Tools from Nordic countries

[TjoFrasse]

I've searched and didn't find any thread for this, seeing as many of the brands are too small to justify their own threads.

Hoping this thread can serve as a reference for anyone searching for info about these brands. I will try to expand it as I have time and if I find more info.



Sweden:

• Bahco
• E.A. Berg
• F.E. Lindström
• Sandvik
• Tors Hammare
• C.I Fall
• Orenco
• Ray
• O'kay
• Borgis
• Eminent
• Momento
• Öbergs
• Hultafors
• C.E.J
• Vigor Verktyg AB
• BKT
• KaBe
• H. Kling
• Talmeter
• Jernbolaget
• Kapman
• Svalling
• G-Man

Lots of large knife and axe manufacturers missing from this list...

Norway:

• Kongsberg
• Geilo Verktøy AS
• ØYO

Denmark:

• Botalit
• Dansk Staal Industri (DSI)
• Viking
• Jack

Finland:

• Billnäs
• Fiskars

Bahco
No need to say much here, since it's easy to find info. Started with pipe wrenches, but made famous for adjustable wrenches. Still around today and owned by Snap-On.

The name is short for Berndt August Hjorth & Co.


Several generations of 8" Bahco adjustable wrenches, from the first generation to the latest and some special versions.


Some Bahco items, from the 50s to the 90s.


Bahco pliers with embossed logo on the handles.

E.A. Berg
Famous for pliers, knives and woodworking tools. Founded in 1880 in the town Eskilstuna. It was bought by Bahco in 1959. Bahco used the brand name until 1965 for pliers, perhaps longer for chisels.


Logo variations


My favourite E.A Berg pliers, the "frog leg" linesman's pliers.

F.E. Lindström
Pliers manufacturer, now owned by Bahco. Founded in 1856 in Eskilstuna also, and bought by Bahco in 1974. The brand name Lindstrom is still used for their lines of precision pliers.


Logo variations

Sandvik
Steel specialist that has produced tools during the years, mainly famous for saws when it comes to regular tools. Owned Bahco for a while, and it's not unusual to see tools branded "Sandvik Bahco" and also "Sandvik Belzer", from the German tool manufacturer Belzer that they also owned.



Tors Hammare
Name translated to "Thor's Hammer", a hammer specialist manufacturer from Eskilstuna. Bought by Hultafors in 1992, and somewhere around 2004 the Swedish production closed.


Logo variations. The top one is the newest and last one used.



C.I Fall
Manufacturer of woodworking tools since 1894, still around in Eskilstuna. They used to make really nice screwdrivers also.



Öberg & Co (C O Öberg & Co)
Specialised in files and located in Eskilstuna. Founded in 1848, bought by Sandvik in 1975 and later transferred to the Bahco brand by them. Still used as a brand name, but production moved from Eskilstuna in 1992.

Orenco (Orencoverken)
Smaller Eskilstuna based manufacturer of wrenches other forged items. I don't have much info, they were founded in 1951 and were still around in 1971.



Ray
Seems to be a brand name used by Orenco.



O'kay
Manufacturer or just a brand name? I don't know. Looking for more info!



Borgis (Bertil Borgenstierna & Co AB)
Founded in 1909 and was still around in 1947, no more dates known. Located in Vagnhärad.



Jernbolaget (Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur AB)
Manufacturer of a range of steel and iron items from 1868 until 1966. Wood chisels and knives are the things that classify as tools, but you can find many household items with their crown and anchor logo.

Eminent (Eminentverktyg)
Founded in 1933 and was still around in 1947. Made all kinds of tools and household items. Made adjustable wrenches with very similar patterns to Bahco (license or copies?).

Momento
Specialist manufacturer of sockets that's founded in 1951 still around today still in the town Flen.

KaBe Industrier AB
Specialised in plastics, found on screwdrivers and wood chisels. Founded in 1947 and was still around in 1971. Located in Enköping.



Vigor Verktyg AB
Pliers specialist founded in 1934 in Eskilstuna. Was still around in 1971.





BKT
Found on pliers, I have no info about them.





H. Kling
Henning Kling Smidesfabrik Torshälla. Founded around the 1880, was still around in 1947.





Talmeter
In 1954 Ture Anders Ljungberg put the Talmeter on the market, which he had designed after being dissatisfied with existing measuring tools. The company grew from his garage to a successful company that was bought by Hultafors on 2005. Hultafors still makes the Talmeter in a new design. All the different colors available has made them popular by collectors and they can fetch high prices for the unusual versions.


Different version and one of Hultafors current ones.

Svalling
The name is famous for swords and knives, but can also be found on shears and scissors.
There is lots of first names that can be found, like Emanuel, Olof Fredrik, Frans Oskar and many more versions.



Hultafors
Hultafors is still around and has turned into a tool making giant. Knives, measuring tools and more. Founded in 1883 around their folding rule design, which is still very common in Sweden.

Kongsberg
I only know them as making pipe wrenches and adjustable wrenches after Bahco patterns, but they had some of their own patterns also. Someone from Norway that can give more info?

Geilo Verktøy AS
Manufacturer of screwdrivers with red handles that seems to have disappeared quite recently. Someone from Norway that can give more info?





Botalit
Not sure if this is a manufacturer or a brand name. Danish made screwdrivers with yellow acetate handles. Someone from Denmark that has more info?





Dansk Staal Industri
Danish Steel Industry, seems to still be around. Hammers and axes it seems mostly. No more info yet.



Billnäs Bruk
Finnish forge that made adjustable wrenches after Bahco patterns on license. Also famous for axes and knives. The forge has a history dating back to 1641, but the company was bought by Fiskars and the forge closed in 1983. https://www.traditional-tools.com/billnas-bruks-ab-history/

Fiskars
Still around and thriving, huge in garden tools.

 

[macgee]

Very cool tools Tjo,

Impressive collection and thanks for sharing.

Here are my E.A. Berg pliers and I have a large selection of vintage Oberg files (my favorite), I have a bunch more not pictured. Both companies are from Eskilstuna, Sweden. Oberg turned into Sandvik, then later Bahco?
I wished I had more tools from Sweden but this all I have (currently).

 

[TjoFrasse]

Very cool tools Tjo,

Impressive collection and thanks for sharing.

Here are my E.A. Berg pliers and I have a large selection of vintage Oberg files (my favorite), I have a bunch more not pictured. Both companies are from Eskilstuna, Sweden. Oberg turned into Sandvik, then later Bahco?
I wished I had more tools from Sweden but this all I have (currently).

Thanks!

E.A. Berg are top notch pliers, and you have a nice pair!

I completely missed Öberg! I have added them now (and some more stuff) and you're right. Öberg was bought by Sandvik, and later when Sandvik bought Bahco the moved the files to Bahco. And the files stayed with Bahco when they were sold to Snap-On.

Those old boxes are beautiful!

 

[slowtwitch73]

Very nice....

I have some small parts bins 'Made in Denmark'.

 

[Dave455]

TjoFrasse - are you aware of why Sweden and Swedish Steel became so highly regarded?

In the years following the industrial revolution, iron and steel making were big industries in the U.K. together with the manufacture of goods from those materials. But... British iron ore is relatively high in sulphur, and does not make good steel without a lot of work. O.k. for small batches of steel for knife blades or cutting tools, bad for anything larger.

So, a practical view was taken, and iron ore was simply imported from Sweden. When the Bessemer furnace was introduced, the impurities could be burnt off from British ore and good steel produced, but the reputation of Swedish steel had already been established.

Swedish toolmakers of course, had ready access to this steel, hence an industry evolved. I’m sorry that Lindstrom and Bahco were swallowed up, their products were the absolute finest of their type and I cherish the Swedish made ones that I have.

The legend of Swedish steel still lives on though. I have some pocket knives by EKA that offer good steel and good quality grinding, without outrageous pricing! The “Big Swede” (in black below) was the standard survival knife of some British military units for years. The “Super Swede” (in yellow/green) is newer, but still good!

 

[TjoFrasse]

TjoFrasse - are you aware of why Sweden and Swedish Steel became so highly regarded?

In the years following the industrial revolution, iron and steel making were big industries in the U.K. together with the manufacture of goods from those materials. But... British iron ore is relatively high in sulphur, and does not make good steel without a lot of work. O.k. for small batches of steel for knife blades or cutting tools, bad for anything larger.

So, a practical view was taken, and iron ore was simply imported from Sweden. When the Bessemer furnace was introduced, the impurities could be burnt off from British ore and good steel produced, but the reputation of Swedish steel had already been established.

Swedish toolmakers of course, had ready access to this steel, hence an industry evolved. I’m sorry that Lindstrom and Bahco were swallowed up, their products were the absolute finest of their type and I cherish the Swedish made ones that I have.

The legend of Swedish steel still lives on though. I have some pocket knives by EKA that offer good steel and good quality grinding, without outrageous pricing! The “Big Swede” (in black below) was the standard survival knife of some British military units for years. The “Super Swede” (in yellow/green) is newer, but still good!

I have no idea! Some things just happens, like how Eskilstuna became such a tool making city even though it's not that near the steel producing areas. Perhaps some historians has an answer, but I can only guess.

Expertise was probably a part of it though. Companies such a previously mentioned Sandvik, but also Uddeholm and Fagersta Bruk became leading in alloys and special steels. But then the question instead is why did we get this expertise? Perhaps the high availability of steel and wood encouraged experiments and such. Perhaps it was sheer luck. Perhaps it isn't that special and it's just good marketing.

Knives, axes and saw blades was probably also an effect of the good special steels we produced, and got a good reputation from that.

I really like Swedish knives as they often have utilitarian designs. Those EKA are timeless! Today Swedish knives perhaps are a bit in the shadow of the "tactical" trend, but I will stand by a simple design that isn't priced like a status symbol and weren't designed to look cool.

 

[Ralf11]

Great thread idea, but are the Swiss in, or out?

 

[Ralf11]

https://www.gransforsbruk.com/en/

 

[Rileysan]

I thought this thread was going to be about snow shovels!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I thought this threat was going to be about snow shovels!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

TjoFrasse,

Great idea for a thread. Thanks for starting it.

I don't look to collect any vintage foreign tools, as a goal, per se, but there are some notable exceptions, and Swedish pliers are happily one of them.

Tell me, was it a country-wide, industry-wide trait to date them inside the handles? Or just an Eskilstuna trait? Whatever the answer, as a collector, I appreciate it immensely.

Here are a pair of E.A. Berg dykes. The larger example is a No. 2528 made in 1953 and the smaller is a No. 1525 made in 1947. Both have the shark logos.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And here are F.E. Lindstrom dykes. Also made in 1947. What is the compressed "HR" monograph to the left of the date?

 

[RTM]

Here's my unique (so far) contribution to this thread, a name that hasn't come up yet, Jernbolaget. I found this gouge at a garage sale a few years back. Its mounted on an 18" long handle, and with the bend in the head, your hands are working above the surface.

And a close up of the logo, took a little googling to figure it out. Anchor, Crown, E were key search terms Here is one reference

https://galootopia.com/old_tools/chisels/swedish-chisels/

 

[RTM]

Here is a change for me, a caliper, from Stalex of Sweden. Nifty thing is it's marked in 1/128" and 1/1000", which requires me to get out a magnifying glass to decipher the vernier. You all know what a caliper looks like, but if you don't, look here, rightmost

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Measuring/i-cZkLFRw
.

 

[MShaw]

From my clock repair days Vigor is a big name in the clock repair trade. This pair of nippers I got when a jeweler friend retired is my only example.

 

[woody 73]

Back in the 1960's and 1970's Vigor was all that was used and sold by my Uncle & Father in the watch repair field.

 

[macgee]

Great thread idea, but are the Swiss in, or out?

Um, the Swiss would be out.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Disregard, my mistake.

 

[macgee]

I have these Swedish made chisels still needing to be cleaned up and sharpened that were made by Wibeco, E A Berg with shark logo and some from Jernbolaget with the very cool crown & anchor logo mark.

 

[RTM]

I love how all the good Swedish chisels seem to use the same handle maker. Visually distinct, but not flashy distinct. I’ve grabbed two of my Bergs that way, saw the handle, found the name under the rust.

 

[TjoFrasse]

TjoFrasse,

Great idea for a thread. Thanks for starting it.

I don't look to collect any vintage foreign tools, as a goal, per se, but there are some notable exceptions, and Swedish pliers are happily one of them.

Tell me, was it a country-wide, industry-wide trait to date them inside the handles? Or just an Eskilstuna trait? Whatever the answer, as a collector, I appreciate it immensely.

Here are a pair of E.A. Berg dykes. The larger example is a No. 2528 made in 1953 and the smaller is a No. 1525 made in 1947. Both have the shark logos.

And here are F.E. Lindstrom dykes. Also made in 1947. What is the compressed "HR" monograph to the left of the date?

Thanks!

The date stamp in some pliers are unfortunately not universal. E.A Berg did it best, some others did it also. Really nice ones you have found! I don't know about the HR-mark, looks a bit to complicated to just be mould mark or something like that.

Here's my unique (so far) contribution to this thread, a name that hasn't come up yet, Jernbolaget. I found this gouge at a garage sale a few years back. Its mounted on an 18" long handle, and with the bend in the head, your hands are working above the surface.

And a close up of the logo, took a little googling to figure it out. Anchor, Crown, E were key search terms Here is one reference

Yes, Jernbolaget (Or Eskilstuna Jernmanufaktur) is one of those "made a bit of everything" companies. Wood chisels were just one thing among many household items. I have a kitchen scale from them. They were around from 1868 until 1966. The company name remained but they didn't make or sell any products.

Here is a change for me, a caliper, from Stalex of Sweden. Nifty thing is it's marked in 1/128" and 1/1000", which requires me to get out a magnifying glass to decipher the vernier. You all know what a caliper looks like, but if you con't, look here, rightmost

That was a new name for me! Looked them up and found "Stålex Finmekanisk Verkstad". Had trouble finding any more info right now as the name "Stålex" seems to be used by a shoe manufacturer for their steel toed shoes.

From my clock repair days Vigor is a big name in the clock repair trade. This pair of nippers I got when a jeweler friend retired is my only example.

Back in the 1960's and 1970's Vigor was all that was used and sold by my Uncle & Father in the watch repair field.

Thank you both for this info! Interesting to learn that they had such a niche market.

I have these Swedish made chisels still needing to be cleaned up and sharpened that were made by Wibeco, E A Berg with shark logo and some from Jernbolaget with the very cool crown & anchor logo mark.

Wood chisels are a huge area in itself, as many names can be found and some are brand names and some are manufacturers. E.A Berg and Jernbolaget are amongst the most popular ones though.

I love how all the good Swedish chisels seem to use the same handle maker. Visually distinct, but not flashy distinct. I’ve grabbed two of my Bergs that way, saw the handle, found the name under the rust.

Yeah, it's funny how some things just becomes standard because no one wants to deviate from the norm. Birch burl (I think that the correct name) was what quality chisel handles should be made of, least likely to split.

 

[macgee]

I'll bump the thread as we need to have more members see it and post their Nordic tools here.

While I use to live in Sweden and used tools their daily, I was still pretty ignorant to which tools were made there. One thing I do know, the quality was excellent, some of the very best tooling that you could get and very underrated, their steel is unsurpassed. I think most people here underrate them as they're just not that well known here; lets change that!

 

[Jack84]

T8 screwdriver.


Cej micrometer.


Kongsberg 10”.



Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[macgee]

T8 screwdriver.


Cej micrometer.


Kongsberg 10”.



Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

Nice Jack,

Interesting that the Kongsberg adjustable wrench you have is marked in inches, showing fractions (imperial sizing) since Norway switched to the metric system in 1875 and Holland changed well before that, around the 1820's.

Maybe they were hoping to market them for the UK or US market? The UK switched very slowly and partially to metric starting in '65.

 

[Dave455]

I have no idea!.

It was the low sulphur iron ore that occurred naturally in Sweden!

It gave Swedish steel an edge (literally) for a century!

 

[Holvik]

Polar ,a Danish tool brand.

 

[Holvik]

Bacho screwdrivers.

 

[Holvik]

Old Bacho ratchets.

 

[sixfootfive]

Those Polar screwdrivers sure resemble Felo.....any idea if they are a rebrand or a copy?

 

[Holvik]

Those Polar screwdrivers sure resemble Felo.....any idea if they are they a rebrand or a copy?

They look very similar, I don't know if there is any connection between Polar and Felo.

Polar site : https://www.polartools.dk/produkt-kategorier/

 

[sixfootfive]

They look very similar, I don't know if there is any connection between Polar and Felo.

Polar site : https://www.polartools.dk/produkt-kategorier/

Thanks for the link, I was just curious since they look pretty similar. Never heard of Polar before.

 

[jabberwoki]

Yeah i think you have to send me a pair of those sweet Frogs leg pliers.
****** cool.

 

[TjoFrasse]

I'll bump the thread as we need to have more members see it and post their Nordic tools here.

While I use to live in Sweden and used tools their daily, I was still pretty ignorant to which tools were made there. One thing I do know, the quality was excellent, some of the very best tooling that you could get and very underrated, their steel is unsurpassed. I think most people here underrate them as they're just not that well known here; lets change that!

Thanks!

If you want to see more E.A Berg pliers, one nice individual has made this USA 1948 catalogue available: https://hyvelmuseum.madcap.se/PDF/1948 Berg tänger USA.pdf

T8 screwdriver.

Cej micrometer.

Kongsberg 10”.

That Geilo T8 was interesting, a new handle version than the one I have. I wonder when it's from.

Nice Jack,

Interesting that the Kongsberg adjustable wrench you have is marked in inches, showing fractions (imperial sizing) since Norway switched to the metric system in 1875 and Holland changed well before that, around the 1820's.

Maybe they were hoping to market them for the UK or US market? The UK switched very slowly and partially to metric starting in '65.

For some reason it was common to measure tools in inches for a long time after the metric switch. It can be seen with Bahco adjustable wrenches also, and pliers having the length in inches in their model numbers. It switched fully in the 70s to being in millimetres from what I've seen.

It was the low sulphur iron ore that occurred naturally in Sweden!

It gave Swedish steel an edge (literally) for a century!

Sometimes you just have to be lucky!

Polar ,a Danish tool brand.

Nice, I had not seen that one before!

Yeah i think you have to send me a pair of those sweet Frogs leg pliers.
****** cool.

They sure are!

 

[bobg03]

On the light side...my wife was born in Finland and her name is Tuula. I call her tool when I get frustrated, but we do have some Fiskar scissors in the house.

 

[TjoFrasse]

This is one of my personal favourites. I know nothing about it, haven't found the patent application or if it was granted. It's a beautiful design though!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Very nice. I like the capacity markings. And I especially like the way they incorporated the pivot pins into the logo - and/or vice versa. Those days - when aesthetics were an implicit part of the mechanical design, not an afterthought - are long gone.

Would you please post a photo on it's side, exposing the mechanism that actuates the dynamic jaw from the dynamic handle? I'm curious how it works.

And, as long as I have you, what era are the BAHCO tools you posted in post #1 on page 1 with their logo being dual-purposed as a grip embossed on the handles? I realize they are all different and likely from various production years, but in general, when are they from? The 30's? 50's? Later? And do they still do that?

Plomb, a very popular US vintage brand did the same thing in the 40's and branded it the "Name-Nurl" grip. I consider it to be one of the most clever turns of phrase in the industry, taking advantage of the implied silent "K" in English without the silent "K" even having to be there to describe the knurled grip, and matching the "N" in name, referring to their logo. Now I'm curious to find out who may have done it first!

 

[TjoFrasse]

Very nice. I like the capacity markings. And I especially like the way they incorporated the pivot pins into the logo - and/or vice versa. Those days - when aesthetics were an implicit part of the mechanical design, not an afterthought - are long gone.

Would you please post a photo on it's side, exposing the mechanism that actuates the dynamic jaw from the dynamic handle? I'm curious how it works.

And, as long as I have you, what era are the BAHCO tools you posted in post #1 on page 1 with their logo being dual-purposed as a grip embossed on the handles? I realize they are all different and likely from various production years, but in general, when are they from? The 30's? 50's? Later? And do they still do that?

Plomb, a very popular US vintage brand did the same thing in the 40's and branded it the "Name-Nurl" grip. I consider it to be one of the most clever turns of phrase in the industry, taking advantage of the implied silent "K" in English without the silent "K" even having to be there to describe the knurled grip, and matching the "N" in name, referring to their logo. Now I'm curious to find out who may have done it first!

Fully agree on the design! Nowadays I'm happy if a tool is stamped instead of laser etched...

I will try to get a picture tomorrow, but I can try to explain it (English as a second language, so bear with me).
The bottom handle and the moving jaw have gear teeth, and when opening the handle fully they disengage. So then you can move the dynamic jaw to the desired setting (with the arrow and the number) and then you close the handles again. So it's a simple but smart design, the only drawback is that you can't use it fully extended, since there is no engagement there.

Regarding the embossed handles, I have no known date for when they started, but I can say that they did it in 1937, when this magazine ad is from:


It probably ended in different times for different versions, but I think it was all gone by the 60s, if not earlier. "Name-Nurl" is a brilliant marketing name, as far as I'm aware Bahco didn't call it anything.

 

[macgee]

"(English as a second language, so bear with me)"

Oh please, no need to mention it; your written English is very good. When I lived in Sweden, almost everyone spoke, read and wrote better (american) English than I.

I was the one that was embarrassed and humbled.

 

[Ralf11]

https://polartools.com/

Looks like SnapOn hasn't bought them out yet....

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The bottom handle and the moving jaw have gear teeth, and when opening the handle fully they disengage. So then you can move the dynamic jaw to the desired setting (with the arrow and the number) and then you close the handles again. So it's a simple but smart design, the only drawback is that you can't use it fully extended, since there is no engagement there.

Thanks. If it saves you time, no need to post a photo, this is exactly what I needed. In your photos, I was wondering how the jaws could be wider in the bottom photo, but the handles be in the same position.

Regarding the embossed handles, I have no known date for when they started, but I can say that they did it in 1937, when this magazine ad is from:

Thanks!