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.
.jpg) |
| 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.
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.
 |
| 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.
 |
| Nicholson File Works, 3 locations |
 |
| Nicholson File box |
I make knives and have made some from Nicholson files. What steel is used in files and rasps?
ReplyDeleteSorry, I don't know that.
Deletethe older Nicholson files up to 1959 should be made out of hi quality steel and from about 1920's onward the mass produced files were cheap enough that you could make edge tools out of files. As a tool collector I have a number of spokeshaves, draw knives, in shaves and scorps that were made out of files. At one time there was a web site by another guy who was knowledgeable about early hand tools and file who made the claim that all tool made out of files were done so from at best the 1910's to early 1920's. Prior to this time period files were too expensive to be made tools or knives out of them. Unfortunately I have lost the information to this web site.
DeleteTo correctly answer b4mudman they nicholson file were most likely made out of quality tool steel which is why they stood up to a lot of use and abuse.
ReplyDeleteSome information but doesn't seem knowledgeable enough about the type of steel used in files..will see if I cna find more information in time to post here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_(tool)
ReplyDeleteThis site has good valid historic information on files..... http://www.hawleytoolcollection.com/uploads/PDF/How%20it%20was%20made%20-%20Files.pdf
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf the above web address does not work loof the Hawley Tool Collection on files. Here is an older book worth looking up for historical valid information The File in History: A Description of the Development of the File from the ...
ReplyDeleteBy Henry Disston & Sons, Inc. (Philadelphia, Pa
Make Magazine has a web post about making files..... https://makezine.com/2017/07/17/steel-files/
ReplyDeleteThe Practical Machinist web group has this to say about Nicholson Files and the quality of steel and it is worth looking up https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-and-history/were-old-nicholson-files-superior-other-makers-355264/
ReplyDeleteI have a file that I sent you an email about it is a Nicholson file wondering the age of it
ReplyDeleteJust received some new "Nicholson" extra slim files and they were made in Mexico. Not near the quality of manufacture on the finish of the file. Not as symmetric and "fatter" than the original files that I have that were made in the USA. Instead of the nice straight taper of old the tip is shaped more like a scraper tool. Will see how they wear but these files look worse than the Simmons files we moved away from.
ReplyDeleteI have a 12" old black diamond rasp file that is stamped made in Canada
ReplyDeleteI have a bottle opener that says Nicholson U.S.A canafa-Holland at the back and front a metalsmith picture. Would this be something they made?
ReplyDelete