Clark-Feather Mfg. Co.

[woody 73]

This was not an easy story, trust me on this one. Filling in the blanks was like working on a jigsaw puzzle one piece at a time over the last few days.

If you hear me cussing it is because I am having such a hard time trying to open up those google books on the web; but I have asked for help from GJ member Private so he will get back with me next week.

The story with some gaps so stay tuned as they say...

From what I can gather the company was started by Dr. Ira Joseph Clark and his business partner Mr. Feather (No information yet about Mr. Feather). Clark was born on the 16th of Feb. 1876 in Iowa and he died on the 5th of March 1959 in California. Clark must have been very talented because not only was he working in the medical field but he had a lot patents for car repair tools when he started the business. Along the way his oldest son James Theodore Clark or "Ted" started working with his dad in the business as his father wanted to work more on the medical side as he was first trained to do.

Now the story will takes some twists and turns...

Sometime (not sure about the date) Clark bought out his business partner Mr. Feather and he starting producing many hand tools for the car industry.

So now we have his son "Ted" and he was born on Nov. the 1st,1906 and he died on Nov. the 6th, 1990 and he is buried in Morgan County, Colorado. (not sure when he started working with his father but I am thinking maybe age 18 or so and up).

The Following is what I found on the Web.

The Business address for the Clark-Feather Mfg. Co. was located at 116 W. Railroad Ave. Fort Morgan, Co.

The Company started in 1923 in Fort Morgan, Co.
In 1926 plans for a large factory were started.
Incorporation in 1959, (not able to unlock in google).
The business was sold to an Ohio Company in Dec. of 1980, (also not able to unlock in google).

The first number of employees that I found for the early years were 23 workers so it had a very good start.

I did find many nice examples on the web of some of their valve tools, lots of patents along with the whole Family tree History for you to look at. I have also included a nice magnetic pick up tool that I got at an estate sale; but trying to take pictures of the whole name was just to much of a challenge, but just enough for you to get the idea.

 

[woody 73]

One:

https://www.tias.com/8600/PictPage/1923013024.html

https://silver-ghost-association.myshopify.com/products/clark-feather-valve-spring-compressor

https://books.google.com/books?id=K...Ag#v=onepage&q=clark-feather mfg. co.&f=false

https://www.lunnysauto.com/detail/Vintage-Clark-Feather-Mfg-Flat-head-Valve-Spring_184028601415.html

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/clark-feather-mfg-co-valve-spring-19934128

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/flathead-head-valve-spring-retainer-1867871998

 

[woody 73]

Part Two:

https://books.google.com/books?id=5...ChAB#v=onepage&q=clark-feather mfg co&f=false

https://patents.google.com/patent/US3038247A/en

https://patents.google.com/patent/US3316623A/en

https://silver-ghost-association.myshopify.com/products/clark-feather-valve-spring-compressor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3316623.pdf

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/blue-point-clark-feather-cf-26-valve-1927044570

https://patents.google.com/patent/US3083004A/en

 

[woody 73]

Part Three:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-clark-feather-mfg-co-cf-12-1788571354

https://books.google.com/books?id=F...hUKEwjise2t0JDmAhUHM6wKHTuICBAQ6AEwAnoECAQQAg

https://books.google.com/books?id=2...hUKEwjise2t0JDmAhUHM6wKHTuICBAQ6AEwCXoECAgQAg

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Clark-Feather-Mfg-Co-Spark-Plug-Gapper-/223713940420

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/clark-feather-mfg-co-cf-12a-jeep-tool-525198996

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/clark-feather-mfg-co-cf-70-spark-plug-411578100

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3324606.pdf

 

[woody 73]

Part Four:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-antique-clark-feather-mfg-co-484807426

https://www.google.com/search?q=the...hUHM6wKHTuICBAQ8NMDCHs&biw=1920&bih=935&dpr=1

https://books.google.com/books?id=u...nepage&q=the clark feather co history&f=false

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3597828.pdf

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3668765.pdf

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/clark-feather-mfg-co-cf-49-valve-1808300306

https://patents.google.com/patent/US3378911A/en

 

[woody 73]

Part Five:

https://picclick.com/Vintage-Clark-Feather-Mfg-Co-Spark-Plug-Gap-Tool-303250963763.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/100761653@N07/19554360603

https://books.google.com/books?id=a...clark feather mfg co fort morgan, co.&f=false

https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=242704

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3065579.pdf

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lisle-cf-49a-valve-lifter-spring-1972145977

 

[woody 73]

Part Six:

https://books.google.com/books?id=i...hUKEwi7zqvYvY3mAhVMKawKHRFNCv8Q6AEwBnoECAUQAg

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71827160/james-theodore-clark

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial...onId=state_7&memorialid=&datefilter=&orderby=

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25779298/hannah-clark

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87099361/ira-joseph-clark

https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/ira-joseph-clark-24-dvpdq

 

[woody 73]

Just for fun last night I thought what the heck why not look through the census for the town of Fort Morgan, Co. for a Mr. Feather. I thought well the town must be somewhat small about 3000 people and what are the odds of having someone with that last name?

At first I tried the 1940 census with no luck, then I tried the 1930 Census again with no luck; but when I tried the 1920 census I got a hit and fell out of my chair.

https://www.censusrecords.com/Search?FirstName=charley&LastName=feather&State=Colorado

Is it the right guy I do not know? Charley DC Feather, wife Alice E.

Woody

 

[Private Lugnutz]

If you hear me cussing it is because I am having such a hard time trying to open up those google books on the web; but I have asked for help from GJ member Private so he will get back with me next week.

The book you want to open is locked, Woody, providing a snippet-only view. I have requested the Google Books team to unlock it. We have to wait for them now.

As I mentioned to you in a PM, it was ironic you would contact me about helping you open a digital book on the subject of a fairly obscure OEM like Clark-Feather, because it happens to be a very prominent name in the WWII Jeeper world.

The photos of a valve lifter on pages 17 and 44 of the Willys MB/Ford GPW “Jeep” manual - TM 9-1803A (24 Feb 1944) - are a Clark-Feather CF-12. The Wilde version (No. 675) is very popular with G503 Jeepers because it has been found in a NOS box marked with the FSN (41-L-1410), but it was made for Wilde by Clark-Feather.

Patent No. 2,119,128, for a valve lifter, was filed on June 14, 1937 by Ira J. Clark and issued on May 31, 1938.

The “CF” in Blue-Point valve lifter model number CF-12 stands for Clark-Feather, who made their lifters (going from CF-12 to CF-12-1 to CF-12A to CF-49) from 1938 to 1961.

Other "CF" clones include Wilde No. 675 and New Britain VL-151 (which are CF-12-1’s), OTC A-100 and Cornwell VT-24 (which are CF-12A’s), and Wilde 695 and OTC A-150 (which are CF-49’s). In the 50’s and 60’s, if you bought a valve lifter, there’s a good chance it was a CF. Snap-On CF-49A, Herbrand VL-540, Lisle CF-49A, New Britain VL-151, Cornwell VT-124A, Mac CF-49A, Kennedy VT-49, Indestro CF-49A, Blackhawk VT1002, Wilde 695A, Duro Chrome CF-49A, Toledo 304185, Bonney RC-120, and Cal-Van 578 are all Clark-Feather made.

I don't own an eponymous CF valve lifter. I own a Wilde and a K-D, made by K-D for the same stock number (41-L-1410). But here are some Clark-Feathers appropriated from Jeeper friends. Pic 1 shows a Blue-Point CF-12 (upper left), and a Clark-Feather CF-12 (bottom). Pic 2 shows the Clark-Feather markings on the body of a CF-12 that bears a Kent-Moore part number.

 

[woody 73]

I happen to have the following model from K-D that I thought some of the readers might enjoy seeing.

 

[sselander]

Another piece of the puzzle ..

"The business was sold to an Ohio Company in Dec. of 1980, (also not able to unlock in google)."

The company was Parker-Hannifin, and the acquisition was stated in a brochure

 

[Joe Huld]

I happen to have the following model from K-D that I thought some of the readers might enjoy seeing.

Here is my Clark and Feather marked CF 49 which I've never used but have kept just in case I ever need to do the exhaust valves on my 53 Willys pickup.

 

[wsoucy]

How exactly is this valve lifter supposed to work? I found the Cal-Van 578 version and thought it was a valve spring compressor. When you tighten the knob, it opens the jaws, so what is the point of compressing the valve spring upwards towards the retainer? What would be accomplished?

 

[four.cycle]

Their re-branding of their own lifter was not confined to Snap-on and Herbrand either.

CF-12 = Blue Point CF-12.
CF-12-1 = Blue Point CF-12-1; Wilde No. 675; New Britain VL-151
CF-12A = Blue Point CF-12A; OTC A-100, Cornwell VT-24.
CF-49 = Blue Point CF-49; Lisle CF-49; Wilde 695, OTC A-150.
CF-49A = Snap-On CF-49A; Herbrand VL-540; Lisle CF-49A; New Britain VL-151; Cornwell VT-124A; Mac CF-49A; Kennedy VT-49; Indestro CF-49A; OTC; Blackhawk VT1002; Wilde 695A; Duro Chrome CF-49A; Toledo 304185; Bonney RC-120; Cal-Van 578.

I do not own one, but we used to stock an Indestro model CF-11 Valve Spring Compressor (as well as the CF-49), and an assortment of various other "CF" items - see attachment.

In addition to the CF71 spark plug gapper(my copy of which is stamped with the 2645142 patent number), Indestro also sold a CF ?? (a model for which I cannot find a part number, nor an image of in a catalog) that covered the later HEI "big gap" stuff: .040", .060", etc.

Curiously, the CF71 does not appear in the 1982 Indestro catalog No. 60, or in the 1982 Duro-Indestro catalog No. 60A.
The CF11 model is shown, but not the CF49 model (in both the 1982 catalog No. 60 and the 1982 catalog No. 60A)

I kind of doubt we're going to get any sort of definitive answer from Parker-Hannifan at this stage of the game, but your very "unscientific" theory seems to make perfectly good sense.

 

[sponge]

Woody, You have done a wonderful job getting info on Clark Feather. I sold Snap On tools in the late '70's and early '80's and Snap On carried many CF tools. My all time favorite is the connecting rod/piston installation tool which protected the crank journals when you gripped the connecting rod after the piston was started in the bore and pulled it down home. Thanks for sharing

 

[Ricky Joe]

How exactly is this valve lifter supposed to work? I found the Cal-Van 578 version and thought it was a valve spring compressor. When you tighten the knob, it opens the jaws, so what is the point of compressing the valve spring upwards towards the retainer? What would be accomplished?

Flatheads compress the valve spring upwards away from the retainer. The CF-7 would be used to insert the keepers.

 

[d42jeep]

Spark plug gappers patented by Clark and sold by many manufacturers. One of my favorite tools that I’ve used since the ‘70s. The lower one is Snap-on.
-Don