Merchant Drop Forgers

Table of Contents

Introduction

Drop-forging was one of the most important industrial innovations of the 19th century and could be regarded as a critical enabling technology for industrialization itself. Drop-forging enabled the rapid production of standardized metal parts and tools that previously had relied on laborious manual production.

In America the H.D. Smith Company is generally credited with having developed the drop-forging process, which at first was applied to the production of metal parts for the carriage trade. Other notable early drop-forge operators include Billings & Spencer, J.H. Williams, and Herbrand.

A number of drop-forge operators were also tool companies, and of course these companies are already well represented on this site. Major tool companies known to have offered drop-forging services include Armstrong, Billings & Spencer, Bonney, Fairmount, Forged Steel Products, Herbrand, Kraeuter, Vlchek, Wilde, and J.H. Williams.

References and Resources

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

Cape Ann Tool Company

The Cape Ann Tool Company was a blacksmith and drop-forge operator originally founded to supply tools for the granite quarries in Rockport, Massachusetts. The company later operated as a supplier of forgings for the automobile and aircraft industries.

Tool Identification

Production by Cape Ann Tool can be identified by its use of the CAT-Circle forge mark, which consists of the letters "CAT" inside a circle, with the letters "C" and "T" inside the "A".

CAT-Circle Logo

Fig. 1. CAT-Circle Logo.

Fig. 1 shows a typical example of the CAT-Circle logo.

Selected Examples

Walden 11/16-Drive Universal Adapter

Fig. 2. Walden 11/16-Drive Universal Adapter, ca. 1915 to Early 1920s.

Fig. 2 shows the unusual 11/16-drive to 1/2-drive double-male universal adapter from the Walden No. 4 set, unmarked except for the CAT-Circle logo forged into the 11/16 drive end.

The overall length is 4.3 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The asymmetrical drive sizes of the universal allow it to be driven by the ratchet on the 11/16-drive end while driving a socket from the inside using the 1/2-drive end.

The CAT-Circle logo indicates production by the Cape Ann Tool Company.

Cleveland Hardware & Forging Company

The Cleveland Hardware Company was incorporated in 1881 and initially operated as a maker of sleigh and wagon hardware.

In 1906 the company opened a drop-forging factory on East 79th Street and within a few years had become one of the largest producers of drop-forgings. The company was a major supplier of drop-forgings for the Model T and other automobiles.

The company later opened a casting division at its plant on East 45th Street. Cleveland Hardware was the supplier of malleable iron castings for the socket sets produced by the Chicago Manufacturing and Distributing Company, which can be recognized by their "CH" foundry mark.

On September 5, 1912 the company purchased the buildings and machinery of the Superior Drop Forge & Manufacturing Company at a bankruptcy auction, based on a report on page 596 of the September 12, 1912 issue of The Iron Age.

In 1932 the company changed its name to the Cleveland Hardware & Forging Company.

Continuing Operations

The company remains in business today and further information can be found at the Cleveland Hardware Company web site.

Additional information can be found in the entry for Cleveland Hardware at the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.

Trademarks

FARMore Serial 684,026. Published 4-24-56. CH logo Filed 8-23-74. Serial 30,304. Published 2-24-76 1,079,217 Published 9-20-77.

Tool Identification

Cleveland Hardware marked its production with a "CH" forge (or foundry) mark composed of the interlocking letters "CH", referred to as the CH-Logo in the text.

CH-Logo Forge Mark

Fig. 3. CH-Logo from Trademark #1,039,520.

Fig. 3 shows the CH-Logo forge mark as it was presented for trademark #1,039,520.

CH-Logo Foundry Mark

Fig. 4. CH-Logo Foundry Mark.

Fig. 4 shows the CH-Logo foundry mark as observed on a Chicago Manufacturing & Distributing A1 Ratchet of malleable iron construction.

Cleveland Hardware 3Z-624 Exhaust Packing Nut Wrench for Model T Service

This next tool was previously thought to have been supplied by Chicago Manufacturing and Distributing, but can now be considered as one of the forgings supplied by Cleveland Hardware for the Model T.

Fig. 5. Cleveland Hardware 3Z-624 Exhaust Packing Nut Wrench, with Insets for Marking Detail, ca. 1910s to 1920s.

Fig. 5 shows a 3Z-624 exhaust packing nut wrench for Model T service, marked with the "3Z 624" model forged into the shank, with the CH-Logo forged into the back side (see upper right inset).

The overall length is 12.6 inches, and the finish is black paint.

The CH-Logo mark identifies Cleveland Hardware as the maker of the wrench.

Dunbar Drop Forge Company

The Dunbar Drop Forge Company was a merchant drop-forge operator (and occasional tool-maker) operating in Chicago, Illinois. The company was incorporated on August 7, 1918 with capital of $25,000.

The 1922 Certified List of Domestic and Foreign Corporations published by the State of Illinois listed the company address as 5216-18 West Kinzie Street in Chicago. The officers were listed as F.M. Gunn and N.H. Benson, with capital of $250,000.

Currently we don't have a lot of information for the company, but they are known to have supplied forgings for "Larc-O-matic" and "Trig-O-Matic" wrenches in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Tool Identification

Dunbar forgings can be identified by a D-Diamond forge mark consisting of the letter "D" in a diamond outline. This mark was registered as trademark #157,047 in 1922.

D-Diamond Forge Mark

Fig. 6. D-Diamond Forge Mark from Trademark #157,047.

Fig. 6 shows the D-Diamond forge mark as it was presented for trademark #157,047.

Harris-Thomas Drop Forge Company

The Harris-Thomas Drop Forge Company was founded in 1924 in Dayton, Ohio.

Fig. 12B. 1924 Notice for Harris-Thomas Drop Forge Company. [External Link]

Fig. 12B shows a notice of the formation of the Harris-Thomas Drop Forge Company, as published on page 796 of the October 1, 1924 issue of The Foundry.

The text lists members of the Harris and Thomas families as founders and notes $40,000 in capital.

Production for Cornwell

Harris-Thomas is known to have supplied forged ratchet handles to the Cornwell Quality Tool Company, with production probably from the late 1920s into the 1930s. An example can be seen as the Cornwell No. 55 Ratchet.

Later Operations

The company was listed in the 1991 edition of the Custom Forging Capabilities Chart published by the Forging Industry Association, with their address at 1400 East First Street in Dayton.

Tool Identification

Production by Harris-Thomas can be identified by its use of an HT-Circle forge mark, which consists of the letters "HT" joined inside a circle.

HT-Circle Forge Mark

Fig. 12C. HT-Circle Logo.

Fig. 12C shows the Harris-Thomas logo consisting of the letters "HT" in a circle, as published in the Custom Forging Capabilities Chart. This will be referred to as the HT-Circle forge mark in the text.

Fig. 12D. HT-Circle Forge Mark.

Fig. 12D shows the Harris-Thomas forge mark as it appeared on an early Cornwell ratchet handle.

This mark was observed on a Cornwell No. 55 Ratchet.

Interstate Drop Forge

Interstate Drop Forge was a merchant drop-forging company, founded in 1919 and operating in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Interstate produced forgings for a number of industrial customers, including tool companies, and Interstate is being noted here due to its work for Blackhawk and Snap-on.

Fig. 7. 1922 Notice for Interstate Drop Forging. [External Link]

The notice in Fig. 7 was published on page 486 of the October, 1922 issue of Forging & Heat Treating and provides some background information for Interstate Drop Forging. The text notes the hiring of Robert C. Yates as general manager, and states that Interstate Drop Forging had been founded in 1919 as a maker of small forgings.

The notice also mentions connections with three other companies in the Milwaukee area, the Chain Belt Company, the Sivyer Steel Casting Company, and the Federal Malleable Company.

Interstate's production can be identified by its use of the DIF forging mark, a raised symbol with a tall "I" in the center, flanked by shorter "D" and "F" letters.

In the 1920s some of Snap-on's ratchet handles were forged by Interstate, and these can be identified by the DIF symbol. Snap-on appears to have used multiple foundries at that time though, so only a fraction of their ratchets were made by Interstate.

Blackhawk was more consistent in its use of Interstate, and most (perhaps all) of their forged ratchet handles were made by Interstate. Blackhawk used forged handles for its 3/4-drive and larger ratchets, beginning in the mid 1920s and continuing into the 1940s.

Further information on Interstate Drop Forge can be found in a newspaper article [Sorry, dead link 😢].

Tool Identification

Interstate's production can be identified by its use of the DIF-Square forge mark, which consists of the letters "DIF" inside a square outline, with the letter "I" taller than the flanking "D" and "F" letters.

DIF-Square Forge Mark

Fig. 8. DIF-Square Forge Mark.

Fig. 8 shows a typical example of the DIF-Square mark.

Selected Examples

Blackhawk 916 3/4-Drive Ratchet with "DIF" Forge Mark

Fig. 9. Blackhawk 916 3/4-Drive Ratchet, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1925-1930.

Fig. 9 shows an example of production by Interstate Drop Forge, a Blackhawk No. 916 3/4-drive ratchet.

The heavy forged body is marked with "Blackhawk Mfg. Co." and "Milwaukee Wis. Made in U.S.A." forged into the flat handle.

The handle also has a DIF-Square forge mark visible at the left, shown as a close-up in the small inset.

This tool appears in our article on Blackhawk as the Blackhawk 916 3/4-Drive Ratchet. Another example of Interstate's production for Blackhawk can be seen in the Blackhawk 69999 3/4-Drive Ratchet.

Snap-on No. 7 1/2-Drive Ratchet with "DIF" Forge Mark

Fig. 10. Snap-on Early No. 7 1/2-Drive Ratchet, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1925-1927.

Fig. 10 shows another example of production by Interstate Drop Forge, an early Snap-On No. 7 1/2-drive ratchet. The ratchet is marked with the Snap-On logo and "Milwaukee USA" forged into the shank, and with a faint DIF-Square forge mark shown in the middle inset.

The overall length is 9.6 inches. The finish shows traces of nickel plating, although much has been lost due to wear.

This tool appears in our article on Snap-on as the Snap-on Early No. 7 Ratchet.

Briefly Noted

In this section we'll add notes regarding drop-forge companies found during the course of our research on tool companies.

Champion Machine & Forging Company

The Champion Machine & Forging Company operated in Cleveland as a drop forge operator.

Fig. 11. 1921 Ad for Champion Machine & Forging. [External Link]

Fig. 11 shows an ad for Champion Machine & Forging, as published on page 59 of the April, 1921 issue of Forging and Heat Treating.

Crescent Forgings Company

The Crescent Forgings Company was a merchant drop-forger operating in Oakmont, Pennsylvania beginning around 1906. In addition to producing custom drop-forgings, the company also offered pipe wrenches based on patent 898,267, issued to H.N. Rothweiler in 1908.

Fig. 12. 1908 Advertisement for Crescent Forgings Company. [External Link]

The advertisement in Fig. 12 illustrates the Rothweiler pipe wrench, as published on page 606 of the October, 1908 issue of Hardware Dealers' Magazine.

Great Lakes Forge Company

Formed around 1920 as a reorganization of the Cochran Manufacturing and Forging Company and operated at 119th Street and Racine Avenue in Chicago. In 1920 sold the Cochran wrench business to Larco Wrench & Manufacturing.

Roren Drop Forging Company

In 1910 accepted a contract for $60,000 from Rogers, Printz & Company for production of FITZALL wedge-adjusting wrenches. Turned the contract over to Union Manufacturing and Drop Forging after plant in Providence, Rhode Island was sold to Union.

Union Manufacturing and Drop Forging Company

In 1910 purchased factory in Providence, Rhode Island from Roren Drop Forging and executed contract with Rogers, Printz & Company for production of FITZALL wedge-adjusting wrenches. Went bankrupt around 1911; estate sold to Standard Wrench & Tool.

Unknown Forge Marks

Many merchant drop-forge companies used a special symbol called a "forge mark" to identify their production. This mark was incised into the dies and thus appears as a raised symbol on the forged product.

Identifying these symbols is the key to understanding which companies provided drop-forge services.

In this section we'll show various forge marks observed on tools in the hope that someday they may be identified. If any of our readers know which company used any of these marks, please let us know via email.

CSCo-Logo Forge Mark

Fig. 13. CSCo-Forge Forge Mark.

Fig. 13 shows a forge mark that appears to be composed of the interlocking letters "CSCo", referred to as the CSCo-Logo in the text.

This mark was observed on a Blackhawk 920 7/8-Drive Ratchet.

HTM-Circle Forge Mark

Fig. 15. HTM-Circle Forge Mark.

Fig. 15 shows a forge mark resembling the letters "HTM" butted together in a circle. We will refer to this as the HTM-Circle forge mark in the text.

This mark was observed on a Vulcan Mfg. Adjustable Wrench.

MJ-Circle Forge Mark

Fig. 16. MJ-Circle Forge Mark.

This next forge mark is difficult to classify, as we're not sure how to read the letter-like symbols. It looks a bit like an "M" with an upside-down "J", so for now we'll call it MJ-Circle.

Fig. 16 shows a forge mark consisting of the letters "M" with an upside-down "J" in a circle, referred to as the MJ-Circle forge mark in the text.

This mark was observed on a Beckley-Ralston AT840 "Master" Ratchet.

SS-Logo Forge Mark

Fig. 17. SS-Logo Forge Mark.

Fig. 17 shows a forge mark resembling two "S" letters, with one rotated 90 degrees. We will refer to this as the SS-Logo in the text.

This mark was observed on a Billmont No. 8 Ratchet.