C-B Tool Co. was established in 1939 by Charlie Beard as a machine shop and maker of automotive tools. One of their first products remains in production today: a shrinker and stretcher that can be used to make inside or outside curves in angle iron.

During World War II, in 1943, they introduced a sheet metal tool powered by an electric drill, the Royal Clipper Metal Cutter. It operated at twice the drill speed and cut up to 20 gauge steel. Immediately after the end of the war C-B Tool was one of many companies making portable drill attachments, such as the Hercules bench shear and rod cutter which was in production by 1949. It was sold under a different company name, M-M-A Inc., also of Lancaster, PA.

The company remains in business today, primarily as a CNC job shop but they continue to manufacture the Lancaster shrinker stretcher that is virtually unchanged since 1939.

Information Sources

• American Artisan, Vol. 112, No. 11, Nov. 1943, Pg. 93.
• New Equipment Digest, Vol. 13, No. 3, Mar. 1948, Pg. 20.
• American Artisan, Vol. 118, No. 11, Nov. 1949, Pg. 163.
• From the current C-B Tool Co. website:

  C-B Tool began in 1939 as a jobbing machine shop and the manufacturer of a variety of automotive tools. The Company was started by an innovative and creative man by the name of Charlie Beard but after December 7th, 1941 the company focus changed, quickly becoming involved in the war effort. Production during the war years was 24 hours a day, 365 days a year making equipment for the ships of our Navy.

  After World War II ended the company went back to its original mission of machine work and tool making. C-B Tool made all kinds of tools, including: metal shrinker and stretchers, rivet cutters, a tool designed to help position tongue and groove boards, hole punches, crimpers, cable splicing blocks, and more. All that remains today is the rivet cutters and the Lancaster Shrinker/Stretcher, Porto-Metal Formers.

  One of the first tools manufactured by C-B Tool Co. turned out to be the best. It was the shrinker and stretcher metal forming tool; a difficult tool for Charlie to perfect, but the final 1939 version is virtually the same tool today. The tool shrinks and stretches metal for inside and outside turns. No more cutting and welding. You work the metal to the perfect angle. The Lancaster Shrinker/Strecher is an easy to use, quality-built tool that continues to grow in popularity.