Show your vintage Bridgeport tools!

LesserSon · Aug 30, 2018

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 · Aug 30, 2018

Here’s the Hy-Bar angled DOEs.

LesserSon · Aug 30, 2018

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 · Aug 30, 2018

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 · Aug 30, 2018

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 · Aug 31, 2018

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

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

Bill

LesserSon · Aug 31, 2018

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 · Aug 31, 2018

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 · Aug 31, 2018

LesserSon said:
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 · Sep 16, 2018

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 · Sep 17, 2018

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 · Sep 17, 2018

And some more. Some may be duplicates.
-Don

Private Lugnutz · Sep 17, 2018

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 · Sep 18, 2018

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

d42jeep · Sep 18, 2018

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 · Sep 19, 2018

Here is my bridgeport radio socket set

LesserSon · Sep 20, 2018

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

Oldtuleguy · Sep 20, 2018

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

Private Lugnutz · Sep 20, 2018

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 · Sep 20, 2018

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 · Sep 20, 2018

When I need a BFS I use this.

Oldtuleguy · Sep 20, 2018

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

Joe Huld · Sep 21, 2018

Hoe about this big honkin screwdriver!

Oldtuleguy · Sep 21, 2018

That is a big screwdriver

Oldtuleguy · Sep 21, 2018

Bridgeport matchless 92 screwdriver

Oldtuleguy · Sep 22, 2018

Bridgeport radiolectric pliers

Indexmill · Sep 30, 2018

Oldtuleguy said:
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 · Sep 30, 2018

I could let one go. Pm me your info.

Oldtuleguy · Oct 1, 2018

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

Capt. Spaulding · Oct 2, 2018

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 · Oct 8, 2018

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 · Oct 8, 2018

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 · Oct 8, 2018

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

Private Lugnutz · Oct 8, 2018

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 · Oct 8, 2018

Here is a cool looking one

LesserSon · Oct 9, 2018

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

Private Lugnutz · Oct 9, 2018

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 · Oct 12, 2018

A couple of variations

bonneyman · Oct 12, 2018

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

LesserSon · Oct 13, 2018

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.

Show your vintage Bridgeport tools!

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