Columbian Hardware Co. acquired or succeeded Van Wagoner & Williams Hardware Co. about 1905. In 1921, they were Columbian Hardware Division of Consolidated Iron-Steel Manufacturing Co., and in May 1926 changed their name to Columbian Vise & Manufacturing Co. Columbian was acquired by Warren Tool Corp. in 1965 or 1966, and Warren was sold to Wilton Corp. in 1994. The date that Columbian ceased operations is unknown. As of early 2019, Wilton's sign reading "Ohio Operations, Columbian Vise Plant" is still on the building.
Circa 1938 Columbian had a second brand, Red Arrow, available in 2 sizes.
Information Sources
- Archived article by Todd Werts (ToolArchives.com) Columbian Hardware Co / Columbian Vise & Manufacturing Co.
- The Plain Dealer, May 11, 1926, pg. 11
- Google Books snippet view Hardware Age, 1966, Vol. 198, No. 1-2. Pg. 779.
Columbian Vise & Mfg. Co., Sub. Warren Tool Corp., 9021 Bessemer Av., Cleveland 44104
- From the 1970s to 1994, Warren Tool Corp. used the name The Warren Group as the marketing division for all its manufacturing operations.
- Chas. J. Smith & Co. Wholesale Hardware General Catalog, 1938, Pg. 68.