When American File Factories Closed

2006: Simonds closed its Newcomerstown, Ohio plant and moved production to Bogota, Columbia. The horse rasp product line was sold to Musted of Switzerland.

Simonds International (in Spanish)

2011: Apex Tool Group closed its Cullman, Alabama Nicholson file factory and other US plants in Monroe, North Carolina and Hicksville, Ohio. Cullman production was moved to Cali, Colombia, Tlalnepantla, Mexico, and Sorocaba, Brazil.

YouTube - Driving tour of Nicholson Works in Providence

Newcomerstown, Ohio

Champion File Works

Champion File Works was in Toledo, Ohio.

Simonds Files

Simonds Saw & Steel Co. of Fitchburg, Massachusetts produced some of the best files made in the USA. Simonds bought Heller Brothers of Newcomerstown, Ohio in 1955. Simonds continued to make files in Fitchburg until 1960, when file manufacturing was consolidated in Newcomerstown. Simonds closed that plant in 2006 and moved production to South America. The horse rasp product line was sold to Musted of Switzerland.

Simonds advertisement

Early Simonds History
WK Fine Tools - Simonds History

Simonds Red Tang file box

Carver File Co., Delta File Works

Carver File Co. did business as Delta File Works, and their brands included Delta, Delta Utility, and Delta Lance Tooth. Their locations were:
3227 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1905 and 1914 (see below)
4837 James St., Philadelphia in 1922 (no building at this address today)

Iron Trade Review, June 1, 1905
“The Carver File Co., of Philadelphia, with a fully paid in capital of $100,000, has been incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania and the new plant will include two buildings each 40 x 170 ft., with a capacity of 900 dozen files per day. In the formation of the company the plant of the D.B. Murphy File Co., of Camden, N.J., was absorbed and will continue independent operation on special light files, all other grades being made at the new plant. The new plant at Philadelphia is already under roof and will begin operations about August 1.”

Carver File Co. trademarked “Delta” in 1905. Their buildings took up the center of the block between 3227-3233 Frankford Ave. and 3214-3236 Ambler St. Some old buildings are still in this location, and this old map shows them.

Insurance Maps of the City of Philadelphia, 1913-1918, Plate 404

Delta File Works magazine advertisements appeared as late as 1956. By 1958 Delta File Works was a subsidiary of  Fayette R. Plumb Inc., with this additional information from 1960:

Hardware Age" Volume 185, page 168

"Hubert Groves Made Plumb Sales Manager: Hubert Groves has been appointed general sales manager of Fayette R. Plumb Inc., Philadelphia, and its subsidiaries, Delta File Works, Inc., and Graham Rotary File & Tool Corp."

Delta advertisement 1909

Delta advertisement 1947

Small American File Makers From 1914

While it is unlikely that usable files will turn up from some of these American makers, they are worth mentioning for historical reasons. The list is transcribed from Chilton Automobile Directory, January 1914. Note that since I originally posted this list, I have written about several of these companies.
Google Books - Chilton Automobile Directory Jan. 1914

Akron File Co.
Akron, Ohio
Brands: Akron

American Swiss File & Tool Co. (article)
24 John St., New York City
Brands: American Swiss
American Swiss Files 1941 Catalog (pdf)

Central Machine & Supplies Co.
148 Chambers St., New York City

Chelsea File Works
Norwich, Connecticut
Brands: Chelsea

Colonial File Co.
167-70 Teneau St., Neponset, Massachusetts
Brands: Colonial, Puritan

Delta File Works (article)

Johnson & Brother 

3227 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, Penn.
Brands: Delta, Delta Utility

William Dixon Inc.
39 John St., New York City

Graves File Co.
Newark, New Jersey

Hayes File Co. (article)
474-78 Franklin St., Detroit, Michigan
Brands: Hayes

Johnson & Brother File Co. (article)
154-55 Avon Ave., Newark, New Jersey
Brands: Reliance

Liveright Brothers (article)
20th St. & Allegheny Ave.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Brands: Liveright, Gold Metal

The Racine File Co.

Rex Saw & File Co.

Racine, Wisconsin
Brands: Badger

Rex File & Saw Co. (article)
Newcomerstown, Ohio
Brands: Rex, Black King

Troy File Works
Troy, New York
Brands: Trojan, Troy Best

Edgar T. Ward’s Sons
23-25 Purchase St., Boston Mass.
Brands: Swiss

Westphal File Co. Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Brands: Westphal, Milwaukee

The Whitaker Manufacturing Co. (article)
509 W. Monroe St., Chicago, Illinois
[The brand information may be incorrect in the source publication.]

Another list of American and a few English makers is Manufactures and Dealers in Files, circa 1835-1928.

Cleaning and Storing Your Files

Files are cleaned with a file card. Here are Lutz file cards with a pick for cleaning the file card.
eBay Lutz #10 File Card

Here are excellent Nicholson file cards (I bought one):
eBay Nicholson 21467 File Card & Brush USA

If you want to make your own longer file card, buy the brush by the foot.
eBay FILE-CARD-REPLACEMENT-STEEL-WIRE-BRUSH

Since files are bare high-carbon steel, they can rust in a humid environment. If your files are stored in an unheated building or basement, I recommend opening the file boxes so that humidity is not trapped inside. Don't seal or wrap them in plastic. The swings in temperature that we have been experiencing can trap humid air in sheds and garages where it will condense like dew and cause rust. It happened in my detached garage in spring 2013. Ideally, store extra files in heated and cooled space.

Colton's File card

Nicholson patent file card

Stiletto Files

Stiletto was a trade name of Pacific Hardware and Steel Co., San Francisco, California.

Wooden Stiletto file box

Stiletto Files catalog page, 1917 

Capewell and Stanscrew / Capewell Files

Capewell Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Connecticut

Capewell started in 1881 as a horseshoe nail maker, and began making hand and power hacksaw blades in 1939. In 1970 Standard Screw, also of Hartford, bought Capewell, and 2 years later changed its name to Stanadyne, Inc., with Capewell a division. Standard Screw had used the trade name Stanscrew since 1961, and after the acquisition some Capewell products were sold as Stanscrew/Capewell. In January 1981, Capewell was purchased from Stanadyne, Inc. by the O’Neill family of New York.

It is unknown when Capewell began making files, but it’s likely that it was along with the entry into hacksaw manufacturing. As of 2014, several sellers have Stanscrew/Capewell mill files that claim to be made in the USA.

Amazon.com Stanscrew Capewell 14" Mill Bastard File 

Nicholson File Co.

Nicholson of Providence, Rhode Island was the largest US file manufacturer. Nicholson's former Providence, Rhode Island factory complex is relatively well preserved and some is used by businesses.

Google Maps - 23 Acorn Street, Providence, Rhode Island

Former Nicholson File Works office

There are many other sources for Nicholson history on the web. Briefly, here are some companies that Nicholson took over:

American File Co., Pawtucket, Rhode Island was bought by Nicholson in 1890. 

J. Barton Smith Co., 4th and Somerset Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was bought by Nicholson in 1891. Later files may be stamped "JB Smith Co."

Great Western File Company, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, taken over by Nicholson in 1895.

McClellan File Co., Saginaw, Michigan, bought by Nicholson in 1897.

M. Buckley & Co. in Pawtucket, bought by Nicholson in 1899.

Eagle File Co., also known as Eagle Screw Co. of Middletown, New York, bought by Nicholson in 1900.

Arcade File Works began in Sing Sing, New York, relocated to Anderson, Indiana around 1891, and was bought by Nicholson in 1900. Nicholson maintained a file factory in Anderson for the US market and continued selling files with the brand name Arcade until 1972. Nicholson (Cooper) closed the Anderson plant August 31, 1978.

Nicholson File's Arcade Works History

Kearney & Foot Co. in Paterson, New Jersey and Kent, Ohio, bought by Nicholson in 1901. Nicholson continued selling files with the brand name K&F until 1972 and later.

Kearney & Foot Ohio History

1910 Nicholson advertisement

G &H Barnett Co. (Black Diamond brand), 41 & 43 Richmond St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bought by Nicholson in 1912. Nicholson maintained a factory in Philadelphia for Central and South American markets. Nicholson continued selling files with the brand name Black Diamond. After Nicholson’s 1972 merger with Cooper, the Black Diamond name was continued because it was popular in southern US states.

1912 G&H Barnett and Nicholson advertisement

Nicholson bought the Atkins Saw Division of Borg Warner in 1966. 

Nicholson continued selling files with the brand names of Arcade and Globe to 1972, Black Diamond and K&F after 1972, and McClellan for an unknown time.

Nicholson was part of Cooper Industries from 1972 to October 2012. Apex Tool Group was formed in 2010 as a joint venture of Danaher Tool Group and Cooper Hand Tools with over 30 brands including Nicholson. In October 2012, Danaher Corporation and Cooper Industries sold Apex Tool Group to Bain Capital.

In 2011 Apex Tool Group closed its Cullman, Alabama Nicholson file factory and other US plants in Monroe, North Carolina and Hicksville, Ohio. Cullman production was moved to Cali, Colombia, Tlalnepantla, Mexico, and Sorocaba, Brazil. 

  

Rhode Island Historical Society - Nicholson History

Wikipedia - Apex Tool Group

Cullman Times - Nicholson File closing next year

Toledo Blade - Hicksville tool plant to close cutting 79 jobs

Nicholson File Works, 3 locations

Nicholson File box

Lenox Files

Lenox is a brand name of American Saw and Manufacturing Co., currently a subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid.

Wikipedia American Saw and Manufacturing Company

Kearney & Foot Co.

Kearney & Foot Co. of Paterson, New Jersey and Kent, Ohio was bought by Nicholson in 1901. Nicholson continued selling files with the brand name K&F until 1972. After 1972, Cooper sold some files with the K&F name that were made in Mexico and Brazil.

Kearney & Foot Files & Rasps 1888 Catalog 

Kearney & Foot Co. file box

Johnson & Brother File Co.

Johnson & Brother File Co. of Newark, New Jersey, was established in in the 1860s according to labels on some boxes. However, an 1897 hardware trade publication states that William H. and Charles W. Johnson of Newark had just incorporated Johnson & Brother File Co. In 1914, Johnson was located at 154-55 Avon Ave., Newark. Heller Brothers bought Johnson & Brother File Co. in 1917 and made Johnson secondary line. Later file boxes identify the maker as simply Johnson of Newcomerstown, Ohio.

Johnson & Brother File Co., Newark

Johnson Files, Newcomerstown

Johnson Files, Newcomerstown

John Day & Co.

If you know anything about John Day and Co., please post to comments or email me. 

John Day and Co. file box

J. Barton Smith Co.

J. Barton Smith Co., 4th and Somerset Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was bought by Nicholson in 1891. Nicholson continued to sell files with Smith name, some reading J.B. SMITH or JBS. 

J. Barton Smith  Co. box

J. Barton Smith Co. bo

Hardware Wholesale and Store Brand Files

Hardware wholesale houses were a dominant force in American retail business in the early 20th century. The larger ones sold their own brands of merchandise, especially tools. While the tool manufacturers were usually unknown, some brands like Keen Kutter and Bluegrass had as much respect as those of the makers themselves. Pictured below are some hardware wholesalers that sold files with their own brand. Other store brand files included Sears Roebuck, Wards, and Westcraft (Western Auto Supply Co.).        

Supplee-Biddle Hardware Co. Franklin Files

George Worthington Clearcut Files

Hickory brand files, Duluth, MN, photo from Vance 

W. Bingham, Cleveland, OH, XLCR round file 

Cleveland File Works, Industry File Works, Cleveland File Co.

Railroad Gazette, Vol. 2, Oct. 1870

Cleveland, Ohio was a railroad, lake shipping, and industrial center in the 19th and 20th centuries. File making in Cleveland dates to 1852, and the products were sold to railroads and industry, and not the hardware trade. John Parkin operated John Parkin & Co. and Cleveland File Works, making and re-cutting files and rasps and selling English cast tool steel. Parkin incorporated 4 April, 1882 as Cleveland File Co. In 1884 the firm was at 19 to 23 Columbus St., Parkin and Bosworth, proprietors.

The Iron Trade Review, 13 Jul 1893

By 1890, Industry File Works was at 46 to 48 Columbus St., operated by Arthur and Harry Gough. They may have taken over Parkin & Co's. business given the closeness of the addresses. About 1905 the street was renumbered and 48 Columbus St. became 1736 Columbus Rd. NW. The building is now part of a National Historic District and has been renovated (article with interior pictures).



William McClellan (born about 1850) is in the 1900 Census as a file manufacturer in Cleveland, along with his son Albert I. McClellan. As far as I know, he was not also the owner of McClellan File Co., Saginaw MI, sold to Nicholson in 1898. In 1909 their address was 3420 Hamilton Av. NE. McClellan reorganized in 1913 as William McClellan Co., 3400 Hamilton Av. By 1916, McClellan was enlarging its plant, also known as Cleveland File Works. In 1918 they began another plant expansion, completed in 1920. The last mention of William McClellan Co. is 1922 at 3400 Hamilton Ave.

Blue Star by Cleveland File Co.*

After 1922, the 3400 Hamilton Ave. plant was taken over by a new business, Cleveland File Co. Alfred Armstrong Murfey (1888-1978) was president of Cleveland File Co. Mr. Murfey was from a wealthy Cleveland family, attended Yale, and was also an executive or director of Commercial Steel and Supply Co., Ohio Metal Briquetting Co., and Fertel-Dangler-Wilson Co. (scrap steel dealer). Mr. Murfey's father was a bank executive, and their home is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cleveland Super Duty file box 

Cleveland File Co. sold machine tools including files through mill supply houses (industrial distributors). Its files were branded Super Duty, Blue Star, and Cleveland. Cleveland File's trade name and patents were purchased in 1942 by Heller Brothers Co.

*Pictures contributed by Gary S.

Cleveland Super Duty*

Cleveland, and Super Duty files*

G&H Barnett Black Diamond File Works

G&H Barnett of Philadelphia used the brand name Black Diamond File Works. Nicholson bought Barnett in late 1911 or early 1912 and kept Black Diamond as a file brand name.

W.H. Hobson's Royal Files

W.H. Hobson called their product Royal Files. Hobson may have been based in Sheffield, England, but the boxes clearly say "MADE IN U.S.A."

E.C. Atkins & Co. Files

Picture by Gary S.

E.C. Atkins & Co. was a major saw and tool manufacturer in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1952 it was purchased by Borg-Warner Corporation. The Indianapolis factory was closed in 1960-61 and its operations relocated to Greenville, Mississippi. Nicholson File Co. bought the Atkins Division of Borg Warner in 1966. Atkins had 14 major product lines which Nicholson quickly consolidated or eliminated.

Atkins works in  their 1910 catalog 

Arion File & Steel Co.

Arion Steel Co., 141 Milk St., Boston, Massachusetts was incorporated in 1922 by Harry F. Arion of Medford, MA. The last known address for Arion File & Steel Co. was at 240 State St., Boston, MA. The postal code "9" dates it to 1943 to 1963.