Winchester saws

Re: Winchester saws

Jim Crammond in Monroe, Mi.

>Hi Mark,

I haven't seen enough Winchester saws to have an opinion who made them, but I'm pretty sure it was not Winchester. Winchester sold tools for a short period, 5 or 6 years I think, in the 1920s but did not manufacture any. They had the manufacturers put their name on them similar to the large hardware wholesalers like E. C. Simmons, Shapleigh, etc.

Jim

Actually.....

Todd Hughes

>Winchester decided to get into the hardware store bussiness in 1919 and at that time bought up bussinesses that had been making tools and etc. so that they could use them to make thier mechandise. The idea winchester had was that they would have a program of Winchester dealer stores that had to buy stock in winchester and only sell winchester products, they were hoping that with in a few years 10% of all hardware stores would be Winchesters. Didn't happen. Mostly because of supply issues and cheaper competition and resistance to dealers wanting into such a system.Also some tool makers didn't want to make a tool for winchester who had plans on controlling the hardware store market and would not sell thier brand marked tools in the stores

....By 1922 Winchester realised thier plan wasn't going to happen and joined with the Simmons Hardware Co. [the Keen Kutter guys], using thier stores to sell the winchester line. Finaly in 1929 Winchester co. was sold and the hardware store line dropped

...I used to think too that Winchester never made the tools they sold but I was always suspicous on some like the screw drivers and chisels, because they are so distinctive.Finaly I bought the big Winchester Book by Williamson who has several chapters on the Winchester tool line and where the above info came from. Is no doubt that Winchester made many of the tools in thier own factorys. These includes, wrenches, screw drivers,chisels, hammers, pliers, axes.Several of the companys that Winchester bought in 1919 specialised in these tools and was why of course they bought them. I don't think winchester ever made the saws or planes they sold

....I have a couple Winchester saws and while I am not sure I always figured they were made by Simonds. I don't think they were made by Disston.....Todd

Thanks

Jim Crammond in Monroe, Mi.

>Todd,

Thanks for the info, as I said, I had assumed that Winchester had the tools they sold branded with their name. You learn something every day.

Jim

Re: Winchester saws

Mark Kuzee

>That works for me. Thanks guys.

Have a happy holiday!

Mark