In 1943 Earl C. Parkhurst began selling a drill jig that he had developed, which was marketed as the "Parlec" drill jig. It was sold both under Parkhurt's name and under the name Parkhurst Co. The drill jig was soon followed by a small precision clamp, the "Parlec Clamp". In 1944 Parkhurst and P. W. Breene established the Universal Tool Co. to manufacture the Parlec tools; this is the one and only mention of Breene we have found but Parkhurst remained with the business into the 1960s. In 1946 and only during that year we see the business name Parlec Tool Co. being used instead of Universal Tool Co. During this time they introduced a combination machine built around a double-ended arbor with cast aluminum components that could be used as an 8-inch table saw, a disk sander, a bench grinder, or a buffer/polisher. Within a few months they introduced a jigsaw attachment.

In 1951 the business relocated to Hawthorne, California. While they were based in Hawthorne they began manufacturing a 12x36 wood lathe, the "Parlec 12-36". After 1951, data points on the company become exceedingly sparse although they apparently continued in business into the '60s.

Parlec, Inc., Rochester, NY, is a similar but unrelated business. The Rochester firm began in 1948, first making hubs for harness racing, then became a contract manufacturing shop, and then in the 1970s, after an ownership change, began producing products such as tool holders and other small items for machine tools.

Information Sources

• 1943-04-15 Automotive and Aviation Industries.

  A basic drill jig unit, known as the Parlec Universal Drill jig, is offered by Earl C. Parkhurst, Inglewood, Cal. It is constructed of cast nickle iron, normalized, with with top, bottom and both sides of jig frame and cover finished. The quick opening and locking device acts as a handle during drilling. Seven standard sizes available, from 1½ in. by 2 in. to 3 in. by 11 in. Special sizes and heights will be made to order.

• 1943 issue of Printer's Ink (Volume 205, page 76), in a listing of suppliers. "Parkhurst Co., Parlec universal jig, Inglewood, Calif., 20 West Marquis, Inc. Los Angeles."
• 1944 issue of Pacific Marine Review.

  Parlec Clamp

  A new clamp for holding small work together in tapping, drilling, etc., is announced by Earl C. Parkhurst, Inglewood, California.

  The new Parlec clamp is of unusually simple design, consisting of two case-hardened steel jaws, two case hardened steel adjustment nuts and two heat-treated steel studs. The studs are solidly fastened into the lower jaw of the clamp, and one of the adjustment nuts is screwed on the rear stud. Then the upper jaw is slid into place on studs and other the other nut is screwed into place on the front stud. Thus the top jaw is movably controlled by the two nuts, the front nut acting as a pivot and the rear nut exerting the gripping pressure. Tightening torque is positive. Model C-15 opens to 5¼ in., while Model C-20 opens to 6½ in. with jaw length of 7 3/4 in.

• 1944 issue of Machinery (Volume 41 issues 1-6, page 234). "UNIVERSAL Tool Co. , 919 E. Redondo Boulevard, Inglewood, Calif., has been formed by EARL C. PARKHURST and P. W. BREENE to manufacture Parlec drill jigs and other tools."
• 1944 issue of American Machinist (Volume 88, issues 19-22, page 142).

  Adjustable Parlec Drill Jig—A new type of Parlec drill jig for round stock, adjustable to hold many sizes of small fork, from 1/4 in. to over 2 in. dia., and designed to save tooling time, is announced by Universal Tool Co., 919 E. Redondo Blvd., Inglewood, Calif.

• 1944 issue of American Machinist (Volume 89 issues 1-4, page 182).

  CLAMP—Earl C. Parkhurst, 751 Stepney Pl., Inglewood, Calif.The Parlec clamp for holding small work together in tapping, drilling and similar operations comes in two sizes opening up to 6½ in. with a jaw length up to 7 3/4 in.

• 1944 issue of Aviation, page 246. "...For holding many sizes of small round stock, new type of drill jig called 'Parlec' is offered by Universal Tool Co., Inglewood, Calif. Three sizes are for handling work from * to over 2 in. dia. Body is ground top and bottom with 45 deg. angle..."
• April 1946 issue of Machinery (Volume 52 issues 7-12, p. 214). "A calibrated work-guide proof the head without disassembling the market by the Parlec Tool Co., vides for taking accurate angular any part of the head or removing it 919 E. Redondo Blvd., Inglewood, cuts, and an adjustable guide at one..."
• 1946 issue of The Tool Engineer (Volumes 16-17, page 64).

  Bench Combination Machine

  Parlec Tool Company, 919 E. Redondo Blvd., Inglewood, Calif., is manufacturing a compact, and inexpensive COMBINATION TOOL-power grinder, sander, buffer, and saw. The saw table permits the use of Dado heads and may be used for routing. A moveable plate slides away from the cutter, and a fixture is attached to the table edge in the mounting. A folder is available.

• 1947 issue of Hardware Age, page 242. "...For Parlec Power Tool—Universal Tool Co., Inglewood, Cal., has added a jig saw attachment for the 'Parlec' all-purpose power tool. With the addition, the complete units offers a fast, smooth operating jig-saw and an 8-in. power saw for sanding, grinding, buffing and shaping. Tool has a cast iron base, machined to precision tolerances..."
• 1951 issue of Western Machinery and Steel World (Volume 42, page 136).

  Drill Jig Production Resumed—During the last war, the Universal Tool Company started the manufacture of Parlec drill jigs. This ingenious basic drill jig enabled the toolmaker or driller to machine the base of the jig for properly locating the part to be drilled , cut holes in the cover and insert the bushings to complete the jig required. Now with the advent of war production again, Universal has bought a new building in Hawthorne, California, and is again producing the product in quantity. The Parlec box drill jig is now available in five standard sizes: 1½"x2", 3"x3½", 3½"x5 3/4", 6"x6" and ...

• 1953 Directory of Independent Tool and Die Manufacturers, lists, under California, "Universal Tool Co. / 650 North Praire Avenue / Hawthorne".
• 1955 issue of American Machinist (Volume 99, issues 14-18, pg 149). "New Clamps Eliminate Parallels—Parlec machinist clamps with lower jaws precision ground to be parallel one with the other, and also with the worktable, eliminate the necessity of using parallels. Jaws are made of 1020 steel case-carbonized..."
• 1955 Western Industrial Purchasing Guide has a listing for "Parlec Drill Jigs" supplied by Marshall Tool & Supply Corp. of Los Angeles and Glendale. A search for more data points on Parlec and Marshall Tool came up empty.
• 1961-07-12 Fairhope Courier (Fairhope, AL). "The S. J. Akridges had as their guests this week end Mr. and Mrs. Carl Parkhurst of Inglewood, California. Mr. Parkhurst is president of Universal Tool Co., in Inglewood. This is the Parkhursts' first trip to this section of the country and they were quite impressed with its natural beauty. This is the first time the Akridges have seen their guests in seven years and it was a happy reunion. The Parkhursts are leaving for New York this week and from there will return to California."
• Jeff McVey, in a posting to the owwm.org forum, first drew this company to our attention.
• A patent search did not reveal any patents assigned to this company or granted or assigned to Earl C. Parkhurst or P. W. Breene.
• The Smithsonian National Museum of American History collection includes a Universal Tool Co. trade catalog "including 8-inch power saw, sander, grinder, buffer, router and shaper".
• The Smithsonian National Museum of American History collection includes a Earl C. Parkhurst direct mail flyer for Parlec Clamps.