Winchester Tools

[Mintgrun]

The way they put the 1 at an angle in the corner (to be used from both directions) is fun. The funny thing is, it's stamped backwards. How'd that happen?

Is the thickness tapered? (Thick at the corner and thinner down the arms).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find, @LesserSon! First on the thread, I think.

 

[LesserSon]

Yes, @Mintgrun - tapers as you describe.
Thanks, @Private Lugnutz - I checked too, and don’t see another.
It is almost identical to a Stanley No3 (Rule & Level Co V trademark 1912-1918) I have, except the Stanley includes a brace measure table on the back of tongue.
In addition to the backwards “1” in the corner of the face, there seem to be at least two, maybe three, different fonts among the “1” stamps (look at 14,13,12) on the face of body, which I don’t think has any intended function.
Except for that anomaly, even the font of the stamps is identical to the Stanley.

 

[four.cycle]

^ That's rather odd the fonts don't match. Any possibility Winchester bought those from Stanley?

 

[RTM]

except the Stanley includes a brace measure table on the back of tongue.

That’s usually the 100R, R being for rafter table

Any possibility Winchester bought those from Stanley

Again, I don’t think Winchester, like Craftsman, Monkey Wards, Firestone, Keen Kutter, made any tools of their own. They bought them from the big boys, Stanley, Millers Falls, and Sargent, etc.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Based on the objects we are seeing, I think you are correct.

 

[LesserSon]

That’s usually the 100R, R being for rafter table

Yeah, but this two-foot steel square isn’t a rafter square and doesn’t have a rafter table. It has an Essex board measure. Plus, it has a “3” on it.

 

[RTM]

Yeah, but this two-foot steel square isn’t a rafter square and doesn’t have a rafter table. It has an Essex table. Plus, it has a “3” on it.

Color me confused. When you said brace, my mind went rafter. Hate to admit, I didn’t know what an Essex table is, until after I read this section. Know I know brace vs rafter too.

Stanley Tools Catalogue No. 34 : 1914 : Stanley Rule & Level Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

149 p., illus., 18.7 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[LesserSon]

That’s the same download I was trying to read! I switched to the 1915 version, which is a higher-res scan (despite both claiming to be 600ppi), and easier to read.

Stanley Tools : Catalogue No. 34 : 1915 : Stanley Rule & Level Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

152 p., illus., 18.8 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[LesserSon]

Again, I don’t think Winchester, like Craftsman, Monkey Wards, Firestone, Keen Kutter, made any tools of their own. They bought them from the big boys, Stanley, Millers Falls, and Sargent, etc.

I agree, but I think there’s more to it.
The company only existed in both name and firearms-manufacturing identity 1866-1931 and struggled - despite government contract golden years - in a rapidly evolving, dynamic and highly competitive industry.
The Wikipedia article cites this book for its claim that post-WWI Winchester attempted to pay down its accumulated debt by utilizing its surplus capacity to manufacture consumer goods.
That doesn’t sound like just marketing rebranded items, like their sometime-partner Simmons (Keen Kutter), or your other examples. I think it possible Winchester partnered with smaller manufacturers, maybe bringing to the table factory space and workers for them to expand, and widely recognized name to sell a diversified product line.
It seems to me Stanley and the other big boys got to be big boys doing just that, and buying out partners along the way. It maybe didn’t work for Winchester because they were already in too much debt to accomplish the buyouts.

 

[F Parda]

Nice example of well used carpenters framing square. Connecticut during the early 20 th century had hundreds of tool manufacturing company's; Your Winchester square my have been made by Stanley pre-WW II.

 

[LesserSon]

I posted shots that included this Winchester screwdriver over in the long screwdriver thread. It's a solid tool and is one of my go-tos. Woody, thanks for the history on these tools.

@Outlawmws posted a Champion screwdriver on the GS thread, which led me to dig a little deeper into these. Here’s what I found (thanks, DATAMP):
relevant patents 214785 783023 539155
Also followed up @four.cycle suggestion on the Wood Handle thread Union Hardware, which shows Champions on pp6-7.
EDIT - Outlaw posted another one on the 2026 GS thread, to which @bmwrd0 said Klein sold them in the teens. Sure enough, p44 of the 1915 Klein pocket tool guide shows them.

 

[nz44tool]

I just picked up these 2 Winchester pliers on consecutive days at a flea market.
The slip-joint is pretty pitted but still quite useable. The lineman's is in fine shape.

 

[F Parda]

You picked-up some good gems. Nice selection of pliers and great 16 inch screwdriver.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Got these just now

 

[Zrxrunner]

Maybe this is discussed and I just missed it...but is it a coincidence that the replacement part numbers for the keen kutter wrenches and the Winchester wrenches just add a K to the beginning? Maybe same mfg making them, with only difference being the name or symbol on items? Image is from previous page posted by someone else. Dont look like i attached it correctly

 

[Provincial]

Zrxrunner referring to post #114 (by four.cycle) in this thread, if you want to look at the original posting.

 

[four.cycle]

@Zrxrunner -
I do not know the answer to your question.
If I had to guess, I would say yes: other than the part number they're using, probably the same, but I don't have a "Keen Kutter" pipe wrench to compare with.
HERE is my Winchester pipe wrench - the applicable patent on which would be 1409672 - which Stan shows as being exclusive to Winchester.
You'd need a "Keen Kutter" example and compare the two... but now I am wondering if perhaps Stan simply isn't aware that same unit might have been sold by E.C. Simmons as well.

 

[wrenchguy]

Framing square. Maybe No9650? I’ll upgrade these pics after I get it cleaned up.

nice piece, looks like a original 24x16 rather than a cut down 24x18.

 

[RTM]

nice piece, looks like a original 24x16 rather than a cut down 24x18.

Nice catch, did not notice that. A 3-4-5 triangle framing square is a nifty feature. I've never found one on the wild.

 

[wrenchguy]

Nice catch, did not notice that. A 3-4-5 triangle framing square is a nifty feature. I've never found one on the wild.

i been collecting 24x18 squars 30 years and found 8... very uncommon to find 'em not cut down 16" to work with the 16" western/platform framing method..

 

[LesserSon]

nice piece, looks like a original 24x16 rather than a cut down 24x18.

Sorry to disappoint - the Winchester (far right) is cut down: there’s a “1” and no “6” at 16”, just like the sweetheart Stanley square (center). The Stanley 45-100 (far left) has no “16,” so original?
I guess there should be no partial “16,” like there’s no ”24.”

 

[wrenchguy]

huh, i copied and Einstein it like i always do looking for standalone numerals... still nice piece. you are correct with your assumptions about the stand alone numerals.

 

[LNKMK8]

I was going through some old pliers and these caught my attention due to the size... looked a little closer and saw that they were Winchester branded 3" flat nose.

 

[LesserSon]

I was leaving the flea market today, and walked past a table that said $1. Worth a second glance, I see a bitbrace. I have a milk crate of those, and would have kept going, except I see the chuck is faceted instead of round. Hmm, been on the lookout for something like that for a breast drill. Oh, it’s got a sticker for $5. Nah, look at this peeling finish. But wait - what’s the brand? Oh, my. I unscrew the jiggly jaws, no spring or provision for a spring. Hmph. Still…
“How about $3 for this?”
“I guess so, been hauling it back and forth long enough.”

 

[lilredex]

If you are a Scoutcrafter fan, he just put the finishing touches to an adjustable wrench, today, at 13:06.

 

[humber2]

A two D cell Eveready torch from Hong Kong was purchased at my local op shop this week.

 

[four.cycle]

“How about $3 for this?”

You find that spring yet?

 

[LesserSon]

That bitbrace is low on my priorities right now. Literally, I have $3 pants I’ve given more attention recently.