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.