International Forge Set

[Provincial]

This little 1/4 drive set was among a lot of tools I found at a garage sale this Fall. It was raining and a table full of tools was sitting there uncovered, so I made a lowball offer to save them from the rust. There were enough good collectable tools to make it a bargain, plus the ususal asian junk. At first I thought that this set was asian, but on closer look it appears to be lower-end USA.

I found few references to International Forge Co. on the internet. It appears that there was a ratchet in the set that has gone missing, probably because it broke easily. The sockets range from 3/16 to 7/16, and I suspect that the 1/2 socket has gone missing. I substituted a "Japan" socket for the missing 5/16 one. The handles and extension are stamped "Internatonal Forge Company." The sockets are stamped with the size and "I.F.C." The box is pretty well made, with a decent catch and the company name neatly stamped in raised letters "INTERNATIONAL FORGE CO CHICAGO."

Sorry about the fuzzy photos.

 

[PowderKeg]

I have, and can only recall seeing, one style of an International Forge branded ratchet. It's the same boxhead design as the 1950's Craftsman made by Moore Drop Forge, only the Int. Forge one isn't nearly as nicely finished as the Craftsman. MDF also branded the boxhead for Metcoid.

That little box set is a good catch, can't recall seeing sockets before either, just a few ratchets.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

That's a new one to me, but a very interesting one at that.

 

[Made in USA]

Here are a few pics of an International Forge Co. 1/4" ratchet that recently sold on eBay as part of a misc ratchet lot:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lot-Craftsman-1-4-3-8-1-2-Drive-Ratchets-Kal-Crescent-Tools-Nice-/193510434418?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l44720.c10&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true

 

[four.cycle]

International / International Forge Co., Chicago, IL /

I have no other information on this company.

This is one of only two threads on this website with "International Forge" in the title. The other one is HERE:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/international-forge-co-3-4-ratchet.436624/

I don't have the luxury of having the time to pick out individual posts right now - I have two hours to get to a ballet performance.
I received this little gem today - an International Forge 1/4" drive ratchet. I guess I wasn't paying attention when I ordered it - I didn't know it was going to have this fancy copper plating on it.

International Forge 1/4" drive copper-plated ratchet

 

[four.cycle]

I had thought the ratchet (posted just above) would be a suitable addition to my own International Forge 1/4" drive SAE socket set, shown below.
These are the photo images from the original Ebay listing - they're not my own photos - but I'm posting them here anyway because I don't know where the set is at the moment, so for the sake of continuity, here they are.
As Provincial notes in his post at the top, the sockets are stamped "I.F.C.", and are plain black finish. The other drive accessories appear to be cadmium plated and are marked with the maker's name. I do not recall there being part numbers stamped on any of the tools, but the box is embossed with the maker's name. The sockets range in size from 3/16" to 7/16". I do not believe a 1/2" drive socket was originally included in this set - most 1/4" drive sets from this era did not include a 1/2" socket.

International Forge Co., Chicago, Illinois - 11-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set

 

[RTM]

Looks like they were in business 1950 -1963, based on results in Google books.

Filed a trademark for Lite-Mite, a pipe wrench in late 1951, claimed use since Dec 1950.

May have been located at 2308 (1956) & 2310 (1958) South Kedzie Av SW Chicago at some point, building is being renovated, so hard to tell what it may have been.

this link may have the owner operator name, for those who want to or are already signed up.

https://newspaperarchive.com/suburbanite-economist-jan-05-1955-p-6/

May have moved to Richmond Illinois in 1963

This link looks like the owner was John M Hadsell (32 yr old M in 1957)

Edit, corrected spelling, dang scan copies and my eyes.

 

[four.cycle]

this link?

 

[RTM]

this link?

You weren't supposed to read that fast. I had to move computers. It should work now.

 

[RTM]

Looks like he was a Princeton grad, class of 29, which sort of disputes the age posted above. This is Sept 28, 1951, so he'd be ~22 years out of college in '51, so ~44, not 32.

... a letter from John Hadsell from Chicago ..... John is president of a new enterprise known as International Forge Co., manufacturers of a line of aluminum tools. Here's a great opportunity for you guys in the plumbing supply business to get in on something that all your competitors don't have. They have a pipe wrench so light that the housewives of the country will be throwing them instead of rolling pins.

Princeton Alumni Weekly

books.google.com

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I did not think they made any tools, just a rebranded. All the stuff I have seen looks like mdf, but that set looks different

 

[four.cycle]

^ On THAT note, I'm going to take the liberty of posting another set of photo images from a different Ebay listing - this one from an incomplete set that I passed on. (Craftsman box, missing pieces, wire-wheel abuse, etc.) Take a look. I am assuming by "mdf" you are referring to Moore Drop Forging, correct?

International Forge Co. 1/4" drive SAE socket set (incomplete)(photos ebay)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Interesting. I have some similar looking metcoid.

 

[RTM]

I did not think they made any tools, just a rebranded. All the stuff I have seen looks like mdf, but that set looks different

That’s what I was trying to decipher from Street View, if the building was able to support manufacturing (pipe wrench), manufacturing of multiple product lines (pipe wrench and sockets) , just assembly in the garage, or just a mailing address.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Metcoid was located in Plano Illinois. Very similar looking tools.

 

[four.cycle]

Filed a trademark for Lite-Mite, a pipe wrench in late 1951, claimed use since Dec 1950.

Link? Were they issued a trademark or patent on the "Lite-Mite" aluminum pipe wrench?


Craftsman =V= 1/4" drive ratchet - manufactured by Moore Drop Forging Co., Springfield, MA

Can we agree that International Forge Co. was outsourcing their ratchets from Moore Drop Forging Co. ? Shall we take a vote?

From what little documentation has already been discovered, it appears they were manufacturing the "Lite-Mite" aluminum pipe wrench in house, but which house?
And were they stamping out anything else in the same house? Or outsourcing everything else (like the early VIM Tool Co.?)

Oldtuleguy - as an aside, your "Metcoid" stuff looks like my late step-father's =V= Craftsman set (at least what remains of it):


Craftsman =V= 1/4" drive SAE socket set

In conclusion, this thread is prima facie evidence we can do better than AA with open-source, peer-reviewed, collaborative work.
Thank you very much, gentlemen.
BK

 

[RTM]

Link? Were they issued a trademark or patent on the "Lite-Mite" aluminum pipe wrench?

trademark, see it here.

Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office

books.google.com

googling "international forge" chicago 1951. In books gets you a few ogf the other references

 

[four.cycle]

International Forge Co., Chicago, IL TM 621769 Jul 15 1952 "Lite-Mite"

International / International Forge Co., 2310 S. Kedzie, Chicago, IL / est. 1950 / closed 1963 ? / "Lite Mite" aluminum pipe wrench TM 621769 Jul 15 1952 / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/international-forge-set.351169/ /

 

[four.cycle]

International Forge Co. 18 piece 1/4" drive SAE Socket Wrench Set w/Original Box

manufactured by International Forge Co., Chicago, Illinois U.S.A.

this "set" includes:

3/16" 6 pt shallow socket black finish marked "I.F.C."
7/32" 6 pt shallow socket black finish marked "I.F.C."
1/4" 6 pt shallow socket black finish marked "I.F.C."
9/32" 6 pt shallow socket black finish marked "I.F.C." (* hairline crack on side *)
5/16" 6 pt shallow socket black finish marked "I.F.C."
11/32" 6 pt shallow socket black finish marked "I.F.C."
3/8" 6 pt shallow socket black finish marked "I.F.C."
7/16" 6 pt shallow socket black finish marked "I.F.C."

1/4" 6 pt shallow socket plain steel finish marked "I.F.C."
5/16" 12 pt shallow socket plain steel finish marked "I.F.C."
5/16" 12 pt shallow socket plain steel finish marked "U.S.A." (two plain single bands)
11/32" 12 pt shallow socket plain steel finish marked "MADE IN U.S.A." (two plain single bands)
9/32" 12 pt shallow socket plain steel finish marked "I.F.C."

1/4" 8 pt shallow socket plain steel finish (two plain single bands)
5/16" 8 pt shallow socket plain steel finish (two plain single bands)

2 inch Extension (no marks)(two plain single bands)
4-1/2" Sliding "T" handle marked "INTERNATIONAL FORGE CO."
6 inch Extension marked "INTERNATIONAL FORGE CO." (might be cad finish)
6 inch Extension marked "INTERNATIONAL FORGE CO. - plain steel finish - has been vandalized on wire wheel.
5 inch pear-head raised panel Ratchet (manufactured by Moore Drop Forge) chrome or nickel finish
5 inch pear-head raised panel Ratchet (manufactured by Moore Drop Forge) copper plated finish
6 inch Spinner Handle marked "INTERNATIONAL FORGE CO"
Steel Box

* I do not recognize the maker of the orphans here, so I am leaving them in situ. The bands evoke Walden, but the size stamping is all wrong.

 

[chief770]

International Forge Co., Chicago, IL TM 621769 Jul 15 1952 "Lite-Mite"

International / International Forge Co., 2310 S. Kedzie, Chicago, IL / est. 1950 / closed 1963 ? / "Lite Mite" aluminum pipe wrench TM 621769 Jul 15 1952 / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/international-forge-set.351169/ /

 

[Private Lugnutz]

^ Neat find there, @chief770.

It often takes an example to turn a topic from academic to substantial and I have to admit I never paid much if any attention to 4.c's LITE-MITE TM until now, so thanks for posting.

It's now making me wonder who was first?

In its 1967 TM of the name "Schick", the company famous for its aluminum pipe wrenches (and other aluminum tools) stated first use as 1953, so International Forge and its LITE-MITE seems to have them beat.

Ridge Tool Co didn't introduce them until sometime between 1962 (not in the 1961 catalog) and 1967.

 

[chief770]

Thanks. Bessemer Forging, Toledo Pipe Threading Machine Co., Blackhawk, Frontier Bronze Corp, and J.H.Williams & Co. all had offerings of similar construction. Schick is easily the lightest. Ridgal and Trimo Spiral grip aluminum wrenches were later and used a steel hook jaw (the others all use aluminum hook jaws with replaceable steel teeth.)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Bessemer Forging, Toledo Pipe Threading Machine Co., Blackhawk, Frontier Bronze Corp, and J.H. Williams & Co. all had offerings of similar construction.

Who was first, though? That's what I find myself suddenly curious about. Not about to dive into it, but based solely on what I knew of Schick and Ridge, and now know of Int'l Forge, seems like Int'l Forge. Unless you know different.

Schick is easily the lightest.

Interesting. I only have Schick's so nothing to compare apples-to-apples (same OAL to same OAL).

... (the others all use aluminum hook jaws with replaceable steel teeth.)

If by "hook jaw" you mean the dynamic (i.e., adjustable) jaw, and not the jaw insert itself, roger. Schick made some BeCu inserts as well. Several examples on the Schick thread.

 

[chief770]

Who was first, though? That's what I find myself suddenly curious about. Not about to dive into it, but based solely on what I knew of Schick and Ridge, and now know of Int'l Forge, seems like Int'l Forge. Unless you know different.

Interesting. I only have Schick's so nothing to compare apples-to-apples (same OAL to same OAL).

If by "hook jaw" you mean the dynamic (i.e., adjustable) jaw, and not the jaw insert itself, roger. Schick made some BeCu inserts as well. Several examples on the Schick thread.

 

[chief770]

Williams may have been first but I dont know where Bessemer, Niagara, Toledo, and Blackhawk fall on the timeline. I started a new post regarding aluminum pipe wrenches, i posted a shot with some of mine including Schick