"BRAND" for a brand

[OilyRascal]

Any information on the use of "BRAND" as a company or brand name in the context of pipe wrenches circa. 1940?

[rusty]

Not that I have ever seen, sure it isn't "Something brand co" ?

(Calling a brand 'brand' or a company 'brand co' for that matter would be kinda dumb since you can not register an ordinary word as a trademark, and it's unlikely you could protect it as a corporate name either....)

[With apologies to Brandco Inc, who makes manufactured stone ...]

[OilyRascal]

Not that I have ever seen, sure it isn't "Something brand co" ?

(Calling a brand 'brand' or a company 'brand co' for that matter would be kinda dumb since you can not register an ordinary word as a trademark, and it's unlikely you could protect it as a corporate name either....)

[With apologies to Brandco Inc, who makes manufactured stone ...]

Decide for yourself; picture below.  I tend to agree it wouldn't be the best name to use for either.  The ONLY other markings on the wrench is the pat. #(2210274) - which has NOTHING to do with "BRAND".

[johnsironsanctuary]

I dunno Rusty, if your name is Frederick Brand, you might take umbrage with this post.

[rusty]

> if your name is Frederick Brand, you might take umbrage with this post
Truth...
(Remember the Boring Tractor Co?)

An ad by Balin tool co. does say 'special discount to agents'

Berhaps it is just sort of like 'Your Name Here'.....
(Salesman's sample)...

[OilyRascal]

Berhaps it is just sort of like 'Your Name Here'.....
(Salesman's sample)...

That may make sense but I can't find one that is, in that case, legitimately branded there - the others I see are branded on the shank.

[skipskip]

HERBRAND?

mis- stamped?

[dimwittedmoose51]

Any chance it could be B  RAND Co.???

Worth a google or two I guess.....


DM&FS

[Branson]

Notice that the R  is  out  of alignment with the rest of the letters?

[OilyRascal]

Notice that the R  is  out  of alignment with the rest of the letters?

Weird how things unseen become obvious after somebody points them out :-)

Thanks Yall!

[OilyRascal]

It's been over 3 months of digging around, and here is what I have found.  My current thinking is that the wrench I have is a prototype or salesman sample.  I'd like to know your thinking.

First, a better view of the wrench in question.













As previously stated in the thread, it is marked "BRAND" and "Pat 2210274".  The patent was filed in 1937, and issued 1940.  This is the drawing filed with the patent:



There was an example of patent 2,210,274 in the Vernon Nail auction that was held in 2007.  It was #97 and described as"BALIN TOOL CO. - LA. CALIF.. USA / BALIN PAT. NO. 2210274 - - 9.75" self adjust pat. by Oscar Becklin of Los Angles, CA. Described as a bolt, nut, and pipe wrench. RARE and Excellent." at http://www.wrenchingnews.com/nail-auction-2007/catalog.html

Picture of the Balin



There is a wrench branded "Universal Metal Prods" with the patent number.  There was an example that sold on Ebay described as "Vintage 10" Universal Metal Prods. Patent No 2210274 Self Adjustable Wrench Tool"

Picture of the Universal

[rusty]

A timeline for this fellow just raises more questions...
---------------


[1918] WA Sec State - Active Corporations(1916-1918) - Becklin Wrench Company, Seattle

[1920]Patent 1334156: JOHN H. LAGREID AND OSCAR BECKLIN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.
   we, JOHN H. LAGREID  and OSCAR BECKLIN, subjects of the King of Norway and
   the King of Sweden, respectively, and residents of the city of Seattle...
   (For a quick adjust rack type pipe wrench)
   {Schulz #652 Pat Mar 16,1920}

[1923]Patent 1467979: QUICK-SET WRENCH.;FRANK NICHOLSON;  75% Assigned to JOHN H. LAGREID
     
[1924]Patent 1559328: QUICK-SET WRENCH.;JOHN H. LAGREID; OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.
      (Also of the thumb release rack type)

      (Interesting, if it's Oscar's company, why is Lagreid collecting wrench patents?
       One wonders if this did not end well....)

[1924] Domestic Engineering
   "The Becklin Wrench Co., 405 Crary building, Seattle, Wash.,
    has been incorporated with a capital of $100,000 to manufacture
    pipe wrenches. The incorporators are Oscar Becklin and others"
    (This raises some odd questions, why inc if already inc in 1918?, How did Oscar, not a citizen,   

 inc? hmm)

[1927] Pop Sci - Back page ad for Agents wanted - Becklin Wrench Company, Seattle. Wash

[1928] Canadian patent 284861 (?)  OSCAR BECKLIN (Country Unknown) Issued:  1928-11-20 
        (Still listed Subject of king, but only Becklin is given as inventor)
        (Rack type pipe wrench, oddly, drawing matches nothing of US patents)


[1928] Magazine of Business
    "Becklin Wrenches Require No Screw Adjustment. Nothing like it on the
     American market. Exclusive territory. Very liberal commission.
     Becklin Wrench Co.. Seattle, Wash. Salesmen Wanted"

[1929] Vague reference to "H. M. Harris co, seattle (seems to be an export agent?)

[1929] Patent 1736303: QUICK-SET WRENCH; OSCAR BECKLIN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

[1930] Patent 1770906: HERMAN O. BECKLIN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
   ...improvements in the
   wrench which is illustrated- and described in
   U. S. Patent No. 1,334,156, dated March 16, 1920.
   (Herman Oscar?? Shenanigans? hmm)

????

[1940] Patent 2210274: Oscar Becklin, Los Angeles, Calif.
...

[1912] Oddly, 1071687 OSCAR BECKLIN, OF WEST DULUTH, MINNESOTA. (PIPE-WRENCH)(seems a coincidence?)
    OSCAR BECKLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Duluth...

[OilyRascal]

A timeline for this fellow just raises more questions...
---------------

Thanks!  That's a lot of information, and YES more questions.