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The Cincinnati Tool Company was founded in 1877. In 1925, it changed its name to the Hargrave Company, which continued until 1955.
The information below was provided through the kindness of John McCutcheon, of Grand Rapids, Michigan
A "circled H" on tools made by Cincinnati Tool Company signifies that it was designed by my grandfather, John M. Hargrave (1889-1975).
Edward Hollister Hargrave worked for Cincinnati Tool Co. in the late 1800's. By 1911 or 1912, when he died, I think he was running the company.
John Morris Hargrave (his son) had just graduated from M.I.T., with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was called home to take over the company. (I don't know if he owned the company or not at that time, but I am pretty certain that he did eventually. I believe he sold the company and retired sometime in the 1950's.)
The company made a complete line of hand tools of all kinds, from bar, cee and wooden jaw clamps to cold chisels, star drills, etc.
To the left is a photo taken by John, illlustrating the variety of clamps produced under the Hargrave brand.
Here is an article John wrote about
the Cincinnati Tool Company. It appeared in the Ohio Tool
Collectors newsletter, "Ohio Tool Box" Volume XXXVIII, Number 2,
April 2008. The editor is Phil McKinney.
Note that one of the references in the article is obsolete
(link-rot). Here is the proper link.
John also provided an updated list of Hargrave patents;
Many thanks for his efforts.
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