Clamps Antique and Vintage

[59Sled]

Only have a couple clamps.

 

[nz44tool]

Here's an interesting old clamp. It was made from ~1" steel tubing. The seam is visible in the pics.
Can't find an image of one like it.
There's no visible brand or other mark on it.
It's in excellent working condition.

 

[four.cycle]

it's tubular!

 

[RTM]

it's tubular!

Totally!

 

[kwigly]

Mark Adjustable Clamp Co
I like the mickey mouse shaped ears on the screw

 

[d42jeep]

I don’t usually pick up old clamps at sales but these were an exception. I just mostly knocked the dirt off and wiped them with fluid film. There are some numbers on the opposite side of the logo.
As found.
Cleaned up a little.

-Don

 

[ararat]

I don’t usually pick up old clamps at sales but these were an exception. I just mostly knocked the dirt off and wiped them with fluid film. There are some numbers on the opposite side of the logo.
As found.
Cleaned up a little.

-Don

I think they are quilting clamps.

 

[LesserSon]

Following Don’s dandy “new” clamps around the forum brought me to this thread.
Here are my similar ones.

And some PS&Ws.

 

[LesserSon]

And some from my grandfather, a Stearn’s

And some bar clamps

The glued-up maple is a back burner project to find the maximum dimensions for replacement wood bars.

 

[LesserSon]

This big fella is marked Bonney, I have a somewhat smaller one somewhere. I don’t think Bonney made these. I’ve seen nearly identical ones marked Armstrong and Williams. Maybe Cincinnati or some other maker made them.

Here is a nice Colt patent No1, and (I think) a Stearns No13.

 

[four.cycle]

WOW.... that Stearns of your grandfather's is a work of art!

 

[kwigly]

Looks like the Champion clamps were sold by The Champion Hardware Co, Geneva, Ohio

 

[LesserSon]

Two more from my grandfather. Interestingly, the date for the wrong patent (Jan 2 1900 instead of Oct 8 1907) is forged into the heads.

 

[d42jeep]

I relocated some of my smaller clamps today into a carry box. I took some pictures. I’ll try not to show ones posted upthread.
Marked Malleable Iron

Cincinnati Tool Co clamps.


Clamps with cool handles.
Pony clamps.
These are Adjustable
Stanley Handyman.
. These are 1 inch.
Stearns with block letters.
Jorgensen bar clamps.
-Don

 

[59Sled]

I don’t usually pick up old clamps at sales but these were an exception. I just mostly knocked the dirt off and wiped them with fluid film. There are some numbers on the opposite side of the logo.
As found.
Cleaned up a little.

-Don

Following Don’s dandy “new” clamps around the forum brought me to this thread.
Here are my similar ones.

And some PS&Ws.

These are absolutely beautiful. Wouldn't mind having some of these in my collection.

 

[RTM]

Here are a pair of vintage clamps, seen in the Hargrave 1960 catalog, and maybe others (at least 1948-91). They are listed with a standard clamping force of 27# at full open (1"), and you can get wimpier springs if you need them. Usually I can open clamps like this with 2 fingers, not this one.

 

[59Sled]

Not sure if this is old or vintage.
Anyone know how old this beast could be? I was offered it if I want it.

 

[RTM]

Not sure if this is old or vintage.
Anyone know how old this beast could be?

I would start on the ITCL, and look for years it existed, and then see if you can pick out changes like shape of the turning bit, depth, overall height, manufacturer name spelling out, etc

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

It is in the 1963 catalog, did not look closely at details.

 

[leg17]

That pattern had a fairly long life.
btw, those are GOOD clamps.

 

[tombell572]

This one's a Wetzler universal clamp--I had to do some research to figure out its purpose. Used for clamping odd shaped and mitered pieces.

Tom B.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is today’s estate sale find. It’s a 4” Cincinnati

-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Vintage clamp group photo.
-Don

 

[Hooterville]

I picked up a few vintage service c-clamps today from a local auction. Includes: one JH Williams Vulcan no. 8 (8.5"), two JH Williams Vulcan no. 4 (4.5"), and two Armstrong 2.5". I have a very small collection of metal working c-clamps (some vintage and some not) but these are my first heavy duty service clamps!

 

[Leviton]

Found this at a garage sale last week. I thought it looked pretty cool. Besides adding more force, the second tightening screw is aligned so that it does not tend to rotate your clamp frame as can happen when tightening a standard clamp.

The only clue to the manufacturer is a CH logo mark (I’m assuming for Cincinnati Tool Co – Hargrave). However, I can’t find any mention of these being made by Cincinnati Tool.

There are quite a few mid 1940’s advertisements showing a clamp like this being sold by Grand Specialties. It was called the “Dual Grip” and it also had the “Quickcet" option. eBay had a photo of a non quick-adjust clamp virtually identical to mine (including the “4A” forging) that was marked ‘GRAND” (but did not have the CH logo).

I’m guessing Cincinnati Tool made the ones that Grand was selling.

There is an extra credit homework assignment below for anyone who wants to improve their grade.

 

[RTM]

Found this at a garage sale last week. I thought it looked pretty cool. Besides adding more force, the second tightening screw is aligned so that it does not tend to rotate your clamp frame as can happen when tightening a standard clamp.

The only clue to the manufacturer is a CH logo mark (I’m assuming for Cincinnati Tool Co – Hargrave). However, I can’t find any mention of these being made by Cincinnati Tool.

There are quite a few mid 1940’s advertisements showing a clamp like this being sold by Grand Specialties. It was called the “Dual Grip” and it also had the “Quickcet" option. eBay had a photo of a non quick-adjust clamp virtually identical to mine (including the “4A” forging) that was marked ‘GRAND” (but did not have the CH logo).

.

These have been talked about before here on GJ. The second screw is to eliminate the rotation possible from the screw also turning the pad (friction too high to slip), and thus the clamped object, per the patent. I have no idea who found it, which thread, etc., but it's out there

 

[Leviton]

These have been talked about before here on GJ. The second screw is to eliminate the rotation possible from the screw also turning the pad (friction too high to slip), and thus the clamped object, per the patent. I have no idea who found it, which thread, etc., but it's out there

This one? Anthony Sasgen Patent shared by Lugz

 

[59Sled]

Just acquired this 2 inch Stanley Handyman clamp.
Maybe from the mid 60's to early 70's. Not entirely sure though.

 

[RTM]

From at least 1910 1955

Stanley Handyman Tools : Form 105A : Stanley Tools Division : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

22 p., illus., 18.4 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

 

[LesserSon]

That’s 1955?

 

[59Sled]

That’s 1955?

Had no idea it was that old. I assumed the 70’s.

 

[RTM]

That’s 1955?

Argh. The 1910 was spring punches, and I did not correct after I saw it

 

[nadogail]

It is physically impossible to own too many clamps

 

[LesserSon]

Argh. The 1910 was spring punches, and I did not correct after I saw it

I just meant the date of that catalog.
I tried researching patent dates (I’m sure I’ve seen a patent for folded/welded steel C-clamps) but was not able to dredge it from searches for “C-clamp” nor Stanley, Hargrave, CTC, etc. Maybe I have a clamp with patent info on it somewhere. I think I have ones stamped JAPAN.
I would think one of the big wars was stimulus enough to inspire stamping sheet steel into C-clamps.

 

[LesserSon]

From at least 1910 1955

Stanley Handyman Tools : Form 105A : Stanley Tools Division : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

22 p., illus., 18.4 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Had no idea it was that old. I assumed the 70’s.

Here we go. I found my Judd Mfg Co “Pat Appl’d For” C-clamps.
On eBay, ALL the Judd clamps like these are marked that way - NO PAT dates or numbers.
Judd started in 1830ish and made consumer hardware goods until it was acquired in 1954 by Stanley. My guess is that the patent wasn’t granted (unless we find Stanley-marked versions with the patent info), but Stanley saw a good opportunity to acquire more local manufacturing capacity.
The only C-clamp patent I see asssociated with Judd is one by John Adt, 1Jan1870. (I emailed DATAMP about the pat number error and wrong link on their site.) But I’ll keep looking.
Until further developments, I think it’s safe to say these clamps have been around since the early-1950s, and marked Stanley since 1954.

 

[d42jeep]

My Stanley Handyman.
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

I wonder if Judd figured to make them cheaper by stamping the two sides seperately, or Stanley? The tab that contains the female threads shows in the 1955 catalog illustration. I haven’t seen it on the JUDD examples, where one piece wraps around.

EDIT - On eBay I saw JUDD with the tab, and a Stanley without it. So Judd.

 

[INSP380]

Just cleaned up this vintage pony I found in the scrap hopper at work…

 

[Hooterville]

I picked up two more c-clamps on Craigslist: a Proto 408 (8") and an Armstrong 1406 (6") with ***********.

FYI, I have found that I tend to use my 3" clamps the most, then 6" and 8", and rarely do I reach for the 10" Wilton clamps. That said, I enjoy knowing I have the larger clamps when I need them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The only clue to the manufacturer is a CH logo mark (I’m assuming for Cincinnati Tool Co – Hargrave).

Nope. That's a foundry mark. Cleveland Hardware, later Cleveland Hardware and Forge. Search GJ on that and you'll find a smattering of posts from before and after it was identified. Shows up on Wilton vises, early Chicago Hardware and Manufacturing socket sets, Cornwell and other items.

There are quite a few mid 1940’s advertisements showing a clamp like this being sold by Grand...

That was my immediate thought, as soon as I saw it, before I read one word of your post. They seemed to be enthralled with the principle and concept of secondary set/clamping action.

Really nifty clamp!

 

[Leviton]

Nope. That's a foundry mark. Cleveland Hardware, later Cleveland Hardware and Forge. Search GJ on that and you'll find a smattering of posts from before and after it was identified. Shows up on Wilton vises, early Chicago Hardware and Manufacturing socket sets, Cornwell and other items.

Thank you for setting me straight on that! I thought it was just a squished version of the H in a circle logo for Hargave designed stuff. I searched a long time trying to find a connection with Cincinnati Tool.