Eugene Cornwell

[woody 73]

If you ever have noticed a recurring theme to some of my tool stories in that the owner started out in a blacksmithing trade first and later moved into full time hand tool production. Well Eugene Cornwell was no exception he started out as a blacksmith in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He founded his company just after the very end of World war l in 1919.

Eugene always wanting to improve on the performance of the tool steel at that early time would hunt down early carriage axles, which he found contained the best hardened steel at that time in history. He wanted the best steel that would last forever and his early customers soon came knocking on his door wanting to buy his early hand tools.

Of special note;

(1) Only speaking for myself and not for anyone else I will be using the 50/100 figure meaning fifty years as vintage and 100 years antique, unless otherwise noted; my pictures are from the 1920's up to 1965.

(2) I do not have any old Cornwell catalogs in order to figure out a time line on how to date their tools. I placed a call to cornwell and they are fantastic over the phone but they are not very good record keepers; They said try the AA web-site.

(3)Looking over the AA web-site and looking at the old tool script is my only guide line at this time and date, in dating my tools before 1965.

http://www.cornwelltools.com/History/History.php

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/cornwell-quality-tools.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornwell_Tools

http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Eugene-Cornwell/321550052

http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Eugene-Cornwell/321550052

http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Eugene-Cornwell/321550052

 

[woody 73]

More pictures:

 

[woody 73]

still more:

 

[woody 73]

A few more pictures from the 1920's to the Early 1930's, notice how the numbering system is somewhat different; just one more mystery of the cornwell system; All seven pictures are 11/16 X 3/4 in size.

 

[woody 73]

The next set of pictures from the late 1920's to the 1930's, again have different numbers this is a set of 3/4 X 5/8 in size.

 

[woody 73]

Two early 1/2 Drive ratchets notice how the one ratchet has the unique banding around the bottom of the handle.

 

[woody 73]

A 1"x 15/16" open end wrench with a different number system.

 

[woody 73]

An interesting lot from the 1930's hope you enjoy the pictures.

 

[Wayne_In_Akron]

Thanks for these efforts Woody!

With Cornwell's blacksmith shop having been in the town to my north, the toolbox production still going on in the town to my southeast, and the corporate headquarters about 15 minutes to my west... any exposure to Cornwell history is greatly appreciated.

Your comment that "they are fantastic over the phone but they are not very good record keepers" mirrors my personal experience when I tried to get some information regarding a model number or estimated production date of a Cornwell 10 drawer "Mechanics' Chest" that I acquired which seems to qualify as "vintage" based on the 50/100 standard that seems to be endorsed by many for this category.

The corporate office was only directed me to their tool truck rep for this territory, but that only seems to be good counsel for boxes far less than half a century old.

Perhaps you, or other Cornwell enthusiasts will be of more help in dating my tool box.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Observation: I've never heard of a Cornwell ratchet bending even if a cheater is used.

 

[woody 73]

Interesting story looking through my local CL last night the add said "Estate of 101 yr old man...Decades of a collection of tools".

Well that is like telling a drunk open bar come on down and off I went this morning. The Man's son-in-law was running the show after he kept what he wanted the rest was for us bottom feeders as Packard likes to say!

I am sure that nice old man is turning in his grave as they had buckets in the back yard filled with all the recent heavy rains and what was left in the garage was rust city!

I picked up 27 rusty old tools which the son-in-law closely inspected as he was running the numbers in his head for what to charge me; very smart man as I heard him say yep no snap-on, mac, cornwell, etc. he indeed had a good clue as to expensive tools.

Well one of the wrenches that was full of caked on rust was indeed a cornwell wrench and not just any wrench but clearly one from the early 1920's and the beam on that sucker is very thick. I had to place it up against another 1" modern Wright wrench just for comparison and that old cornwell is much thicker.

 

[ganymede]

From the 1994 catalog....

 

[Gear Wolf]

Still my favorite tool brand!

 

[3baygarage]

Woody, I think this belongs here, especially since you guys recently resurrected the thread.

Cornwell-A ? Double sided L handle breaker bar 5/8" drive by 1/2" drive

It is almost 20" long.

The ends are offset from each other, less than 90 degrees it appears.

I have never seen this tool. AA doesn't even show any Cornwell 5/8" drive (but there is a 7/8" ratchet and lots of other Cornwell goodness)

I picked this up thinking it was 1/2 by 1/2 and was quite surprised as the seller, an antique tool collector hadn't realized it either.

Any help with the part number would be greatly appreciated.

 

[woody 73]

That is very interesting I too have never seen it before. I do not own any old catalogs if I did I would be able to find you a part number.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I am always AMAZED at how forging, broaching and machining was done in the late 1800 through WWII. Today, you take a rough casting, send it through a couple automated forging presses, maybe a broaching machine and then some grinding and polishing, chrome plate it and you have a beautiful tool, and most of the operation are done without human intervention.

 

[twertsy]

Morning Woody (lol),

Nothing can help the "Cornwell Story," but perhaps these will help with dating in some way?






Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[twertsy]

More stuff:








Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[twertsy]

Some more






Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[twertsy]

Still more





Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[twertsy]

Little guys







Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[woody 73]

A big thank you to GJ member Twertsy for his copy of the 1941 Cornwell catalog, some things are starting to become more clear to me.

Wrenches marked TW=Tappet Wrench, BW= Box Wrench, EW=End wrench, IW= Ignition Wrench and so forth.

 

[555]

I use to see Cornwell tools at yard sales and the Aurora Farms Flea Market in the 80s. I had no knowledge about them, but used a couple of $1.00 finds to make clutch and brake pedals on a Harley 45.

 

[twertsy]

A big thank you to GJ member Twertsy for his copy of the 1941 Cornwell catalog, some things are starting to become more clear to me.

Wrenches marked TW=Tappet Wrench, BW= Box Wrench, EW=End wrench, IW= Ignition Wrench and so forth.

Woody,
This picture I just took of the 1910 Keystone Drop Forge catalog, run by Eugene's daddy. Notice the gullet? More proof Eugene didn't make anything.......in the first years, Keystone produced their tools.



Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[woody 73]

very interesting I need to now look into keystone tools, thanks for the heads up.

 

[twertsy]

very interesting I need to now look into keystone tools, thanks for the heads up.[emoji106]

V-gullet and square beam seal it for me......Cornwell all the way. Plus the fact that Eugene never moved to Ohio.

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[twertsy]

Ok folks, I must retract my above connection. Even though I still believe Isaac and Eugene contributed only their "Cornwell Process" to the Cornwell Quality Tool Co. and made their initial tools, the catalog above is the wrong Keystone. This catalog is for Keystone Drop Forge Works in Chester, PA. Isaac ran Keystone Forging Co. in Northumberland, PA.

 

[woody 73]

So I guess the jury is still out on that idea...twertsy you might have to go to your web-site and revamp my post reply.

Still lot of information to take in!

I for one have always been confused by the time line of when items were made as the numbers and letters are like a large puzzle waiting to be cracked.

Oh well the hunt for information goes on.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Some of the goodness in this Friday flea market haul...

...was Cornwell.

That's a 3/8-inch drive 12" extension, a 3/8-inch drive 17" speeder, a 3/8-inch drive socket with a 5/8" service opening, and a pair of deep 1/2-inch drive sockets.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'll post some more Cornwell soon. It's been neglected for too long!

 

[d42jeep]

I really like the ratchets. My wife found this 3/8” drive one at a recent estate sale.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As first reported on the 2019 Garage Sale thread, ably and amiably hosted by BlueBomber this year, I found this Cornwell FG-11 feeler gauge stock holder at my flea market this morning. See Pics 1, 2, & 3.

It is a slightly different design than that represented by the figure in the 1941 catalog (See Pic 4), and I am guessing it's later (50's perhaps), but I am happy with it, as these are just the kinds of little seemingly innocuous accessories that, when surrounded by all the major pieces (e.g., DOE wrench sets, 1/2-inch drive socket wrench sets, etc) inside a Cornwell toolbox, make a collection look more complete, original, and authentic from my perspective.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this Cornwell "Concentric Type" Stud Remover kit at the flea market today. I am pretty sure the box was spray-bombed red, and probably directly over whatever remained of the original oval decal, because Cornwell favored blue, not red. But I'm not sure. As you can see, the 1/2-inch drive shell for the various stud adaptors (5/16", 3/8", 7/16", and 1/2") is marked PAT. APD. FOR, so it could be fairly early. I haven't located the patent, so I don't know when they first started making these, but at least as early as 1941 (page 35 in the 1941 catalog).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here is the 1941 catalog excerpt...

 

[1982fxr]

Some of the goodness in this Friday flea market haul...

...was Cornwell.

That's a 3/8-inch drive 12" extension, a 3/8-inch drive 17" speeder, a 3/8-inch drive socket with a 5/8" service opening, and a pair of deep 1/2-inch drive sockets.

Wow, what did you clean those up with?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Right? Metal Rescue! Water-based, non-toxic, etc, just like Evaporust, but I think it's a little stronger. Also a tad more expensive. Home Depot.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Also picked up these early vintage swivels and an elbow socket this morning for the Cornwell kit.

 

[Tylermorris]

Cornwell number 55

 

[MR.X]

Old School

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Cool label, X. What was the box intended for? Socket set?