Diamalloy Tools

[JDweld98]

I've had this little pair of tongue and groove pliers for as long as I can remember and for some reason just decided to look up the brand and was surprised to learn that these are considered "vintage". They were based in Duluth, Minnesota and the model number of these is HL16. Thanks for any input!

 

[KZ1000J]

Diamond Calk and Horseshoe Co.

I have a 12 in. adjustable wrench I carry in my truck tool caddy......will do it's job well after I'm dead and gone.

 

[four.cycle]

^ "Diamalloy" = Diamond Calk and Horseshoe Co., Duluth, Mn.

best adjustable wrench ever made. I have a 12" and picked up an old beat-up 15" a couple weeks ago for $10 on CL. like KZ's, they'll both be turning nuts long after I'm dead.

good stuff.

previous discussion thread on adjustable wrenches: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313823&highlight=diamalloy

 

[B_Bimmer]

They made the only fencing pliers I have ever used that was any good. The new channellock works the same way but is fatter and softer. I acquire any of their tools I find for a reasonable price, and the aforementioned fencing pliers at unrealistic prices, especially in good condition. Apex has recycled the tool and part number. The new one is exactly as disappointing as irwin vise grips... That is a really harsh insult, but it is true.

 

[thedrivingman]

I have the same pliers with green handle covers still intact. First pair of pliers I reach for.

 

[Farmall 1066]

They made the only fencing pliers I have ever used that was any good. The new channellock works the same way but is fatter and softer. I acquire any of their tools I find for a reasonable price, and the aforementioned fencing pliers at unrealistic prices, especially in good condition. Apex has recycled the tool and part number. The new one is exactly as disappointing as irwin vise grips... That is a really harsh insult, but it is true.

True statement!
I grab every Diamond tool I find, if prices right, sometimes even if not priced right. Excellent quality.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I also have a few of the adj. Pliers.

 

[JDweld98]

True statement!

I grab every Diamond tool I find, if prices right, sometimes even if not priced right. Excellent quality.

Well between the responses I got on here and reading some other info about the tools, I decided I had to check out one of their adjustable wrenches. I just paid $20 for this 8" wrench with the green coating still on.

 

[ganymede]

I'll play too.
Here's my favorite (this week) pair of needle nose..

 

[RRmech]

I have an old SAE Tru-Fit combination wrench set, plus a few odds-n'-ends, mostly adj. wrenches.

 

[woody 73]

Sigh you guys are just killing me I just finished posting pictures of Calipers and Dividers and now Diamalloy tools...

Maybe I should hold off a do a nice story.

 

[McBrownie]

As cars get more "sophisticated", thus requiring less brute force, I find myself moving towards smaller tools - 1/4" drive ratchets, etc... So, I picked up an HL16 last summer and within a week, made sure I got another one. Nice solid tools and prices haven't gone through the roof (yet).

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple more. It's nice that Diamond made larger ones than Channellock
-Don

 

[ibedayank]

the Factory in Duluth is a parking lot about 1991 that happened

 

[d42jeep]

Here are two very early 8" Diamalloy adjustables. The chrome one is from the '30s and the dark one is from the late '40s.
-Don

 

[Brick_Smart]

Diamond Calk and Horseshoe Co.

I have a 12 in. adjustable wrench I carry in my truck tool caddy......will do it's job well after I'm dead and gone.

Their 12 in adjustable is my go-to adjustable because the end of the wrench is a 12 pt box-end 3/4"

 

[four.cycle]

It's nice that Diamond made larger ones than Channellock

Wilde goes up to 20" on a pair of tongue-and-groove angle-jaw pliers:
http://www.wildetool.com/catid.cfm?id=8&cat=1&subcat=1

 

[bonneyman]

I'm always looking to add to my greenie collection.
Anymore 8"ers where you found yours, JD?

 

[JDweld98]

I'm always looking to add to my greenie collection.
Anymore 8"ers where you found yours, JD?

I found mine on ebay and the seller only had the one that I bought. You just need to check ebay every once in a while until you find one.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have an old SAE Tru-Fit combination wrench set, plus a few odds-n'-ends, mostly adj. wrenches.

Tru-Fit is a Lectrolite brand, not Diamond.

 

[bonneyman]

I found mine on ebay and the seller only had the one that I bought. You just need to check ebay every once in a while until you find one.

Story of my life!

Yours is a beaut!

 

[JDweld98]

I just found these on ebay for $15. Anybody know what the deal is with them? Just from the photo I can clearly tell that these don't possess the same quality as the vintage Diamond tools. I tried searching for them and didn't see anything. I also could't find much about the "cooper hand tools" in the bottom right corner. Is this a company that bought them out or is it a Chinese company illegally using the Diamond name?

 

[Stuart in MN]

From the Alloy Artifacts website: Diamond Tool remained a family-owned business until 1981, when it was sold to the Triangle Corporation, the parent company of the combined Utica, Herbrand, and Bonney tool companies. Triangle itself was later acquired by Cooper Industries, the corporate parent to numerous other tool companies. Cooper Tools had also acquired the Crescent Niagara Corporation, the parent of Crescent Tools, and over time the production of Diamond adjustable wrenches was merged with the Crescent production.

 

[JDweld98]

From the Alloy Artifacts website: Diamond Tool remained a family-owned business until 1981, when it was sold to the Triangle Corporation, the parent company of the combined Utica, Herbrand, and Bonney tool companies. Triangle itself was later acquired by Cooper Industries, the corporate parent to numerous other tool companies. Cooper Tools had also acquired the Crescent Niagara Corporation, the parent of Crescent Tools, and over time the production of Diamond adjustable wrenches was merged with the Crescent production.

Well then I guess that answers my question. Not sure why I wasn't able to find that with my search but thanks! [emoji2]

 

[Farmall 1066]

Another good name whored out in pursuit of profits.

 

[four.cycle]

"... a Chinese company illegally using..."

many mergers and acquisitions have included in the product name being part of the deal.
if you own the name, there's nothing "illegal" about stamping the name you bought and paid for on an item sourced offshore.
i.e., Craftsman, Thorsen, KAL, ad nauseum.

you could do better on Ebay on that set of 6" slip-joints and that pair of 10" tongue-and-groove angle-jaws by looking at Wilde or Proamerica - both US made and unquestionably better products.

for the real-deal Diamalloy keep your eye on Craigslist - I picked up a 15" Diamalloy adjustable a week or so back for $10.

 

[JDweld98]

many mergers and acquisitions have included in the product name being part of the deal.

if you own the name, there's nothing "illegal" about stamping the name you bought and paid for on an item sourced offshore.

I understand that if a company is bought the new owners can then use said company's name. What I was talking about would be a company using another company's name without purchasing the rights to use that name. Counterfeit products are what I was referring to. I also understand that counterfeit products can come from places other than China, although the majority of counterfeit products do originate from China. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[TK-421]

I'll play too.
Here's my favorite (this week) pair of needle nose..

Oooh, pretty.

What's the part number? I'm gonna keep an eye out for a pair of those.

 

[ganymede]

Oooh, pretty.

What's the part number? I'm gonna keep an eye out for a pair of those.

Thanks.
Don't know when they were made but the model # is LN56.

 

[M-EGT]

I'm always looking to add to my greenie collection.
Anymore 8"ers where you found yours, JD?

dang, I had a green one too. But the plastic was heavily damaged and torn, so I removed it.

 

[JDweld98]

When I got mine the plastic had a bit of damage at the front so I put heat shrink over the end to keep it from getting any worse.

 

[TK-421]

Thanks.
Don't know when they were made but the model # is LN56.

Thanks for the number, I appreciate it.

Fleabay here I come!

 

[davethorik]

I run into a lot of Diamond tools that look unused. I have a 15" chain wrench with a 3' chain that had never been used, a pair of 10" slip joint pliers (no green grip, sadly) that have never been used, and the smaller of the 2 sizes of adjustable monkey wrench that's also pristine. The chrome seems nice.

Used, I only have 2 of their adjustables, an 8" Diamalloy and a 4" dual marked Blue Point/Snap-On that was made by Diamond. Also have a pair of 12" T&G pliers with green grips, I like them better than Channellock but seem hard to find in good shape. I also have a pair of green grip carbide jaw tile nippers around here somewhere. Thanks, GJ. lol

 

[Stuart in MN]

I have one of the more unusual Diamond Caulk tools - a crate opener.

 

[bonneyman]

dang, I had a green one too. But the plastic was heavily damaged and torn, so I removed it.

Gotta find a source/supplier for the real deal handle dip. I'm still scouring the web and making inquiries. Nothing solid yet.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I feel like I'd need two of those crate openers to open a crate. Neat tool, never seen one like it.

 

[skunkape1]

I have one of the more unusual Diamond Caulk tools - a crate opener.

Thanks, I have one of those and always just called it a pry bar. I'm sure you find lots of vintage Diamond tools like I do, being a couple hundred miles from the origin. In fact, I bet I find almost as many Diamond tools as old Craftsman tools in my neck of the woods.

 

[Plombob]

I found this one recently. The box is for GL6 Glass Breaking Pliers, but the pliers are GB6. They're NOS and ready to go to a new home. PM me if you want them.


View media item 49938View media item 49939

 

[Stuart in MN]

Thanks, I have one of those and always just called it a pry bar. I'm sure you find lots of vintage Diamond tools like I do, being a couple hundred miles from the origin. In fact, I bet I find almost as many Diamond tools as old Craftsman tools in my neck of the woods.

Yup, their adjustable wrenches at least are pretty common in the Twin Cities area.

 

[sk farmer]

I just found these on ebay for $15. Anybody know what the deal is with them? Just from the photo I can clearly tell that these don't possess the same quality as the vintage Diamond tools. I tried searching for them and didn't see anything. I also could't find much about the "cooper hand tools" in the bottom right corner. Is this a company that bought them out or is it a Chinese company illegally using the Diamond name?

those are not the real deal. pretty sure they are about the same quality as harbor freight.