Early day hand tools - personal identification

[KeepinOldBolts]

Seems that todays "standard" of personal identification of tools is with an engraver.

I have been noticing more and more, traces of paint on....handles (in the knurling), and sockets (in the knurling) of either red, blue or white paint. I've not seen other colors.

I have seen it on Plvmb, SK, Husky and others. Was this a commonplace method back in the day? Sure, I have seen the haphazard blast of paint on newer used tools (mostly electrical), but this observation on the old skool hand tools seemed very precise, or.....the paint has worn off to the remainder of the knurling.

Thoughts?

[BruceS]

I have noticed it on early wood working tools.   I have a mid 1800 woody plough plane that has the maker stamped on one end and the owner stamped on the other.   A slick from my GG Grandfather that has his name very nicely stamped into the socket.  Then again you see the very crudely carved in initials on wood parts of tools.  Tools were expensive and very dear to their owners.

[Branson]

I've seen very nice stamps on wood planes, sometimes rivaling the makers marks.  I've seen initials carefully stamped into the wood, and into metal, too.  Some old, traditional smiths had particular patterns as their mark, separate from the touch mark used on their products.

I also knew a theatrical carpenter who spray-painted every cord and tool he had with lavender paint.  "Nobody wants my tools in that color," he said.

[RedVise]

Wrenches, sockets and ratchets were commonly painted by the Tool Room man to help identify them.  Back in the day, the Maint company that I worked for in a chemical refinery would open all lockers once a year, unannounced. If it had paint on it, back to the tool room it went.

 Mundy Industrial Maint Inc , at the Monsanto/Dupont Chocolate Bayou Refinery, just down the road from Alvin Tx.


Brian L.

[Papaw]

Yes, but the tools still showed up in the local pawnshops anyway!

[Nolatoolguy]

I am in a vocational program in school and we have to have our tools engraved with our initials on it. I also put a small spot of yellow spray paint somewere on it.

[Stoney]

I've seen very nice stamps on wood planes, sometimes rivaling the makers marks.  I've seen initials carefully stamped into the wood, and into metal, too.  Some old, traditional smiths had particular patterns as their mark, separate from the touch mark used on their products.

I also knew a theatrical carpenter who spray-painted every cord and tool he had with lavender paint.  "Nobody wants my tools in that color," he said.

My son John is a plumber and medical gas specialist and is secure enough to paint his tools neon purple.  No one steals his tools.

[Branson]

My son John is a plumber and medical gas specialist and is secure enough to paint his tools neon purple.  No one steals his tools.

That'll do it!