I tripled my jellybean S-wrench collection today, thanks to eBay. The new guys are a 504 and a 220. Same flattened construction. I compared the 504 to my two B-shield 504s, hoping for some grand insight, but nothing amazing happened. They all look like S-shaped DOEs. Just the shanks on the B-shield examples are a bit thinner along the edges, probably using a little less steel and making them a little lighter to hold.
Spreading the Bonney affliction!
- Thread starter bonneyman
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twertsy
Well-known member
Don’t know if this has been posted, or if anyone is interested, but CS Bonney ended his days in NJ.
CS Bonney's memorial on FindAGrave.
The memorial does not mention a son, who, I guess, may have predeceased him.
Edit- no; three sons survived him. Wonder which was the “& Son”?
CS Bonney's memorial on FindAGrave.
The memorial does not mention a son, who, I guess, may have predeceased him.
Edit- no; three sons survived him. Wonder which was the “& Son”?
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Thanks for that, LS.
Twertsy posted in post #2115 on page 106 that he briefly formed another company (Bonney-Vehslage) in NJ (I've read somewhere else that it was in Irvington, near Newark), and the clipping Twertsy posted in post #2217, also on page 106, announcing the celebration of C.S. Bonney's 60th wedding anniversary in 1912, noted that he resided in Newark, NJ at the time.
The places of notable achievements seem to be Syracuse, NY (first patent), Philly (several patents) and Portsmouth, Ohio (several patents). It doesn't seem like anything between the Philly and Portsmouth years, or after, amounted too much.
There's really only one equivalent comparable example I can think for how we need to distinguish between "Bonney tools" associated with the man, C.S. Bonney, and follow-on enterprises, and "Bonney tools" associated with the company (Bonney Vise & Tool, and later Bonney Forge & Tool), that, it has to be acknowledged, became a much bigger enterprise than the man it was named after! And that's Alphonse Plomb.
Twertsy posted in post #2115 on page 106 that he briefly formed another company (Bonney-Vehslage) in NJ (I've read somewhere else that it was in Irvington, near Newark), and the clipping Twertsy posted in post #2217, also on page 106, announcing the celebration of C.S. Bonney's 60th wedding anniversary in 1912, noted that he resided in Newark, NJ at the time.
The places of notable achievements seem to be Syracuse, NY (first patent), Philly (several patents) and Portsmouth, Ohio (several patents). It doesn't seem like anything between the Philly and Portsmouth years, or after, amounted too much.
There's really only one equivalent comparable example I can think for how we need to distinguish between "Bonney tools" associated with the man, C.S. Bonney, and follow-on enterprises, and "Bonney tools" associated with the company (Bonney Vise & Tool, and later Bonney Forge & Tool), that, it has to be acknowledged, became a much bigger enterprise than the man it was named after! And that's Alphonse Plomb.
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twertsy
Well-known member
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Yes, excuse my dyslexia (now fixed)! I actually found a Bernard pattern Wm. Schollhorn ticket punch with a trolley conductors' union acronym stamped on it last week. I suppose it was a lucrative outlet and I shouldn't dismiss it compared to the mechanics tool sector Bonney Forge and Tool operated in. It just seems like what he let go of in Philly got way bigger in Allentown than anything else he did. I could be wrong.
akasrick
Well-known member
Magnum440d100
Well-known member
So long as the square opening is good, that should be able to work just fine. Bonney tools are worth saving!
I bought a long Bonney extension that had an offset knuckle on the end. (One of those knuckles where you can be up to 15 deg off and still get engagement). The knuckle was chewed up. Guy felt bad that such a great tool as Bonney was so buggared up. I said no worries, installed a short 1 1/2" extention on that end and secured it with a machine screw and ground it doqn. Total length about 13 inches. Works perfectly.
Top one in the pick.
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Mikeske
Well-known member
Magnum440d100
Well-known member
So long as the square opening is good, that should be able to work just fine. Bonney tools are worth saving!
I bought a long Bonney extension that had an offset knuckle on the end. (One of those knuckles where you can be up to 15 deg off and still get engagement). The knuckle was chewed up. Guy felt bad that such a great tool as Bonney was so buggared up. I said no worries, installed a short 1 1/2" extention on that end and secured it with a machine screw and ground it doqn. Total length about 13 inches. Works perfectly.
Top one in the pick.
Square end is a little closed, so it’ll have to be filed/opened before a ratchet will fit again.
Picked up another Bonney today on my travels...
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Rescued some Bonney from the flea market this morning. The V702K is nice, but the B-shield 33C is my favorite. Some day it will be a nice part of a c1913-1921 no25 set.
I did actually leave behind a couple Bonney pieces. Only one I feel bad about was a 10” Stillson-pattern adjustable automobile wrench, rustpitted just beyond what I deemed salvageable. It had the B-shield on the shank. Sad, so very sad, to see something so old so neglected so long.
Edit- ah, I’m glad I picked this up! I didn’t have a 407 before. It was so coated with rust, I could only tell it was a Bonney by the characteristic shape. Now that the thick concealing rust is off, turns out to be from March 1923.
I did actually leave behind a couple Bonney pieces. Only one I feel bad about was a 10” Stillson-pattern adjustable automobile wrench, rustpitted just beyond what I deemed salvageable. It had the B-shield on the shank. Sad, so very sad, to see something so old so neglected so long.
Edit- ah, I’m glad I picked this up! I didn’t have a 407 before. It was so coated with rust, I could only tell it was a Bonney by the characteristic shape. Now that the thick concealing rust is off, turns out to be from March 1923.
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The V-rat is a great find.
If you're up for soemthing a little different, and have enough 1/4" drive rats - and/or other Bonney's - you might want to try a little trick I learned off of the forum. Swap a 3/8" torque wrench gear drive into it (it will fit), and then you'll have a 3/8" drive in a 1/4" body Bonney!
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Magnum440d100
Well-known member
Cleaned it up just enough to fit on a ratchet again. Not the greatest, but it’s definitely usable again!
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Mikeske
Well-known member
Oldtuleguy
Well-known member
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Extended with a welder!
OMGOMGOMG!!!
Casual stop at a Sunday flea answered my prayers and broke my budget. I’ve occasionally pawed through this guy’s stuff, though his prices are not cheap, and hardly ever turned up much Bonney. I will have to go deep undercover to avoid my creditors (Mrs LS), but I totally scored four ratchets and two hingehandles on my want list.
Sadly, I left behind several items I would love to have purchased: Three sizes of Bonney-branded lever-less “visegrips” (not the Petersen pattern), a couple breaker bars, and several sockets and combo wrenches. The seller asked if I came through often, offered to hold stuff for me, but I really don’t, so thanks anyway. If I hit the lottery, I’d be back next weekend, but I doubt that’s going to happen.
The pipe wrench is a left-behind, too, but I thought Lugz might like to see it for his Craftsman longC OEM investigation.
Casual stop at a Sunday flea answered my prayers and broke my budget. I’ve occasionally pawed through this guy’s stuff, though his prices are not cheap, and hardly ever turned up much Bonney. I will have to go deep undercover to avoid my creditors (Mrs LS), but I totally scored four ratchets and two hingehandles on my want list.
Sadly, I left behind several items I would love to have purchased: Three sizes of Bonney-branded lever-less “visegrips” (not the Petersen pattern), a couple breaker bars, and several sockets and combo wrenches. The seller asked if I came through often, offered to hold stuff for me, but I really don’t, so thanks anyway. If I hit the lottery, I’d be back next weekend, but I doubt that’s going to happen.
The pipe wrench is a left-behind, too, but I thought Lugz might like to see it for his Craftsman longC OEM investigation.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Nice haul, LS!
The pipe wrench is postwar. What we most desperately need for the Long C Craftsman OEM ID is a 1930's or early 40's pipe wrench branded Nye.
EDIT: I found this Bonney T6 (CV) 18" 3/8-inch drive extension at my flea market this morning.
The pipe wrench is postwar. What we most desperately need for the Long C Craftsman OEM ID is a 1930's or early 40's pipe wrench branded Nye.
EDIT: I found this Bonney T6 (CV) 18" 3/8-inch drive extension at my flea market this morning.
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3baygarage
Well-known member
Wow, score!
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I got the 1886 Bonney Vise & Tool Co. catalog from the Minnesota Historical Society Library yesterday, and I noticed something a little strange almost immediately.
The note from Mr. C.S. Bonney is not the same. Not only does it not have the fancy unknown font. He uses a singular pronoun, no parentheses, and the soliciting of patronage for the new owners is not worded the same. It's also odd seeing him refer to the successors as Newkirk, Ritchie, & Bills, by name, in the 1888 note, when Mr. Bills was, technically, not one of his successors. The other Newkirk brother was.
Essentially, he wrote two notes, one in 1886, a year after he sold C.S. Bonney & Son to Newkirk, Ritchie, and Newkirk, and another, more ornate note in 1888, THREE years after the sale, when Mr. Bills was now one of the three proprietors.
What does it mean? Not much. But it's clear that the new firm was not doing well. The younger Mr. Newkirk had already bailed, replaced by Mr. Bills, by 1888. They had to have reached out to Mr. Bonney and asked his permission to run another note. In another year the whole shebang would belong solely to Mr. Bills.
For your reference and comparison...
Pic 1 is the 1886 Bonney Vise & Tool Co. (Newkirk, Ritchie, & Newkirk) catalog title page
Pic 2 is the 1886 C.S. Bonney note
Pic 3 is the 1888 Newkirk, Ritchie, & Bills catalog title page, featuring Bonney vises
Pic 4 is the 1888 C.S. Bonney note
The note from Mr. C.S. Bonney is not the same. Not only does it not have the fancy unknown font. He uses a singular pronoun, no parentheses, and the soliciting of patronage for the new owners is not worded the same. It's also odd seeing him refer to the successors as Newkirk, Ritchie, & Bills, by name, in the 1888 note, when Mr. Bills was, technically, not one of his successors. The other Newkirk brother was.
Essentially, he wrote two notes, one in 1886, a year after he sold C.S. Bonney & Son to Newkirk, Ritchie, and Newkirk, and another, more ornate note in 1888, THREE years after the sale, when Mr. Bills was now one of the three proprietors.
What does it mean? Not much. But it's clear that the new firm was not doing well. The younger Mr. Newkirk had already bailed, replaced by Mr. Bills, by 1888. They had to have reached out to Mr. Bonney and asked his permission to run another note. In another year the whole shebang would belong solely to Mr. Bills.
For your reference and comparison...
Pic 1 is the 1886 Bonney Vise & Tool Co. (Newkirk, Ritchie, & Newkirk) catalog title page
Pic 2 is the 1886 C.S. Bonney note
Pic 3 is the 1888 Newkirk, Ritchie, & Bills catalog title page, featuring Bonney vises
Pic 4 is the 1888 C.S. Bonney note
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DD T/A
Well-known member
Any clue what they look like, I'll keep my eyes peeled.
They would look a lot like these 3/8dr examples, but (obviously) smaller. The model numbers for 1/4dr would be V707 and VV707. I have not seen them on eBay, though an A707 recently sold there.
Interestingly, I do not immediately see how to disassemble the T707 or A707. The TT707 and AA707 have a spiral clip, but I see nothing similar on these guys. I think the internals must be identical - they certainly sound the same, but I don’t see how to open the older, Outlined-style x707s. Possibly just the press-fitted back holds it all together?
Interestingly, I do not immediately see how to disassemble the T707 or A707. The TT707 and AA707 have a spiral clip, but I see nothing similar on these guys. I think the internals must be identical - they certainly sound the same, but I don’t see how to open the older, Outlined-style x707s. Possibly just the press-fitted back holds it all together?
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twertsy
Well-known member
Here's what I can dig up, which isn't a whole hell of a lot to go on:
From Ancestry:
Born in Cumberland, New Jersey, USA on 22 Mar 1865 to Nathaniel Reeve Newkirk and Martha Reeve Bacon. Isaac Roberts Newkirk married Mary Louisa Maris and had 2 children. He passed away on 16 Nov 1953.
Web/Bacon Geneology:
ISAAC ROBERTS NEWKIRK, Son of Dr. Nathaniel R. and
Martha Bacon Newkirk, married Louise Maris, daughter of
John M. and Sarah L. Maris of Philadelphia 12/12/1899.
Their Children.
1. Louise Maris Newkirk, b. 1/23/1901, m. William Hill
Steeble.
2. Martha Bacon Newkirk, b. 1/23/1904.
Louise Maris Newkirk died 10/14/1924, aged -— years.
Isaac Roberts Newkirk resides at Rosemont, Penna.
I. Roberts Newkirk, as he was generally known, was born in
Deerfield, N. J., was educated in the Greenwich Friends School,
then at Westtown. He was employed by the William Wharton
Iron & Steel Co. of Philadelphia, for a short period, then became
a manufacturer of small steel products and later as a Commission
merchant handling steel products.
From the above, searching "Roberts Newkirk" rather than Isaac Newkirk brought many more results. Dude must have been very well off. newspapers are thick with reports of his travel to Egypt, Australia, Far East, Europe, etc, etc.
Going on the tip from the last snippet about how he referred to himself, I also found his obituary. It's attached. Interesting he was only 21 yrs old when he was part owner of Bonney!
Looks like his first patent was for inflatable tires in 1892. Perhaps that's where he made his fortune? https://patents.google.com/patent/US467015
As for your "Ritchie Vises" question, I find no record at all for Cornelius Ritchie having a patent in the 1880s, for vises nor anything else.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I know you guys already know this, and Todd even has an example of it on a tool (sans apostrophe), but the 1886 catalogue is replete with possessives. Bonney's Coachmaker's Vise. Bonney's Patent Spoke Trimmer No. 1. Bonney's Steel Ice Tongs. I love this 19th century practice of referring to an item, especially by the patent owner's name. I have a "Thayer's patent" multi-tool that dates to the Civil War, for example. There's the "Baxter's patent" wrench. Etc. It's a timeless honorific for their achievement.
I finally cut a piece of glass for the other frame, so now I’ve got both boards hung.
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I got caught up trying to track down Joseph G Baker. I found a patent for a pipe and rod vise on Google Patents that I can’t get to come up on DATAMP OR USPTO: 01Jun1886 #342992. Also, he moved around enough to make US census data a little problematic. I think I’ve got him in 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910. His birth in September 1859 is variously given as Delaware, Pennsylvania, and England! His father’s name may have been Salathael, who worked “in fertilizers” in Philadelphia, with mother Sarah, older brother Charles.
He seems to have married Margaret Fedlen, a tailoress, at about age 20 and lived with her brother, Paul Fedlen, and family in 1880 at 706 Morris Street, Philadelphia PA. Both men’s occupation is listed as “hucksters.”
In 1900 he’s at 3052 Ludlow Street Philadelphia, now listed as a “tool maker,” with wife Margaret, 19-yr-old son (born Dec1880) Charles “metal polisher”, and some different Fedlen (Fedlean) relatives.
In 1910 Joseph G and Margaret A are living at 111 North 3rd Street Vineland (Cumberland Co) NJ. He is age 50, listed as working in the manufacture of vises and tools.
This last census attempted to distinguish among employers, employees, and independents. I think he is listed as an employee
He seems to have married Margaret Fedlen, a tailoress, at about age 20 and lived with her brother, Paul Fedlen, and family in 1880 at 706 Morris Street, Philadelphia PA. Both men’s occupation is listed as “hucksters.”
In 1900 he’s at 3052 Ludlow Street Philadelphia, now listed as a “tool maker,” with wife Margaret, 19-yr-old son (born Dec1880) Charles “metal polisher”, and some different Fedlen (Fedlean) relatives.
In 1910 Joseph G and Margaret A are living at 111 North 3rd Street Vineland (Cumberland Co) NJ. He is age 50, listed as working in the manufacture of vises and tools.
This last census attempted to distinguish among employers, employees, and independents. I think he is listed as an employee
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damon18
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Found these two Bonney items in a box full of tools this past weekend.
vintage 1/2 drive ratchet, can't find any numbers, and kind of odd looking 3/8 drive ratchet with RF45 on it. (middle of view)
vintage 1/2 drive ratchet, can't find any numbers, and kind of odd looking 3/8 drive ratchet with RF45 on it. (middle of view)
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Username already in use
Well-known member
Stopped by the local recycling yard today. It had been a few weeks since I stopped in. I should have stopped by sooner. If I had, I would have had been able to snag the top to this Bonney roll cab. 
Looks like the pulls changed to this style sometime after 57, so I'm guessing late 50s or early 60s. This thing is straight as an arrow. I have no idea why someone would scrap it.
Looks like the pulls changed to this style sometime after 57, so I'm guessing late 50s or early 60s. This thing is straight as an arrow. I have no idea why someone would scrap it.
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The 1/2dr has model “4098” forged-in on it; interesting, because I have one that looks like it, but is a A-704, and a Zenel 4098 that has a totally different shank. The 3/8 is a refrigeration ratchet. Nice finds.
Stopped by the local recycling yard today. It had been a few weeks since I stopped in. I should have stopped by sooner. If I had, I would have had been able to snag the top to this Bonney roll cab.
Looks like the pulls changed to this style sometime after 57, so I'm guessing late 50s or early 60s. This thing is straight as an arrow. I have no idea why someone would scrap it.
Too bad about the top box.
People throw stuff away they have no attachment to, or no room for, or no appreciation of. (Did I end enough phrases with prepositions to get in trouble about?)
Their loss, your gain!
A preposition is something you are not supposed to end a sentence with.
You should know better.
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Mikeske
Well-known member
Looks like a Waterloo box to me. I had a Waterloo box that was labeled Bonney that was produced in 8/1982Stopped by the local recycling yard today. It had been a few weeks since I stopped in. I should have stopped by sooner. If I had, I would have had been able to snag the top to this Bonney roll cab.
Looks like the pulls changed to this style sometime after 57, so I'm guessing late 50s or early 60s. This thing is straight as an arrow. I have no idea why someone would scrap it.
I Used that box for 35 years and sold it to neighbors son for his garage at home. I did remove the Bonney nameplate and transferred it to the front of my new US General 44" toolbox. The top box had a sticker that wore off years ago. The bottom of the main box had rusted out and I had cut out the rusted area, smoothed the edges and bolted in a 1/4" aluminum plate that went completely across the full width and depth of the bottom. I then installed new casters and continued to use that box until I retired two years ago.
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twertsy
Well-known member
Here is the picture and description of his Pipe vise from 1886.
He actually patented another pipe vise that year, google patents record here.
A little tip on tracking down patents/trademarks. Especially for old ones, the "last resort" place to look is the Official Gazette. Here is the link to the Hathi Trust's complete library list of Gazettes so you can pick the correct date range to look at. (scroll down for entire list)
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