Park Metalware Company

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Park Metalware Company operated in Orchard Park, New York as a maker of wrenches and other tools and is best known for its line of Xcelite screwdrivers and nut drivers.

Park Metalware Company

Park Metalware was founded in 1921 in Orchard Park, New York by friends and family of John Zilliox, an expert machinist and inventor with several patents. During the 1920s the company developed an open-end wrench with interchangeable heads, a patented adjustable drain-plug wrench, and other tools including the first screwdrivers with plastic handles.

Interchangeable Wrench Heads

Among the more unusual products offered by Park Metalware were sets of open-end wrenches with interchangeable heads fitting a special handle. These wrenches were based on patents 1,535,281 and 1,626,906, issued to J. Zilliox in 1925 and 1927.

Gillett Solderless Wire Connectors

By 1927 Park Metalware was offering a "Gillett" line of solderless wire connectors for use by electric utilities.

Xcelite Screwdrivers

Park sold its tools under the XCEL and XCELITE brands, and by the 1930s was using XCELITE for a line of screwdrivers.

Fig. 1A. 1930 Notice for Park Metalware.

The composite scan in Fig. 1A shows an announcement for various Park Metalware products, as published on page 6 of the November 15, 1930 issue of Automotive Daily News. (The text has been re-flowed into a compact block.)

The text announces several products, including a new line of Xcelite shock-proof screwdrivers, an Xcel multi-head wrench set, and Xcel adjustable socket wrenches for drain-plug service.

Some details to note are that the screwdrivers had alloy steel blades, and the interchangeable wrenches were drop-forged from chrome-nickel alloy steel.

Xcelite Nut Drivers

As the radio and electronics industry grew in the 1930s, demand for small socket wrenches called "nut drivers" increased as well. Nut drivers were similar to screwdrivers but had a shaft terminated in a hexagonal opening. Some models were made with hollow shafts to allow reaching a nut threaded on a long screw.

Nut drivers were also useful for some automotive applications, and the first nut drivers are believed to have been the "SpinTite" tools developed by Stevens & Company in the mid 1920s.

At some point in the 1930s Park Metalware added nut drivers to its Xcelite line.

Fig. 1B. 1945 Ad for Xcelite Nut Drivers.

The scan in Fig. 1B shows an ad for Xcelite nut drivers, as published on page 184 of the April, 1945 issue of Popular Mechanics.

The text notes the use of color-coded handles as a convenience feature for selecting the desired size.

Xcelite, Incorporated

By 1953 Park Metalware had changed its name to Xcelite, Incorporated.

Later Operations

In 1973 Xcelite was acquired by Cooper Industries, an industrial conglomerate.

In 2010 the tool operations of Cooper Industries were merged with the comparable divisions of the Danher Corporation to form the Apex Tool Group. Xcelite continues today as a part of Apex.

Patents

Trademarks

References and Resources

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

Catalog Resources

Industrial Distributors

Park Metalware tools were available from some industrial distributors. We'll add references as time permits.

Selected Tools

Park Metalware 8 Inch Adjustable Drain-Plug Socket Wrench

Fig. 2. Park Metalware 8 Inch Adjustable Drain-Plug Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. Late 1920s to 1930s.

Fig. 2 shows a Park 8 inch adjustable socket wrench for drain-plug service, marked "Park Metalware Co." and "Orchard Park, N.Y. U.S.A." on the rotating handle, though the markings are very faint due to wear and rust.

The overall length (when retracted) is 7.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Although not marked on this example, this wrench design is covered by patent 1,639,831, issued to J. Zilliox in 1927.

Readers familiar with our Blackhawk article will undoubtedly recognize the similarities between this tool and the Blackhawk 151 "Adjusto" Wrench shown in that article. The Park tool preceded the Blackhawk model by some number of years, and clearly must have influenced the Blackhawk design.

Xcel 6 Inch Adjustable Drain-Plug Socket Wrench

Fig. 3. Xcel 6 Inch Adjustable Drain-Plug Wrench, with Insets for Top View and Marking Detail, ca. 1930s to 1940s.

Fig. 3 shows a later Xcel 6 inch adjustable socket wrench for drain-plug service, stamped "Xcel Socket Wrench" with "Mfd. By Park Metalware Co." and "Orchard Park, N.Y." on the rotating handle, as seen in the composite inset.

The overall length (when retracted) is 6.0 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The handle is also marked "Pat. No. 1639831", referring to the 1927 Zilliox patent 1,639,831.

Xcelite Nut Drivers

Nut drivers were an important product for Park Metalware and were probably available by the early 1930s.

Fig. 4. 1960 Catalog Listing for Xcelite Nut Drivers.

The scan in Fig. 4 shows a catalog listing for Xcelite nut drivers, as published on page 10 of catalog No. 160 from 1960.

Nut drivers were available in several styles and with either solid or hollow shafts. All models were given color-coded handles so that the desired size could be found at a glance.

Xcelite Early No. 6 3/16 Nut Driver

The next figures show two generations of the Xcelite No. 6 nut driver.

Fig. 5. Xcelite Early No. 6 3/16 Nut Driver, with Insets for Back Side and Construction Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 5 shows an early Xcelite [No.] 6 3/16 nut driver, marked with "XceLite" and "Orchard Park, N.Y." on the front, with the model number and fractional size on the back side.

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

Xcelite No. 6 3/16 Nut Driver

Fig. 6. Xcelite No. 6 3/16 Nut Driver, with Inset for Construction Detail, ca. 1940s+.

Fig. 6 shows a later Xcelite No. 6 3/16 nut driver, marked with the "XceLite" underline logo flanked by the fractional size and model number.

The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Xcelite HS-11 11/32 Nut Driver

The next two figures show examples of the HS-series hollow shaft nut drivers.

Fig. 7. Xcelite HS-11 11/32 Nut Driver, with Inset for Construction Detail.

Fig. 7 shows an Xcelite HS-11 11/32 nut driver, marked with the "XceLite" underline logo flanked by the fractional size and model number.

The overall length is 7.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Xcelite HS-18 9/16 Nut Driver

Fig. 8. Xcelite HS-18 9/16 Nut Driver, with Inset for Construction Detail.

Fig. 8 shows an Xcelite HS-18 9/16 nut driver, marked with the "XceLite" underline logo flanked by the fractional size and model number.

The overall length is 7.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.