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UNITED HARDWARE AND TOOL CORP. FULTON BRANDED PLANES
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United Hardware & Tool Corp. Fulton model 306
Manufactured by Gebr. Kunz in Germany cir. 1925-29 and imported by United Hardware & Tool Corp. under their Fulton brand. United competed directly with retail giant Sears, Roebuck & Co. in-house brand name Fulton tools. It is unknown how or why the two companies co-existed in the 1920s. Many Futon tool owners are unaware of the presence of imported Fulton brand tools by United Hardware & Tool Corp.
Commonly found reprint of 1925 United Hardware & Tools Corp. catalog
Fulton brand tools imported by United Hardware & Tool Corp. were manufactured in Germany prior to 1938 as evidenced by the missing "West" Germany mark. United likely fell victim to ever increasing tariffs being levied on imported tools. In 1929, representatives of United testified before the Ways & Means Committee on the damaging effects of the tariffs on their import business. Confirmation of Gebr. Kunz as the manufacturer of the United Fulton brand hand planes can be found in the 1017 pages of testimony.
United Hardware and Tool Corp. Fulton model 306 plane manufactured by Gebr. Kunz of Germany circa 1925-1929
"Reference was made to quotations of a certain German manufacturer named Kunz. This makers goods were imported by United Hardware & Tool Corporation, and their laid down cost price was No. 4, $1.42; No. 5, $1.61 in New York
without any commission or profit." - Endlein & Schmidt (Inc.), C. Endlein, President.
In testimony before the 1929 US House Ways & Means Committee.
Learn to apply japanning
Ever wanted to restore the japanning on your hand plane?
I recently completed a free japanning instruction series where participants learned to prepare a hand plane, mix japanning, apply and heat cure the new finish. The tips and tricks to getting that smooth, ultra-deep black finish. Interested? Contact me about future classes at aPlaneLife@comcast.net