Can you date these Irwin Auger Bits?

[Augusto Orosco]

I bought a complete set of Irwin's and was trying to get an idea of their production date. They came in a wooden box with metal clips holding them. One side of the box has a worn out label from the Irwin Auger Bit Company in Wilmington, Ohio; but no date (at least in what is left from the label). Each of the bits have the Irwin Bit Co. logo stamped on the shanks, as well as the caption "Made in US" Finally, the # 11 has an extra "M" stamped in the shank, but that might very well be something the original owner did.

By the design of the box, my guess is that they were produced no earlier than the 50's; but would like to narrow down the date a little more if possible.

- Just out of curiosity and because I know all of you love solving vintage tool mysteries; regardless of their history, these will become solid users in my shop! :D



203836

[gounthar frankfurt]

I can't see any pics.:confused:

[Augusto Orosco]

I can't see any pics.:confused:

Sorry, Gounthar. I just realized I didn't paste them correctly. They showed up well when using Chrome, but not with Explorer. I have re-attached them using SMC's attachment utility. It should work for everyone!

[gounthar frankfurt]

Thanks I can see and drool over them now.:D
As for their production date... I just don't know.:o

[Jim Koepke]

Looks like a nice find. My best guess would be that they are from the early 1950s.

Looking at auctions on ebay, what you have may be a U.S. Navy Auger Bit Set. That could date it back to WWII.

A lot of tool makers designated their tools different for military contracts during the war. Snap-On put a G in the product number to designate they were government contract and not subject to normal Snap-On warrantees.

There are a couple other discussions on SMC about dating Irwin bits:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?17422-Bluwin-(Irwin)-auger-bits

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?58808-Irwin-Auger-Bits

You may want to read up on sharpening these before you attempt to sharpen them. Many auger bits have been ruined by well meaning folks who didn't know the proper technique.

Bob Smalser wrote this piece:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?13090-The-Incredibly-Versatile-Sweep-Brace

I wrote this one:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?131238-A-Bit-About-Augers...

And a question someone had about auger bits:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?167266-Auger-bit-question

Have fun, some people find augers boring…

OK, I'll duck and run now,

jtk

[ray hampton]

Looks like a nice find. My best guess would be that they are from the early 1950s.

Looking at auctions on ebay, what you have may be a U.S. Navy Auger Bit Set. That could date it back to WWII.

A lot of tool makers designated their tools different for military contracts during the war. Snap-On put a G in the product number to designate they were government contract and not subject to normal Snap-On warrantees.

There are a couple other discussions on SMC about dating Irwin bits:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?17422-Bluwin-(Irwin)-auger-bits (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?17422-Bluwin-%28Irwin%29-auger-bits)

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?58808-Irwin-Auger-Bits

You may want to read up on sharpening these before you attempt to sharpen them. Many auger bits have been ruined by well meaning folks who didn't know the proper technique.

Bob Smalser wrote this piece:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?13090-The-Incredibly-Versatile-Sweep-Brace

I wrote this one:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?131238-A-Bit-About-Augers...

And a question someone had about auger bits:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?167266-Auger-bit-question


OK, I'll duck and run now,

jtk

Have fun, some people find augers boring…

OH and y not

[Augusto Orosco]

Looks like a nice find. My best guess would be that they are from the early 1950s.

Looking at auctions on ebay, what you have may be a U.S. Navy Auger Bit Set. That could date it back to WWII.

A lot of tool makers designated their tools different for military contracts during the war. Snap-On put a G in the product number to designate they were government contract and not subject to normal Snap-On warrantees.

There are a couple other discussions on SMC about dating Irwin bits:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?17422-Bluwin-(Irwin)-auger-bits

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?58808-Irwin-Auger-Bits

You may want to read up on sharpening these before you attempt to sharpen them. Many auger bits have been ruined by well meaning folks who didn't know the proper technique.

Bob Smalser wrote this piece:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?13090-The-Incredibly-Versatile-Sweep-Brace

I wrote this one:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?131238-A-Bit-About-Augers...

And a question someone had about auger bits:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?167266-Auger-bit-question

Have fun, some people find augers boring…

OK, I'll duck and run now,

jtk

Thanks a lot, Jim. That's great info!

You might be right about the set being a U.S. Navy Auger Bit Set. What is left of the Title ("U.S. ..... et) in the label certainly doesn't negate that (and the spacing looks about right). I just read somewhere that because the address of the Irwin company doesn't show a zip code, it must pre-date the mid 60's. Now, I know zip-codes were first adopted in 1963, but I am not sure if it was customary/mandatory to include them in an address that wasn't a mailing label per se. I'll keep digging!

[Michael Dedon]

Your box and bits look exactly like mine. Here's a picture of the label. I can get a better one if I unload the top shelf it's sitting on. My retired Navy FIL says it looks familiar when he joined up in the mid 50s.

203953

I don't think this picture is coming out right. I can PM it to you or try to get a good one posted.

[Augusto Orosco]

Your box and bits look exactly like mine. Here's a picture of the label. I can get a better one if I unload the top shelf it's sitting on. My retired Navy FIL says it looks familiar when he joined up in the mid 50s.


I don't think this picture is coming out right. I can PM it to you or try to get a good one posted.

That's great Michael, thanks! I think I am going to print your pic of the label and store it with the box. I am wondering if I can find an online version of the 50's manual (use and care instructions) that used to come with the box, so I can add it as well. Even though these will become users, it will also be neat to document their history.