Some of the other early Adjustable Clamp Co. creations—like the metal Pony and Jorgensen “C” Clamps (patented by Adele’s son Harry V. Holman) were also left mostly unaltered after their 1920s/30s introductions. In the ‘50s and ‘60s, third-generation owner D.V. Holman helped usher in another line of successful clamps, and his son, Daniel, expanded to bench vises and miter saws under the same Pony, Jorgensen, and Adjustable brand names. The arsenal was established, and only the world around the Holmans was ever gonna change. I became curious about the Adjustable Clamp Company after using my “Pony” band clamp a lot this week after sitting in various tool chests for the past 30 years. Made in USA, the box said in a style, color scheme, and lettering that looked like it hadn’t been changed since 1954. My gosh this stuff was honestly made.”— Jon F., 2019 I have recently come across a pair of old, 1-inch c-clamps. They are both marked at the top of the C shape with the letters “CHCO”. Along the middle is the word “Adjustable”. The group performed hundreds of shows across the Midwest and beyond, and according to just about any thing you read about them, their harmony-laden renditions of popular standards got them big reactions and regular encores. Whether they were playing high society banquets, monument unveilings, religious concerts, hospital fundraisers, college campuses, or the finest theaters and music halls of the era, the Arion Ladies (rounded out by Ariel Nichols and the Swedish sisters Maria and Amelia Haden) delivered the goods. Suitable for secure mounting on a worksurface, toggle clamps feature bolt holes for both permanent and temporary mounting, allowing them to be easily moved or changed. Ideal for use in restricted spaces, they're ergonomic and low profile, but still exert powerful clamping force for safe and speedy operations.

I am writing to inform you that on May 19, 2016, Adjustable Clamp Company d/b/a Pony Tools Inc. informed its Chicago employees that it was suspending operations in Chicago effective immediately.” Horizontal toggle clamps - similar to the vertical clamps, once engaged the handle remains in a horizontal position.Great story. Just bought 2 sets of varying sizes of these clamps at a local thrift store and they are in near-new condition somebody obviously liked them very much glad to have bought them and I am Chicago native myself from Oak Lawn.”— Howard Corbett, 2018

So what inspired a talented singer to give up clefs for clamps? Did she find a rhythm and harmony within the utilitarian tools of her new trade? Would she sometimes walk the factory floors, cooing a melody to inspire her workers? We want to make it easy for you to select the right pipe clamp for your needs, so here are some key terms that will help you understand the range of pipe clamps and their applications a little better.

Adjustable Clamp Co. History, Part I: The Goods

I don’t have these answers presently. But next time you’re using a Jorgensen clamp or a Pony tool of any kind, think about Adele and her friends singing ‘Way Down Upon the Suwannee River,” and realize there is an artist’s sensibility even in the most mundane of factory-made products. So, since Pony Tools had yet to fold when I started my research, I reached out to them in 2015 with one basic request—I wanted to know more about the Adjustable Clamp Company’s fearless founder. I figured, with the Holman family still in charge and proud of its legacy, there would be plenty of marvelous anecdotes and photos of “Great-Great Grandma Adele” forthcoming, thus crafting an intimate portrait of a great industrial revolutionary—an important Chicagoan long overdue for her proper recognition. Compatible pipe diameter - It's crucial that you accurately measure the pipe that you intend to attach to your desired surface. This will ensure that the pipe clamp can hold the pipe in place effectively. Clearly, any information you may be able to provide would be most appreciated. I am primarily interested in determining the manufacturer, which I suspect is either the Adjustable Clamp Co. or Chicago Tools.

Toggle clamps are typically made of steel, and they can be either manual or power-operated. Manual toggle clamps are operated by hand, while power toggle clamps are operated by pneumatics/hydraulics. Power toggle clamps are typically used in industrial applications where high clamping forces are required. Full saddle - These types of pipe clamps are secured by two screws, one either side of the semi-circular bulge where the pipe sits. It's best to use a digital caliper to effectively measure the nominal outside diameter of the pipe you wish to clamp. From there, you can determine the size of pipe clamp that will be required due to the compatible pipe diameter attribute. I am writing with an odd question about old / vintage C-clamps which I believe were manufactured by the former Adjustable Clamp Co. of Chicago, IL.As the 20th century dawned, Adele was still listed in the Chicago City Directory as a “Vocalist,” and she had a “wide and enviable reputation as a musician of remarkable talent and most gracious personality.” Material - Whilst pipe clamps are most commonly manufactured from steel, they can also be constructed from plastics such as polypropylene. Such plastics are just as resilient as steel and have the added bonus of minimising damage such as scratches to your pipes. The praise continued. And remember, this is 1918, still two years before Adele or any other American woman had the right to vote. Toggle clamps are available in a variety of sizes and styles, toggle clamps are a versatile and useful tool, and they can be used in a variety of applications. Pipe clamps are a small circular or semi-circular mechanism that is designed to hold and support suspended pipes either vertically or horizontally. Available in a range of types outlined below, pipe clamps are a cost effective and easy way of fixing pipes to your desired surface whilst still allowing for some necessary movement and expansion of the pipes.

Toggle clamps are an extremely versatile tool. They're available in a range of types and can be used to clamp a workpiece securely, pull and latch items together or closed, or exert closing force to keep lids on moulds for example. Initially, a sales rep at Pony Tools told me they’d be happy to help. But alas, no information was relayed, and no future queries received a response. I felt that perhaps the Holmans had attached clamps around their own hearts, but in retrospect, the impending collapse of the business may have been a distraction. We want to make it easy for you, so here are some key terms used in relation to toggle clamps that will help you to understand our range a little better.Holding capacity - The clamp itself should be capable of taking the pressure for the designated task without damaging the clamp. That synopsis, poorly written as it might be, could just as easily have come from the 2015 Adjustable Clamp catalog, or the 1915 edition, for that matter. Sure, an expert might recognize subtle changes to the Jorgensen design over the decades, but for the most part, if you bought one of these things brand new from a hardware store a few years ago, it probably looks and functions almost identically to the ones in our collection (which are likely mid-century) or the ones Adele “Someone Like You” Holman was rolling off the assembly line a century ago. Circumstances began to change in 1905, however, when her husband Harry W. Holman (a railroad clerk she had married at the ripe old age of 15) suddenly died. At the same time, their lone son, Harry V., was off in Colorado working for a gold mining company. Based on the cultural expectations of the time period, Adele should have assumed the role of the middle-aged lonely widow. She could have spent her days sipping tea at Marshall Field’s or comparing hat sizes with other ladies at various meetings of “enthusiast” groups. But that was never her style. Instead, with the fairly substantial funds at her disposal, Adele decided to take the management experience she’d gained booking shows for her “band” and apply it to a new pursuit. Manufacturing and Wholesale Industries of Chicago assessed it this way: “Special interest attaches to the [Adjustable Clamp Company] by reason of the fact that its executive head, Mrs. Adele V. Holman, has proved fully the resourcefulness and administrative ability which woman may bring to bear in the broad domain of industrial and commercial enterprise. Mrs. Holman is president of the company and virtually the sole owner of the business which is being most ably and progressively conducted under her personal administration.” Twin saddle - As it sounds, twin saddle pipe clamps allow for two pipes to be secured next to each other by the same clamp. These are more "U" shaped, with an elongated, flat curve.