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Manufacturers Index - Forsberg Manufacturing Co.
History
Last Modified: Dec 25 2019 10:20AM by Mark Stansbury
If you have information to add to this entry, please contact the Site Historian.

In 1921, or shortly before, the Arrow Tool Co. was created by Harold S. Forsberg, who had earlier worked for Crescent Tool Co. The name changed in July 1921 to Arrow Tool & Manufacturing Co., and less than a year later changed to Forsberg Manufacturing Co., apparently because there was already a company with a name similar to Arrow Tool & Manufacturing.

The company survived through the late 1960s, with a liquidation auction on July 25, 1968. They mainly made hand tools, including screwdrivers and hacksaws, but in 1950 they made the Whiz Saw, a handheld jigsaw also available mounted upside-down in a frame.

Information Sources

  • The 1921-07-02 Electrical World carried the following item.
    Arrow Tool Company Changes Name
    The Arrow Tool & Manufacturing Company is the new name for the Arrow Tool Company, 200 Cannon Street, Bridgeport, Conn., manufacturer of tools of all descriptions. The company has a press department equipped for light and medium-sized sheet metal stampings, with a capacity of 300,000 stampings per day. It also manufactures a newly patented sheet metal hickey to take the place of the old hickey made from cast iron. Within the next few weeks the company expects to place on the market a new expansion electric plug to be used on electrical devices, such as vacuum cleaners, flatirons, washing machines, etc. The company will continue as in the past to manufacture tools, dies and special machinery. H. S. Forsberg continues as president, there being no change in the management of the concern.
  • The 1921-07-14 Iron Agehas the following news item.
    The Arrow Tool & Mfg. Co., 200 Cannon Street, Bridgeport, Conn., formerly known as the Arrow Tool Co., will devote a large portion of operations to the manufacture of a new elecric expansion plug, and which will be placed on the market at an early date. Other departments of the works will manufacture tools, dies and special machinery. H. S. Forsberg is president.
  • The 1921-09-29 Iron Age lists Arrow Tool & Manufacturing Co. as a maker of "special machinery". The same issue carried a small text ad:
    Tools — Dies — Stampings
    35 Expert Tool Makers.
    Capacity of 200,000 Stampings a Day.
    Complete manufacturing of small parts and accessories. Send your blueprints.
    Arrow Tool & Manufacturing Company
    Bridgeport, Conn.
  • From the June 1922 American Machine and Tool Record:
    Arrow Tool & Mtg. Co., 200 Cannon Street, Bridgeport, Conn., has changed its name to the Forsberg Mfg. Co. This change was made because another company, which had been in business for a longer period of time, uses the word “Arrow" in its name and trademark. The Forsberg Mfg. Co. will continue to make tools and special machinery of all kinds. An up-to-date press room has been added to the plant and the company is prepared to make stampings and sheet-metal specialties of steel, brass, aluminum or other metals in large quantities. In addition it is making a complete line of hacksaw frames. No change will be made either in the ownership or management.
  • The 1950 Popular Mechanics Power Tool book (under Woodworking Machines) lists
    Forsberg Mfg Co.
    Bridgeport, CT
    Makers of the new WHIZ SAW. Cuts all stock except metal up to 1" thick as ripsaw, crosscut saw, band saw, jig saw scroll saw, keyhole saw and coping saw.
    The description matches patents 2,611,400 and 2,639,737.
  • Tool dealer Martin Donnelly lists a hacksaw from this maker: "Forsberg Mfg. Co./Bridgeport, Ct No. 85: Adjustable Frame Hack Saw. Red Hard Rubber Hdl. Nickel Plated. Length: 19.50 Inches. This is an example of the "Whale Brand" that was the Forsberg trademark. The back is decorated with an imprint of a spouting whale. A nicely made saw from the Fabulous Fifties."
  • Forsberg's 1958 catalog is on Archive.org