Show your vintage Bridgeport tools!

[LesserSon]

Apologies if there is already a general thread for Bridgeport Hardware Manufacturing Corporation. I looked and only found the U.S.A.Nickel-Molybdenum and metric/SAE DOEs threads. If you’ve started a more specific thread, feel free to link to it here; the more discussion, the better!
Here’s a link to their 1953 catalog hosted on Blackburn Tools.
Please post any and all pictures of vintage Bridgeport tools here. I’ll start with their distinctive black-capped “Rhino” Amberlite-handled screwdrivers.

 

[LesserSon]

Here’s the Hy-Bar angled DOEs.

 

[LesserSon]

And the oft-queried Pyramid DOES.
Private Lugnutz initiated a multi-thread-hopping discussion of Bridgeport’s early forays into metric/SAE-marked DOEs when responding to Macduf’s 723 wrench.
Duscussion entered Outlaw’s DOEs thread here.
And here’s an earlier-pattern DOE with the metric/SAE stampings.

 

[Username already in use]

You've got some nice stuff going there. I posted my Hy-Bar set in the 'kit wrenches' thread, but I'll cross post them over here as well. Good 'ol #69...

 

[LesserSon]

And the mysteriously marked “U.S.A.Nickel-Molybdenum” DOEs and DBEs. The patent is Harry B. Curtis’ 29Oct1935 design patent (requires a “D” prefix) for the decorative darts pattern with the X in the center, and not Alfred Stevens’ 30Nov1869 “ship implement.” But if you’ve researched “97325” and “D97325”, you already know that, don’t you?
Username started a thread on this specific pattern.

 

[misterbill]

Here's a set of engineer wrenches that resides in my WWII jeep onboard toolkit.

731A, 28S, 27C, 25, and 723.

Bill

 

[LesserSon]

Those are cool! I don’t think I’ve seen that logo before. It’s a large “B” with an “H” in the upper loop and an “M” in the lower loop, right?
I’ve dug through so many bins of DOEs, maybe I’ve just not looked closely enough to distinguish them from similar patterns.

 

[LesserSon]

Ha! I knew I had more Bridgeport somewhere.
Here’s a No56 nail puller. Patent 708811 covers the construction of the beak from folded steel. Ellie Newton Sperry held two other sheetmetal-related patents (for pliers). His son, Ralph Milo Sperry was an officer of BHMCo. I believe these are intended for cut or square nails, because the narrow beak doesn’t get much purchase on a round nail.
And a set of Amberlite handle wood chisels.
Both of these items were my grandfather’s.

 

[misterbill]

Those are cool! I don’t think I’ve seen that logo before. It’s a large “B” with an “H” in the upper loop and an “M” in the lower loop, right?

Yup.

 

[LesserSon]

Well, today I did see that logo. But now I can’t recall what it was on. Probably slip joint pliers - there was a big pile of various brands at one flea market I shopped today.
I picked up a 1/2x9/16DBE in bare steel today with a forging fluke - the X is missing on the patent# side.

 

[d42jeep]

I went through my old pictures and found a variety of Bridgeport wrenches, many of which have been posted on other threads but here they are anyway.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

And some more. Some may be duplicates.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've posted plenty of Bridgeport Hardware and Manufacturing tools elsewhere that I will try to cross-link eventually, but here is a No. 99 Tomahawk crate tool. I have one from the 50's, too. This one is considerably older and was purchased, despite the broken claw, specifically because of the Big B Little HM logo. Excuse the older photos. (I can't seem to find it at the moment, but I know it's in the Lugzonian somewhere!)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Cool stuff. I have a stash of it at the shop somwhere. You guys have me motivated to dig it up

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some photos of Bridgeport screwdrivers from my GMTK. My keeper #3 Phillips is engraved ORD and is dual marked with a Stanley shank. The red handled screwdrivers in the last shot are Bridgeport.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is my bridgeport radio socket set

 

[LesserSon]

The sockets all fit in the wood handle?! That’s cool. Love the threaded cap.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It's not holding so good, the wood threads are getting weak. Otherwise still pretty functional.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a sweet set. And a unique branding. They used a variety of ways to deal with their long name, depending on the tool, but I don't believe I've seen "BRIDGEPORT H.M. CO." before.

 

[BuffettFan]

Not vintage, but I had one Bridgeport tool, a tire valve installation tool that I sent off in the "Pay it forward" thread.

View media item 79774
I think that might have been the last transaction in the thread. Shipping $$ kills!

View media item 79773
Is this the same company? This tool would have been from the mid 80's

 

[Bryan Burns]

When I need a BFS I use this.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's a nice one. I have a box of the large rhinos. Could not resist them!

 

[Joe Huld]

Hoe about this big honkin screwdriver!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That is a big screwdriver

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Bridgeport matchless 92 screwdriver

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Bridgeport radiolectric pliers

 

[Indexmill]

That's a nice one. I have a box of the large rhinos. Could not resist them!

Hi, would you be interested in trading one of those Rhino screwdrivers for a NOS Matchless #98 flat blade screwdriver with the black lacquer wooden, fluted handle in perfect condition.

John.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I could let one go. Pm me your info.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here are some dual size marked wrenches (metric and sae)

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

Great looking tools guys. Don’t think I have ever come across a Bridgeport tool. Going to have to keep my eyes out now.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a picture of a dual size marked DOE wrench that had the same Bridgeport logo as misterbills’s great Jeep wrenches posted upthread.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a first seen for me. I've got BHM ISN Jeep/GMTK wrenches and Bridgeport metrics, but never saw a BHM ISN wrench with metric sizes before! KEEPER!

 

[d42jeep]

I just used misterbill’s picture for reference. No metric measurements, unfortunately. Sorry.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Doh! Okay, I see. I thought that photo on the right was the jaw face for the wrench on the left with the m/m markings! (Which, now that I think about it for more than one excitable second, wouldn't make sense anyway, since a 731-A would be more like 19 x 22.) Never mind.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a cool looking one

 

[LesserSon]

It’s interesting that it’s a nonspecific alloy, rather than the typical USA Nickel Molybdenum.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

BHM made a similar adjustment around the same time (late 1941/early 1942) with the Master Quality wrenches. (Bill showed his above.) Prewar they were marked 'Molybdenum-Alloy' on the flip side; during the war they were marked 'Forged Steel' on the flip side. Otherwise they are identical.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A couple of variations

 

[bonneyman]

Found a NY telephone screwdriver made by Bridgeport. Surprising good shape. Still have to clean it up though.

 

[LesserSon]

Hmm. I had posted this screwdriver on the Bell System thread, but apparently forgot to post it here. I got this with a messed-up leather washers cap, and simply cut it down and put some shellac on the handle. I’ll try for a better picture of the logo tomorrow.