Please note

Because of the lack of published trowel and masonry tool histories, the information here is based on other sources that may be less reliable and certainly are incomplete. These include eBay and tools that I purchase myself that are the starting points for my research. I will write what I know as I learn it. If what you read here interests you, please check back often and look for revisions and corrections. Scanned catalogs are on Archive.org as pdf files. A few are links to other websites. Your photos and information are welcome. Please click on any picture to enlarge it. Comments are welcome, but any with links will be deleted as possible spam.

Friday, June 26, 2015

History of Jackson Brothers, Pittsburgh

Jackson Brothers was a forged hand tool manufacturer in the Pittsburgh, PA area. Their address was 2 Alice Street, McKees Rocks, PA, which is on the Ohio River, on the west side of Pittsburgh. Their products included:
1921 Logan-Gregg Hardware catalog

Paving, block, stone, & brick hammers
Plugging & cape chisels
Prick & tinners' punches
Screw drivers & bits
Oyster knives
Star drills
Nail sets
Countersinks
Reamers

The Pittsburgh Commodity Index, 1913, by Pittsburgh Industrial Development Commission gives more details about their tools. Other Pittsburgh forged tool makers were Hubbard & Co., Iron City Tool Works, Klein-Logan Co., and Verona Tool Works.

Jackson Brothers brick hammer head 
Jackson was owned by Charles W. Jackson, born in England in 1866, emigrated to the United States in 1887, and died in 1943. As of the 1910 Census, he owned the business on Alice St., where he also lived. In the 1930 Census, he was listed as manager of the tool manufacturer, with his sons George L. and Charles listed as tool makers and living with their parents on White St., McKees Rocks. Charles W. Jackson was still operating the business at age 75 in the 1940 Census, with son George assisting him. Their home address was again on Alice St.    

Jackson Brothers' building appears to have survived 100 years, although with a newer front. Here it is in Google Street View (below) and Bing birds eye aerials. From the old houses on Alice St., it seems likely that the Jackson residences also exist today.

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