Alloy Artifacts

Exploring Ingenuity in Iron ...

Wilde Tool Company

Introduction
Selected Tools
Contract Production
References and Resources
What's New (Last Updated Aug. 28, 2009)
Recent changes to this page:
- 08/28/2009: Moved to separate page.
- 07/24/2009: Added Wilde 8 Inch Wrench Pliers.
- 10/09/2007: Added a Wilde 1720 Ignition Wrench.
- 09/19/2007: Added Craftsman Rope-Banded Snap-Ring Pliers.
- 06/10/2007: Added Craftsman Combination Pliers.
- 09/08/2006: Added Wilde Early Wrench Pliers.
- 05/17/2006: Added Wilde Wrench Pliers.

Introduction

Company History

The Wilde Tool Company is a maker of pliers and other tools, initially operating as the Wilde Drop Forge and Tool Company in Kansas City, Missouri. The company was purchased in 1927 by brothers Otto and Paul Froeschl, and continues today under management by later generations of the Froeschl family. In 1955 the company moved to its present location in Hiawatha, Kansas.

One of the company's best-known early products was the line of angle-nose gripping pliers based on patent #1,800,447, filed by Otto Froeschl in 1928. These pliers were sold under the trade name "Wilde Wrench" and became very popular.

Although Wilde is best known today for its pliers, during the 1930s and 1940s the company offered a full line of service tools, including wrenches, sockets and drive tools, chisels and punches, automotive specialty tools, and even auto body tools.

Wilde Tool operates today as the Wilde Tool Company, Inc., and further information can be found on the company's website at www.wildetool.com.

Selected Tools

Wilde Early 7 Inch Wrench Pliers

Fig. 1. Wilde Early 7 Inch Wrench Pliers, with Insets for Handle Pattern and Detail, ca. 1928-1931.

Fig. 1 shows a pair of Wilde wrench pliers marked "Wilde Wrench 7" and "Pat. Pend.", with "KC MO" in the Wilde logo. The underside of each handle also has a forged-in marking "Alloy Steel", as shown in the lower inset.

The overall length is 7.2 inches. The finish was originally nickel plating, but has now worn to bare steel in most areas.

The patent pending notation refers to patent #1,800,447, filed by Otto Froeschl in 1928 and issued in 1931. Based on the filing date, these pliers were likely made in 1928-1931.

These early pliers use a slip-joint mechanism with two positions, but the later models were made with three positions.

Wilde 8 Inch Wrench Pliers

Fig. 2. Wilde 8 Inch Wrench Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1930s to 1940s.

Fig. 2 shows a pair of Wilde 8 inch wrench pliers, stamped with the Wilde "KC MO" logo and "Wilde Wrench", and with a "Pat. No. 1800447" patent notice. The underside of each handle also has a forged-in marking "Alloy Steel", shown as a close-up in the lower inset.

The overall length is 8.3 inches. and the finish is cadmium plating.

The patent notice refers to patent #1,800,447, issued to Otto Froeschl in 1931.

Wilde 6 Inch Wrench Pliers

Fig. 3. Wilde 6 Inch Wrench Pliers, with Inset for Handle Pattern.

Fig. 3 shows a later version of the Wilde wrench pliers, marked "Wilde Wrench 6" and "Pat. No. 1800477".

The overall length is 6.2 inches.

Wilde No. 410 Battery Pliers

Fig. 4. Wilde No. 410 Battery Pliers, with Inset for Handle Pattern.

Fig. 4 shows a pair of Wilde No. 410 battery pliers, stamped with the Wilde logo and "K.C. Mo." near the pivot.

The overall length is 7.7 inches.

The inset shows the distinctive roppe-banded gripping pattern used by Wilde for most of their plier production.

A very similar pair of pliers made by Wilde for the Sears Craftsman brand can be seen as the Craftsman Battery Pliers with Rope-Banded Pattern.

Wilde 1720 Ignition Wrench

In addition to pliers, Wilde also produced a full line of wrenches and socket tools. The next figure shows an example of an ignition wrench.

Fig. 5. Wilde 1720 9/32x11/32 Ignition Wrench.

Fig. 5 at the left shows a Wilde 1720 9/32x11/32 ignition wrench, marked with the company name, model, and fractional sizes.

The overall length is 3.5 inches, and the finish is black oxide.

Contract Production

Production for Craftsman

The rope banding on the handles is a distinctive feature of Wilde pliers, as the above examples illustrate. The next several figures show examples of Craftsman pliers with the rope banding pattern on the handles, all presumed to be contract production by Wilde.

Craftsman Waterpump Pliers

Fig. 6. Craftsman Waterpump Pliers, with Inset for Handle, ca. 1960-1969.

Fig. 6 shows a much more recent pair of Craftsman waterpump pliers with the same rope banding pattern, suggesting that these were likely made by Wilde. The overall length is 10.8 inches.

The pliers are marked with the Craftsman double-line logo, but no model number is marked. Model numbers were generally marked on Craftsman tools after the late 1960s to early 70s, so these pliers were probably made in the 1960s.

The handles of these pliers have a forged-in "P" code on the inside. Several other examples of Craftsman pliers with rope-patterned handles were checked, and these also had a "P" code marked, making it likely that the "P" is the manufacturer's code for Wilde.

Craftsman Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Fig. 7. Craftsman Tongue-and-Groove Pliers, with Insets for Handle and "P" Code, ca. 1960-1969.

Fig. 7 shows another pair of Craftsman pliers with the rope banding pattern, this time in the tongue-and-groove design. The overall length is 10.0 inches.

The pliers are marked with the Craftsman double-line logo, but without a model number. The left inset shows the forged-in "P" code on the inside of the handles, presumed to be the manufacturer's code for Wilde.

The tongue-and-groove design dates back to the classic 1934 patent #1,950,362 by the Champion DeArment (now Channellock) company.

Craftsman Slip-Joint Combination Pliers

Fig. 8. Craftsman Slip-Joint Combination Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail.

Fig. 8 shows a pair of Craftsman slip-joint combination pliers with the rope banding pattern, stamped with the double-line logo and a small "P" code near the pivot, and with "Alloy Steel" forged into the underside of the handles.

The overall length is 6.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The lower inset shows the forged-in "P" code on the inside of the handles, presumed to be the manufacturer's code for Wilde.

Craftsman Snap-Ring Pliers

Fig. 9. Craftsman Snap-Ring Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail.

Fig. 9 at the left shows a pair of Craftsman snap-ring specialty pliers with rope-banded handles, stamped with the Craftsman double-line logo and "USA", and with a small "P" in a circle code.

The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.