Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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Today we're checking out the history of Diamond Tools.
From their beginnings manufacturing horseshoe calks, to a pivot into making hand tools, Diamond was at one time the largest family owned tool company in
the world.
What happened to them, and are there any remnants left today?

Check out the full Tool Lore playlist here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-fhNrtmTAv286gDzTcav8FyxCagDTouy

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Moar History:
alloy-artifacts.org/diamond-calk-horseshoe.html
swanstromtools.com/about/history

Otto Swanstrom Bios:
fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Rip%2520Saw%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Rip%2520Saw%25201917%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Rip%2520Saw%25201917%252011-10_0072.pdf
google.com/books/edition/Duluth_and_St_Louis_County_Minnesota_The/yUAVAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA786

Old Catalogs:
archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Diamond+Calk+Horseshoe+Co.%22
archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Diamond+Tool+and+Horseshoe+Co.%22

Patents:
patents.google.com/?assignee=DIAMOND+HORSESHOE+CO
patents.google.com/?assignee=DIAMOND+TOOL+AND+HORSESHOE+CO.+A+CORP.+OF

1902 Giant Grip Incorporation:
fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Evening%2520Herald%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Evening%2520Herald%25201902%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Evening%2520Herald%25201902%2520%25281328%2529.pdf

1908 Giant Grip Lawsuit:
fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FLittle%2520Falls%2520MN%2520Herald%2FLittle%2520Falls%2520MN%2520Herald%25201908%2FLittle%2520Falls%2520MN%2520Herald%25201908%252003-06_0089.pdf

1911 Factory Fire:
fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Evening%2520Herald%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Evening%2520Herald%25201911%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Evening%2520Herald%25201911%2520%25284940%2529.pdf

1913 Challoner Lawsuit:
fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Evening%2520Herald%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Evening%2520Herald%25201913%2FDuluth%2520MN%2520Evening%2520Herald%25201913%2520%25283636%2529.pdf

1918 Hard Calk Ads:
google.com/books/edition/American_Blacksmith_Auto_and_Tractor_Sho/tA9aAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA1-PA45

1923 Toronto Plant Opens:
google.com/books/edition/Associated_Automotive_Journal_and_Garage/H_5BBMGfOBcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=RA11-PT1
skritch.blogspot.com/2011/06/hw-petrie-ltd-machinery-diamond-calk.html

1934 Steel Industry Investigation:
books.google.com/books?id=RXNVE15F2vYC

Duluth Plant Closure Protest Photos:
perfectduluthday.com/2018/03/18/mystery-photo-65-diamonds-are-forever-except-in-duluth

Duluth Plant Closure Investigation:
google.com/books/edition/Grand_Designs/LRSbDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=triangle+diamond+horseshoe+tools&pg=PA132

2015 Kerckhaert Acquires Farrier Div:
hoofcare.blogspot.com/2015/07/kerckhaert-acquires-diamond-brand-tools-horseshoes.html
kerckhaert.com/diamond

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:45 All About Calks
01:49 Otto faces Setbacks
04:07 A Successful Company
04:58 Tools and Contract Manufacturing
05:57 Diamond Canada
06:44 Diamond Innovations
09:26 Triangle Corp Does it's Thing
11:57 What Remnants of Diamond Remain?
12:56 Outro