Diamond Tool and horseshoe company
- Thread starter jay50
- Start date
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Not that old or it would have said Diamond Calk Horseshoe Company!
The name changed to Diamond Tool & Horseshoe Co. in 1963...
The name changed to Diamond Tool & Horseshoe Co. in 1963...
old salvage
Well-known member
They made adjustables for a long time. From the 20's until the 1980's I think.
Alloy Artifacts has a bunch up with different logos.
Alloy Artifacts has a bunch up with different logos.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
They actually continued as a Cooper brand until at least 1997 (I have a wrench from that year) before being discontinued in favour of that other Cooper brand - Crescent! Under Cooper the designs were virtually identical anyway...
The brand still exists in Cooper's stable, but now produces only farrier items.
The brand still exists in Cooper's stable, but now produces only farrier items.
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Here's some info I saw on them the other day "Diamond Tool Co. began in 1908 making horseshoes. Later they produced a line of hand tools & were particularly known for the quality of their adjustable wrenches & pliers."
Merkava_4
Banned
Diamond tools is good quality stuff; if you guys run across them, nab'm up quick!
old salvage
Well-known member
They sort of came full circle then.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Yep! (Although I don't know if you can still buy a calk..!)
You sure do!!! Go back tomorrow!I bought a set of Diamond pliers at TSC a couple of months ago. They were on clearance for less than $10, and of course, they are made in China.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Dude.... that was WEIRD!
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Must've been a bad shrimp cocktail from the other night... 
lbgradwell
Well-known member
I was thinking of USA-made adjustable wrenches specifically... For all I know, they may have outsourced the production of the adjustables to China briefly too, but, if so, I've never seen an example...
Yeah, the 1997 adjustable I mentioned was one of those A210W on the Epstein site. I got it from eBay, but the Seller likely bought from Harry! It's Made-in-USA and decent enough quality, but I only bought it because I had no Diamond tools at the time. Most of the "magic" of the name was Cooperized out of it by then, and I have since acquired both Diamond Calk Horseshoe Co. and Diamond Tool & Horseshoe Co. items that I much prefer for their historical merit!
Northstar9126
Well-known member
The Diamond Tool plant was located in Duluth, MN. I used to drive past it all of the time. When Diamond was sold to Cooper they closed the plant and tore it down. Now a strip mall sits on the spot. Very sad.
Yep! (Although I don't know if you can still buy a calk..!)
!
Will do that very soon. The only reason the tools have lasted so long is that mom is still able (and not afraid) to grab the 12ga double barrel and investigate any possible tresspassers.....
Also, the german shepherd running the property line is a little on the crazy
side; 
lbgradwell
Well-known member
Yeah.
I wonder if something similar will happen in a small town in Nebraska soon..?
Which facility would you rather have? A productive factory employing skilled labor producing this or a "strip mall" selling **** and not producing a dam thing ?
I would of course prefer a productive factory at the location. Below is an example of Diamalloy pliers produced at that site, with the current Chinese version below it.
I certainly hope that the strip mall does not contain a TSC store, as that would be truly insulting to the ground it stands upon, as well as to those who used to work there.
I certainly hope that the strip mall does not contain a TSC store, as that would be truly insulting to the ground it stands upon, as well as to those who used to work there.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
The Chinese ones are more shiny.
The Chinese ones are more shiny.
Actually, they are not even plated. Just brushed and clear coated.
The old ones are bright chrome, but dirty.
Northstar9126
Well-known member
Of course it was a better situation when the Diamond factory was up and operating. The factory actually provided jobs with a living wage. The "very sad" comment was not sarcasim, it really is very sad what happened there.
Vinko
Well-known member
I was looking on H. Epstein's site for some other stuff, and noticed that Diamond adj. wrenches are on clearance there.
My dad used to find Diamond stuff at swap meets. We have some in a box somewhere.
My dad used to find Diamond stuff at swap meets. We have some in a box somewhere.
MAD
Well-known member
mulepackin
Well-known member
Diamond tools used to be "the" tools to get for the farrier trade. Now they are junk. There are a few manf. here in the USA that still make high end farrier tools, GE Forge, DS, and Lopez are a couple.
davestlouis
Well-known member
I stumbled on some USA-made Diamond groove joint pliers today at my local farm store, model HL112PH 12 inch, bought 2 of the 3 they had, the 3rd pair had in issue, the jaws didn't line up properly, even in the packaging. The packaging was dusty, and they were surrounded by Channelock items.
davestlouis
Well-known member
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Frank Elson
Well-known member
These shopping mall things are spreading in the UK now.
I went in one with my wife about a month ago. Terrible place, full of what we call "posh frock shops". I don't think I'll bother going in another.
The beloved wasn't impressed either.
I went in one with my wife about a month ago. Terrible place, full of what we call "posh frock shops". I don't think I'll bother going in another.
The beloved wasn't impressed either.
Hey Dave, I was just wondering the other day what happened to you. Glad to see you pop in again.
Nice find on those pliers BTW
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davestlouis
Well-known member
Thanks much, good to be back...had an "interesting" time in my life, but things are settling down to a low roar again, so I have a little time to play on the forum.
Tommyc
New member
Maybe you guys would know. I just acquired a 18" Diamond Calk Horse Shoe CO. adjustable wrench. Yes, on this big lunker there is a space between horse and shoe. There is a model number just under the adjustment wheel A700. I can't find any information on this big wrench. There isn't a ridge all the way around the whole at the end of the wrench so I think it was made between 1920 and 1931.
Do you guys have any more information on this wrench?
Tom
Do you guys have any more information on this wrench?
Tom
Tom: to be fully evaluated you need to immediately send this fine old piece of iron directly to Elroy for his complete and professional evaluation. In return Elroy will promptly send you a check commensurate with its value.
Elroy would also suggest that you review this site for additional information
http://alloy-artifacts.com/diamond-calk-horseshoe.html
Tommyc
New member
Thought I would post a couple of images of that 18 inch wrench
Tom
Tommyc
New member
Just saw your reply Elroy. So I have a good one huh LOL
No actually it's a piece of **** and you need to get out of your possession immediately. Who the hell would want a old wrench?
I mean really, come on. And especially one that says "Diamond Horse Shoe".
I'd rather have one that said China. NOT
Uncle Buck
Banned
Diamond has been out of business for a few years. The only company I am aware of that has any remaining inventory of the Diamond brand is Harry Epstein company in KC Missouri. Diamond was a good brand of tools. I sold many while working in hardware stores years ago.
Tommyc
New member
Tom: to be fully evaluated you need to immediately send this fine old piece of iron directly to Elroy for his complete and professional evaluation. In return Elroy will promptly send you a check commensurate with its value.
Elroy would also suggest that you review this site for additional information
http://alloy-artifacts.com/diamond-calk-horseshoe.html
That is where I found the year it was made. I see 4" 6" 10" out there but there aren't any pictures of an 18 inch. I bought it on auction because I work on old ford tractors and I need big wrenches. Maybe I'll just clean this up a little bit and put some gun oil on it and look for one to use.
I know my pictures are bad I'm getting a new camera
Tom