1867-83. Star made try and bevel squares, machinist rules, screw drivers and calipers.   The logo consisted of a "STAR" with "TOOL CO" inside. Also, the bevel squares have a patent date of Nov 5. 1867. The patent is for the recessed area by the thumb screw.  I have tools with  variations of this logo. A few squares with the patent date only and one with the "STAR" but no "TOOL CO". The factory  was in the South Farms district on the Durham road Rte. 17. Ref. 10 shows a cluster of buildings on the Durham Road (South Main Street) and Highland Ave.

The company was started in 1866 by James C. Ferree and Randolph Hayden. They produced ice tongs patented 1866. In 1872 it became the Starr Tool Company. In 1878 it became Hotckiss & Smith.

See Hotchkiss & Smith, Hayden and Hayden & Ferree.

They made the following patented tools.

Leonard D. Howard was issued patent #70,570 on Nov 5. 1867 for improvements in bevels.

Wessel Brodhead was issued patent #76,884 on Apr. 21, 1868 for a carpenters’ gage.

Thomas McDonough was issued patent #173,802 on Feb. 22 1876 for calipers.

To view the patent papers on the McDonough calipers click here.

The sliding T-Bevel is patent #70,570 on Nov 5. 1867.

Five Star squares. Top most is a sliding T-Bevel. Next is a machinist square. These were made in various sizes. The handle is metal with wood infill. The third is all metal. The handle is concave, probably to reduce the weight. The forth has a brass plate on both ends of the handle and the last has a single brass strip. The STARR logo can be on the wood, metal or both for the try squares. The only location for the logo on all the T-Bevels, that I have seen, are on the wood handle.

Marked

    Pat. Nov. 5. 1867

The Logo on both the try and bevel squares are the same. The logo consisted of a "STAR" with "TOOL CO" inside. Also, the bevel squares have a patent date of Nov 5. 1867. The patent is for the recessed area by the thumb screw. The try square lacks the patent date.

The gages below are patented,  #76,884. They use a cam type of locking action.

The top is a 16 inch marking gage. Center, an 8 inch slitting gage. Bottom, an 8 inch marking gage with a brass end on the left

Above are three gages. The top is a 16 inch marking gage. Center, an 8 inch slitting gage. Bottom, an 8 inch markinggage with a brass end on the left. All three use the cam locking mechanism in the Wessel Brodhead patent.

The mark on the head piece of the gages has the Star Tool Co. logo with "PAT’D APRIL 21 1868" ringing it.

4 and 6 inch rule.

Mark on the rules. The top picture is a Star with TOOL CO. in the inside and on the other side SPRING STEEL.

Star 4 ½ inch screwdriver . It is marked in three places. On the both sides of the handle and once on the blade. Marked on the handle in the middle the Star Company logo and on the outside Pat.D April 21. 1868. The blade has the Star Company logo.

A pair of McDonough patented calipers, 5 inches long. A divider and an inside caliper.

The divider has the Star Company logo on one leg. The other leg is marked PATD / FEBY.22.76. The inside caliper has the same patent date but is marked SMITH & CO. / N.Y.

References:   3, 6, 7, 10, 18, 20, 24.   Back Home

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