Miller Manufacturing Company

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Miller Manufacturing Company was a maker of automotive service equipment and tools.

Company History

The company was founded in 1913 by R.H. Miller as the Miller Tool & Manufacturing Company and operated in Detroit as a maker of automobile parts.

Fig. 1. 1916 Notice of Incorporation. [External Link]

Fig. 1 shows a notice for Miller Tool & Manufacturing, as published on page 902 of the April 20, 1916 issue of The Iron Trade Review.

The text notes that the company had been incorporated with $15,000 of capital, and the incorporators are listed as A.L. Miller, R.H. Miller, and C.L. Campbell.

According to a notice on page 1020 of the December 6, 1917 issue of Automotive Industries, by that time the company had recently moved to a larger building at 16th and Newark Streets, and new machinery was installed to make equipment for automobile and tractor manufacturers.

Fig. 2. 1921 Advertisement for Miller Tool. [External Link]

Fig. 2 shows an ad for Miller Tool socket wrenches, as published on page 1167 of the January, 1921 edition of the Automobile Trade Directory.

The text notes that by this time the company had become the official tool manufacturer for the Dodge Brothers and Studebaker.

Fig. 2B. 1926 Advertisement for Miller Tool & Manufacturing.

Fig. 2B shows an ad for a Miller Tool heavy duty socket wrench set, as published on page 82 of the June 24, 1926 issue of Hardware Age.

Name Change to Miller Manufacturing

By March of 1944 the company had changed its name to the Miller Manufacturing Company.

Acquisition of Bonney Forge & Tool

By 1956 Miller Manufacturing had acquired Bonney Forge & Tool Works, and the company built a new factory in Alliance, Ohio to produce both Bonney and Miller tools.

Patents

Trademarks

Fig. 3. 1922 Trademark Application for Miller Tool.

In 1921 the company filed a trademark with the text "Auto Service Tools" in a diamond logo, which included a very extensive list of automotive service tools for which the trademark was used.

The composite scan in Fig. 3 shows the application, as published on page 165 of the July 4, 1922 edition of the Official Gazette. (We had to splice the text from the next column to get the full list of applicable goods!)

The trademark was issued as #159,441 on September 26, 1922.

References and Resources

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

Catalog Resources

Selected Tools

Miller Tool 7541 1/2x1/2 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 4. Miller Tool 7541 1/2x1/2 Tappet Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Marking Detail, 1929.

Fig. 4 shows a Miller Tool 7541 1/2x1/2 tappet wrench, marked with the 7541 model number forged into the shank, with "Miller Tool" and "Detroit Mich" in a diamond logo plus "Chrome Vanadium" forged into the back side. The shank also has a forged-in code "CU" visible at the left.

The overall length is 9.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The center inset shows a close-up of the markings. The diamond logo (with different text) was registered as a trademark by Miller Tool.

This wrench can be recognized as Bonney production by the forged-in date code. The "U" year code on a 1920s style tappet wrench with forged-in markings indicates production in 1929.

Miller Mfg. C-3512 7/16 Offset Single-Box Wrench

Fig. 5. Miller Mfg. C-3512 7/16 Offset Single-Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail.

Fig. 5 shows a Miller Mfg. C-3512 7/16 offset single-box wrench, stamped with "Miller Mfg. Co." and "Detroit, Mich. U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 14.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The offset box end has a 7/16 hexagonal broaching.

Herbrand offered a very similar Herbrand No. 255 Wrench designed for adjusting the brakes on 1957 Chrysler autos.