Tools from Nordic countries

[ridervfr]

TjoFrasse thanks for sharing! Enjoyed viewing those tools.

 

[RTM]

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.g.

Almost sounds like the Eiffel Plierench mechanism without looking at mine.

 

[Jack84]

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

Got it when we where cleaning up the storage area at work. I’m guessing it’s not older than 10 years.



Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[TjoFrasse]

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.

Don't tell that to Swedes, we can get quite self conceited about our English abilities...

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.

I couldn't get a good picture of it, so that description will have to do

TjoFrasse thanks for sharing! Enjoyed viewing those tools.

Almost sounds like the Eiffel Plierench mechanism without looking at mine.

Yes, I looked that mechanism up and it's a bit more sophisticated but similar.

Got it when we where cleaning up the storage area at work. I’m guessing it’s not older than 10 years.

Sounds about right, since you can find quite recent references to Geilo being an active company.

Another thing when it comes to Nordic tools. If you find any markings like these on your tools they're common owner marks to find.



The top right one is Danish Civil Defence, they have cleared out their tool reserves and are common to find for sale in the recent years from surplus stores.
The top left one I think is Danish military also, but I don't know which branch.
The bottom left one is Televerket, the old Swedish government telephone service company.
The bottom right one is the Swedish military.

 

[gigamel]

Bahco-Clyburn

A/B B. A. Hjorth & Co Stockholm Sverige = BAHCO

 

[Jack84]

Made in Denmark.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[macgee]

This isn't a vintage tool but Pressmaster Tools made in Sweden make excellent high quality tools for crimping and wire stripping. Its a well respected tool company.


https://www.pressmaster.se/products/#

 

[mr.lemons]

Bahco pliers with embossed logo on the handles.

Great thread, very interesting read.

Think I've commented about this before some time, but incorporating their logo into a functional part of the design is very pleasing to me.

 

[CmdrKeen]

Fantastic collection and post! I learned a lot, thanks!

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

Geilo Verktøy stopped all production in the summer of 2012 and the company officially folded february 2015. They had been in the red for a couple of years before that.

The small town of Geilo (pop 2,500) is also the home of Øyo (knives and axes), Brusletto (knives) and a cutlery factory (Skaugum Bestikk).

 

[humber2]

Here's one from CmdrKeen's land to be elaborated on.

Is Trio the trade mark for Norsk Elektrostal?

 

[humber2]

Reverse side

 

[oldpliers1]

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.

Thank you for your great post I was highly informative and great to look at many thanks

 

[rrroo]

Here's a 1928 Billnäs tool catalogue from Finland: https://digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi/pienpainate/binding/338807?page=1

I'll try to put some pictures of my Swedish and Finnish tools once my summer vacation starts. Billnäs, Fiskars, Kellokoski (also known as Mariefors bruk in swedish) and Sorsakoski are all old forges and factories whose history goes back a few hundred years. Fiskars is the only one in business anymore, though most of their stuff is made in china.

Sorsakoski is known for their cutleries but they also made great chisels and plane blades.
Billnäs made lots of hammers and axes but also lots of tools, most of them after Bahco patterns, as mentioned earlier.
Kellokoski (Mariefors bruk) also famous for their axes. Seen a lot of hammers too.
Fiskars was world famous for their scissors in the 60's and 70's. They also got copied a lot.

I buy these from thrift stores and garage sales when I find them for good price. Some people try to sell them for high prices as "antiques" just because of the brands, regardless of the condition of the tool. But there's lots of them to be found in old barns and junkyards. Some would say I'm hoarding these but I like to say I'm rescuing these tools. I only keep the ones that still have value as a tool.

 

[jaceq]

I have six adjustable wrenches made by BAHCO. Five of them are new or almost new so they are not Nordic, made in Spain.
But one wrench is made in Sweden, it is an old model no 0670, 4th generation wrench made in a period of 1969-1983.


but this wrench is one of my favouride pieces:

not only for the fantastic quality, excellent machining and precise adjustment but also for surface gunmetal finish.

I also have excellent saw for fresh wood, like this:


Regarding the fame of Swedish steel - I was looking once for the history of Basque steel and have found following:
Bessemer process revolutionized steel industry, however Swedish and Basque iron ore was the best for this technology due to low content of phosphorus and sulfur. That is why Bessemer converters were installed in these countries very quickly after introduction of this technology.

What I am recently looking for is a Kongsberg no 70, 6" adjustable spanner.

 

[Vidar Wulff]

Here's one from CmdrKeen's land to be elaborated on.

Is Trio the trade mark for Norsk Elektrostal?

Those wrenches are quite rare,i dont see them often,i have posted a photo of one wrench years ago in the tools from the old world thread. Trio was a collaboration of factories,mostly producing doorlocks,hinges and so on. They later became Trio-ving, and are now owned by Assa Abloy. I have tried to find info on the tool production,but havent found any info. Norsk elektrostål is probably something they used instead of chrom vanadium,so my guess are the tools was probably made for the norwegian market.

 

[jaycobie]

A lesser known modern tool maker in Sweden is "Stirex". Since they've been going since 1981 I guess they are not vintage, but I thought I'd mention them since we're on the subject.
They specialize in ergonomic low-fatigue hand tools. They are partly marketed towards the food industry, but not exclusively. They don't have a large catalog but the scissors and box-jointed pliers that I have myself are well made. I'm not a fan of the plastic spring in the back.

 

[jaycobie]

Since I live in Iceland, I find tons of Bahco and other Scandinavian tools when I'm scrounging.
I've got a small but growing collection of wrenches, of course mostly Bahco, but one Billnäs and 3 Kongsberg.

I actually like Kongsberg wrenches just slightly over Bahcos. Kongsberg adjuster nuts have a buttress thread on larger wrenches, where as Bahcos are just square thread.

The most common Bahco I find are the 6" No.70's, which I pick up every chance I get. I happen to have two vintage ones from the same mold (marked with the *38 at the bottom).

 

[jaycobie]

You can never have enough screwdrivers, and my favorites are the 600-series green-handled Bahcos.
The big boy 689 is my favorite. It's less of a screwdriver and more of a blunt weapon. Unfortunately I use it far too little due to it's massive size (15mm wide, 2mm thick flat tip, 35,5cm/14" long).
I'm pretty sure I have more of the tiny flat head green ones floating around somewhere. They're very common here in Iceland, and I make a point of getting every one of those I come across.

The orange ones (and one black handle) are Sandvik screwdrivers. Good stuff, but not my preferred handle.

The bottom left hand screwdrivers with red handles are no-name "Made in sweden" drop forged screwdrivers. No clue who made those, but they're good.

And red-handled Geilo screwdrivers are super common over here in Iceland. I only have a couple of oddball ones, since I rarely make a point of buying them.

 

[jaycobie]

Got lots of Swedish pliers and cutters. Here is a smattering of E.A. Berg, F.E. Lindström, Eskilstuna and Bahco pliers and cutters
I always try to pick up any E.A. Berg tools I come across. Not a single pair of their pliers I've found is showing the same amount of wear as other companies. Definitely some of the finest tools ever made.

A couple of the pliers I use the most have re-purposed handles on them, so the yellow and orange handles are non-standard.

 

[jaycobie]

My favorite brand of pliers and cutters is F.E. Lindström
The green handles are original to Lindströms, but I'm not sure when they started putting those on their pliers.

I've got a pair of smaller spring-loaded Lindström bolt cutters that are really nice. Pretty sure those are relatively rare

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Here is a link to a site that deals with the woodworking tool side https://galootopia.com/old_tools/chisels/swedish-chisels/

 

[MadeinCanada]

Good site for Scandinavian woodworking tools. I've gotten lost for hours reading the tool history on this site.

galootopia

 

[RTM]

Found these a few weeks back, just got them out of the Evaporust yesterday. Eskilstuna Sweden non adjustable pliers. Nothing fancy. A bit of Simichrome on the grip area, good for another 40-50 years.

 

[RTM]

Here are some Swedish finds from this weekend, and one a bit older. Top to bottom, Janport 3/4”, EABerg 1/2”, I believe Solliden 5/16”, unknown 1/4”. The Berg is a bit unusual for me being a socket chisel. I’ll dig my others out later. I usually sharpen these at very low angles like 15-20 degrees, the steel holds up well for paring work.

 

[rrroo]

Nice finds! E.A Bergs are quite common in Finland... Sadly the ones you find in thrift stores or barns have been more often used as paint can openers or for spreading plaster than for woodworking. They can still be easily refurbished if the blade is straight (these also seem to be a popular choice as a lever).

 

[oldpliers1]

Bahco-Clyburn

A/B B. A. Hjorth & Co Stockholm Sverige = BAHCO

Firstly thank you for your post ,
secondly when was the Bahco - clyburn name used on the wrenches and when did it cease? I have read elsewhere 1924 is that correct? Or wrong , . Regards A

 

[oldpliers1]

Hi here is my 300 mm Bahco Clyburn shifting wrench
and a old pair of bergs , found here in Australia. To the others on this thread thank you for your posts .

 

[oldpliers1]

Thanks to all those posts on the thread ,here are a few Swedish tools , I have picked up in Australia. I think they are great items, and a item of great interest with the old electricians. The 7 inch seems to be the oldest early 50s?
( I don’t know but would love to be educated on the time lines of these tools ) regards A

 

[humber2]

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

Must be time for shovels to appear?

Meanwhile I’ll go some distance to unfold a Danfiber Glass Fibre Made in Denmark carpenters ruler. Inches on the outside and mm to 1 metre on the flip side.

 

[four.cycle]

I am not finding a dedicated "BAHCO" thread, so I'll drop this here.

patent SE 4066 May 11 1892 Johan Petters Johanssen - B.A. Hjorth Co. (BAHco)

 

[Rickkyyr8]

Huge Bahco fan here! Wish it wasn’t so hard to find the vintage items. eBay seems like the only place for us here in the States. Shipping is a killer but here’s my No. 90, 91, and 92 pipe wrenches! 90 and 91 looked just like 92 until I cleaned them up

 

[tooljunkie4]

Can't forget Wetterlings.

 

[d42jeep]

I hadn’t noticed this thread until recently but here is a wood chisel I found at a sale back in March.
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

Good timing bumping this thread, since I brought home a few Swedish chisels yesterday. (as well as a little J.B. Addis, Marples & Sons and a Stanley 720).


The Berg pleather pouch is fun, but it is missing one of the (possibly) original chisels; replaced by a 1" marked JERNBOLAGET. The pouch is also missing some eyelets, but the snap works!.



I spent some time removing paint, glue and rust and am happy with how they came out.



The 3/4" is marked ERIK ANTON BERG and the half incher is E.A. BERG.





Tom

 

[Mintgrun]

I pulled out the three Swedish chisels I already owned to snap a few photos to share.





The stubby one was the first one I found, around 25 years ago. It is another JERNBOLAGET, but with H.R. over the name.



The shark stamp is slightly different than the ones I posted above.



The little half-incher has the Sandvik fish/hook logo.



I also have an old K.J. ERIKSSON MORA knife I might as well share.



According to this article, the marking puts this knife in the 1918-1925 date range.

KJ Eriksson 1912 - 2005

KJ Eriksson, KJE, Krång-Johan Eriksson Mora, Eriksson & Mattssons Knivfabrik Mora of Sweden, Morakniv, Mora Knives, Täljknivsfabrik

oldmora.blogspot.com

This one is well used, but still going strong. They're very sturdy knives, with the tang running all the way through the handle.



Tom

 

[four.cycle]

Mr. Addis apparently had a rather interesting career.
Addis / James Bacon Addis, Sheffield, England / edge tools / https://cstorb.com/2018/03/25/james-bacon-addis-prize-medal-carving-tools/ /

you're turning up some real history there, Mintgrun!

 

[Rickkyyr8]

Just got these in, all Bahco

 

[Rickkyyr8]

Just got these in. Bahco, EA Berg, and Lindstrom

 

[RTM]

Here is a new find last weekend, just dug out of the detritus of the toolbox yesterday. A Jernbolaget 7/8" marked chisel, with the **** end beat the heck beyond the ring. Expect it to sharpen up to be another great paring chisel. I usually find these ground to 20°, which makes that easy.

 

[Mintgrun]

That's a nice one. I like stubby chisels. I have a 3/4" Swedish chisel much like that, but the blade is about 3.4" long. I've used it a lot over the years.

edit, 3/4" long, not 3.4"

edit again... duh, it is shown just a couple posts above this one.