Tobrin pipe wrench

[woodsman22]

Anybody have any info on the Tobrin Tool Co, Plantsville, Conn?  So far all I've found is on the "Old Wood Wooding Machines" web page, and that's sparse.  I have the 14" pipe wrench.

[jimwrench]

 I have a Tobrin perfect handle tire tool that someone made into a chisel. posted pics under general discussion a while back. Donnelly listed a perfect handle screwdriver by Tobrin in 1999 catalog and suggests Tobrin made have taken over perfect handle business after demise of H D Smith company. Haven't researched further.
                                                                    Jim

[Papaw]

Trimo (Trimont) took over the perfect handle wrench designs after H D Smith failed, Tobrin and others carried on the screwdrivers. Brown & Sharpe also produced some of the mechanics wrenches.

[rusty]

Tobrin also aquired an inventor in the deal, a patent search for W.S.Thomson is enlightening...

(Particularly 1122335 (Smith's perfect handled pipe wrench), and later patents are to Tobrin...)

[Wrenchmensch]

I have Tobrin adjustable pipe wrenches.

[Dave Johnson]

Howdy - I have a Tobrin 10" pipe wrench in my collection. It appears Tobrin took over all of Smith's products and then sold the wrench mfg aspect to Trimo.

[rusty]

Initially, yes, Iron Age, 1923:
"The Tobrin Tool Co., Plantsville, Conn., has been organized to manufacture pipe wrenches, screwdrivers and other tools. ... vice-president and secretary : Robert W. Pain, treasurer, all of whom were formerly associated with the H. D. Smith ..."

[mvwcnews]

Initially, yes, Iron Age, 1923:
"The Tobrin Tool Co., Plantsville, Conn., has been organized to manufacture pipe wrenches, screwdrivers and other tools. ... vice-president and secretary : Robert W. Pain, treasurer, all of whom were formerly associated with the H. D. Smith ..."

1923 would make Tobrin an "offshoot" of H.D. Smith, rather than a successor (Tobrin is not noted in Cope's  wrench book by the way)  -- there are other instances in tool maker history of this happening.  Famously, Frank Mossberg sold off the Mossberg Wrench Company, and then started the Frank Mossberg company to produce newer & better styles of wrenches.  There was also a breakaway group who left J.H. Williams and started a competitor company in the chain wrench business.
Regards, Stan S.

[lauver]

I have a smallish Tobrin screwdriver with a standard fluted wood handle (not even close to a Perfect Handle design).  It's a well made driver, in fair condition, and looks similar to other wooden handled drivers of the 1940's & 1950's.


almost forgot to mention, the shank on this driver goes thru the wood handle and has a metal striking cap at the top of the handle.  This seems odd to me on such a small 3" x 3/16" slot driver.  Perhaps the cap is just decorative and not intended for striking.

At any rate, this is the first and only Tobrin tool I have found in the wild over the last 20 years; definately not something I run into every day.