Vanished Tool Makers: Henry Boker, Remsheid, Germany

I keep turning up Henry Boker tools, many with their distinctive arrow trademark.

They include hacksaws:

Coping saws:

Nippers:

Screwdrivers:

Wire cutters:

 Pliers:

Dividers:

Twist drill bits:

Snail-type countersinks:

Below, from Kijiji ads:

Below, images submitted by a visitor of his lovely Boker anvil carrying the arrow trademark.  It also has "83" cast into it.  I didn't know the company made products of this type.  If anyone can date the anvil, please let us know so we can pass this information along to the owner.

According to a post on the ABANA Forums, 

Although they look very similar, there are two distinct brands of Trenton anvils, one produced for Hermann Boker and one produced by the Columbus (OH) Forge and Iron Company (CF&I). 

H. Boker is connected to the Boker family business in Germany, which produces fine edged items. He is believed to have either an interested in or have been a broker for the Trenton (NJ) Anvil and Vise Company (TA&V) and had a wrought-iron bodied, steel plate top anvil made in Germany with Trenton stamped on it within a flattened diamond. These are circa 1860-1898. (Anvils stamped H. BOKER are also his responsibility and were also likely made in Germany. These are believed to be prior to 1860. It is possible he began an association with TA&V about then and had the logo stamp simply changed from H. BOKER to TRENTON.)  

Typically these German Trentons can be recognized in having a flat base, the weight is usually stamped below the logo, there is no serial number on the front foot, most have flats on the front and back feet like a Peter Wright anvil, but more pronounced, and those made between circa 1896-1898 will have the word GERMANY stamped either on the side or on the front foot. In general, overall shape is just a bit different than the American Trenton, particularly the front and back feet. 

According to the box label shown above, Henry Boker Tools dates back to 1786.  From what little I can find online, the company made tools but also acted as a distributor for tools made by other firms. Pliers were a staple, but clearly the firm offered much more than that.  Then they were just gone.

Apparently, the same family was involved in the Heinrich Boker firm of Solingen, just 11 kilometers from Remsheid, which continues to be known for its knives and scissors, but uses a very different tree trademark.  "Boker Tree" was acquired by Cooper Tools but became independent again in 1986.

Update December 2017:  I received the following email recently:

My name is Rett and I'm an old tool collector - mainly old patented screwdrivers (spiral, ratchet, push drills, etc.). I stumbled upon your blog when looking for info about two of my spiral screwdrivers made by Henry Boker that I've never seen before. The smaller one of the two is simply stamped "Henry Boker" whereas the larger one is stamped "H. Boker" with the "tree" stamped right next to it. Anyhow, not sure if you're a Boker tool collector, but just wanted to see if you've ever come across any examples of these? 

And, no, I've never encountered them before.  They're clearly pretty old.  Rett kindly gave permission for me to add his pdf page with pictures of this tool.  You can see it here. 

Update May 2018: Another reader has encountered a lovely Boker tool set, this time what looks to be an old, possibly a 19th century tap and die set with the Henry Boker name on it. He is looking for any information on dating this set. 

Though the company is depicted online as a knife maker, over the years they made, as the name plate says "Tools of every description!"

Oct. 2020 update; Truly tools of every description. An Australian reader sent in these pictures of a set of orthodontic pliers made by the company. Although they looked to be stainless steel, they're actually plated.  

Thanks, Peter!

Update June 2022

Probably a cleaver but I can't help thinking it might be a machete.

Thanks, Doug!

Oct 2022, and another more conventionally shaped cleaver.

Thanks, Alan!