The Founding of Union Manufacturing

Union was founded on August 30, 1866.

Union Manufacturing Company was founded on August 30, 1866 in New Britain, CT. Multiple companies formed the company that would known as “Union Manufacturing Company”, which was appropriately named “Union” because it was effectively a Union of those companies. The formation of Union Manufacturing Company was as a support Foundry and Machine Shop. Union Mfg manufactured a vast number of products. Their offerings ranged from everyday use tools such as hoists to much more complex and higher tolerance requirement tools like Lathe Chucks and Planes. They hired only the best foundry workers and machinists as they were always well known for the quality of castings and machine work they did. The early Union Mfg Lathe Chucks which were the original Skinner Chucks were some of the best available at the time. At first the company manufactured various products and did not get too involved with the production of planes. The first record of them making planes was in the 1880’s according the City of New Britain’s historical archives. It’s unknown at this time who they were manufacturing planes for since there is no evidence that they offered planes bearing their name until 1898-1899. Given their geographical location in New Britain and similarities to other makers plane offerings and some evidence that has recently uncovered assumptions can be made. Union’s close partnership with other major New Britain companies and why the company was formed in the first place would likely explain their earlier involvement in the manufacturing of planes.

Union’s Entry into woodworking

Union entered the woodworking market around 1898-1899 with the ACQUISITION of the REMNANTS of The current owner of Birmingham planes, Derby. with the purchase Union received EQUIPMENT patterns and the remaining inventory of parts.

The first woodworking tools Union offered to the open market in 1899 were Birmingham “B Plane” marked tools. (date established based on dealer catalogs from the time period) When stocks ran low from the purchase Union continued to offer planes based on the previous Birmingham designs. These tools can be associated with the “type 1” era for the earliest Union marked tools. These tools are readily identified by the arched Union Logo on the irons and

Union is back!

The company was shuttered in 1986 after cushman industries closed the doors. This would have been the end of a great manufacturing firm. but that’s not how the history would end for union.

In the tool collecting world folks tend to attach to certain manufacturers for reasons only known to them. May that be a fascination with the company’s patented offerings, their physical location or the impact a company had on a certain area of the market. The list really could go on for days, why a particular manufacturer is of interest is as preference based as why you might choose a red car over a black one!

For Union the draw for many is how they came about and what the impact was on the markets they served. There is also the controversy of shareholders and why the company in general was such a quiet yet extremely powerful player in a very competitive and somewhat brutal marketplace.

The decision to bring Union Manufacturing Company back from virtual death was a very personal one. Union has always fascinated me because of the depth yet obscurity of the company, its connection to other companies of the time and the general regard they had for quality in production they offered to the everyday craftsman. I guess one could say the old Union was a spirit of my own. They did things the way I would have done things, the focus was on quality and affordability not on marketing hype or over thought re-invention of the latest mouse trap. The focus was on the end user….. YOU. How will the tool serve its new owner, can they afford to own such a fine tool, is the function not marketing superior…… the list goes on for days, with the main focus on the customer. After all a strong business is a profitable one right? Well if you don’t have loyal customers, then you’ll have a hard time having a profitable business! A concept that seems to escape others today.