Giller Tools Chicago stamped 1967 anyone have one?

[craigibc]

Check out this Vietnam era toolkit we found today in an old abandoned house. Looks like by the rest of the items in the home it might be air force?

Anyone have one or seen one before?

Craig

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Giller? Or Gillar. Giller was a military supplier at that time.

 

[craigibc]

Yes sorry Giller

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Good find, Craig. Yes, there are a few postwar Giller ignition kits floating around GJ. I know that d42jeep has one, and I have this one (see Pic 1). They also made other tools, including midget socket sets (see Pics 2 & 3).

They were a subdivision of Thorsen aimed exclusively at military contracts. Giller, Kal, and Meteor seems to have dominated the military ignition set market after the KW and into the 70's.

By the way - S.I. Jacobson, who made the canvas roll-up for that Giller set, is still in business, still making tool rolls for the government and others. What does the second line of stenciling read? I can read the top line (S.I. JACOBSON) and the FSN. Can't read the middle.

EDIT: Disregard. I blew it up. Jacobson was (and still is) in Chicago. They made the roll. Giller was in Texas.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are my Giller ignition wrenches. Unfortunately mine didn’t come in a roll.
-Don

 

[OilyRascal]

1963, Hydrometals Inc. announced it's acquisition of Giller Tool Corp. In 1968 Lawton Shurtleff agreed to sell Thorsen Manufacturing to Hydrometals, Inc. Both Thorsen and Giller were owned by Hydrometals until they were sold to Wallace Murray in 1977. This is the relationship between Giller and Thorsen.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This is the relationship between Giller and Thorsen.

That jibes with what I posted here a few years ago, Oily, but I could've sworn I read they made Giller a subdivision of Thorsen, which would explain why all the tools look alike (i.e., same dies). But I can't find my original notes. They certainly could've used the same dies and been treated as sister divisions in the Hydrometals org structure. So it's not that important.

 

[OilyRascal]

That jibes with what I posted here a few years ago, Oily, but I could've sworn I read they made Giller a subdivision of Thorsen, which would explain why all the tools look alike (i.e., same dies). But I can't find my original notes. They certainly could've used the same dies and been treated as sister divisions in the Hydrometals org structure. So it's not that important.

Hi Lugz, I think it is fair to say that Giller was the "Military Arm" of Hydrometals after they purchased it; both before and after the Thorsen acquisition. It is my belief that Giller existed long before the Hydrometals purchase, and that Giller was in the Military tool business and had always sourced their tool manufacturing from outside. I feel like Hydrometal's Thorsen acquisition was one of those moments where it was blatantly clear they should bring it (Giller production) in-house and rebrand the Thorsen tools to Giller for military sales/contracts.

There are many examples of Giller tools NOT made in Thorsen manufacturing facilities. I have attached a photo of a New Britain sourced socket with Giller branding. It is unknown to me if this socket was sourced before Hydrometals owned both Giller and Thorsen, or after. It has been stated before that Giller had problems filling government contracts at one point in time, and had to resort to sourcing from competitors. Was the attached socket example outsourced the result of Thorsen's run down facilities in CA, because of the new Thorsen production facilities in Dallas, or long before Thorsen was involved in the business model? I think we have a lot more to learn of Giller than is currently documented.

Further - there was a David Giller that worked directly under Lawton Shurtleff (CEO after he sold Thorsen to Hydrometals but before they conducted a hostile takeover). Lawton had been successful in real-estate/housing in California. Lawton Shurtleff and David Giller started a real-estate project in TX, and later had a falling out. There is a good bit of information available in the lawsuit that was filed. Was this David Giller a remanent from the Giller purchase?

I had not seen before the Giller toolbox that is hinged on the short side. Nice find.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for elaborating. I think you're right. I have 1955 as Giller established date, but again, don't have my reference for that. I don't know what tools they were selling, though.

 

[OilyRascal]

Thanks for elaborating. I think you're right. I have 1955 as Giller established date, but again, don't have my reference for that. I don't know what tools they were selling, though.

I have seen mention of "Giller Tool Supply Company" as early as 1952 (in a public contract's document). An obscure 1959 article regarding Giller's purchase of Denison Boat in Texas tells us 1) David Giller was the Chairman of Giller Tool of Dallas TX. 2) Harry Giller (David's brother) was heavily involved in his businesses. 3) That David Giller founded Giller Tool in Dallas TX at the start of WWII; "The firm operates on a national scale, turning out tool kits and special tools used by the armed forces".

Public documents have Giller with $5.778 million in net sales in '63 at the time of acquisition by Hydrometals.

 

[four.cycle]

OilyRascal-
So.... you think that odd GILLER branded socket with the cross-hatch knurling around the drive end was manufactured by New Britain? :

Do you have any idea of where the physical location of Giller's (or Thorsen's) manufacturing facilities were located in the Dallas area?

 

[OilyRascal]

Do you have any idea of where the physical location of Giller's (or Thorsen's) manufacturing facilities were located in the Dallas area?

2527 Willowbrook Road, Dallas TX

 

[four.cycle]

thank you.
I cannot help but think there was some connection - at some point - between Thorsen/Giller and National Hand Tools of Dallas.
I have Kilness-patent ratchets branded Giller, as well as later Thorsen-branded ratchets (same Kilness design.)

 

[OilyRascal]

thank you.
I cannot help but think there was some connection - at some point - between Thorsen/Giller and National Hand Tools of Dallas.
I have Kilness-patent ratchets branded Giller, as well as later Thorsen-branded ratchets (same Kilness design.)

I tend to agree!

 

[Dave Young]

I was stationed at HT -8 Ellyson Field Pensacola Fl. 1967-69 just before I got out a E6 who was retiring at the same gifted this 1/4 drive set to me. Told me he never signed it out so nobody was going to be looking for it. Has been hanging out with be ever since. Don't know where all it went with him but with me it went from Florida to Michigan, to Oregon, to Indiana and back to Michigan.