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Author Topic: ORANGE TOOL CO.  (Read 2102 times)

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Offline Northwoods

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ORANGE TOOL CO.
« on: November 15, 2018, 04:20:14 PM »
I'm a sucker for combination squares.  Bought one today because I wasn't familiar with the company:  Orange Tool Co., Orange Mass. USA.
I find a square with the same head but slightly different rule, made by Union Tool, Orange Mass. USA.
Can't find much about the Orange Tool Co.  Do you suppose it was founded in Orange and gobbled up by Union--who then used the head design for some of their squares?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Orange-Tool-Co-12-Combination-Square-with-Bubble-Level-No-602S/123460956051?hash=item1cbed8af93:g:9ZAAAOSweoBbGBBM
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Offline Bill Houghton

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Re: ORANGE TOOL CO.
« Reply #1 on: November 15, 2018, 04:57:16 PM »
Can't help, but I've got one of those heads; good to know that it was a Union design.  I'll have to see if I have a Union rule to match it to.
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Offline Northwoods

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Re: ORANGE TOOL CO.
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2018, 10:19:15 PM »
Quote from: Bill Houghton on November 15, 2018, 04:57:16 PM
Can't help, but I've got one of those heads; good to know that it was a Union design.  I'll have to see if I have a Union rule to match it to.

I just happened across another identical head on a Wards Master Quality rule.  So....
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Offline leg17

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Re: ORANGE TOOL CO.
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2018, 06:13:00 AM »
I wonder if these were contracted rulers from Union for an attempt to start up another company.
Possibly around the time that Millers Falls was absorbing Union Tool Co, (formerly Union Caliper Co.)
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Offline Bill Houghton

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Re: ORANGE TOOL CO.
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2018, 01:28:06 PM »
Quote from: Northwoods on November 17, 2018, 10:19:15 PM
Quote from: Bill Houghton on November 15, 2018, 04:57:16 PM
Can't help, but I've got one of those heads; good to know that it was a Union design.  I'll have to see if I have a Union rule to match it to.

I just happened across another identical head on a Wards Master Quality rule.  So....
Yabbut, as you know, Wards and Sears never made their own tools; so Union or Orange or some combination (unintended pun) won the contract for squares during that catalog cycle.

Wards Master tools are often pretty decent.  I've got a Wards Master No. 4 plane, probably made by Stanley, that I paid $2 for years back; a very, very good plane.
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Offline Northwoods

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Re: ORANGE TOOL CO.
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2018, 08:25:55 PM »
I'm guessing that someone--perhaps none of the names already mentioned--made heads for many brands.
Anyone else out there have an identical combination square other than Orange, Union, or Wards?
Wouldn't surprise me at all.
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Offline leg17

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Re: ORANGE TOOL CO.
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2018, 07:41:40 AM »
When Union Caliper Co. expanded their line they acquired Bates, who made rulers and presumably square heads.  That's when they changed to Union Tool Co.  Union may have been the maker of the heads.  Someone might compare Union, Wards, Orange, and other related rulers to see if they are identical except for the branding.
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