Mechanics Tool & Forge Company

[woody 73]

This is a story that is sweet yet bittersweet in nature, the first part is the sweet part and the last part of the story is the bittersweet part. During the Great depression of the 1930's when money was very hard to come by; seven men in a sleepy small town in Sabina, Ohio got together and pooled their resources in order to start the Mechanics Tool & Forge Co. in 1938.

Their timing was dead on because with the start of WW ll , four years later the US Government needed hand tools for all of their military equipment and with all that money coming in the Company took off like a rocket.

In 1961 the name had changed to MAC; and in 1980 they were sold to Stanley Tools. We could stop here but alas with change comes growing pains; with all this change the bittersweet part would follow because by the 1990's time period new truck sales route staff suffered and later with many products coming from overseas discontent would follow.

Mind you this is a post about "VINTAGE" tools using the 50/100 formula /2015-50=1965 time period. PS: only vintage tool talk please in any further post comments concerning mac tools.

This brings me to the hard part of the story how do I figure out the Mac tool dates for any old Vintage tools without having any old catalogs to look at; I had to look a long time in reading through many years of tool posts on the GJ before I hit Gold as they say.

Going back several years worth of looking I found GJ Member dieseldodge01 had several old Mac tool Catalogs starting with 1950 and into the early 1960's, which would help me date some of my older vintage tools.

After several PM'S he feared there is not any hard date codes on my tools but rather looking at his old catalogs the wrenches marked D12 was listed in the 1950 catalog. The DR is listed in his 58 catalog, the COB is in the 63 catalog, the M19CW & M8CH in the 59 catalog.

Ratchets, X8R were made by New Britain from 60-77, the X3r was in the 50 catalog and no date for the VF5 but my guess it is around the early 50's.

The Ext. were a **** shoot as they say (same number system in 1950 as today) but just looking at the ends told me they were of a vintage "look" to them.

The screwdrivers are all wooden and all marked Sabina,Ohio. PS Forgot to mention all tools are marked Sabina, Ohio.

Special thanks to dieseldodge01 for all his help in this story and with all the GJ behind him maybe one day in the future he will be able to make computer copies of all his old Mac catalogs we wish him well on that large task at hand.

Enjoy the pictures and links. as always I will need some time to post all my pictures.

http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?topic=1181.0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabina,_Ohio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Tools

http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/mac-tools-bitter-history/

http://www.racelinecentral.com/MACtools_history.html

 

[woody 73]

More picture to follow set #2

 

[woody 73]

Set #3

 

[woody 73]

Set #4

 

[woody 73]

Set #5

 

[woody 73]

Set#6

 

[woody 73]

Set #7 last Set

 

[lzenglish]

Excellent Post "Woody73", and one that I learned allot from, Thanks!

Wayne

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

great post woody, oddly enough I don't have any vintage Mac tools to share, I had a socket but I warrantied it and got a proto back.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Woody you are quite the GJ historian. I really enjoy these threads of yours. Thank you.

 

[woody 73]

Another GJ post with some more Mac date Code information:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279698

 

[bb_max]

Digging this back up. Is there any indication of when the "Sabin, OH" disappeared from the tools?

I have a number of old Mac combo wrenches, some with the double lines, and some that I would say are older. I believe all have the location name.

 

[woody 73]

I know the Mac /Matco split was back in the late 70's maybe in 79 ? I found this old post not sure if it helps you out or not?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56790

 

[twertsy]

Here's my exhaustive research on the topic. Even where "MAC" was derived from, and other companies the founders started.............

http://toolarchives.com/node/2389

Also found this combo set very early one morning browsing eBay which luckily had a BIN price set that was extremely reasonable!

 

[bb_max]

Digging this back up. Is there any indication of when the "Sabin, OH" disappeared from the tools?

I have a number of old Mac combo wrenches, some with the double lines, and some that I would say are older. I believe all have the location name.

Looked at these tonight and I guess I remembered wrong. I have 5-6 that have only the stamped "MAC" and C part number, and size stamping, no location mark.
One 3/8" is interesting in that the fractional size is raised as a part of the forging, but the MAC is stamped. I'll try to grab a picture.

 

[Username already in use]

This thread needs more pictures of MAC tools, right?
Here's my MAC X2R 3/8in drive ratchet. Probably made by Herbrand.

 

[twertsy]

Looked at these tonight and I guess I remembered wrong. I have 5-6 that have only the stamped "MAC" and C part number, and size stamping, no location mark.
One 3/8" is interesting in that the fractional size is raised as a part of the forging, but the MAC is stamped. I'll try to grab a picture.

As far as we've been able to discern, your wrench (with forged AND stamped) would be their 2nd style, roughly '41/42 - 46ish. The first style we believe to have all forged markings.

Mechanics Tool & Forge published their first catalog in '42, and we really need a copy of that cat. The hunt continues.

 

[twertsy]

This thread needs more pictures of MAC tools, right?
Here's my MAC X2R 3/8in drive ratchet. Probably made by Herbrand.

Herbrand would be my guess. There are Bonney rats floating around with that selector too.

 

[Outlawmws]

Love these "history lesson" threads! Great job woody, and thanks to Twertsy for adding on!

 

[PowderKeg]

Herbrand would be my guess. There are Bonney rats floating around with that selector too.

After the recent discussion on the other site, I'm leaning heavily towards Wright having produced this X2R. A quick recap of similar ratchet actions, with crappy cell phone pics:

The above MAC X2R - The 1947 patent (2430480) says "Walter E. Pugh, Sabina, Ohio, assignor to Honore C. Hubbard, Rockford, Ill", but doesn't mention any company. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2430480.html

(First photo attachment)

A Speedmaster ratchet made by Wright has the 1940 (Wright) Stone patent (2201705) on the handle, although this one has a slide button instead of the rotating lever shown in the patent. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2201705.html

(Photos with screwdriver underneath)

And what I think is the connector between the two, another early MAC X2R ratchet with similar piston pawls and slide button, but with a handle that sure looks like Wright.

(2nd and 3rd photo)

There is an early Armstrong patent out there with piston pawls, but they have a very different shape and are actuated by a lever and rotating drum/cylinder instead of a slide button.

Finally, Herbrand - and Billings and 1/4" Bonney - horizontal slide button ratchets use the simpler flapper type pawls with conical side springs like several other makers (pear head Plomb/Proto ratchets to name the most common). The Herbrand vertical slider is a little different still, but it's also not a piston pawl design.

 

[woody 73]

A few more pictures, glad you guys are enjoying my old post:

 

[woody 73]

A few more pictures:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As first reported in the 2018 Garage Sale thread, I picked up this 1940's era MAC (3/4 x 7/8) DOE wrench. It's 16" long and stamped "MAC D 9 L" with the sizes on the shank near the heads and "SABINA, OHIO U.S.A." on the flip side. Classic MAC hex throat openings. This is very well-made wrench.

 

[DD T/A]

Found this little gem--as usual--at the bottom of a tub of screwdrivers at the swap meet. 50¢

 

[Username already in use]

I was pleasantly surprised to run across this Mechanics Tool & Forge leatherette full of DOE wrenches today at the flea. D1 through D9 and only missing the D2!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a sweet find, Unaiu! How are they marked in the middle of the shank?

 

[Username already in use]

That's a sweet find, Unaiu! How are they marked in the middle of the shank?

Thanks Lugz!
2 styles of markings. Forged in (raised) and stamped. The forge marked wrenches are blank on the reverse. The stamped wrenches are stamped SABINA, OHIO U.S.A. on the reverse.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As noted yesterday in the 2018 Garage Sale thread, I picked up this MAC feeler gage at the Thursday Early Bird. If it weren't for the box, I'd have no idea how old it was, but it's looking 50's or 60's to me based on the box. Maybe later, but I don't think so.

 

[ScreechAwl]

OK, by request from another thread....

He's my set of early MAC combo's.

 

[bczygan]

https://ia600803.us.archive.org/12/items/MacToolsCatalogueNo47/Mac%20Tools%20Catalogue%20No%2047%20.pdf

Here's the first president's death certificate:

And 1940 census:



Bill

 

[bczygan]

Otto N. Tucker was elected secretary:

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice catalog!

 

[ScreechAwl]

Awesome catalog! I guess I have the complete KC11 set. Thank you for sharing that.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I added this NOS box of "MAC" 3/8-inch drive sockets and a MAC X2R 3/8-inch drive ratchet to my collection.

A few things are noteworthy about the sockets. First of all, they're cadmium-plated. Secondly, the box includes a reference to both The Mechanic's Tool & Forge Co. and "MAC". Thirdly, in the 1951 catalog, this set - seven (7) 6-point sockets from 3/8" (X126) to 3/4" (X246) in a cardboard box - is given a model number: SX1. This box doesn't have any model number on it. I suspect they are older.

As for the MAC X2R ratchet, it was made between February 1944 and October 1947. Note that it is marked "PAT. PEND." on the flip side. This pattern ratchet was patented (2,430,480) by Walter E. Pugh of Sabina, Ohio on Nov 11, 1947, but it was applied for on Feb 28, 1944. See the patent on the USPTO site linked here. Note that it also has the remains of cadmium plating (see Pic 4), just like the sockets. While I can't prove it's wartime, definitively, the PAT PEND marking and the cadmium-plating make it a distinct possibility. With the cad on the sockets, I am really liking these pieces.

 

[twertsy]

I added this NOS box of "MAC" 3/8-inch drive sockets and a MAC X2R 3/8-inch drive ratchet to my collection.

A few things are noteworthy about the sockets. First of all, they're cadmium-plated. Secondly, the box includes a reference to both The Mechanic's Tool & Forge Co. and "MAC". Thirdly, in the 1951 catalog, this set - seven (7) 6-point sockets from 3/8" (X126) to 3/4" (X246) in a cardboard box - is given a model number: SX1. This box doesn't have any model number on it. I suspect they are older.

As for the MAC X2R ratchet, it was made between February 1944 and October 1947. Note that it is marked "PAT. PEND." on the flip side. This pattern ratchet was patented (2,430,480) by Walter E. Pugh of Sabina, Ohio on Nov 11, 1947, but it was applied for on Feb 28, 1944. See the patent on the USPTO site linked here. Note that it also has the remains of cadmium plating (see Pic 4), just like the sockets. While I can't prove it's wartime, definitively, the PAT PEND marking and the cadmium-plating make it a distinct possibility. With the cad on the sockets, I am really liking these pieces.

Very nice find Greg!

 

[3baygarage]

Excellent find Lugz. Great to have that box, probably not many out there.

I’ll have to post a few 1/2” items.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They are already in the lock-and-key cabinet with a 'DO NOT SELL FOR LESS THAN' price tag stickied on them just in case I get hit by a bus.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Brought home some early (guessing 50's) MAC items from the flea market today.

The "T-Handles" are strange critters. The cross-bars were almost certainly shop mods. (The M35C doubles as a 3/8-inch drive spinner/extension!) I think the right angle offsets are factory, though. See other pics below.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The 12-point box end attachments (M12C and CB14T) are 3/8-inch drive. The swivel socket is a 1/4-inch drive MU 82 with a 1/4" service opening. (The only MAC midget drive piece I have ever seen in the wild. Marked "MAC SABINA, O.") The extra long (10") light service DBE wrench with the skinny shank is a BXL 1416T.

 

[Tylermorris]

A few Mac wrenches, the middle one looks pretty old