Union Tool Company

[woody 73]

This story was like putting together a large jigsaw puzzle, one small part at a time but I now think I have a somewhat complete story.

The Company started out as the Union Caliper Company in Fitchburg, Massachusetts by Emory E. Ellis and from What I can deduce he was born sometime in the year 1870 and he died on November the 11th, 1924, at the age of 54.

The information I found said he was instrumental in the development of 26 patents and he brought some 700 tools to market. With this being said I could only find about 4 patents to his name, so I am guessing other people were at play in coming up with new patent ideas for his company?

The Union Tool Company located at 48 East River Street in Orange, Massachusetts Has a starting date of 1908; although under a different name (union Caliper Co), they are noted as "Tools of the finest quality". Makers of Machinist's tools, clamps, protractors, gauges, calipers; etc.

I have a rich History of the company so be sure and see all the links, starting in 1930 the company had $400,000 dollars and 100 employees; then in 1957 they were sold to the Millers Falls company and that lasted till 1975 and then everything was sold to Frederick W. Johnson and James Sogard , the principals of the Adell Corporation. They in turn formed the Sojo Company and that lasted for ten years till 1985.

http://swingleydev.com/ot/get/95965/thread/

http://oldtoolheaven.com/history/history11.htm

https://www.davistownmuseum.org/TDMVtoolMfg.htm

http://industrialhistory.org/about/our-collection/companies-represented-by-our-collection/

http://www.pasttools.org/articles/american_machinist.htm

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/SILNMAHTL_26466

http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2015/12/vanished-tool-makers-union-tool-company.html

http://www.blackburntools.com/vintage-tools/archived/12-002-002/index.html

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/used-tools-union-tool-co-orange-mass-535000507

https://archive.org/details/UnionToolCatalogNo53

https://patents.google.com/patent/US1189926A/en

https://patents.google.com/patent/US1507992A/en?assignee=Emory+E+Ellis

https://patents.google.com/patent/US1220324A/en?assignee=Emory+E+Ellis

http://datamp.org/patents/advance.php?id=16579&set=1

 

[woody 73]

Before my post, (which I worked on for a long time) disappears into a black hole never to see the light of day, I thought something you might enjoy seeing before that happens, so without further ado...


Pictures of a Millers Falls ***** punch, notice the resemblance somewhat to the Union ***** punch; of course remember that the Millers Falls Co. bought out the Union Tool Co.

https://archive.org/details/UnionToolCatalogNo53/page/n19

 

[twertsy]

Woody,
Looks like if you request an unlock of this book you'll learn everything you want to know. Since it's dated 1928 they should unlock it.

Also, based on this patent assignment, looks like Union Caliper was still alive until at least 1914....

Looks like he changed the name to Union Tool Co. on 3/8/1916

 

[d42jeep]

Cool thread. Here are a couple of thread pitch gauges.
-Don

 

[pfaustus]

I think this is the old factory. I vaguely remember the sign still being there in the 90s. https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/14458566/48-East-River-St-Orange-MA/

 

[woody 73]

Way cool thank you for showing that factory picture.

Twertsy I was not able to open up that link but I did find some other good links and it shows him starting that business with $10,000 dollars in 1908, a tidy sum in those days.

Links to follow:

https://books.google.com/books?id=w...ge&q=union tool company emory e ellis&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=9...ge&q=union tool company emory e ellis&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=l...ge&q=union tool company emory e ellis&f=false

Another patent:

https://books.google.com/books?id=7...ge&q=union tool company emory e ellis&f=false

 

[notlob]

Woody - thanks for all your work on this. I'll have to set aside some time to review and digest all the info.

 

[pfaustus]

I sold this NIB Union Tool combination square, but took some (not great quality) pictures first

 

[master Zoda]

I think this compass is about 12 inches. The other compass is a Brown and Sharp the calipers are Sandow Brand New York.

 

[whateg01]

I'll have to double check but I think the first telescoping gage I bought is a union. Still one of my favorites because it's so smooth.

 

[WisJim]

How does Orange Tool Co., Of Orange, Mass., relate to the Union Tool Co., of Orange, Mass? My Orange 602C combination square appears identical to the Union 602C shown in their catalog.

 

[4xdog]

@woody 73, most interesting, as always. I was sorta expecting a connection to Union Fork and Hoe. As a former Columbusite (me, that is), have you ever done a research piece on that company?

 

[four.cycle]

^

Union / Union Fork & Hoe Co., Columbus, Ohio / "Razor Back" shovel / patent 2238104 Apr 15 1941 Leonard P. Finley / https://www.newhartfordhistory.com/union-fork-and-hoe / https://trademarks.justia.com/owners/union-fork-and-hoe-company-the-21896/ /

List of Manufacturers and Brands of Mechanics Hand Tools

List of Manufacturers and Brands of Mechanics Hand Tools * For the most up-to-date version of this list, Please click HERE revised four.cycle Sun Jan 19 12:54:34 2025 PST U.S. Manufacturers and Brands are listed first. Brands and Manufacturers outside the U.S. are listed below alphabetically...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[kyle9000]

First off let me say thank you for this information! I pick this up today as I needed a 6"square for a WWII Signal Corp tool kit I am putting together. As I was cleaning it up I saw the company and decided to google it. This was the first link that came up. It is very interesting to me as my wife is from Orange, MA. She had always mentioned Millers Falls Tools but I believe Union Tool was absorbed into Millers before she was born. This is a neat piece of history with a family link. Thanks again for the info and links!

 

[d42jeep]

Welcome to the GJ. Your rule is certainly Union but I’m not sure about the rest of the square. My Union squares kind of have circles rather than the heart shape on yours. I am no expert on squares but maybe others will chime in. The top three of these five squares have Union rules.

A couple more Union tools out of my Gerstner box.

 

[kyle9000]

Welcome to the GJ. Your rule is certainly Union but I’m not sure about the rest of the square. My Union squares kind of have circles rather than the heart shape on yours. I am no expert on squares but maybe others will chime in. The top three of these five squares have Union rules.

A couple more Union tools out of my Gerstner box.

You could be 100% right. I also am no expert on these as I had never heard of Union Tool until I got this one. So by your user name can I assume you are a flat fender jeep fan? I have a 44 MB I completed a restore just a year and a half ago.

 

[d42jeep]

Looks like I’m wrong about your square. I checked the ‘41 Union catalog and I see both styles. Good to see another Jeep guy among us.
-Don

 

[kyle9000]

Looks like I’m wrong about your level. I checked the ‘41 Union catalog and I see both styles. Good to see another Jeep guy among us.
-Don

Thanks for the info Don! Absolutely love my Jeep!

Kyle

 

[d42jeep]

Searching for tools for my ‘42 GPW’s onboard toolset is how I got involved in vintage tool collecting.
-Don

 

[kyle9000]

Searching for tools for my ‘42 GPW’s onboard toolset is how I got involved in vintage tool collecting.
-Don

I always look at estate sales for old tools. Been buying for years but it was fun while searching for my jeep tool kit too. My neighbor recently gave me an empty TE-6 signal corps tool box and I have spent quite some time on Ebay putting it back together. I have everything except the screwdriver set. The 6" square was my second to the last buy.

 

[d42jeep]

Let me know what you are looking for. I’ve put together several WW2 toolsets and I have some spares. I like to do tool trades. Here is a thread you might find interesting. You should add your Signal Corps set.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/how-many-ww2-tool-kits-produced.433924/#post-8137952

-Don

 

[kyle9000]

I appreciate that Don!

 

[1930artdeco]

Just won at an auction and hoping it wasn’t to badly rusted. Restorable yes-usable-not totally sure yet. The calipers are made by General and they just happened to be in the pic.

 

[Eric Brown]

Didn't see a separate topic for Union Tool Company tools, but combination squares use scribes, so here it is. I have looked in the 1923 and 1944 catalogs, but didn't see it. First picture is closed. Second apart. Third assembled for use. The only marking is Union Tool Co, Orange Mass USA just under the 3/8" hex top. The point is 1/8" at the large end. Anybody know when this might have been made? Thanks.

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[NCPatrol]

I stumbled across this thread when I was researching some Union Tools I recently acquired. These all came out of a local "Mill Supply" store that served the local textile mills since the early 1900's. I've had a hard time pinpointing the exact dates, but my best guess is that most of the red boxed union stuff is from the 40's or 50's. These most likely sat on the shelf there since that time. Figured it was worth joining to add some pictures to the collection in this thread and see if anyone has any more insight to narrow down the age of these.

Tap wrenches like the one in the first post of the thread:



Calipers and dividers

Most still wrapped in the was/oil paper


Scribes



Lots and lots of rules:




Right down to the the pocket clips for the rules:

 

[NCPatrol]

Double Square. I suspect the plastic bag isn't original to the box. Possibly done later to help prevent rust.


And a center head



And in interesting #840 tach. Interesting for the white box. I'm assuming this is later than the red boxes, but I haven't seen another example of the white boxes.


Interestingly enough, there's a red box one on ebay right now. Too bad its' missing the tips.
Ebay pic:

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Double Square. I suspect the plastic bag isn't original to the box. Possibly done later to help prevent rust.


And a center head



And in interesting #840 tach. Interesting for the white box. I'm assuming this is later than the red boxes, but I haven't seen another example of the white boxes.


Interestingly enough, there's a red box one on ebay right now. Too bad its' missing the tips.
Ebay pic:

Wow. Great find. Did you get to recover all those as your own? If so, let's hear the story?

 

[RTM]

Figured it was worth joining to add some pictures to the collection in this thread and see if anyone has any more insight to narrow down the age of these.

Way to show off on a first post!

The few catalogs at the ITCL might help you pin things down a bit. Look at pictures, features, part numbers, etc. I don't think you will find red vs white boxes, but I'd guess the white box might be earlier.

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

 

[NCPatrol]

Wow. Great find. Did you get to recover all those as your own? If so, let's hear the story?

Yes, everything pictured came home with me. You can also see some General Hardware stuff in the background that I scored as well. Some of it's pretty early....likely 50's or 60's and some is much newer like you'd currently find on the shelf at Lowe's. I'm pretty sure I have an entire retail display's worth of General, plus some really early stuff back when they made things like adjustable parallels and calipers.

Not to mention the pile of NOS Starrett and Channel Lock Stuff I got. Probably a once in a lifetime chance to have bought some of this stuff. I only wish I had bought more!

I couldn't find any existing threads for Vintage General or Channel Lock stuff....maybe I should start one.

Anyone want to wager a guess what year these are from?

Way to show off on a first post!

The few catalogs at the ITCL might help you pin things down a bit. Look at pictures, features, part numbers, etc. I don't think you will find red vs white boxes, but I'd guess the white box might be earlier.

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

I went through most of those a few weeks ago trying to figure out the age on the scribes. Best I could tell would be 50's to the early 60's.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I couldn't find any existing threads for Vintage General or Channel Lock stuff....maybe I should start one.

There are two Channellock threads.

One, on the General forum, is for general appreciation and typically attracts more modern examples and discussion.

The one down here on the Vintage forum is all vintage and attracts vintage examples and historical discussion. You can find it under Champion DeArment, the name of the company before it was changed to the brand name in 1963, in the A-Z Index of threads in the Sticky at the top of this forum.

Anyone want to wager a guess what year these are from?

No earlier than 1963.

 

[genog]

One of my favorite Sellers proclaimed that he wanted 5 bucks for the Starrett Cannonball calipers that I was holding in my hand....
I said...not Starrett, they're Union Tool

He didn't know how to reply.....
Hey, I'll take them!