Lowentraut Mfg Co, Newark, N.J.

[Private Lugnutz]

Lowentraut Mfg Co, Newark, N.J.

I found these 8" machinist's dividers at the flea market yesterday. Marked "FORGED", "8" (the length), "LOWENTRAUT MFG CO" over "NEWARK, N.J.", and "MADE IN AMERICA". Also bears a martial "< U.S. >" mark, probably applied after production. Based on the format of the COO marking and the martial stamp, I am guessing these are WWI or interwar.

Does anyone know anything about the mfgr?

Nothing on AA, TA, GJ, or any of the other usual places. I have done a few searches and haven't found much. A factory making roller skates attributed to P. Lowentraub in Newark burned down in 1911. That's it so far.

Thoughts?

EDIT: I am editing the title of this thread to facilitate searches and future reference. Formerly read "Lowentraub Mfg Co, Newark, N.J. ???" I am keeping everything else as is for thread reading continuity.

 

[notlob]

Here's some info:

http://swingleydev.com/ot/get/63623/thread/

http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2013/10/vanished-tool-makers-lowentraut.html

https://sites.google.com/site/handtoolswa/articles/lowentraut1894combinationtool

http://otools1.wkfinetools.com/mechanicT/LowentrautMfg/Lowentraut-index.asp

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Wow, I wish I had found that funky combination speed brace wrench instead!

Thanks, BB. That one little letter (Lowentraut vs. Lowentraub) made all the difference.

Tons of articles in WSJ, NYT, and other major newspapers.

- Founded 1869 by Peter Lowentraut
- Incorporated 1899 with $200,000 capital
- He died in 1910 and it was re-incorporated by his wife in 1914.
- Ice skates, mechanics tools, and bicycle wrenches.
- Sales ads up through 1919 when the factory was sold.
- Estate sale on August 3, 1919 last reference.

The good news is that company history confirms my assessment of the tool markings as WWI (1914-1918) production!

 

[DadsTools]

It does appear to be the same company as the roller skates. There seems to be a discrepancy with spelling, some references spelling with a B at the end and some with a T. There is a text reference to an old auction on eBay for a caliper bearing the name of P. LOWENTRAUB (including the initial) which makes a good tie-in. Apparently the "B" version is the misprint, if that thread of thought is correct. The company under either spelling is described as making tools and skates in Newark, so I think it more likely a misspelling on the stamping rather than two nearly identical companies operating out if the same city at the same time with a one-letter difference in the names.

The abundance of info you now have tells the bulk of the story. It's end apparently came by fire.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The stamp is small, worn on the top half of the name, and hard to read, but it's a "T." It's a German name that I have seen as Lowentraub, Lowentraupt, and Lowentraut in other circumstances. I guessed Lowentraub and the few vague references I found were due no doubt to a misspelling. Thanks to notlob for clearing it up. Apparently their skates - ice and roller - were very popular. The fire was reported in papers in Alabama, Illinois, California and elsewhere.

EDIT: Incidentally, these Lowentraut Mfg Co. (Newark, N.J.) dividers, which can be definitively dated to 1914-1918, were found in the same old wooden toolbox as the Sawyer Tool Co. (Fitchburg, Mass.) screwdriver, thread linked here, which can be definitively dated to 1906-1911, and the American Swiss File and Tool Company (Elizabeth, N.J.) double-bow cutting punch, thread linked here, which is almost certainly from the same era. It was a house close-out lot. Somebody's grandpop for sure. If only tools could talk.

 

[DadsTools]

The stamp is small, worn on the top half of the name, and hard to read, but it's a "T." It's a German name that I have seen as Lowentraub, Lowentraupt, and Lowentraut in other circumstances. I guessed Lowentraub and the few vague references I found were due no doubt to a misspelling. Thanks to notlob for clearing it up. Apparently their skates - ice and roller - were very popular. The fire was reported in papers in Alabama, Illinois, California and elsewhere.

EDIT: Incidentally, these Lowentraut Mfg Co. (Newark, N.J.) dividers, which can be definitively dated to 1914-1918, were found in the same old wooden toolbox as the Sawyer Tool Co. (Fitchburg, Mass.) screwdriver, thread linked here, which can be definitively dated to 1906-1911, and the American Swiss File and Tool Company (Elizabeth, N.J.) double-bow cutting punch, thread linked here, which is almost certainly from the same era. It was a house close-out lot. Somebody's grandpop for sure. If only tools could talk.

Educate me, Lugz. How can these dividers be 'definitely' dated 1914-18? Not that I doubt it, just wanting to know.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That martial mark with the serif font is WWI or interwar. Since the company ended business in 1919, it has to be WWI.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Not that it matters much, but after reading further about Lowentraut last night, that "< U.S. >" mark may actually be their brand! It's an odd brand, to say the least. Even if one doesn't collect military tools, one might confuse it with a COO mark. Typically when a tool already has a COO mark (in this case "MADE IN AMERICA"), an extra "U.S." would automatically be considered a martial mark, indicating U.S. property in an international armed conflict. I had read that they were making strap-on ice skates under that brand (assuming it was a way to indicate they weren't made in Canada or Europe?), but didn't think it followed through to tools. Very strange. Safest dating with that in mind is no later than 1919.

 

[twertsy]

Not that it matters much, but after reading further about Lowentraut last night, that "< U.S. >" mark may actually be their brand! It's an odd brand, to say the least. Even if one doesn't collect military tools, one might confuse it with a COO mark. Typically when a tool already has a COO mark (in this case "MADE IN AMERICA"), an extra "U.S." would automatically be considered a martial mark, indicating U.S. property in an international armed conflict. I had read that they were making strap-on ice skates under that brand (assuming it was a way to indicate they weren't made in Canada or Europe?), but didn't think it followed through to tools. Very strange. Safest dating with that in mind is no later than 1919.

I KNOW I've researched these guys but damned if I can find it.............

 

[Skiff Builder]

It does appear to be the same company as the roller skates. There seems to be a discrepancy with spelling, some references spelling with a B at the end and some with a T. There is a text reference to an old auction on eBay for a caliper bearing the name of P. LOWENTRAUB (including the initial) which makes a good tie-in. Apparently the "B" version is the misprint, if that thread of thought is correct. The company under either spelling is described as making tools and skates in Newark, so I think it more likely a misspelling on the stamping rather than two nearly identical companies operating out if the same city at the same time with a one-letter difference in the names.

The abundance of info you now have tells the bulk of the story. It's end apparently came by fire.

I occasionally drive by the old site, just off Springfield Ave in Newark,NJ. One of the old square smokestacks still stand. Area of mixed residential,commercial,light industrial now. Not an place you'd want to be changing a tire in on a late night. Car jackings ,robberies, gun fights in the streets......How things have changed . I've read that Lowentraut provided many high paying jobs in the day.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Just to further and finally clear up the confusion between the spelling of the name...

Believe it or not (and trust me, this one has enough coincidences to strain anyone's sense of the credible), the roller and ice skate factory in Newark, N.J. that was destroyed in a fire, was J. (not P.) Lowentraub (not "t"), and it occurred in 1895. Many newspapers around the country reported the event. Yes, it's the same city, the same product, and almost the same name! Further adding to the bizarre coincidences, the fire happened a year before Peter Lowentraut started P. Lowentraut Mfg Co. As far as I can tell, Peter did not start his business on the same site, and there is no relationship between J. Lowentraub and P. Lowentraut. Peter was a mechanic working in Brooklyn at the time. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the former factory was his inspiration.

I KNOW I've researched these guys but damned if I can find it.............

I'll send you all my links and clippings for TA.

I occasionally drive by the old site, just off Springfield Ave in Newark,NJ. One of the old square smokestacks still stand. Area of mixed residential,commercial,light industrial now. Not an place you'd want to be changing a tire in on a late night. Car jackings ,robberies, gun fights in the streets......How things have changed . I've read that Lowentraut provided many high paying jobs in the day.

Thanks for the report, Skiff Builder. Although I'm down in Monmouth County, I may actually detour over there some day when I'm up there passing through.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This morning at the flea market I found only my second ever Lowentraut tool, an adjustable bicycle wrench. Demonstrates how rare they are. Like the "MADE IN AMERICA" markings on the machinists' dividers in post #1, the "MADE IN U.S.A." marking on this one might help the confused and the unwary infer that the "< U.S. >" marking on the flip side is not a redundant COO mark, but something else. It might take a little digging to understand it's not a martial marking, either, but a brand. See upthread for the unusual backstory on the company and the brand.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found another bike wrench this morning, this one a bit different than the other, shown above. ^

 

[four.cycle]

Lowentraut 5-in bicycle wrench

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This New Jersey homeboy picked up one of several personal holy grails this morning at the flea market with this antique combination tool made by P. Lowentraut of Newark, NJ. As examples go, it is not the prettiest specimen, but pickers can't be choosers. That the alert mickey mouse eared wingnut adjusts the dynamic jaw screw of the wrench is obvious, as is the knurled collar to screw the handle on and off its two locations for straight or offset work. Not so obvious is that little plunger pin. That is inserted into a hole to secure it when it's in the offset position.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This marking ("PAT. DEC. 4 1894") refers to one (530,419) of three interrelated S.J. Johnston patents, and includes breast drill/brace attachments that I am not showing here.





Accompanying the manufacturer's branding ("P. LOWENTRAUT / NEWARK, N.J.")...



...is an allusion to rights afforded S.J. Johnston of Leesburg, Va.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Additional pics..

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Unfortunately, the handle is broken. I staged the photos for original effect without the modern rubber band that was around it when I got it.

 

[crguy]

You're missing a big part of the wrench.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yup. As I said when I summarized the series of patents.

 

[crguy]

Yup. As I said when I summarized the series of patents.

If those are a "personal holy grail" one would expect you'd already have nice complete examples and wouldn't be picking up crusty incomplete ones.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You guys know my fondness for multi-tools. Between 1984 and 1901, anyway, Samuel Johnston was the Samuel Johnson (see British critic, biographer, essayist, poet, and lexicographer) of tool inventors. A polymath of bits, bolts, and utilities. Here is the rest of the patent I alluded to upthread before dinner, with figures showing how many different ways this combination tool could be used, with and wothout the brace attachment, and just one brief excerpt reflecting his purpose and commitment to efficient multiplicity.

 

[four.cycle]

More uses than the windmill tool!
Pretty amazing find for "swap meet" stuff.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

More uses than the windmill tool!

Not quite. But more refined. For those who weren't following, 4.c is referring to the Mathews "Never-Stall", another recent flea market find, also an uncommon collectible, built with 15 uses, linked here.

Pretty amazing find for "swap meet" stuff.

'Zackly! Have you seen the prices these can go for online, in barn auctions, and in club circles? For $5 I wasn't leaving it behind because of a split handle and a missing brace attachment. If I don't run into that somewhere I have some cannibalize and mod ideas. Not sure what I'm going to do about the handle. I know what my pop would do. Glue it, fill in the cracks with his homemade goo (sawdust and turpentine), sand, refinish, and probably whip with wire, too, a look that would match its used appearance. But I might sleep on it a bit. ZERO concern about resale value.

 

[d42jeep]

If those are a "personal holy grail" one would expect you'd already have nice complete examples and wouldn't be picking up crusty incomplete ones.

Wow, how negative can you get? Completely unnecessary and uncalled for. You should be congratulating him on his rare find rather than raining on his parade!
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

No worries, Don. I put him on my Ignore List, so I didn't even see it until your post. But thanks for confirming why he's on my Ignore List. (Not to mention the counterintuitive pretzel logic of someone having multiple examples of anything defeating the definition of a holy grail! )

 

[crguy]

Wow, how negative can you get? Completely unnecessary and uncalled for. You should be congratulating him on his rare find rather than raining on his parade!
-Don

Actually, the Lowentraut wrenches aren't rare. There's probably one listed on Ebay every day of the week plus others for sale elsewhere. I'm not even a wrench collector and I have 4 of them. That's why I was surprised that the so called "expert" wrench collector didn't already have lots of them. He's a little touchy and defensive whenever someone questions him, I won't miss interacting with him.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Before I put the combo tool back in the Lowentraut drawer for safekeeping, I thought I would take a family portrait. It's a small drawer! And they even share space in there with their Braunsdorf-Mueller backyard neighbors.

 

[four.cycle]

"Have you seen the prices these can go for online..."

I look at Ebay almost every day, and for five bucks you wouldn't even get the wing nut for that thing!
Notwithstanding unsubstantiated rumors, I see one of those there maybe two or three times a year, if that often. I think George Roberts had one listed not too long ago - not sure.
So yeah... fairly uncommon.
I think your old man's method on the handle might be the way to go - at least it's a stab at "period correct" patching.
The handle? One might show up at some other deal you go to or somebody might have one laying about.

 

[RTM]

I passed on a few at an auction last month, both were missing pieces, and I didn’t want to go down that rabbit hole of paying 4x for one part what I paid for the rest.

 

[crguy]

Notwithstanding unsubstantiated rumors, I see one of those there maybe two or three times a year, if that often.

I just checked Ebay and there have been 6 sold in the last 60 days, and another one currently listed. In addition, there have been several in the latest Brown & Donnelly auctions.

 

[leg17]

I look at Ebay almost every day, and for five bucks you wouldn't even get the wing nut for that thing!
Notwithstanding unsubstantiated rumors, I see one of those there maybe two or three times a year, if that often. I think George Roberts had one listed not too long ago - not sure.
So yeah... fairly uncommon.
I think your old man's method on the handle might be the way to go - at least it's a stab at "period correct" patching.
The handle? One might show up at some other deal you go to or somebody might have one laying about.

But first get some accurate dimensions. You never know. Might find some way to get a properly 'aged' replacement in the works.
Was the original steamed or something and forced over the retainer to then cool and stay in place?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Was the original steamed or something and forced over the retainer to then cool and stay in place?

It had to be. Or something like that. The larger broken "half" won't actually come off the lip unless I force it, and if it was still whole, that would resist coming off altogether.

One of the benefits of buying antique and vintage tools at flea markets - besides the immediate pleasure of actually finding an item that is uncommon in the wild, rather than just buying one that someone else has found, is spending peanuts. I might just see if someone can re-make a nice replica. I keep saying I need to find someone to do the same thing for my Civil War era Thayer's Patent (35,715/1862) multi-tool, linked here, which is missing completely. I might as well do them both at the same time.

 

[RTM]

Not quite relevant here, but I had always wondered about the similar handle on a brace, and how it got there. Jump to 8:30 my link skills failed to embed the time. Narrator was a late employee.

 

[tipsys]

Before I put the combo tool back in the Lowentraut drawer for safekeeping, I thought I would take a family portrait. It's a small drawer! And they even share space in there with their Braunsdorf-Mueller backyard neighbors.

I see you have a #8 caliper.
Here the one I have, picked it up at estate sale in N. Texas. Was covered in black gunk and rust.
Took awhile to clean it.
Is there anything more you can tell me about it.
Thank you.

 

[four.cycle]

Peter Lowentraut at International Tool Catalog Library

Lowentraut / P. Lowentraut Mfg. Co., Newark, NJ / patent 530419 Dec 4 1894 Samuel J. Johnson / patent 530419 Dec 4 1894 Samuel J. Johnson / http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p4.html#lowentraut / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/lowentraut-mfg-co-newark-n-j.387662/ /


1903 Schwabacher Hardware Co. catalog Baxter Lowentraut Vaughan & Bushnell ad pp 102

1903 Schwabacher Hardware Co. catalog Lowentraut PL gas pliers pincers ad pp 201

1910 Hardware Dealers Magazine Lowentraut ad pp 306

Peter Lowentraut PL mark on pliers ToolShed

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I see you have a #8 caliper.

Not to be picayune, but technically, they're dividers. Wing dividers. I know the terms are commonly used interchangeably in many parts of the world and different walks of life, and each tool is similarly used to draw circles, mark divisions and transfer measured lengths from layouts to work pieces, etc. I'm just pointing it out for search terms, because Lowentraut, like many other mfgrs, did make the distinction, and did also make various calipers, with curved legs.

Here the one I have, picked it up at estate sale in N. Texas. Was covered in black gunk and rust.
Took awhile to clean it.

Nice find and well done.

Is there anything more you can tell me about it.

Yes. Yours is almost complete, whereas mine is not! I think the locknut on the wing is original. The wingnut tensioner is probably not original. That was a peculiar shaped knurled nut. Both are missing from mine. They came in lengths of 5" to 24". I'd say it's ironic there are only two on the thread and both 8-inchers, but then again, it was probably the most popular size. Click on @four.cycle 's first link to check out your find in the catalog.

 

[Emanon]

I also picked up a #8 divider recently. Was also in rusty, greasy shape.... Didn't even know it had any text on it. Cleaned up pretty nice though. The wing nut is an Ace Hardware replacement of my doing.

 

[nz44tool]

Here's a Lowentraut hay hook I've had for a while.