.

Early Male-Drive 7/16 Socket

Fig. 47. Herbrand Early Male Drive 7/16 Socket, with Insets for Broaching and Marking Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 47 shows a Herbrand 7/16 male-drive socket, stamped "Herbrand Co." and "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the H-Diamond logo.

Early Male-Drive 3/4 Socket

Fig. 48. Herbrand Early Male-Drive 3/4 Socket, with Insets for Broaching and Marking Detail, ca. 1920s.

Fig. 48 shows a Herbrand 3/4 male-drive socket, stamped "Herbrand Co." and "Fremont, O. U.S.A." with the H-Diamond logo.

The overall height is 2.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The CFT Line

For several years we have been tracking a line of mystery tools with a "CFT" oval stamped marking, including such items as pliers, wrenches, and specialty tools. We have noted a likely connection with Herbrand, as the known examples of CFT tools closely resemble the equivalent Herbrand models.

With the recent finding (2010) that the Herbrand founder's son Creighton Fuller Thompson (initials CFT) was a vice-president and later president of the company, we are now reasonably certain that the CFT-oval marking was a secondary brand used by Herbrand.

The "CFT" tools can be identified by a distinctive CFT-Oval marking containing the letters "CFT" in the center, often with "Made in U.S.A." and "Drop Forged".

Fig. 49. "CFT" Logo from Gas Pliers.

Fig. 49 shows a magnified view of the logo as it appeared on the Gas Pliers in the figure below.

At first we were unsure whether the order of the letters might have been "CTF" or even "TCF", but once the significance of the CFT initials was discovered, the meaning became clear.

The time period for the use of the "CFT" brand probably falls in the late 1910s to mid 1920s, a time when tools for automobile toolkits and emergency repairs were in high demand. The "CFT" brand is not known to have been advertised, suggesting that it was probably used for the generic tools offered by large retailers or mail-order companies.

The next several figures show examples of the "CFT" branded tools. (These photographs previously appeared in our section on Mystery Tools.)

"CFT" 8 Inch Gas Pliers

Fig. 50. "CFT" 8 Inch Gas Pliers, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 50 shows a pair of "CFT" gas pliers, marked "Drop Forged" and "Made in U.S.A." inside an oval logo with "CFT" in the center.

The overall length is 8.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The top inset shows the rough finish of the forging, with a prominent edge left by the trimming operation.

Despite the rough appearance, the pliers are ruggedly made with hardened jaws. The design is similar to the popular gas-and-burner pliers, but without the small opening in the end of the jaws.

Fig. 51. CFT 8 Inch Gas Pliers, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 51 shows another similar pair of "CFT" gas pliers, stamped "Drop Forged" and "Made in U.S.A." inside an oval logo with "CFT" in the center. The pliers are also marked with "Drop Forged" forged into each handle.

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

The maker of these pliers can be identified as Herbrand based on the close resemblance to the Herbrand Early Gas Pliers.

"CFT" 7 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers

Fig. 52. CFT 7 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail.

Fig. 52 shows a pair of "CFT" 7 inch slip-joint combination pliers, stamped with the CFT-Oval logo, and with "Drop Forged" forged into the underside of the handles.

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

These pliers have a distinctive gripping pattern on the handles, allowing us to identify the maker as Herbrand based on the close resemblance to the Herbrand 5 Inch Combination Pliers.

"CFT" 681A 3/4x7/8 S-Shaped Wrench

Fig. 53. CFT 681A 3/4x7/8 S-Shaped Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 53 shows a CFT 681A 3/4x7/8 S-shaped open-end wrench, stamped with the CFT-Oval logo on one face, and with "681" forged into the back side shank. (The inset is upside-down in the photograph.)

The overall length is 9.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

In this example the CFT-Oval logo is a simpler design, with just the three interlocking letters.

An example of this model with the Herbrand marking can be seen as the Herbrand 681A S-Shaped Wrench.

"CFT" (Herbrand) 2336 Spark-Plug and Head-Bolt Wrench

This next example of the CFT brand is also marked with the well-known Herbrand H-Diamond logo, providing further evidence that the CFT tools are just rebranded Herbrand production.

Fig. 54. "CFT" (Herbrand) 2336 Spark Plug Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Construction Detail, ca. 1921-1930.

Fig. 54 shows a "CFT" 2336 spark-plug and head-bolt wrench, stamped with the CFT-Oval logo on the face, and marked with the Herbrand H-Diamond logo and model number forged into the shank. (See the middle left inset for a close-up photograph.)

The overall length is 12.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

"CFT" 5 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers

Fig. 55. CFT 5 Inch Slip-Joint Combination Pliers, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 55 shows a pair of "CFT" 4 inch slip-joint combination pliers, stamped with the CFT-Oval logo near the pivot.

The overall length is 5.5 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

These pliers show a higher degree of finishing than the previous examples of the CFT line, with smoothly ground sides and a nickel plated finish.