St. Pierre Chain Corporation

Table of Contents

Introduction

The St. Pierre Chain Corporation was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1920 as a maker of tire chains. The company later added automotive service tools and chain-repair tools to its product line, and later still began making pitching horseshoes for the game of horseshoes.

Company History

The St. Pierre Chain Corporation was founded in 1920 by Henry St. Pierre in Worcester, Massachusetts. The founder was an inventor from Vermont who had created an improved type of tire chains.

Fig. 1A. 1927 Notice for St. Pierre Tire Chains. [External Link]

Fig. 1A shows a notice for St. Pierre tire chains, as published on page 39 of the September, 1927 edition of Motor Record.

The text notes the "Royal" and "Standard" models of chains, with the "Royal" chains including a patented equalizing link.

Acquisition of Rogers Drop Forging

Fig. 1B. 1922 Ad for Rogers Drop Forging. [External Link]

In 1928 the company acquired the Rogers Drop Forging Company, which operated a factory on Frank Street in Worcester. St. Pierre began producing a line of drop-forged automotive tools, including pliers, grease bars, and tire irons.

Fig. 1B shows an ad for the Rogers Drop Forging Company, as published on page 1278 of a 1922 Worcester Directory.

By 1931 the company had begun drop-forging standardized horseshoes for the game of pitching horseshoes.

Acquisition of Trimont Manufacturing

By 1955 the company had acquired the Trimont Manufacturing Company, a maker of pipe wrenches and pipe tools with operations going back to 1888. Trimont continued to operate as a division of St. Pierre Chain.

Later Operations

The company continues in operation today as the St. Pierre Manufacturing Corporation, and interested readers can visit their web site at www.stpierreusa.com [External Link] for further information.

Patents

Trademarks

References and Resources

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

Catalog Resources

Industrial Distributors

Selected Tools

Our coverage here will focus on their automotive service tools, and we have a number of examples of pliers, wrenches, and chain-related tools to show.

St. Pierre [No. 1] Chain-Repair Pliers

Fig. 1. St. Pierre [No. 1] Chain-Repair Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1925-1928.

Fig. 1 shows an early pair of St. Pierre [No. 1] chain-repair pliers, marked with "St. Pierre" and "Worcester Mass U.S.A." forged into one handle, with "Pat Pending" forged into the back side. No model number was marked on this example, but this model is marked as "No. 1" in the next figure.

The overall length is 9.4 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

The patent pending status corresponds to the patent 1,657,978, filed by H. St. Pierre in 1925 and issued in 1928.

St. Pierre No. 1 Chain-Repair Pliers

Fig. 2. St. Pierre No. 1 Chain-Repair Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1925-1928.

Fig. 2 shows another pair of St. Pierre No. 1 chain-repair pliers, with forged-in markings for the company name and "Worcester Mass U.S.A." near the pivot, and with the model number and a "Pat Pending" notice on the back side.

The overall length is 9.4 inches, and the finish is black paint.

The pliers are also marked with the M-Circle logo of the Moore Drop Forging Company, indicating that these pliers were made by Moore.

The patent pending status corresponds to the patent 1,657,978, filed by H. St. Pierre in 1925 and issued in 1928.

St. Pierre 11 Inch Compound-Leverage Chain-Repair Pliers

Fig. 3. St. Pierre Compound-Leverage Chain-Repair Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1929 to 1930s.

Fig. 3 shows a pair of St. Pierre 11 inch compound-leverage chain-repair pliers, marked with "Pat. No. 1657978-1658995-1710554" forged into the handle. Although not marked with the company name, the pliers can be identified by the patent markings and resemblance to the St. Pierre No. 1 pliers.

The overall length is 10.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The first patent number listed on the handle is 1,657,978, filed by H. St. Pierre in 1925 and issued in 1928. The second patent number listed is 1,658,995, filed by J.N. MacDonald in 1925 and issued in 1928. The third patent number listed is 1,710,554, filed by H. St. Pierre in 1926 and issued in 1929.

St. Pierre 1/2x9/16 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 4. St. Pierre 1/2x9/16 Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 4 shows a St. Pierre 1/2x9/16 offset box wrench, stamped "Chrome Alloy" on the shank, with "St. Pierre" on the back side.

The overall length is 9.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

St. Pierre 9/16x5/8 Battery Terminal Box-End Wrench

Fig. 5. St. Pierre 9/16x5/8 Battery Terminal Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 5 shows a St. Pierre 9/16x5/8 battery terminal box-end wrench, stamped with "St. Pierre" and "Worcester, Mass." on the shank.

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