Non-Bahco Finds?

[Wrenchmensch]

Here are two wrenches similar to the original held by the Bahco inventor in his photo. 

The larger wrench is 16 1/2 inches long. It has the following markings: "Eck-"Schwede" on the upper jaw; a stamped "H" at the base of the upper jaw; stamped "CHROM-MOLYBDAM" farther down; 1 1/2 on the handle; and "Dako" in script, to the right of the size stamp, also on the handle.

The smaller wrench is 12 1/4 inches long.  It has the following markings:  a "1" stamped on the handle; a stamp showing a bell symbol, with crossed hammers above "R H & C" inscribed within the bell.

Neither wrench has "Bahco" anywhere on it. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, which doesn't excuse patent infringement.  Are these wrench Bahco-produced for other manufacturers, or did Bahco license DAKO and R H & C to use its technology?  Who knows?

[lbgradwell]

The larger wrench is 16 1/2 inches long. It has the following markings: "Eck-"Schwede" on the upper jaw; a stamped "H" at the base of the upper jaw; stamped "CHROM-MOLYBDAM" farther down; 1 1/2 on the handle; and "Dako" in script, to the right of the size stamp, also on the handle.

"Eck-"Schwede" means "Swedish Pattern" as that is how these pipe wrenches are known... DAKO Werk Dowidat KG, Remscheid was acquired by Gedore in 1994, and that was kind of a "full-circle" situation since Dowidat itself was formed by two of the Dowidat brothers who had formed Gedore in the first place! The company was briefly owned by Bahco, but your example must be from well before that...

...a bell symbol, with crossed hammers above "R H & C" inscribed within the bell.

Reinhard Heidfeld & Company of Remscheid.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.alte-beitel.de/heidfeld.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.alte-beitel.de/heidfeld.html%26safe%3Doff%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1173%26bih%3D565


Note that they are somehow connected to the famous Metabo brand...

[Wrenchmensch]

Wow!  I had to get out my Euro Cart for Deutschland to find Remscheid.  Great piece of research!  Thanks!

[lbgradwell]

My pleasure.

Another tidbit (in case you were not already aware) is that GEDORE is an acronym of "GEbrüder DOwidat REmscheid" or "Brothers Dowidat Remscheid"...