Tobrin Tool Company

The Tobrin Tool Company was founded in 1923 in Southington, Connecticut as a maker of tools such as screwdrivers and pipe wrenches. The founder was William S. Thomson, who had previously served as vice-president and general manager of H.D. Smith & Company.

The company was incorporated on May 25, 1923 with $100,000 capital, with W.S. Thomson serving as president.

Fig. 404. 1923 Notice of Incorporation for Tobrin Tool. [External Link]

Fig. 404 shows a notice of incorporation for the Tobrin Tool Company, as published on page 1769 of the June 14, 1923 of the Iron Trade Review.

Fig. 405. 1924 Notice for Tobrin Tool Company.

The scan in Fig. 405 shows a notice for the Tobrin Tool Company, as published on page 714i [External Link] of the October 30, 1924 issue of American Machinist.

The text notes that the company would be manufacturing screwdrivers, pipe wrenches, and automotive tools.

By the late 1920s Tobrin had expanded its production to include machinery such as table saws and bench grinders. The 1928 Thomson patent 1,679,103 describes a circular saw driven by an electrical motor, with a tilting table rather than the tilting arbor found on modern table saws.

Later Operations

In 1953 Tobrin Tool was acquired by Consolidated Industries of West Cheshire, Connecticut. The acquisition was reported on page 26 of the March 9, 1953 issue of Aviation Week, which noted that the Tobrin plant would be producing forged aircraft parts of titanium and aluminum as a subsidiary of Consoldiated Industries.

Patents

Trademarks

H.B. Todd Patent Nippers

In 1876 Henry B. Todd received patent 182,615 for end nippers with replaceable cutting edges. The Todd design became very popular and remained in production for many years, with the nippers typically marked "Todd" but without a clear maker's name.

In 1883 Todd received a second patent 285,446 for an improved version of the nippers.

Fig. 406. 1891 Notice for Meriden Cutting Nippers. [External Link]

Fig. 406 shows a notice describing the "Meriden Cutting Nippers" based on the second Todd patent, as published on page 30 of the January 7, 1891 issue of The Electrical Engineer.

Todd No. 4 8 Inch End Nippers

Fig. 407. Todd No. 4 8 Inch End Nippers, with Insets for End and Side View.

Fig. 407 shows a pair of Todd No. 4 8 inch end nippers, stamped "Made in U.S.A." with an "E" code and hex logo.

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

Although not marked with a patent notice, these nippers are described by patent 182,615, filed in 1876 by H.B. Todd and issued later that year.

Tower & Lyon Company

Tower & Lyon was a tool maker and manufacturer's agent in New York City, active between 1884 and 1916. The company produced (or was an agent for) a wide variety of wrenches, including adjustable bicycle wrenches and pipe wrenches.

Tower & Lyon was initially formed as a partnership between John J. Tower and Polhemus Lyon, but in 1891 Lyon left the partnership to pursue another opportunity.

Fig. 408. 1891 Notice for Tower & Lyon. [External Link]

Fig. 408 shows an announcement of the partnership change, as published on page 503 of the March 12, 1891 issue of The Iron Age.

Fig. 409. 1894 Ad for Tower & Lyon. [External Link]

Fig. 409 shows an ad for Tower & Lyon, as published on page 40 of the January, 1894 issue of Hardware Dealer.

Fig. 410. 1897 Ad for Tower & Lyon. [External Link]

Fig. 410 shows another ad for Tower & Lyon, as published on page 12 of the October 10, 1897 issue of Hardware.

Agents for Kraeuter & Company

The 1904 Tower & Lyon catalog listed an extensive selection of tools from Kraeuter & Company, probably close to the company's full product line.

Tower & Lyon Baxter Patent Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 411. Tower & Lyon Baxter Patent Adjustable Wrench.

Fig. 411 shows a Baxter patent adjustable wrench, marked "T. & L." with "Baxter's Pat." above but partially obscured. The "T. & L." marking is presumed to indicate to Tower & Lyon, a well-known maker of adjustable wrenches in the late 19th century.

The overall length is 3.9 inches, and the finish is polished steel.

The patent notice refers to patent 84,605, issued to William Baxter in 1868. Wrenches of this design were first produced by the Baxter Wrench Company, and then later by Green, Tweed, & Company.

The adjusting screw in the center has threaded studs of opposite pitch on each end, moving the two wrench sections to adjust the openings at each end.

Truecraft Tool Company

The Truecraft Tool Company was a maker of wrenches and other tools operating in Chicago, Illinois during the late 1940s to early 1960s. Based on trademark applications, the company was formed in 1947 as the successor to the Otto Kaufman Company.

Background information on the predecessor company was found in the summary of an action taken by the War Production Board in 1945.

Fig. 412. 1945 Suspension Order Against Otto Kaufman Company.

The composite scan in Fig. 412 shows part of a suspension order issued by the War Production Board, as published on page 9071 [External Link] of the July 24, 1945 issue of the Federal Register. (The text in the scan has been reflowed to fit in a single column.)

The text notes that the Otto Kaufman Company was a partnership of Otto Kaufman, Norman Kaufman, and Paul Kaufman and operated primarily as a manufacturer's agent, but also functioned as a distribution outlet with some inventory of automotive supplies and tools. The company address is noted as 2425 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

The Otto Kaufman Company registered "PEERLESS" in a design as trademark #393,338 on February 3, 1942. The application was filed on March 14, 1941 and claimed use since September 13, 1938, for goods consisting of hand tools for gardening, lawn maintenance, and landscaping.

Based on the information found so far, the Otto Kaufman company had been in business since the late 1930s or earlier.

Truecraft Tool registered two trademarks, both stylized forms of "TRUECRAFT", and listed the date of first use as December 30, 1947. The trademark applications provide the same company address as noted above.

We haven't found any information on the manufacturing capabilities of Truecraft Tool or its predecessor, but with the knowledge that the company principals were manufacturer's agents, we think it's likely that the company did little or no actual manufacturing. Chicago was home to numerous tool companies, and with their connections as agents and distributors, the Kaufmans would have known where to have any kind of tool made.

With this view Truecraft Tool can be seen a "house brand" with 100 percent outsourced production.

We're unsure what products the company initially offered in the late 1940s, as no catalogs or advertising have been found for this period. Their products may have included PEERLESS brand gardening and landscaping tools, and probably included drop-forged open-end wrenches and combination wrenches.

A 1959 Truecraft Tool catalog (available for download [External Link] from The International Tool Catalog Library) illustrates the tools available at that time, which included adjustable wrenches, several models of pliers, a hammer, and a few other items. Based on the items in the catalog, the company's customers were probably hardware stores or other small retail outlets.

Sourcing from Japan

During the 1950s Truecraft Tool began sourcing adjustable wrenches from Japan. We discovered this after seeing a number of online photographs of adjustable wrenches marked with "Truecraft Tool Co." and "Japan" forged into the shank, typically with plain steel finishes. These wrenches can be easily distinguished from later Truecraft brand adjustable wrenches, as the later wrenches are marked with just "Truecraft" and have chrome-plated finishes.

Some of the Truecraft Tool adjustable wrenches have a "TOP" forge mark, a reference to Top Kōgyō, a major Japanese tool company. We think it's likely that production by Top Kōgyō was arranged by the Daido Corporation, a Japanese export marketing and distribution company. Daido set up offices and distribution centers in the U.S. in the early 1950s, and its distribution center in Chicago could have handled the production for Truecraft Tool.

Acquisition by Daido Corporation

The Truecraft Tool Company was active until the early 1960s, but in 1962 was acquired by the Daido Corporation mentioned above. Daido used the "Truecraft" trademarks as a brand for an extensive and popular line of tools sourced mostly from Japan. (See our article on Daido for more information on the later Truecraft tools.)

After the acquision by Daido, Truecraft Tool continued as a sales representative for Daido, at the same place of business and with Norman and Paul Kaufman as contacts.

Fig. 413. 1963 Ad Showing Daido Sales Representatives.

The scan in Fig. 413 shows part of an ad for Diado's Truecraft Tool Division, as published on page 49 of the September 5, 1963 issue of Hardware Age.

The text below the ad lists Daido's representatives, including the Truecraft Tool Company at 2425 South Michigan Avenue at the top of the list. This reinforces our view that Truecraft Tool as a brand was an outsourced private brand run as part of a distribution operation.

Trademarks

Fig. 414. 1942 "Peerless" Trademark #393,338 for Otto Kaufman Company.

On February 3, 1942 the Otto Kaufman Company received trademark #393,338 for a design with "Peerless".

The scan in Fig. 414 shows the trademark information and design, as published on page 34 of the February 3, 1942 issue of the Official Gazette.

The list of goods includes hand tools intended for gardening, lawn maintenance, and landscaping.

Selected Tools

The known examples of the company's tools include open-end wrenches, combination wrenches, and adjustable wrenches. Open-end and combination wrenches are typically marked with "TRUECRAFT" forged into the shank, with "FORGED IN U.S.A." and the fractional sizes forged into the back side. Finishes are generally plain steel or cadmium.

Adjustable Wrenches

During the 1950s Truecraft Tool began sourcing adjustable wrenches from Japan. We discovered this after seeing a number of online photographs of adjustable wrenches marked with "Truecraft Tool Co." and "Japan" forged into the shank, typically with plain steel finishes.

These wrenches can be distinguished from the Truecraft brand adjustable wrenches sold by the Truecraft Tool Division of the Daido Corporation, as the later wrenches were marked with just "Truecraft" and generally had chrome plated finishes.

After discovering this Japan connection, we were able to confirm it in the 1959 Truecraft Tool catalog, as the next figure shows.

Fig. 415. 1959 Catalog Illustration for Truecraft Adjustable Wrench.

The scan in Fig. 415 shows the illustration for an adjustable wrench, as published on page 1 of the 1959 Truecraft Tool catalog.

A close look at the shank of the wrench shows "Japan" to the right of the company name.

Truecraft Tool 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 416. Truecraft Tool 6 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1950s.

Fig. 416 shows shows a Truecraft Tool 6 inch adjustable wrench, marked with "Truecraft Tool Company" and "Japan" forged into the front, with "Drop Forged Alloy Steel" and "TOP" forged into the back.

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

The "TOP" marking is the brand used by Top Kōgyō, a major Japanese tool maker.

Truecraft Tool 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench

In addition to its higher grade drop-forged adjustable wrenches, Truecraft Tool also offered economy-grade malleable steel adjustable wrenches.

Fig. 417. Truecraft Tool 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1950s.

Fig. 417 shows shows a Truecraft Tool 8 inch adjustable wrench, marked with "Truecraft Tool Co." and "Japan" cast into the front, with "Heat Treated and Tempered" and "P" cast into the back.

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

This wrench is an example of the "Malleable Steel Adjustable Wrenches" listed on the last page of the 1959 Truecraft catalog, which were suggested for light duty work.

The "P" marking at the far right of the back side is believed to be a truncation of "TOP", the brand used by Top Kōgyō.

Truecraft Tool 5/16x13/32 Open-End Wrench

This next figure shows the typical style of the company's open-end and combination wrenches.

Fig. 418. Truecraft Tool 3/16x13/32 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Opposite Side Detail, ca. Late 1940s to Mid 1950s.

Fig. 418 shows a Truecraft Tool 5/16x13/32 open-end wrench, marked with "Truecraft" forged into the shank (see inset), with "Forged in U.S.A." and the fractional sizes forged into the opposite side. (Note that the inset has been rotated for readability in the photograph.)

The overall length is 3.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

By the late 1950s Truecraft Tool no longer offered drop-forged open-end or combination wrenches.

United Shoe Machinery Corporation (USMC)

The United Shoe Machinery Corporation was a major manufacturer of production machinery for the shoe making industry. Formed in 1899 by a merger of three companies, USMC became the dominant supplier of shoe making machinery in the United States.

In addition to producing machinery, the company was also a maker of wrenches and other tools, primarily for repair and maintenance of its own equipment.

Tool Identification

Tools produced by USMC can be identified by the distinctive USMC-Script logo, typically forged into the tool. Note though that as the initials "USMC" are more famously associated with the U.S. Marine Corps, tools produced by United Shoe Machinery may sometimes be mistakenly considered as contract production for the military.

USMC-Script Logo

Fig. 419. USMC-Script Logo.

Fig. 419 shows the USMC-Script logo forged into a tool.

This logo was more commonly forged into tools, but may be found as a stamped marking as well.

USMC 241H 3/8x5/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 420. USMC 241H 3/8x5/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 420 shows a USMC 241H 3/8x5/8 open-end wrench, marked with the USMC-Script logo forged into the shank, and with the model number stamped on the back side face.

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

USMC 642H 11/16x3/4 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 421. USMC 642H 11/16x3/4 Open-End Wrench.

Fig. 421 shows a USMC 642H 11/16x3/4 open-end wrench, marked with the USMC-Script logo forged into the shank.

The overall length is 8.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

USMC 1755H 1/2x5/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 422. USMC 1755H 1/2x5/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 422 shows a USMC 1755H 1/2x5/8 open-end wrench, stamped with the USMC-Script logo and model number on the faces, with the fractional sizes on the back side faces.

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

U.S. Hame Company

The U.S. Hame Company was incorporated in 1902 after a four-way merger of hame companies, which formed the world's largest maker of hames. (A hame is the load-bearing strut of a collar for draft animals.)

As the introduction of tractors reduced the role of draft animals in agriculture, the demand for hames decreased and the U.S. Hame Company was forced to diversify its products.

Fig. 423. 1920 Ad for U.S. Hame Company. [External Link]

Fig. 423 shows an ad for U.S. Hame Company, as published on page 248 of the October, 1920 issue of National Service.

The ad notes products including brass castings, drop forgings, and steel stampings.

Acquisition of Lawson Manufacturing

In 1931 the company purchased the Lawson Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio, the maker of a patented pipe wrench.

The Lawson Manufacturing Company had been incorporated on July 24, 1923 with $50,000 of capital as a maker of tools and machinery.

By the mid 1920s the company was producing a pipe wrench with an offset head, which made it possible to turn a pipe lying close to the floor.

Fig. 424. 1926 Ad for Lawson Pipe Wrenches. [External Link]

Fig. 424 shows an ad for the Lawson pipe wrench, as published on page 99 of the May 8, 1926 issue of Domestic Engineering.

The Lawson pipe wrench was based on patent 1,362,014, filed by G.C. Lawson in 1920 and issued later that year.

Acquisition by Fairmount

Sometime later the U.S. Hame Company was acquired by Fairmount Tool & Forging, which continued production of the Lawson wrenches.

We have a Lawson pipe wrench made by the U.S. Hame Company and are preparing it for display.

Trademarks

U.S. Hame Company Lawson 18 Inch Pipe Wrench

Fig. 425. U.S. Hame Company Lawson 18 Inch Pipe Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Marking Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 425 shows a U.S. Hame Company Lawson 18 inch pipe wrench, marked with "USHCO Lawson" and "U.S. Hame Co. Buffalo, N.Y. U.S.A." forged into the shank, with "Pat Dec. 14 20 Other Pat. Pending" and "Drop Forged Steel" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 16.6 inches closed and 18.2 inches fully extended. The finish is plain steel.

The patent date refers to patent 1,362,014, filed by G.C. Lawson in 1920.

Vanadium Tool Company

The Vanadium Tool Company was a maker of hand-forged alloy steel tools located in Athens, Ohio. The company was founded around 1945 by the Harmon family and remained in operation until at least the mid 1970s. In 1969 the company was purchased by Alexander T. Topping, formerly the vice president of marketing for S-K Wayne Tools. (The change of ownership was noted in a 1969 issue of the Hardware Retailer publication.)

A company catalog from the mid 1950s notes that their production process uses Bradley power hammers to shape the tools, and claims that the process produces tougher steel than the common faster production methods, apparently a reference to drop-forging. The tools available at this time included a variety of chisels, punches, scrapers, and screwdrivers, as well as wrenches in open-end, box-end, and combination styles.

A later catalog No. 271 from 1971 offers a similar collection of tools, but with the addition of metric sizes in combination wrenches, plus a line of angle-head open-end wrenches with 15 and 60 degree offsets. The inside front cover of the catalog notes that the company had been making tools for more than 25 years, providing us with a mid-1940s estimate for the founding date. This catalog was received with a separate price list No. U-173 dated January 15, 1973.

The later catalog also provides the specific alloy steels used for the tools, with AISI 6150 chrome-vanadium steel used for the chisels, punches, and screwdrivers, and AISI 4140 chrome-molybdenum steel used for the wrenches.

Vanadium Tool C-6 3/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 426. Vanadium Tool C-6 3/8 Combination Wrench.

Fig. 426 shows a Vanadium Tool C-6 3/8 combination wrench, marked "Vanadium Tool Co." on the shank.

The overall length is 4.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Vanadium Tool 7/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 427. Vanadium Tool 7/8 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 427 shows a Vanadium Tool 7/8 combination wrench, marked "Vanadium Tool Co." on the shank.

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

Vanadium Tool 15/16 Combination Wrench

Fig. 428. Vanadium Tool 15/16 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 428 shows a Vanadium Tool 15/16 combination wrench, marked "Vanadium Tool Co." on the shank.

The overall length is 12.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Vanadium Tool CF-10 Offset Combination Wrench

Fig. 429. Vanadium Tool CF-10 5/8 Offset Combination Wrench, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 429 shows a Vanadium Tool CF-10 offset combination wrench, marked "Vanadium Tool Co." on the shank.

The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Vandegrift Manufacturing Company

The Vandegrift Manufacturing Company was a maker of nut and pipe wrenches, founded by Theodore F. Vandegrift and operating in Shelbyville, Indiana. The company was active from around 1891 through at least 1905. Many (if not all) of the company's products were based on patents issued to Vandegrift.

Some Vandegrift wrenches were made under contract for various farm machinery companies, and these tools may be marked with names such as International Harvester or McCormick.

Vandegrift No. 5 Monkey Wrench

Fig. 430. Vandegrift No. 5 Monkey Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1897-1905.

Fig. 430 shows a Vandegrift No. 5 monkey wrench, marked with a number "5" and the patent notice "Pat. Sep 7 97" cast in the handle.

The overall length is 8.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The patent notice corresponds to patent 589,765, issued to T.F. Vandegrift in 1897.

Vim Tool Company

The Vim Tool Company was founded in 1927 as a maker of automotive service tools and operated in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Fig. 431. 1927 Notice for Vim Tool Company.

The scan in Fig. 431 shows a notice of the founding of the Vim Tool Company, as published on page 59 [External Link] of the May 5, 1927 issue of Motor Age.

The text lists the company address as 501 Seventh Street in South Minneapolis.

The officers are listed as president G.K. Vinnicum, vice-president A.E. Hellickson, and secretary-treasurer S.B. Hellickson.

We haven't found any advertisements for the company, but a partial catalog from 1931 (available for Download from the ITCL) shows that the company offered tools such as screwdrivers, box-end wrenches, and socket tools.

Acquisition by Durston Manufacturing

In 1944 Vim was acquired by the Flexible Carbon Scraper Company of Pasadena, California, which in 1946 was renamed to Durston Manufacturing.

We don't have much information on the acquisition, but did find a trademark application for "VIM" filed by Wrae M. Durston on August 13, 1946, and amended on March 5, 1948. The application was published with serial #507,302 on July 26, 1949, and issued as trademark #517,326.

Durston Manufacturing continues in business today and uses the VIM brand for a line of automotive specialty tools. More information can be found at the VIM Tools [External Link] web site.

Vim V-3 5/8x11/16 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 432. Vim V-3 5/8x11/16 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1920s.

Fig. 432 shows a Vim V-3 5/8x11/16 tappet wrench, stamped "Vanadium Tappet" with the "VIM" name on the shank. The fractional sizes are stamped on the faces, with the model number on the back side face.

The overall length is 8.0 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The marking style of this wrench is very similar to the Herbrand tappet wrenches of the mid to late 1920s, suggesting that this is likely contract production by Herbrand. The corresponding model can be seen as the Herbrand H-3 Tappet Wrench.

Vim 11/16x3/4 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 433. Vim 11/16x3/4 Offset Box Wrench, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 433 shows a Vim 11/16x3/4 offset box wrench, marked only with the "VIM" name and fractional sizes.

The overall length is 9.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Vim 216 Wheel Weight Pliers

Fig. 434. Vim 216 Wheel Weight Pliers, with Inset for Marking Detail.

Fig. 434 shows a pair of Vim 216 wheel weight pliers, designed for installing and removing weights during tire balancing. The handle is stamped "Vim" with the model number.

The overall length is 10.6 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Vulcan Manufacturing Company

The Vulcan Manufacturing Company was founded in St. Paul, Minnesota as a maker of automobile jacks. Based on a later trademark filing, the company was in operation by October of 1936 using the "Vulcan" brand.

Fig. 435. 1939 Notice for Vulcan Hydrauliner Jack. [External Link]

Fig. 435 shows a notice illustrating the company's "Hydrauliner" hydraulic jack, as published on page 37 of the December, 1939 issue of Motor Age.

In 1943 the company moved to Winona, Minnesota, based on a notice in a trade publication.

By the late 1940s the company was using the "Tripod" trademark for some of its products.

Patents

Patent 2,755,065.

Trademarks

Selected Tools

Automobile jacks are a bit outside the scope of our interests here at Alloy Artifacts, so some readers may be wondering why we have included this company. The answer is that somehow the tool in the next figure made its way into our collection, and once here we had to track down some information for the company.

Vulcan Manufacturing "Largrip" 10 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 436. Vulcan Manufacturing "Largrip" 10 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Edge View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1943-1945.

Fig. 436 shows a Vulcan Manufacturing 10 inch adjustable wrench, marked with "Largrip" and "Pat Pend" forged into the shank, and with "Vulcan Mfg Co" and "Winona Minn" on the back side.

The overall length is 10.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This wrench is unusual in having a rectangular keyed slot, instead of the more common round keyway.

The shank is also marked with two forge marks, one resembling "NR" in a circle, and the other resembling "HTM" in a circle.

With the knowledge that Vulcan Manufacturing was a maker of automobile jacks rather than wrenches, we can infer that this adjustable wrench was almost certainly wartime production. The "Winona" marking places the production in 1943 or later, and the plain steel finish is consistent with the wartime period.

Waymoth Corporation

The Waymoth Corporation of Pawtucket, Rhode Island is known only as a maker of cutting pliers, as shown in the next figure.

Waymoth No. 2 6 Inch Diagonal Cutters

Fig. 437. Waymoth No. 2 6 Inch Diagonal Cutters, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 437 shows a pair of Waymoth No. 2 6 inch diagonal cutters, marked "The Waymoth Corp." and "Pawt. R.I." around the pivot.

The overall length is 6.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Weber-Knapp Company

The Weber-Knapp Company operated in Jamestown, New York as a maker of metal stampings and castings. Weber-Knapp was incorporated in 1909 as the successor to the Weber Manufacturing Company.

Fig. 438. 1909 Notice for Weber-Knapp Company. [External Link]

Fig. 438 shows a notice of the incorporation of the company, as published on page 71 of the October 7, 1909 issue of American Machinist. The text notes the company as a maker of hardware specialties, with capital of $50,000. The principals were listed as A.F. Weber, E.I. Knapp, and A.C. Weber.

Fig. 439. 1909 Notice for Weber Manufacturing Company.

The Weber-Knapp Company was the successor to the Weber Manufacturing Company, which operated as a maker of furniture trimmings and metal castings.

The scan in Fig. 439 shows a notice for Weber Manufacturing, as published on page 414 [External Link] of the November, 1909 issue of The Brass World.

Fig. 440. 1917 Ad for Weber-Knapp Company. [External Link]

Fig. 440 shows an advertisement for the company, as published on page 310 of the September 27, 1917 issue of The Iron Age.

Fig. 441. 1919 Ad for Weber-Knapp Company. [External Link]

Fig. 441 shows a small ad for the company, as published on page 131 of the February 27, 1919 issue of Automotive Industries.

By 1920 Weber-Knapp was the maker of a wide variety of metal goods, including cabinet hardware, furniture knobs, metal parts for phonographs, and even airplane parts during the First World War!

In 1920 Weber-Knapp became a subsidiary of the Keeler Brass Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. At that time Grand Rapids was a major center for furniture manufacturing, and drawer pulls for furniture were one of the product lines for Weber-Knapp.

Tool Production

By the early 1940s Weber-Knapp was apparently making some types of tools, as the company was included in a directory listing under the headings for "Pliers" and "Wrench & Socket Sets".

Fig. 442. 1941 Directory Listing for Weber-Knapp Company. [External Link]

Fig. 442 shows a directory listing for Weber-Knapp under "Wrenches & Socket Sets", as published on page 102 of the 1941 Directory of Manufacturers for Chain Store Age.

A similar entry appeared on page 71 of the same publication under the heading "Pliers".

The entry under "Wrenches & Socket Sets" may have been for a type of bicycle wrench constructed as a flat sheet of hardened steel with cut-outs of various shapes and sizes. (Wrenches of this type are known to have been made by Weber-Knapp.)

The entry under "Pliers" was likely for the ignition pliers displayed in Fig. 445 below. As noted in that figure, the ignition pliers were likely sold through Western Auto Supply.

WKCo Trademark

Fig. 443. 1962 Trademark Filing for Weber-Knapp Company.

In 1962 Weber-Knapp filed a trademark application for "WKCo" in a triangle design, with the first use noted as 1940. The trademark was issued as #746,459 on March 12, 1963.

The scan in Fig. 443 shows the 1962 trademark filing for the WKCo logo, as published on page TM151 of the December 25, 1962 issue of the Official Gazette.

Current Operations

Although Weber-Knapp may not be a familiar name, some of our readers may have used their products this morning when you pulled open the drawer on that antique chest, and again when you sat at your desk and pulled out the keyboard tray.

The company remains in business today, and more information on their products can be found at the WeberKnapp [External Link] web site.

Tool Identification

WKCo-Triangle Logo

Fig. 444. WKco-Triangle Logo from Trademark #746,459.

The scan in Fig. 444 shows the WKCo-Triangle logo as presented for trademark #746,459.

Weber-Knapp "Chromium Vanadium" 5 Inch Ignition Pliers

Fig. 445. Weber-Knapp "Chromium Vanadium" 5 Inch Ignition Pliers, with Insets for Marking Detail, ca. Mid 1930s to Early 1940s.

Fig. 445 shows a pair of Weber-Knapp 5 inch ignition pliers, stamped with "WK Co" and "Jamestown" in a triangle logo on the front, with "Chromium Vanadium" and "Made in U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 5.1 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

The distinctive "WKCo" logo was registered as trademark #746,459 on March 12, 1963.

The "Chromium Vanadium" marking strongly suggests that these pliers were made as contract production for Western Auto Supply, which used "Chromium Vanadium" (the full element names) as a brand beginning in 1931.

Based on historical usage patterns for "Chromium Vanadium", we would have estimated an early to mid 1930s production date for the pliers. The 1940 first use date claimed in the trademark would seem to indicate a later production date, but the goods mentioned in the trademark filing did not include tools, and it's possible that Weber-Knapp might have used the "WKCo" mark earlier on tools.

For now we'll use a mid 1930s to early 1940s date estimate, and will revise this if additional information becomes available.

Winner Tool Company

The Winner Tool Company operated in Seattle and Puyallup, Washington as a maker of wrenches patented by William T. Long. Long had received several patents for adjustable wrenches by the mid 1920s, including 1,181,466 in 1916, 1,270,848 in 1918, 1,408,524 in 1922, and 1,540,642 in 1925.

Public notices show that the company was incorporated in Seattle by March of 1926.

Fig. 446. 1926 Notice for Winner Tool Company. [External Link]

Fig. 446 shows a small notice for the Winner Tool Company, as published on page 139 of the March, 1926 issue of Western Machinery World. The text notes an amount of $50,000 and names principals as M.W. Dye and W.H. Hurt, with the filing by John F. Reed.

Fig. 447. 1926 Notice for Winner Tool Company. [External Link]

Fig. 447 shows a notice of incorporation for the Winner Tool Company, as published on page 687 of the March 11, 1926 issue of Iron Trade Review.

This second notice clarifies that the $50,000 was the total capital for the company.

The John F. Reed mentioned in Fig. 446 was the assignee of Long's 1925 patent 1,540,642, which suggests that the company was being incorporated to produce this wrench.

In 1928 some public notices were published for Winner Tool in Puyallup, Washington, a smaller city near Seattle.

Fig. 448. 1928 Notice for Winner Tool Company, Puyallup.

The scan in Fig. 448 shows a notice of a capital increase for the Winner Tool Company of Puyallup, as published on page 518 of the February 16, 1928 issue of The Iron Age.

The public record provides evidence of both Seattle and Puyallup locations for Winner Tool, which could indicate that the company maintained business offices in Seattle and a factory in Puyallup, but it's also possible that the company moved to Puyallup after starting in Seattle. (Puyallup was listed as the residence of the inventor William T. Long at the time of the 1922 patent.)

Winner Tool 8 Inch Plier Wrench

Fig. 448B. Winner Tool 8 Inch Plier-Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Mid to Late 1920s.

Fig. 448B shows a Winner Tool 8 inch plier-wrench, marked with "Winner Tool Co." and "Puyallup, Wash." forged into the shank, with "Plier Wrench" plus "Patd. Mar. 7, 1922" and "Chrome Vanadium" forged into the back side.

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

The patent date refers to patent 1,408,524, filed by W.T. Long in 1921 and issued in 1922, with assignment to the Usona Manufacturing Company.

Usona Manufacturing Company

One of our readers sent photos of a very similar tool, but marked with "USONA MFG. CO. SEATTLE" forged into the handle. The USONA wrench is marked with the Long patents from 1916 (with an incorrect date), 1918, and 1922, and is marked "Drop Forged" but without any mention of alloy steel.

Since Usona Manufacturing is noted as the assignee of the 1922 patent, we think it's likely that wrenches based on the 1922 patent were first manufactured by Usona and then later produced by Winner Tool. (We don't have any evidence, but at this point can't rule out the possibility that Winner Tool was the successor to Usona Manufacturing.)

Currently we haven't found much information on Usona Manufacturing. The Usona Manufacturing Company of Seattle was listed on page 57 [External Link] of the Sixteenth Biennial Report from the State of Washington, indicating that the company was incorporated sometime between 10/01/1918 and 09/30/1920. But apart from the fact of its incorporation, we haven't found any commercial references to the Seattle company.

The search for Usona is complicated by the existence of multiple entities of the same name. Companies named "Usona Manufacturing" operated in New York as a maker of "Kwik-Lite" flashlights, in Illinois as a maker of roofing products, and in St. Louis as a maker of metal goods. (In the early 20th century USONA was sometimes used as an acronym for "United States of North America", and the various company names are probably derived from this.)

If any of our readers have information on Usona Manufacturing of Seattle, please let us know via email.

J. Wiss & Sons

The J. Wiss & Sons Company was established in 1848 by Jacob Wiss as a maker of scissors, shears and cutlery. The company operated in Newark, New Jersey.

Fig. 449. 1895 Ad for J. Wiss & Sons. [External Link]

Fig. 449 shows an ad for J. Wiss & Sons, as published on page 37 of the February, 1895 issue of The American Exporter.

Fig. 449B. 1910 Ad for J. Wiss & Sons Tin Snips.

The scan in Fig. 449B shows a full-page ad for J. Wiss & Sons tin snips, as published on page 9 [External Link] of the February, 1910 issue of Engineering Review.

The text notes that the snips are constructed with crucible steel welded to the inside of the blades.

Catalog Resources

Wiss V-13 7 Inch Combination Pattern Tin Snips

Fig. 449C. Wiss V-13 7 Inch Combination Pattern Tin Snips, with Inset for Marking Detail.

Fig. 449C shows a pair of Wiss V-13 7 inch combination pattern tin snaps, marked with "WISS" forged into the handles, and with "Wiss U.S.A." and the model number near the pivot.

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the finish is gray paint.

Witherby Hand Tools

We recently (2024) ran across a pair of small side-cutting pliers marked "Witherby England" and thought they would make a good addition to our page on British and European makers. But when we went to look for the maker at Grace's Guide to British Industrial History, we ran into a snag: Grace's didn't have a Witherby company.

We then tried an online search for "Witherby pliers" and turned up a number of references, including some puzzled owners wondering about the company. Finally a Google Books search turned up the likely source, as the figure below shows.

Fig. 450. 1967 Ad for Witherby Hand Tools. [External Link]

Fig. 450 shows an ad for Witherby Hand Tools, as published on page 159 of the July 15, 1967 issue of Hardware Age.

The illustrations show several types of tools, including an "8-Ender" socket wrench, fence pliers, two saws, a "flare wrench", a brad and nail driver, and two tool sets.

The text in the lower left corner offers a number of types of pliers, of which the "Midget Pattern Linemen's Combination" best describes our example below.

The ad was placed by the Witherby Products Division of John H. Graham & Company, a manufacturer's representative and distributor based in New York City.

After finding this ad we realized that our Witherby pliers were not from an obscure British maker, but instead are just a made-up (but very British sounding!) brand for imports.

To be honest the pliers now seemed much less interesting, but since they had already been cleaned and photographed, we decided to post them here under the import brand. (And of course it's possible that we might be able to identify the actual maker at some point.)

A review of some online listings found an 8-in-1 multi-socket wrench made in Germany, slip-joint pliers made in England, a brad and nail driver made in England, and an adjustable wrench (not listed in the above ad) made in Japan.

We can provide some context for the Witherby import brand by noting that the 1950s and 1960s saw increased interest in imported tools. For example, by 1958 the Fuller Tool Company was importing fixed-pivot pliers from England, in 1962 the Daido Corporation formed its Truecraft division to sell mostly Japanese tools, and in 1963 the Award Tool Company was formed to import tools from Japan.

Trademarks

Fig. 451. Trademark Application for "Witherby Flare Wrench".

It turns out that the Graham company applied for a trademark on the text "Witherby Flare Wrench" in a design.

The scan in Fig. 451 shows the trademark application for "Witherby Flare Wrench" in a design, as published on page TM64 of the January 10, 1967 edition of the Official Gazette.

The application was filed on September 20, 1965 with serial 228,148, and was published on January 10, 1967. The company received trademark #826,383 on March 28, 1967.

Witherby 1855 4.5 Inch Side-Cutting Pliers

Fig. 452. Witherby 1855 4.5 Inch Side-Cutting Pliers, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Marking Detail, 1960s.

Fig. 452 shows a dimunitive pair of Witherby 1855 4.5 inch side-cutting pliers, stamped "Witherby" with "England" and the model number around the pivot.

The overall length is 4.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

These pliers are apparently the "Midget Pattern Linemen's Combination" pliers offered in the ad shown above. The pliers resemble the linemen's style but with the addition of two Button's cutters on the side, making them similar to the Kraeuter 1821 "universal cutting" pliers.

Although these are technically linemen's pliers, the tiny size means that no lineman would be able to use them, but they might be suitable for some electronics or crafts projects.

Wood Specialty Manufacturing Company

The Wood Specialty Manufacturing Company operated in Rockford, Illinois as the maker of "Speedex" wire-stripping tools. The company was in business by 1943, based on a notice in the trade press for that year.

The company's main product was a wire-stripping tool based on patents by the eponymous Stuart G. Wood.

Fig. 453A. 1948 Ad for Wood Specialty "Speedex" Wire Stripper.

Fig. 453A shows an ad for the Wood Specialty "Speedex" wire stripper, as published on page 322 [External Link] of the November, 1948 issue of Popular Mechanics.

The text of the ad refers to the illustrated tool as Model No. 733 and notes that it will strip wire from No. 12 to No. 20 gauge.

Acquisition by General Cement

By 1951 the company had been acquired by General Cement, a maker of supplies for the electronics industry later known as GC Electronics.

General Cement had been founded in 1930 as the maker of a special cement for repairing phonograph cabinets and speaker cones. The company grew with the radio and electronics industry, and later added specialized tools to its product line.

Wood Specialty continued to operate as a division of General Cement, and by 1956 had changed its name to the Speedex Manufacturing Company.

The Speedex wire stripper was a highly successful product. By 1957 the wire strippers were being offered by Sears Roebuck in their Craftsman tool catalog, and by 1970 even Snap-on was offering the tool as the GA-116 wire stripper.

Later Operations

In 1959 General Cement changed its name to GC Electronics and later was swept up into various conglomerates.

In 1985 it was indirectly owned by Wallace Murray, which decided to combine GC Electronics with the Thorsen Tool Company to form GC Thorsen. By this time Thorsen was just a marketing shell with 100% outsourced production, and its remaining operations were relocated to Rockford, Illinois. (See our article on Thorsen Manufacturing for details.)

In 1995 CG Thorsen was acquired by Katy Industries and Thorsen Tool was split off from GC Electronics.

GC Electronics remains in business today, and the company offers a 12-480 Speed-O-Matic Wire Stripper [External Link] resembling the earlier Speedex models.

Patents

Wood Specialty "Speedex" Wire Stripper

Fig. 453. Wood Specialty "Speedex" Wire Stripper, with Insets for Back Side Detail and Marking Detail, ca. Early to Mid 1940s.

Fig. 453 shows an early Wood Specialty "Speedex" wire stripper, stamped with "Wood Specialty Mfg. Co." and "Rockford, Ill. U.S.A." around the circular plate, with "Speedex Wire Stripper" on the inside.

The tool is also marked with "Pats. No. 1151319 1196322" and "Other Pats. Pending" cast into the upper arm, as seen in the upper inset.

The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is black paint.

The "Other Pats. Pending" marking refers in part to patent 2,313,793, filed by S.G. Wood in 1940 and issued in 1943.

The operation of this tool is very clever but is difficult to describe without actually seeing it operate, but we'll give it a try.

Referring to the left inset, the upper arm has a clamping gate to hold a wire in place, and the lower arm has a stripping gate with holes of various sizes for different wire gauges. As the handles start to close, the gate on the top arm closes first to clamp the wire in place, then the stripping gate on the bottom arm closes with the wire in the selected hole. As the handles close further, the two arms begin to separate, and the insulation on the wire is pushed off by the stripping gate.

Wright Wrench Manufacturing Company

The Wright Wrench Manufacturing Company was founded in Canton, Ohio as a maker of quick-adjusting nut wrenches. The company probably began operations around 1909, and the founder is presumed to have been James F. Wright, an inventor whose patents formed part of the basis for the company's products.

Fig. 453. 1909 Notice for Wright Quick-Adjusting Wrench. [External Link]

The illustration in Fig. 453 was published on page 499 of the November 3, 1909 issue of The Horseless Age and shows the construction of the Wright quick-adjusting wrench. A brief note in the text describes the operation and advantages of the wrench.

In 1909 the company began operating an additional facility in Tacoma, Washington, and later wrench production was typically marked with either the Canton or Tacoma location.

In 1910 the company name was changed to the Wright Wrench & Forging Company, and the company introduced a line of quick-adjusting pipe wrenches, based on a later patent by James F. Wright.

Wright Wrench 8 Inch Quick-Adjusting Nut Wrench

Fig. 454. Wright Wrench 8 Inch Quick-Adjusting Nut Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 454 shows a Wright Wrench 8 inch quick-adjusting nut wrench, marked with "Steel Forging" and "Pat 3-04 - 1-09" forged into the shank, with "Wright Wrench Co." and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the back side.

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

The patent notice is a bit tricky to interpret, as it provides the month and year for two separate patent dates. The first date refers to patent 754,633, filed by L. Ash and H.B. Stewart in 1903 and issued on March 15, 1904.

The second date refers to patent 910,890, filed by J.F. Wright in 1907 and issued on January 26, 1909.

X4 Tools

X4 Tools is a maker of torque multiplier drive tools and operates as a division of Geartronics International.

Torque Multipliers

Some of our readers may not be familiar with the concept of a torque multipler for drive tools, so we'll offer a brief introduction here.

With a standard drive tool such as a ratchet or flex handle, the angular rotation of the socket is exactly the same as the rotation of the handle, so the torque applied by the handle is the same as the torque delivered to the bolt or nut.

A torque multiplier tool consists of a handle assembly holding a gear train with input and output shafts, typically a square receptacle for input (e.g. 3/4-drive) and a square stud for output (e.g. 1 inch drive). The gear train provides a reduction between the input and output, typically requiring four turns of the input shaft for one turn of the output.

If we neglect frictional losses within the unit, the input work (torque times angular displacement) must equal the output work, and since the angular displacement of the input shaft will be four times greater than the output shaft, the output torque must be be four times greater than the input.

Readers interested in further information can find a discussion of the use of torque multipliers in maintaining huge logging equipment in the "VanNatta's Mechanics Tools" link on our External Links page.

X4 TD-1000 1 Inch Drive Torque Multiplier

Fig. 455. X4 TD-1000 Torque Multiplier, with Insets for Side View, Top View, and Marking Detail, ca. 2000s.

Fig. 455 shows an X4 TD-1000 1 inch drive torque multiplier head with an inserted bar handle.

This model has a 3/4-drive receptacle on the input shaft, as seen in the lower photo, with a 1 inch drive stud on the output shaft.

The label reads "Mod. TD-1000" at the upper left, with "X4 Tools Division" in the middle plus "Gear/Tronics International Incorporated" and "North Billerica, Mass. U.S.A." at the bottom.

The overall length is 24.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The X4 TD-1000 model is rated for 2000 foot-pounds of torque at the output shaft.

Zim Manufacturing Company

Zim Manufacturing is a maker of auto accessories and specialty tools based in Chicago, Illinois. The company is believed to have commenced operations in 1919, and is probably best known for their automotive valve service tools.

Fig. 456A. 1924 Notice for Zim Manufacturing. [External Link]

Fig. 456A shows the entry for Zim Manufacturing on page 1365 of the 1924 List of Foreign and Domestic Corporations, published by the State of Illinois.

The officers are listed as E.J. Zimmerman and R.W. Zimmerman, and the address is given as 208 North Wabash Avenue in Chicago.

Although we haven't found a notice of the company's founding, we do have evidence that Zim was in business by 1919.

Fig. 456. 1919 Notice for Zim Manufacturing. [External Link]

Fig. 456 shows a notice indirectly mentioning Zim Manufacturing, as published on page 130 of the December 4, 1919 issue of Printers' Ink.

The text notes that Critchfield & Company would provide advertising services for the Zim Company, which it notes as a manufacturer of auto accessories in Chicago.

Some early advertisements for the company were placed under the name Zim Accessories.

Fig. 457. 1920 Ad for Zim Accessories. [External Link]

Fig. 457 shows an ad for Zim Accessories, as published on page 1219 of the July, 1920 edition of the Automobile Trade Directory. The address at 208 North Wabash Avenue matches the known location of Zim Manufacturing.

It's worth noting that some early advertisements have been found listing Zim Accessories as a distributor, implying that the the company was acting as both a manufacturer and as a sales agent.

Fig. 458. 1921 Notice for Zim Manufacturing Rex Jack.

The scan in Fig. 458 shows a notice for the Rex automobile jack offered by Zim Manufacturing, as published on page 425 [External Link] of the August, 1921 issue of The Motor Truck.

Later Operations

In 2017 Zim was acquired by A&E, a maker of automotive hand tools based in Racine, Wisconsin.

Trademarks

The company filed a trademark application for "ZIM" on April 14, 1951 for a wide variety of tools, including cylinder ridge reamers, valve lifters, piston ring compressors, and gear pullers. The first use was January of 1920. The application was published on July 1, 1952 with serial 612,672. The tracemark was issued as #566,892 on November 18, 1952.

Zim Valve Adjusting Tool

Fig. 459. Zim Valve Adjusting Tool, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 459 shows a Zim valve adjusting tool, consisting of a 9/16x5/8 stamped-steel box wrench fitted with a retractable screwdriver. The tool is stamped "Zim Mfg. Co. Chicago" and "Made in U.S.A." on the arm.

The overall length is 8.1 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

In operation, the swinging arm is positioned over the desired wrench opening and then secured with the thumbscrew. The wrench then loosens the valve lock nut while the tappet is adjusted with the screwdriver, and the nut is tightened when the correct setting is reached.

This tool is virtually identical to the New Britain Valve Adjusting Tool shown in our article on the New Britain Machine company.