These pliers are the only tools I've ever encountered with this company's name. I suspect that their shape has been modified by a previous owner, since slip-joint needle-nose pliers are unusual to say the least. Probably, he needed a pair of circlip pliers and so modified this tool to work.
There's not a lot of information available about this company. The H.J. Harrold Tool Co. was located in Colombiana, Ohio, starting off as the Harrold Tool & Forge Company. Below, a 1920 ad brought to my attention by a visitor's comment:
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| MotorBoating, December, 1920 |
Below, the lid of a "Junior's Tool Chest" made by the company and offered on the web. It looks like they cheaped out on the artist: the kid looks moronic and possibly vampiric.
Located halfway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Columbiana bills itself as "The city with the small-town heart." Cute. Harvey Firestone was born there and is tiresomely remembered through a park and a cemetery.
Update Feb 2021, A reader sends in images of this very basic brace. A wingnut clamp stands in for what would normally be a chuck, more expensive to manufacture.
17 comments:
I am a Ford historian, exclusively a vintage Ford Tool enthusiast and collector, editor of Ford Tool Times, and member of the National Ford Tool Collectors organization. I do know that HARROLD TOOL was a supplier to Ford Motor Company, at least during the early V8 and N-Series tractor years. They supplied pliers, Ford part number B-17025-A2, which was an alternate tool kit piece when the McKaig/Hatch A1 versions were not available. All Ford pliers had one handle end ground to a screwdriver blade tip. HARROLD TOOL also was a supplier of the Ford screwdriver, part number B-17020, though no dat found on what years they were. The Ford screwdriver was never marked with a Ford logo, but the drawing shows that a vendor ID mark could be added to the blade tip. Only some screwdrivers are found with the letter ‘B’ stamped on tip. The HARROLD screwdriver for Ford has HARROLD USA stamped on the ferrule. I have actual examples of the pliers in my collection but only pictures of the screwdriver.
Thanks for the reply! Good information and something to look for while perusing country fleamarkets. Much appreciated.
Just received some tools from my grandpa that he said was his dad's with this company's name on it looks very used. Does any body know how to post a picture on here and if any of you want it you are more than welcome to send me your info or take a look.
Mike:951-7seven6-6four9one plz no calls after 9:00 pm pacific time.
I recently rescued an angle-headed pliers from being recycled, and the Harrold mark was HARROLD above USA inside a simple inverted triangle. I've only seen the round mark on Harrold tools, and only one other identical pliers with the triangle mark. Does anyone know if it appears on any of their other tools? They did use a much fancier triangle early on:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=ZBF0-2V0sFwC&pg=PA166&lpg=PA166&dq=harrold+tools+mark&source=bl&ots=4TWrBZz4T4&sig=8m2HlI_FppEkSgqH4U3Fta8H2YA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwia5IKiq8rVAhUBKGMKHb56CAUQ6AEIKDAD#v=onepage&q=harrold%20tools%20mark&f=false
Thanks for the link to the 1920 ad! I love it when visitors give us this kind of information. I've added the ad to the post.
Thanks or the comment/question. Can't help you there but you can send an image to gerald@vanwyngaarden.ca and I'll add it to the post.
I just got a 4lb axe with
h Harrold stamped on it.
I'm in the UK, unusual find for me.
I am a Harrold. As in Harrold tool. I have been collecting for a few years and am trying my best to get as many of these as I can. I have the creepy kid tool box and even have a mold or die for the 8" adjustable wrench. My Aunt worked there for many years and even sent some hand work home for me (stamping stickers and putting on boxes for screwdrivers to be sent to the military).
I have a bit brace (10" sweep) marked HARROLD USA. (will email pictures)
I believe that this is the same Harrold(s) that were also involved in the founding of the Crescent tool company.
http://wiki.vintagemachinery.org/CrescentHistory.ashx
I has several pairs of Harrold pliers and a short Harrold non-twist flat bladed screwdriver with a wood handle.
I have a huge collection of harrolds looking for other collectors
I have a pretty big collection too would love to share pictures of what you have
Loaded with harrolds email me jalaclair2484@gmail.com love to see what you have
My mother, Deloris, now 86 yrs old was taken in & raised by the Harrolds in 1940. She has a few tools in her cedar chest to pass down to us. I always look for some Harrold tools at estate sales. Would love to connect with other Harrolds. 440-221-0232.
This is my great grandpa’s tool company. If you have questions we can help :) nataliedawn5895@gmail.com
“A reader provided the above picture of an axe head he found and wonders what the initials mean. The ad above makes reference to H J H tools but neither of the initials could be interpreted as an h or a j. Anyone have an idea?”
The initials in the stamp are h t
There is currently an axe for sale online, that show them less worn.
Presumably standing for Harrold Tool
The axe that is for sale, is how I ended up here.
Looking for more information.
Thank you for this, info is not easy to find.
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