12" Diamond tool and Horseshoe Co.

[HeelSpur]

I'm searching in the wrong place apparently, havn't found a thing on it.
Doesn't seem to have age to it unless it was kept in a clean place for years.
Any help would be appreciated.

[lbgradwell]

I can tell you it dates from somewhere between 1963 & 1983...

[HeelSpur]

I can tell you it dates from somewhere between 1963 & 1983...

That was my hunch, thanks.

[OilyRascal]

LB - as a matter of learning for me - I'd appreciate if you don't mind sharing how you made that determination.  No problem if you'd rather not say.

[lbgradwell]

LB - as a matter of learning for me - I'd appreciate if you don't mind sharing how you made that determination.  No problem if you'd rather not say.

Hmm, a quick double-check makes me think those dates may be wrong...

I don't have time tonight, but will consult the notes ASAP & report!

[EVILDR235]

We went to some garage sales yesterday. I picked up one horseshoe meant for the game, not a horse. No drilled holes. It is marked Diamond. I need to carefully clean it to see all the words stamped in it.

EvilDr235   

[john k]

Diamond tool, Diamalloy, Diamond caulk horseshoe company of Duluth was bought out by Channelock, in 1983, and then was closed.   I've heard of these modern style monkey wrenches referred to as plumbers wrenches.   Have one with a slightly earlier head also in cadmium finish.    If it were mine it would be on the bench as a good usable tool.   I've never seen a wrench from Diamond that was less than darn good. 

[lbgradwell]

Well, I had some time today to re-visit this thread to see if I could figure out where I got those dates above...

In short, I can't!

Those are the dates I have in my notes for some tools in my own collection, but I can't seem to figure out where I got them. I speculate that it may have been the best estimate I had at the time for the tools in my collection, but I'm not even sure of that.

I think the best I can do is the revised dates of 1959 - 1993.

The name of the company changed from the earlier Diamond Calk Horseshoe Company by 1959 (AA says as early as late 1957) to Diamond Tool & Horseshoe.

AA says the company was sold in 1981, but I had thought it was 1983. It was, in any event, to Triangle Corp. (I don't believe Channellock was ever involved, John) who were in turn acquired by Cooper in 1993.

I'm not sure how the tools were marked when owned by Triangle, but I am almost certain they were simply "Diamond" when controlled by Cooper.

[OilyRascal]

LB - Thank you for the response.  My apology for putting you on the spot.  It was not my intention.  I acquire Diamond wrenches regularly, and I was hopeful you might be able to shed light for me on how to better determine date of manufacture.  I appreciate what you were able to share.

[rusty]

Some later notes, tho it gets complex.

1994, the forging plant was moved to Monroe,N.C.
Cooper-danaher merged into Apex
2011 Apex closed the Monroe plant and moved it to Arkansas..(Or were planning to)

If someone does facebook, someone here may have information  not available anywhere else..

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diamond-Tool-Horseshoe-Co-Reunion/132061686841421

[john k]

I thought I had read 1983 somewhere also.  Anyway was saddened to find the tool company is gone from Duluth.  I sort of collect the Diamond calk adjustables,  any one notice that the jaws on the old ones are 3 times as thick as the modern ones?

[lbgradwell]

My apology for putting you on the spot.  It was not my intention.

Not at all. In fact, if anyone ever wants more explanation for dates/info I provide, please speak up! I am genuinely interested in having the most accurate information (as I presume most of us are)...

[jh]

The wrench pictured is a 12" monkey wrench. It has a thicker jaw than its Diamond relatives, the 9", 11", 15" and 18" auto wrench.  The Ford model T came with a tool kit. In it was an 11" wrench referred to as a Ford wrench. Diamond Tool could not use that name but manufactured similar wrenches and referred to them as Auto Wrenches.
   As to age. The Diamond Calk name was dropped in about 1958. I say about because existing inventories of finished tools and forging dies were not destroyed at name change time, but were exhausted and replace by the new name.  We changed the date code after 1972 to reflect the serial number of the die used to forge the tool. It started with 1 on all tools. It's safe to assume that any tool with a number forged into it somewhere was made after 1972.

[Papaw]

Thanks for the info, JH!
Find the Introduction Forum and tell us more about yourself.

[lbgradwell]

Excellent info jh! Thanks for taking the time to post.

It's always great to have an ex-employee contribute to this sort of thread!