Metal Engineering Company/ Mecoid & Metco

woody 73 · Nov 10, 2016

Metal Engineering Company/ Metcoid & Metco

Look up in the sky: It's a bird, It's a plane, no It's a Metco, a Metcoid, A Matco, or could it be a Mecto? Confusing choice of letters sounding close in nature.

Ok so lets see if this helps you out Matco is based in Stow, Ohio, Check.
Mecto Formerly Hicraft Tool Co. Inc. was based in Greenfield, Ohio, Check.
Metcoid & Metco were based in Chicago, Illinois, check.

Now that we have that out of the way, the only thing I can tell you is that Metcoid/Metco were sold through jobbers by the Metal Engineering Co. at 134 North La Salle St. in Chicago Illinois. Maybe the dates were 1949 and up to 1954; although twertsy is showing adds up to 1960 at his web-site. I have a map look for building #8 to see the former location (no pictures).

Interesting point brought up by the Worthpoint people (see the links),in that they thought Moore Drop Forge made the Metcoid wrenches, indeed very interesting?

I will say it again finding vintage tools is the easy part, finding company information can be almost impossible and finding new material that is under the radar is indeed very hard.

http://www.toolarchives.com/node/621

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116125

http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?id=34347

https://books.google.com/books?id=n...LoQ6AEIUTAE#v=onepage&q=metcoid tools&f=false

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vtg-metcoid-tools-combination-wrench-435291877

http://www.underwatersoundset.com/sets/metcoid&continuous_availability!inventory.aspx

https://www.cityofchicago.org/conte...oopLaSalleHD_NR_map_and_ResourceKey_FINAL.pdf

https://www.nsncenter.com/CAGE/93941

Oldtuleguy · Aug 24, 2018

Here is some 3/8 metcoid stuff. This thread seem

s to have answered some questions concerning metcoid/metco. Good info.

3baygarage · Aug 24, 2018

Nice set Oldtuleguy. I have a 3/8 ratchet, and some odd sockets.

Oldtuleguy · Aug 24, 2018

Thanks i snagged it on impulse because of the condition of the box. Supposedly the ratchets were the same as craftsmen. Any pics?

3baygarage · Aug 24, 2018

No pics, but it is the same. All the drive tools are like Moore era Craftsman.

3baygarage · Aug 24, 2018

I take that back. From an old thread.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3809444&postcount=15

Oldtuleguy · Aug 24, 2018

Thats an old craftsman looking ratchet

PFSard · Aug 24, 2018

Oldtuleguy said:
Thanks i snagged it on impulse because of the condition of the box.

Definitely a great box. I've never set Metcoid before. Where did you find these gems?

Oldtuleguy · Aug 24, 2018

Lately most stuff I find locally on offer up but like most people I surf ebay and cl as well.

Oldtuleguy · Aug 8, 2019

More metcoid goodies. Some 1/4 drive stuff....

Oldtuleguy · Aug 8, 2019

Metco tool board from Rick and dave

3baygarage · Aug 8, 2019

That rack is cool.

Isn’t it kind of neat to find this era Craftsman tools labeled something other than Craftsman? Here’s a 1/2” ratchet.

Oldtuleguy · Aug 8, 2019

That is pretty much what they were, just relabled craftsman. Nice ratchet!

Oldtuleguy · Nov 22, 2019

Yet another metcoid 1/4 set appears. Box is a bit rough but it is 70 year old cardboard.

3baygarage · Nov 24, 2019

Nice addition OTG.

Oldtuleguy · Nov 24, 2019

Found a few socket sets but this is first ratchet to appear.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 24, 2019

I get your point, guys, calling these "re-labeled Craftsman," but technically, that is not accurate. They are not re-labeled Craftsman in the same sense that Tiger Tools are re-labeled SK, or Precision-Bilt are re-labeled NB, or Super-X-Quality are re-labeled Duro, etc, etc. Those are tools made by an OEM and re-labeled or re-branded by a separate retail outfit (Montgomery Ward, Spiegel, and Western Auto, respectively).

In this case, it appears that MDF was making the same tools they also made on contract for Sears, Roebuck, & Company, who sold them as Craftsman, to the Metal Engineering Company of Chicago, who sold them as METCOID!

I don't remember what information we had on these on TA other than the rough timeline (1949-1960's), but the most interesting thing about these METCOID drive tools to me is the implication that MDF owned the rights to the design of the tools Sears labeled as Craftsman =V=. It seems unlikely that Sears, Roebuck, & Co would approve of a line of copycat tools (tools that looked exactly like their =CRAFTSMAN= =V= line but labeled METCOID), especially when they were probably less expensive! By definition it would diminish the uniqueness of their brand and eat into their bottom line.

EDIT: I guess what I'm saying is... Sears couldn't have been very happy with MDF or METCOID!

Oldtuleguy · Nov 24, 2019

I don't think sears made any secret that their tools were made by other companies. You could buy their BE socket sets from new Britain, circle k stuff from sk, etc....

Private Lugnutz · Nov 24, 2019

Secrecy wasn't my point, though. When you could buy the original OEM versions (e.g., NB, SK, Plomb, etc) of tools rebranded Craftsman in the Long C era, Sears was still smorgasbording. MDF wasn't a retail maker like those mfgrs with their own brand and they were the exclusive supplier. So, unless I'm mistaken, Sears enjoyed a degree of unique recognition in the =V= era that they did not have in the Long C era.

Oldtuleguy · Nov 24, 2019

I would agree with that. Later sears tools seemed more exclusive, suggesting perhaps things between MDF and sears were worked out.

Private Lugnutz · Nov 24, 2019

The backstory is what makes the METCOID sets cool.

damon18 · Mar 28, 2020

Re: Metal Engineering Company/ Metcoid & Metco

Couple of stray Metcoid wrenches in case anyone needs to complete a set.

Sent from my SM-G973U using The Garage Journal mobile app

j.t.d. · Jan 26, 2021

I found this full page ad online today. Being sold by Period Paper.

woody 73 · Jan 26, 2021

j.t.d. said:
I found this full page ad online today. Being sold by Period Paper.

Very cool thank you for sharing that. :rocker:

four.cycle · Mar 8, 2022

Thanks woody! :thumbup:

Lever / ("Lever Jaw" stamped on locking pliers see Metal Engineering Co.) /

Metal Engineering / Metal Engineering Co., 134 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL / "Metcoid" "Samson" "Lever Jaw" / patent 2592807 Apr 15 1952 Harold T. Jones & 2705899 Apr 12 1955 Harold A. Berger / http://toolarchives.com/index.php/node/226 / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/samson-leverjaw-locking-plier.408578/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/metal-engineering-company-mecoid-metco.344271/

Metco / (see Metal Engineering Co.) /

Metcoid / (see Metal Engineering Co.) /

Samson / (locking pliers see Metal Engineering Co.) /

Samson Metal Engineering Co. Chicago ad pp 1.jpg

Metal Engineering Co. Samson "Lever Jaw" locking pliers ad

Samson Metal Engineering Co. Chicago ad pp 2.jpg

Metal Engineering Co. Samson "Lever Jaw" locking pliers

I may well be mistaken, but it would appear that the earlier Harold T. Jones patent 2592807 would be the patent applicable to the models shown in the above advertisements, which would date them to prior to 1953. Metal Engineering Co. later produced a slightly different model using Harold A. Berger's 1955 patent 2705899.

* as an aside, of interest to some will be the connection to Seymour Smith's "Snap-Lock" pliers and Harold Jones' patents for same *

* It would be reasonable to assume that the patent being referred to on the example below is the earlier 2592807 patent. (photos ebay) *

* it would appear as well that the examples posted by bonneyman, Private Lugnutz, and d42jeep in the other "Samson/Metal Engineering Co" thread are also designed per the earlier Harold T. Jones patent 2592807

Leviton · Dec 20, 2022

Here is the Metcoid marked version of the Lever Jaw.
This one is 8.9 inches long and I believe Metcoid called this style of jaws the "Welder's Jaws".

WisJim · Jun 2, 2023

Here's my "Metcoid" "Lever Jaw" pliers that I found at a garage sale this morning.

Oldtuleguy · Nov 6, 2023

Some 1/2" drive metcoid

Metal Engineering Company/ Mecoid & Metco

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Attachments