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Manufacturers Index - Mossberg Manufacturing Co.

Mossberg Manufacturing Co.
Attleboro, MA; Providence, RI, U.S.A.
Manufacturer Class: Metal Working Machinery

Patents
This page contains information on patents issued to this manufacturer.

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USPTO = U.S. Patent Office . Images of the actual patent can be viewed on the U.S. Patent Office web site but a special TIFF viewer must be installed with your browser in order properly work. More information on how to configure your computer to view these patents can be found at TIFF image Viewers for Patent Images.
DATAMP = Directory of American Tool And Machinery Patents . A sister site to VintageMachinery.org with information on patents related to machinery and tools. A much easier user interface than the USPTO's for finding information on machinery patents.

Patent Number Date Title Name City Description
458,934 Sep. 01, 1891 Pipe Wrench John S. Barden East Providence, RI The jaws hinge at the end of the handle, and are held in alignment by a tongue. Known examples do not have the movement limit stop on the tongue, nor the square nut holding "flats" adjacent the pivot. Some wrenches based on this patent also dispensed with the alignment tongue.
The Frank Mossberg Company "FALCON" and "EAGLE" wrenches were based on this patent.
See also patent no. 1,799,622 for a 1930's slip-jointed version of a similar design.
469,615 Feb. 23, 1892 Knife Sharpener Simon W. Wardwell Boston, Suffolk County, MA
478,517 Jul. 05, 1892 Machine for Closing the Edges of Studs Etc Frank Mossberg Attleborough, Bristol County, MA
482,021 Sep. 06, 1892 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleborough, MA The shank of the movable jaw is made of two rods, one of which is threaded. It is adjusted by a round knurled nut. Parts of the manufacturing process are described in the specifications. Wrenches corresponding to this design cite this patent and Mossberg's September 20, 1892 patent (no. 482,749).
482,749 Sep. 20, 1892 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleborough, MA This improvement to Mossberg's September 6, 1892 patent (no. 482,021) keeps the shank of the movable jaw as two parallel rods, but puts the threads on the outer surfaces of the pair. This enlarges and increases the mechanical power of the round knurled adjusting nut.
486,052 Nov. 08, 1892 Antifriction Bearing Frank Mossberg Attleborough, Bristol County, MA
487,194 Nov. 29, 1892 Process of Making Cages for Antifriction Bearings Frank Mossberg Attleborough, Bristol County, MA Divided and this application filed 24 Feb 1892.
519,868 May. 15, 1894 Roller Bearing Frank Mossberg Attleborough, Bristol County, MA
537,792 Apr. 16, 1895 Whistle Simon W. Wardwell Jr. Attleborough, MA Siren whistle, internal rotor components made of stampings. Contemporary reviews and comments about the DEVELINE SIREN WHISTLE remark on the volume and quality of sound produced.
    Whistle Frank Mossberg Attleborough, MA  
49,314 Jun. 24, 1895 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleborough, MA Pocket wrench constructed of layers of stamped parts; the Canadian version and 189502130 include an auxiliary screwdriver not present in corresponding U.S. patent 550,025 granted November 19, 1895.
The design represents the 1st state of the Mossberg Wrench Co. No. C pocket wrench.
550,025 Nov. 19, 1895 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleborough, MA The patent describes a pocket wrench assembled from metal stampings. The handle and fixed jaw are 3 layers thick; the movable jaw is a stamping. Produced as the Mossberg No. C (1st state).
Corresponding Canadian patent 49,314 granted June 24, 1895 and British patent 189502130 include a supplemental screwdriver attachment not included in the U.S. patent.
Superceded by a similar shaped "2-layer" version patented on December 31, 1895 (pat no. 552,325)
552,325 Dec. 31, 1895 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleborough, MA The case is made of three stampings; the movable jaw of 2 pieces. The case is the 2nd state of the Mossberg Model C pocket wrench, superceding the "3-layer" version described in patent no. 550,025. The final version had no matching patent.
British patent no. 189525012 registered Dec. 31, 1895 and Canadian patent no. 51,852 issued April 2, 1896 correspond to this version of the Mossberg Wrench Company pocket wrench. The British patent was issued to S. W. Wardwell.
51,852 Apr. 02, 1896 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleboro, MA Screw adjust pocket wrench with the main frame and fixed jaw formed of two stamped plates. The MOSSBERG WRENCH COMPANY produced the wrench as their "STYLE C" at Attleborough, Mass. and later at Central Falls, RI.
Corresponding U.S. patent no. 552,325 was issued December 31, 1895.
583,346 May. 25, 1897 Wrench Simon W. Wardwell Jr. Providence, RI The overall design of this one is similar to the MOSSBERG MODEL D pocket wrench except the adjusting nut is on the back side of the handle rather than adjacent to the fixed jaw. Some examples of the MOSSBERG "STYLE D" have a May 25, 1897 patent marking. Wardwell was an officer in the MOSSBERG WRENCH CO.
Foster Freeman - patent attorney
660,176 Oct. 23, 1900 Gage Charles F. Winslow Pawtucket, RI This piece uses a fence that is hinged at the center, allowing it to be easily adjusted to fit any curve. The design itself is fairly simple, and works quite well.
In addition to the adjustable fence, these pieces used a clever sliding block to hold a mortise point. Unfortunately this piece was designed to be removable, so this piece is almost always missing.
661,810 Nov. 13, 1900 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleborough, MA The primary focus of this patent is the constituent parts of the movable jaw, which are described in considerable detail. This patent together with Mossberg's March 11, 1902 patent (no. 695,072) is the basis for an extensive series of adjustable wrenches.
Some were supplied as tool kit wrenches & bear the names of early automobile brands.
This patent is noted in Dwight B. Lee's June 3, 1902 patent (no. 701,584).
695,072 Mar. 11, 1902 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleboro, MA Together with Mossberg's November 13, 1900 patent (no. 661,810) this patent was used for an extensive series of light-weight nut wrenches. This patent describes the main bar with its rack teeth, and goes into considerable detail describing the constituent parts of the movable jaw.
698,086 Apr. 22, 1902 Wrench Simon W. Wardwell Providence, RI The patent covers the component parts and mode of assembling. The wrench is the Mossberg Wrench Co. "Model C;" without careful analysis of wrenches it may not be clear if this mode of construction was put into production. The late production after the company moved to Central Falls, R.I. would be a the ones to analyze.
    Wrench Henry H. Ricker Attleborough, Bristol County, MA  
751,055 Feb. 02, 1904 Ratchet Screw Key Camille Contal , France The shaft has a spring-loaded "slip clutch" type ratchet. A central ring has top and bottom "teeth" facing opposite. A sliding ring on the outside of the tool can be positioned to lock the ratchet action to the "head", the "stem", or to both simultaneously, thus providing both forward and reverse ratchet action, as well as straight drive.
French patent 327,011 of June 12, 1903 and British patent 190322391 with an effective date of Dec. 4, 1902 correspond to this patent.
The rod handle, and universal joint are typical for the time, and are described in the specifications.
Marketed in the U.S. as the Auto-Cle by Quincy Manchester Sargent Co. of Chicago through 1908, and then by the Frank Mossberg Company.
RE12,379 Aug. 15, 1905 Ratchet Screw Key Camille Contal , France The patent mentions the sockets, universal joint, and rod handle shown in the drawings. The key item in the patent is the unique spring-loaded "slip-clutch" ratchet section.
Mossberg took over U.S. production in 1909, and made the Auto-Cle the center of an extensive line of socket sets.
Contals' Nov. 7, 1916 "Extensible Tool" patent (no. 1,203,853) is based on the AUTO-CLE.
949,083 Feb. 15, 1910 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleboro, MA This square shank socket driver with a "T" rod handle that can slide and fold alongside the shank for storage was supplied as the drive handle for early Frank Mossberg Co. socket sets, including spark plug sockets.
1,019,825 Mar. 12, 1912 Ratchet Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleboro, MA A "friction" type drive with options for reversible action.
Horatio E. Bellows - patent attorney
D42,368 Mar. 26, 1912 Combination Tool Frank Mossberg Attleboro, MA The combination is a bottle opener, screwdriver, and carbide wrench.
1,044,069 Nov. 12, 1912 Pipe Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleboro, MA Pipe jaw adaptation for the Mossberg "Auto Monkey Wrench"
Horatio E. Bellows - patent attorney
1,078,059 Nov. 11, 1913 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleboro, MA The rotating ratchet head has a "keeper ball" in its inner surface. The outer case is two stamped steel pieces. The ratchet mechanism includes a "reversing" button. The actual reversing mechanism on the produced wrench is slightly different than that shown in the patent drawing. Used for the Mossberg No. 350 ratchet. The thin flat appearance of the ratchet was to facilitate it being included in a boxed set along with the sockets, extension bar, universal joint and other accessories.
1,105,096 Jul. 28, 1914 Tool for Removing Engine Valves Stanley C. North Elmira, NY Valve spring compressor for "L" head engines. Lever handle spreads the jaws and has and "over center" link to hold them open against the spring pressure.
Known example marked, "654 FRANK MOSSBERG CO. - ATTLEBORO, MASS. - PAT JUL 28, 14."
William W. Monroe - patent attorney
1,165,995 Dec. 28, 1915 Wrench Frank Mossberg Attleboro, MA Ratchet "click" slides in slot in handle; head is two pieces bound together by upsetting.
This ratchet design was used in Mossberg's No. 645 ratchet marketed as an adjustment tool for Model T Ford transmission bands.
1,230,448 Jun. 19, 1917 Wheel Pulling Device Walter I. Tuttle Providence, RI Appears as the Mossberg No. 660 Wheel Puller for Model T Ford and No. 661 Wheel Puller for Ford Ton Truck.
1,245,667 Nov. 06, 1917 Device For Removing Puppet Valves Charlie J. Bousfield Bay City, MI "Over center toggle lock" valve spring compressor. The patent includes the details of the shape of the holder for the spring base.
A "TU-FORD" valve spring compressor from Bay City Michigan advertised in 1920 has many similar features. The patent date appears on the MOSSBERG No. 653 valve spring compressor
1,335,409 Mar. 30, 1920 Construction For Braces Walter I. Tuttle Providence, RI Emery, Booth, Janney & Varney - patent attorneys
The focus of this patent is the construction of the "thrust handle" or brace pad. It consists of an inner portion with crimp riding in a groove cut in the shank of the brace, with an outer portion attached by rivets or spot welding.
This patent shares with parallel patent (no. 1,335,408) the concept of attached sockets, chucks, or the like.
The patents were used in the FRANK MOSSBERG CO. No. 613 brace-wrenches.
This style "brace pad" appears in Tuttle's Sept. 18, 1923 valve grinder patent no. 1,468,055.
1,335,408 Mar. 30, 1920 Brace Construction Walter I. Tuttle Providence, RI Emery, Booth, Janney & Varney - patent attorneys
This patent and parallel patent (no. 1,335,409) address "thrust handles" for brace type tools. In this patent, a flanged sleeve is slipped over the end of the shank, the shank is upset to retain the sleeve, and then the outer portion of the "thrust handle" or brace pad is attached to the flange by rivets or spot welds.
1,426,127 Aug. 15, 1922 Ratchet Wrench Walter I. Tuttle Providence, RI The ratchet head has a spring-loaded ball retainer for a socket shank or extension bar. The pawl for the ratchet action is a slide held in engagement by a compression spring.

Emery, Varney, Blair & Hogust - patent attorneys
1,438,970 Dec. 19, 1922 Handle Construction for Braces and the Like Walter I. Tuttle Providence, RI The patent describes the component parts and assembly process to make a freely rotating brace handle. It is an improvement on the hollow handle style shown in patent no. 1,072,079. The handle was used on Mossberg brace type wrenches and "speeders." It appears on brace wrenches no. 354, 362, etc. It also appears in Tuttle's "brace wrench" valve grinder patent no. 1,468,055.
1,468,055 Sep. 18, 1923 Valve-Grinding Apparatus Walter I. Tuttle Providence, RI Provisions for alternated head forms to suit different styles of engine valves. The "brace pad" portion of the tool conforms to Tuttle's March 30, 1920 patent no. 1,335,409 and the "sweep handle" to his Dec. 19, 1922 patent no. 1,438,970.
Produced as the No. 610 valve grinder by the Frank Mossberg Co.
1,515,349 Nov. 11, 1924 Assembling Tool Dagfinn Lossius Philadelphia, PA The wrench is designed to align the output shaft to drive shaft connection on the Model T Ford. Marketed as the MOSSBERG NO. 652 DRIVE SHAFT TOOL FOR FORDS.
An extensive explanation of the tool by Don Lang of Lang's Old Car Parts, Winchendon, MA appeared on pg. 15 of the December 2002 Missouri Valley Wrench Club Newsletter.
1,567,877 Dec. 29, 1925 Tool Construction Walter L. Tuttle Providence, RI
1,596,951 Aug. 24, 1926 Socket Wrench Set Leland B. Smith Attleboro, MA The base of the case has spring clips to hold the sockets; the case is designed for a square "L" shaped handle. A hinged cover holds all the components into the case.
Robert S. Blair - patent attorney
2,196,223 Apr. 09, 1940 Torque Indication Wrench Walter H. Montgomery Washington, DC Improvement to the design in patent no. 2,125,945. As with some other "war-time" patents, free use for government purposes is included in the specifications.
The main "bar" of the wrench handle is divided into parallel square "leaves." The relative movement of the leaves when the wrench is operated is shown by a dial indicator.
The patent number appears on an APCO-MOSSBERG TORQUE TOOL "deflection beam" type torque wrench.
2,972,271 Feb. 21, 1961 Predetermined Torque Release Hand Tool Martin J. Gill Attleboro, MA Barlow & Barlow - patent attorneys