Barcalo Buffalo Tools

[Private Lugnutz]

USHCO MFG CO. Lawson is a reference to the patent holder (1,362,014, Dec 14, 1920). Per DATAMP, he also had a company in his own name making them, but that was located in Cleveland. DATAMP also lists Fairmount and a U.S. Hame Co., also in Cleveland. Note that although DATAMP doesn't point this out, and may not even be aware of it, USHCO sure looks like an acronym for U.S. Hame Co. But guess where USHCO was located? Buffalo, N.Y., which is forged-in on the wrench. The teardrop is not as pronounced as some of the teardrops on Barc-Buff tools, and might just be a coincidence, but my funny bone is tingling.

Edit: I'll post more pics after cleanup.

 

[d42jeep]

I followed my “No Barcalo Left Behind” mantra at the Tahoe flea yesterday.
-Don

 

[Farmer J.]

USHCO MFG CO. Lawson is a reference to the patent holder (1,362,014, Dec 14, 1920). Per DATAMP, he also had a company in his own name making them, but that was located in Cleveland. DATAMP also lists Fairmount and a U.S. Hame Co., also in Cleveland. Note that although DATAMP doesn't point this out, and may not even be aware of it, USHCO sure looks like an acronym for U.S. Hame Co. But guess where USHCO was located? Buffalo, N.Y., which is forged-in on the wrench. The teardrop is not as pronounced as some of the teardrops on Barc-Buff tools, and might just be a coincidence, but my funny bone is tingling.

Edit: I'll post more pics after cleanup.

Is that the US Hame Co I was reading about recently in another thread somewhere here..?

"In the late 20s, US Hame Co. reorganized as USHCo Mfg. Co. with Robert U. Carr as president.
In addition to truck bodies the firm also manufactured drop-forged hand tools in their Buffalo factory during the 1920s. A popular item at the time was their 8”, 10”, 12” and 14” adjustable pipe wrenches that were built using Gottfrid C. Lawson’s patent."

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/u/us_body/us_body.htm

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yes, I posted it here first because of the similarities of the teardrop hanging holes. I have never seen that anywhere else except Barcalo.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's an odd offset Barcalo-Buffalo wrench you don't see too often!

 

[d42jeep]

That would fit right in with my small sub-collection of abused Barcalo tools.
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

Picked up an 8” S-shaped adjustable wrench today. Took it apart, cleaned, back together. Here are the parts.

 

[d42jeep]

That looks to be in great shape! Those are tough old tools. Here are mine.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some Barcalo DOE wrenches with the sizes marked on the raised pads rather than on the ends. The 1/2” X 19/32” size has eluded me so far. I’d really like to find one.
-Don

 

[notlob]

I thought some of you Barcaloungers might enjoy seeing this pic, which is from this thread:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=399677

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for posting those. Michigan is a long ways from California!
This is as close as I can come to those.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Here's a pair of Barcalo made MASTERCRAFT offset DBEs that are destined for the Barcalo museum in sunny CA.

 

[d42jeep]

-Don

 

[farmerra]

what tools do you have?

 

[d42jeep]

Here are most of the Barcalo tools that aren’t in my WW2 sets. They are in their storage containers. Welcome to the Garage Journal.
-Don

 

[davethorik]

Just recently a newcomer to Barcalo. Hardly ever find it here.
Got these at the same pick. Half moon manifold starter wrench and a NOS Powr-Kraft 100 DBE factory second with a pretty ugly 5/8 end. Looks zinc plated.

 

[Username already in use]

Here's a couple of Barcalo made contract wrenches. I've seen the BlueGrass wrenches before, but 'CRUSADER' is a new one for me...

 

[3baygarage]

Crusader! Didn’t know those existed. Thought I had down all the brands Barcalo made. I’ve seen alot of other Crusader tools too. Nice find.

 

[d42jeep]

Here's a couple of Barcalo made contract wrenches. I've seen the BlueGrass wrenches before, but 'CRUSADER' is a new one for me...

I’ve never seen either of those.
I found this teeny DOE wrench at the Tahoe flea yesterday.
-Don

 

[Bockscar]

Picked these up yesterday

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[d42jeep]

That looks close to a full set. Nice pickup. I have several of that style too.
-Don

 

[Catfishdan]

I picked up 3 doe's, a combo, and a small pair of pliers today. If any of you Barcalo guys need these for a set, lemme know. I don't see enough barcalo to even think about collecting them.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LesserSon]

Picked up a pair of dikes this past weekend. Not the most elegant-looking pattern for this type of tool, but the straight-sided inner jaws would tend to wedge heavier wire closer to the fulcrum, presumably making the job easier and extending the life of the pivot pin.

 

[d42jeep]

Picked up a pair of dikes this past weekend. Not the most elegant-looking pattern for this type of tool.

The earlier Barcalo dykes had those clunky looking thick jaws. By the time WW2 came along they were much more streamlined. Here are some examples of earlys followed by lates
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

Ah, yes, I see. The later ones look more like Kleins, ChannelLocks, Uticas, etc. (And I suppose earlier versions of those brands also look different from what I’m used to.)

 

[bonneyman]

I have/had a few of the DBE's with scooped heads.

 

[d42jeep]

I found these two at an estate sale in El Sobrante, CA this morning. The last one was one sent to me by Tin Medic. It looked almost new after I cleaned it up.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I spent some time yesterday going through the Barcalo tools. The first picture is of the double grip keepers. The second is of the spares if anybody needs one for their collection. The last one is of some Barcalo contract wrenches.
-Don

 

[notlob]

A bit of Barcalo history from 1917.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice shots! Thanks. We just got back from an Estate sale in El Cerrito. No Barcalo to be found.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

I found a raised-lettering Barcalo DBE at Habitat for Humanity Friday. It is a 13/16x7/8 version.

I have some raised-lettering Barcalo combos, but this is the first DBE I have seen.

 

[d42jeep]

The raised letter DBE wrenches are really rare. I’ve only ever found these two.
-Don

 

[Catfishdan]

I picked up these two pieces over the weekend. A 6" adjustable and a 5/8" and 11/16" dbe.

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up these two pieces over the weekend. A 6" adjustable and a 5/8" and 11/16" dbe.

Nice finds. I only found one Barcalo piece yesterday, this later 11/16” combo wrench.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a fairly rare Barcalo piece I found on eBay recently.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This set arrived in the mail this evening. I just wonder where they’ve been since the ‘50s? I think the missing tool is likely a pair of dykes.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ beyond cool. looks kind of like the early "auto kits" that contained everything you needed for the road.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, BK. Here are some of the shots from the eBay listing and a very similar set shown in the 1960 catalog.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Very cool set. Looks unused.

I think the missing tool is likely a pair of dykes.

I'm thinking it's missing a pair of needle nose pliers based on the 60's catalog image you posted.

 

[d42jeep]

Very cool set. Looks unused.


I'm thinking it's missing a pair of needle nose pliers based on the 60's catalog image you posted.

Maybe, but the set I circled in the upper right of that image is very close to this set and I don’t see any longnoses in that set. This set is pre ‘60 though so who knows?
-Don