Author Topic: G. M. Co. Mfg. Co. (Read 3214 times)

PFSchaffner · « **on:** August 20, 2015, 10:52:24 AM »

This is probably general knowledge that I've missed. A little
vise made from stamped parts just came marked "G. M. Co. Mfg. Co.,
LIC NY" (i.e. Long Island City). Judging from eBay items, G.M.Co.
apparently made hardware-store items ranging from flaring tools
to drills and ignition pliers, or at least sold them under their name.
But who or what is G.M.Co.?

(Here's the little vise:)

amecks · « **Reply #1 on:** August 20, 2015, 11:56:03 AM »

There's some stuff found googling G.M. Co. Mfg. Inc. - however not much info about the company itself or what G.M. stands for. The patent holder is George S. Ikayan:
A patent for an adjustable wrench/hammer (aren't all adjustsble wrenches over a certain size also hammers?). http://www.datamp.org/patents/search/advance.php?pn=D172968&id=13797&set=1
A patent for a hammer/corkscrew - http://www.datamp.org/patents/search/advance.php?pn=D160605&id=31761&set=1
Hobby Grinder (crank type)
Jeweler's hammer
C-Clamp, 1/4 drill to 1/2 adapter, hand drill, flaring tool - http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2014/02/vanished-tool-makers-gm-co.html
"Hobby Lathe" a v belt grinder post - http://www.vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=13227

PFSchaffner · « **Reply #2 on:** August 20, 2015, 01:24:57 PM »

GMCo appears to be more mysterious than I thought, especially for
such an evidently long-lived and versatile company (?) A little
more googling amidst google books shows three addresses:
1308 43rd Ave LIC (late 40s and early 50s), 43-10 21st St. LIC
(1960, 1969), and 180 13th St. LIC (1929 !). Guessing from the
google snippet it looks like they were selling shock absorbers in
1929, tire-valve caps in 1963, the "Watchdog" anti-car-theft device
in 1969, sharpening stones in 1942, alongside my little vise, a
small lathe, the drill adapter mentioned above (ads, 1959-1963),
and a number of equally various things.

turnnut · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2015, 09:06:36 PM »

sounds like a "General Merchandiser" Company

PFSchaffner · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2015, 09:10:59 AM »

Hard to believe that both "Co"s stand for "company." Maybe the first one is "covert."

Sudsy · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2019, 11:47:06 AM »

Bumping up an old thread
Came up with this 1/2" set a while back - not much info on this company out there
I found a 1/4" set and a few very varied tools, but no mention anywhere on this