Tool Time: Newest historic marker in city honors legacy of J.P. Danielson Tool Company
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[galleryids=1400764, 14700765]The newest historic marker in Jamestown honors the legacy of the J.P. Danielson Tool Company, a company whose innovation, craftsmanship, and contributions helped shape Jamestown's reputation as a center of American manufacturing.
The dedication ceremony took place Wednesday at 583 Allen St., across from Scioto Street, at the former location of the J.P. Danielson Tool Company.
The marker placed by the Jamestown Historical Marker Committee preserves and highlights the history of one of the many innovative manufacturing companies that helped define Jamestown's industrial heritage.
Founded in 1902 by John P. Danielson (1864-1940), a former partner of Karl Peterson of Crescent Tool, the J.P. Danielson Tool Company became a part of Jamestown's nationally recognized tool manufacturing industry. The company manufactured Bet'r Grip adjustable wrenches and Autokit wrenches, products known for their quality, durability, and innovative design. The company's Allen Street facility served as a place of manufacturing excellence and provided employment opportunities for generations of Jamestown residents. In 1947, the company was purchased by Proto Tool and continued operations in Jamestown until 1983.
"During the height of American manufacturing, Jamestown earned a reputation as a center of toolmaking excellence, with local companies producing high-quality products used by customers across the country and around the world," city officials said in a news release. "Businesses such as the J.P. Danielson Tool Company helped build the city's economic foundation, creating skilled employment opportunities and fostering a culture of innovation, craftsmanship, and precision manufacturing that became a defining part of Jamestown's identity."
During the 1930s J.P. Danielson Co. supplied adjustable wrenches and other tools to Western Auto Supply, a major retailer of tools and automotive supplies. J.P. Danielson was also a contract manufacturer for Sears Roebuck and supplied adjustable wrenches for the Sears Craftsman and Merit brands.
J.P. Danielson was the maker of Auto-Kit wrenches, a popular brand of open-end and open+box wrenches typically sold in nested sets. Auto-Kit tools were likely sold by Western Auto and probably other high-volume retailers, and were available from around 1933 or possibly earlier. Danielson has also been established as the maker of the “Controlled Steel” brand of tools, an economy brand sold widely in the late 1930s through 1950s, according to alloy-artifacts.org.
In the mid 1940s Danielson began providing contract manufacturing services to Plomb Tool of Los Angeles, and shortly after this (in 1947) J.P. Danielson was acquired by Plomb. The tools made for Plomb included a line of “Plombaloy” adjustable wrenches in the “Bet’R-Grip” design, and some type of pliers as well. See for example the Plomb “Plombaloy” 708 Adjustable Wrench and Plomb 246 Combination Pliers. After the acquisition by Plomb, the J.P. Danielson factory is believed to have supplied adjustable wrenches for all of the brands in the Plomb (later Proto) family: Plomb, Proto, Penens, Fleet, P&C, and later even Vlchek.
In 1935 J.P. Danielson filed a trademark application for “BET’R-GRIP”, a brand name used on a line of adjustable wrenches. The application listed the first use date as 1933, and the trademark was issued as #339,680 on October 13, 1936, according to alloy-artifacts.org.
"Today, the story of J.P. Danielson Tool Company remains an important part of understanding Jamestown's history and the foundation upon which the community was built," city officials said in a news release. "As Jamestown continues to preserve its historic resources, celebrate its unique character, and invest in its future, recognizing the businesses and individuals who shaped the city reinforces the lasting impact of the innovation, craftsmanship, and dedication that continue to define the community."