Chicago Specialty Manufacturing Company

[bonneyman]

I have a tubing cutter and a 4-in-1 screwdriver (orange one on the bottom in the pic) of theirs. Looked like they did a whole line of tools, mostly plumbing related.

http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2013/07/vanished-tool-makers-chicago-specialty.html

Found an archived 1958 catalog!

https://archive.org/details/ChicagoSpecialtyMfgCoCatalogNumberTwenty

Anybody got some examples?

[bonneyman]

Here's my recent drain plug wrench.

[J.A.F.E.]

That forked end looks 

[bonneyman]

I gotta say I think I may have found another brand to 'collect'. Only have 3 of their tools, but all of them are nice quality. And - of course - the company is no longer in business.

Figures - only the good die young! 

[J.A.F.E.]

That would make an interesting collection. And similar to collecting something fairly obscure like, oh I don't know, Blue Bird tools.

[bonneyman]

Oh, found another one I had - the hex screw starter!

And you too can have one - if you pay the right price. 
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chicago-Specialty-Co-3015-Rimster-Hex-Head-Screw-Holding-Screwdriver/273369024136?hash=item3fa6104688:g:cc8AAOSwQqhbVRlG:rk:5:pf:0

[bonneyman]

That would make an interesting collection. And similar to collecting something fairly obscure like, oh I don't know, Blue Bird tools.

Listen to you - just pulling it out of the air like that! 

[J.A.F.E.]

That hex starter is very cool.

Listen to you - just pulling it out of the air like that! 

Like magic.

[hickory n Steel]

Is it just me or does that 4 in 1 screwdriver scream VACO ?

[bonneyman]

Is it just me or does that 4 in 1 screwdriver scream VACO ?

The bits are held in by a circular spring rather than a detent ball as on emost multi-bit drivers. I snagged this one because it was very close to the Bonney multi-tip and I didn't have one of those. It was my first CS tool but I didn't realize it's significance at the time. If not for the similarity to the Bonney I probably would have passed right by it.

[DeadNutz]

Here are some Chicago Specialty tools I got when I bought an old 1942 Waterloo carry box.
1st is a combination locknut wrench.
Next is a set of sockets ranging from 21/32 to 1-7/16 and both ends are sockets so there are 10 sizes total. There are through holes on each end for the bar.

[bonneyman]

Cool!

I just found the patent on the screw starter of theirs.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US3178971?oq=chicago+specialty+manufacturing+wrench

[bonneyman]

Happened across a faucet seat removal tool today.

[Cruiser808]

Hi DeadNutz - years ago I bought a socket set like yours, but not for plumbing jobs. I needed one of them to remove and replace the pressure switch on a Ford ABS anti-lock brake system. Other than the Ford OEM tool, the socket was the only tool thin walled enough to get into the really tight space on the ABS unit.  It worked great.

[DeadNutz]

Hi DeadNutz - years ago I bought a socket set like yours, but not for plumbing jobs. I needed one of them to remove and replace the pressure switch on a Ford ABS anti-lock brake system. Other than the Ford OEM tool, the socket was the only tool thin walled enough to get into the really tight space on the ABS unit.  It worked great.

That is pretty good thinking and interesting. I don't know if I will ever need them but I will hang onto them as you never know.

[J.A.F.E.]

I have a set of those sockets and a seat wrench. The only place I've used any of it is the shower and the sockets are the only thing that will work. 

[Cruiser808]

Hi Steve, I’m still waiting for a situation where I can use the sockets as they were intended.   

[J.A.F.E.]

You can come over here and pull the stems from the showers a few times if you like. Sunday is Long Beach swap if you time it right.

[Cruiser808]

    I may take you up on that Steve.   

[J.A.F.E.]

Of course December is really good Long Beach and Pomona swaps are back to back Sundays.

Just mentioning it...

[bonneyman]

Of course December is really good Long Beach and Pomona swaps are back to back Sundays.

Just mentioning it...

Hmmmm....wonder if I can talk the Mrs. into a road trip?

[J.A.F.E.]

Hmmmm....wonder if I can talk the Mrs. into a road trip?

I bet you could. The kind of road trips legends are made of.

[bonneyman]

Aha - found another Chicago tool (a spanner wrench) along with another defunct American company tool - Covers Company, out of Bedford, Ohio. (Have since found out that Covers Company is even rarer and more obscure than Chicago Spec.). That 4-way wrench is really nice.

The Cover wrench is the top one. Notice how it has a sink drain wrench built into the side - I included a pic of the Chicago wrench on top lining up the corresponding detent's.

Wrench openings on the Covers are 1 7/8", 2 1/8", and 2 9/16". The dual opening on the Chicago wrench is 2 and 2 1/8. You plumbers out there can tell me if those sizes are typical - I have no clue if they're old sizes or still used.

[bonneyman]

Well with 6 tools I guess I'll have to start keeping an eye out for Chicago Specialties plumbing tools now. And Covers company, too.
Juts read of a barber shop in Orland, FL that - instead of having TV's in the shop - the last owner hung old tools up (including old plumbing tools). When he shut down the shop last year they started selling off the tool collection. Man, the stories that building could tell!

https://joesbs.com

[bonneyman]

My recently acquired set of NIB shower sockets. Notice how thick the socket walls are - much thicker than the ones you can buy at Ace Hardware.

[DeadNutz]

A set of those came in a plumber's box I got with the contents of a shop. I haven't used them but they are with the other plumbing tools. Those NOS are very nice.

[bonneyman]

A set of those came in a plumber's box I got with the contents of a shop. I haven't used them but they are with the other plumbing tools. Those NOS are very nice.

Thanks. It was missing the slide bar but I've got one.

My existing set of shower sockets will get relegated to evap cooler duty. Discovered a while back the overflow kit nuts were usually a shower socket size.

[Rockyp]

I found this basin wrench at a garage sale very fine condition maybe used once if at all. It is for sale if anyone interested. Cheers

[bonneyman]

Nice example, Rocky!