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Carter Tools was a post-WWII Australian tool company, who appeared to use both "Carter" and "CT" to brand their tools. It seems as though they were based in Sydney but utilised a variety of manufacturing locations across the country for their products, but finding primary sources which discuss the company is somewhat difficult. If anyone has a catalogue, brochure or other piece of evidence please drop me a line!
Frank Reginald Carter was regularly mentioned as the managing director, and I presume that's where the name came from.
Some of their products look remarkably similar in casting shape to contemporary Dawns - this particular Carter vice is interesting as it has the metric Dawn style of jaw mounting bolts (from the back) and a strongly Dawn casting shape, but it's measured in inches:
They also made G clamps:
I don't have a date for this catalogue but it gives the headquarters address as Cnr. Grose and Buller Streets, Parramatta.
I suspect it's this corner (image courtesy Google Earth, Dec 2020):
This particular catalogue shows 4 ½" and 5" offset vices alongside 3, 3½, 4L, 4 and 5" standard engineer's cast semi-steel vices. Or "vyces" as they're styled. Carter claims to have their own foundry - the vices look remarkably like contemporary Dawns, though...
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrower's Advocate ran an advertisement on the 10th March 1948 where Carter Tools Pty. Ltd. of Cnr. Grose and Buller Sts, Parramatta, were seeking an office assistant. Earlier in the year Dun's Gazette listed Carter Tools as acquiring a mortgaged loan, the application of which was put in on the 27th Jan.
9th Dec 1949 saw the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate print a small article where an accountant at Carter Tools Pty. Ltd. (Mr. Kenneth Rowland Cragg) complained to the Tariff Board of prejudice against people buying Australian-made tools, though he acknowledged the following: "In addition to this prejudice, the exigencies of war demanded the urgent local manufacture of many items in considerable quantities with unskilled labour and in some cases unsuitable materials. As a result, many items of inferior quality reach the domestic market through the Disposals Commission or normal trade channels."
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrower's Advocate mentioned Carter Tools in 1949 where a few people took on their Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeships at the company - L. Blattman for Stage IV, W. Mansfield for Stage III and B. Dorman for Stage II.
The 1952 Tariff Board report states that Carter had acquired it's own foundry, and that in the 18 months ending 31st Dec 1951 the company had sold 20,937 hand planes.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported in 1953 that a case was heard in a district court - Todwilliams Engineering Industries Pty. Ltd. v Carter Tools Pty Ltd.
17th March 1954 saw The Cumberland Argus run an advertisement for Carter who were in search of a machinist: "First class, capable man required for turner lathe, experienced in setting up". Carter's address was still given as Grose and Buller Streets, Parramatta.
The publication Construction published on the 18th Aug 1954 that the representing managing director of Carter Tools Pty. Ltd. was Mr. W. H. Carter.
27th Jan 1960 saw The Cumberland Argus run an advertisement for Carter who were in search of a machine moulder (Experienced man required for modern, mechanised iron factory), a dresser (Experienced man for pedestal grinder work on small casting), a labourer (Man wanted for foundry), and a junior boy (Wanted for foundry). Carter's address was still given as Grose and Buller Streets, Parramatta.
The 1963 Tariff Board report stated that in 1959 it was found that Carter were no longer manufacturing metal woodworking planes.
The Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on the 29th Feb 1968 listed Carter Tools Pty Ltd., of Sydney, as having sold $989.00 of hand tools to the NSW Department Of Supply.
The company Carter Tools Pty. Ltd. was de-registered on 26th July 1994. The presentation of the liquidator's account and statement was on the 18th Jan that year, the final meeting was on the 26th April and the final account and statement on the 29th April.
Here's an example of a Carter logo on a very Dawn-ish vice sent in by Reece - thanks Reece!
Pre-1970s, at a guess, but by how much who knows.
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