NASA Tool Mfg. Corp./ NASA

[woody 73]

Some time back about a year before I found the GJ someone in 2008 posted a NASA tool and the old GJ Guard gave him a hard time with astronaut jokes. Then during the next few years you would see a GJ member post a NASA tool and slowly in bits and bobs the information started coming together.

With the help of GJ member twertsy finding the obit (obituaries) I can now put together a more complete story, although the starting date is still a little fuzzy as they say. Again like the last few stories this company is very low on the radar and I hope in the future someone many years from now will find this post and say now I know more about this tool from NASA, and not the space agency.

Eric Schubart started the NASA Tool Mfg. Corp. in Amelia,Ohio I am going with the date of 1951 from his Obit in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Again this is a tough call because I get another date of 11/05/1963 as the formed date; Be sure and see the links. What I am very sure about is his trademark NASA date filed on 03/24/1971 and the registration date of 10/23/1973 for Mechanics Hand Tools. The Status as of this date has Expired on 04/22/2000.

From reading his obituary he was a very bright and very talented Man he died on Aug. 19th 1993. I have a few NASA tools that his company made for you to look at and again just another tool for you to keep your eyes open for.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5798554/the_cincinnati_enquirer/

http://www.trademarkia.com/nasa-72387313.html

https://www.bizapedia.com/oh/nasa-tool-manufacturing-corp.html

http://www.perfectleads.com/company/12027937/Nasa-Tool-Manufacturing-Corp

http://www.trademarkia.com/map/nasa-72387313.htm

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Interesting.. will keep my eyes peeled.. I'm guessing the closer to Amelia.. the more of a chance we'll see some pop up....

 

[NJ Marty]

Thanks Woody, you found a lot more info than I did. After picking up a set of NASA punches a year ago I did a search and only came up with a few snippets of info.
Here is the set I picked up.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Never heard of them, Thanks for the research and for posting the info .

 

[socaljohn]

Thank you Woody73 for shedding some light on the NASA tool that I have found. Looks like this wrench has not been posted previously. Also, John W. Lang was the one that secured the Patent out of Racine, WI. My tool indicates N.A.S.A. seems like the other ones are NASA, no periods. Maybe this is a different brand?

 

[woody 73]

The clue lies in the patent see below:
http://datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=2500835&typeCode=0

"Produced under contract to many brand names" hence NASA being one of those names.


I am not aware (key word here) of other NASA tool makers except for the space agency.

 

[RTM]

Here's a note to debunk the 1963 date you didn't trust: (Great research, thanks)

Google books has a "Directory of Combination Export Managers, Volumes 1-5" published in 1962, which states NASA of Amelia Ohio was a supplier of the following Commodities: Tools, parts for agricultural equipment, automotive parts.

There is also a reference in a 1956 Commercial Car Journal, v92, (snippet view) listing "Nasa Tool Mfg. Corp., Locust Corner Rd., Amelia, Ohio"

Not enough posts to be allowed to link to the stuff directly.

 

[outofbounds]

A Pair of NASA specialty hose clamp pliers with an American Hardware patent from 1954. Nice looking quality tool that caught my eye in a Saturday Estate sale bargain ****.....I have a couple of non-descript combination wrenches with the same name that don't present nearly as well as these pliers.

 

[Provincial]

For Corbin spring hose clamps.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Wow glad I seen this thread. I have a NASA screwdriver and I couldn’t find anything about the company or the tool. It’s a really long flat head screwdriver I’d say about 15 inches long. I know exactly where it is I’ll take a picture of it sometime and post it. I was honestly thinking maybe it was on a rocket ship as part of like a tool kit lol. I got it at the pawn shop for $1 about 2 years ago.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this pickerupper at the flea market this morning. First not-the-space-agency tool I have ever found in the wild. A little beat-up, but the magnet is active and it still extends.

 

[four.cycle]

^ a magnetic picker-upper that was not made in Lapeer, Michigan?!?!?!?
say it ain't so!

great find there!

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

At the listed address




Looks like a decent size shop. Sold in 2021 under 300K

ATCO tool corporation is listed in the directory of combiation export managers at the same address, showing NASA as a supplier.

 

[four.cycle]

what?
and what did "Atco Tools Corp." make?

 

[d42jeep]

what?
and what did "Atco Tools Corp." make?

Since you sent me this link, here is a hacksaw marked ATCO although I believe that it was supplied by Revere. It’s a bit of a mystery.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

This appears now to be a dead link: h t t p s://w w w.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/ww2-toolsets-mvmts-and-gmts-gmtk-tool-photos-post-up-your-gmtk-correct-tool-pictures-here.481978/

There are currently three "Atco" entries in my list. It appears yours was made by (or for) the first one:

Atco / Atco Tools Corp., 3427 Locust Corner Rd., Cincinnati, OH / est. 1943 / see also Revere Mfg. Co. / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/nasa-tool-mfg-corp-nasa.343907/#post-9490298 /

Atco / Atco Wrench Co., Lima, OH / "Any Angle Wrench" / patent 1205149 Nov 21 1916 Ransom Y. Bovee /

A.T.C.O. / A.T.C.O. / railroad tools /

Revere / Revere Mfg. Co., Phoenix, NY / WWII contract supplier / see also Atco Tools Corp. / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/nasa-tool-mfg-corp-nasa.343907/#post-9490298 /

^ does that look a bit more accurate?

Those units look identical, Don.... down to the three very uniform spot-welds on the ends of the frame.
Slap a little cosmoline on that cleaned-up copy of yours and nobody will know the difference.

 

[MisterEd]

Shoulda known, Woody, that'd you would have done the research!

I hope in the future someone many years from now will find this post and say now I know more about this tool from NASA, and not the space agency.

Five pounds, 3/4 Inch Drive.

 

[3baygarage]

NASA SAE wrench set

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Now that's something you don't see every day.

 

[rust in the eye]

I keep this one around for fine adjustments to my wristwatch.

 

[rust in the eye]

NASA SAE wrench set

These look a lot like something that may have been made about an hour down the road from Cincinnati in Sabina, OH.

 

[Machinehead]

I keep this one around for fine adjustments to my wristwatch.

Thats like a two-fister. You should sell me that please.

 

[rust in the eye]

Thats like a two-fister. You should sell me that please.

So it can then ballast your tool box drawer?
If serious send me a message. It's nearly 3' long so shipping...

 

[four.cycle]

@Machinehead -
Great Neck Tool Co. also made a super-long "two fisted" screwdriver like that.
When my brother-in-law was the sales manager for Great Neck, that screwdriver was their hottest selling item in east Los Angeles.
Apparently they make excellent jimmy bars.

Shipping costs would be crazy.

 

[Eric Brown]

Found a pair of NASA pliers. Marking reads "NASA-U 2718 GERMANY - W.". About 8" long.