Photo Index - W. C. Toles Co. - Publication Ad and History

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
W. C. Toles Co.
Chicago, IL; Woodstock, IL

True Manufacturer:
W. C. Toles Co., Chicago, IL; Woodstock, IL

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Other
Machine Size:
Submitted By:	Jerry Fiore

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Publication Ad and History
Date of Manufacturer:
Serial Number:
Last Updated	10/27/2023 6:25:41 PM

Comments:

I found what I believe to be the last reference or ad of this company as of 1942 (attached). I found an article (attached) in the Woodstock IL newspaper (The Daily Sentinel, 6/15/42) that says:

John Ritter Sells Toles Vise Co. The W. C. Toles Co., makers of vises and tool shop, owned by John Ritter Jr. has been sold to Charles T. Lau and F. W. Sinroll of Birmingham, Mich. Mr. Ritter is leaving on Wednesday for the Navy.

From a search of the web, I was able to put together this background.

Wilford Clinton Toles (aka W.C. Toles) was born on October 28, 1853, in Elmira N.Y. to George Washington Toles (a school teacher) and Elizabeth (Hitchcock) Tole. Wilford was one of six children (Wallace, Wilford, George, Fannie, Herbert, and Beth) and attended public schools in New York and Michigan, and technical night schools in Chicago. He married Emily Augusta Osborn, of Benton Harbor, Michigan on September 21, 1875. They had one daughter (Lillian Toles Pollard) born in 1887; however, she died young in 1914.

Wilford worked as a foreman for Crane Company (approximately 1869 to 1878), and a draftsman, designer, and superintendent of machinery at Norton Brothers (approximately 1878 to 1892), and foreman of the experimental department and tool room at Deering Harvester Company (approximately 1892 to 1894).

In October of 1894, along with his older brother Wallace (a pattern maker), he receives a patent for rapid action vise. Wilford also formally incorporates W.C. Toles & Company with his wife and H.M. St Clair, however, there is a mention of W.C. Toles & Co in the Illinois Board of Education’s Proceedings held on January 17, 1883. This may have been an early attempt to start a company. Around 1900-1902 the name was changed to W.C. Toles Co, and H.M. St Clair is no longer mentioned. He had several patents for vises and school desks, but it is the rapid-acting woodworking vises that the company was mostly known for. In 1905 Fremont Hoy is shown as the Vice President. Fremont is the husband of Wilford’s Niece, and eventually will take over the company in 1926.

Wilford appears to have always been associated with industrial education. Along with the mention in the 1883 Illinois Board of Education’s Proceedings, he was a member of the American Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education.

During its heyday, the company was in Irving Park, Chicago (4034 N Tripp Ave, Chicago IL. In 1923, after his wife Emily’s death, W.C (at the age of 70) moved into the home of his niece (Mrs. Hoy) at 515 W Jackson Street, Woodstock, IL. At this time, Fremont is a president of a local bank but is charged with fraud and imprisoned for a short period of time. In 1926 Fremont Hoy takes control of the company and is running the business out of his garage. At this time, it appears that the patent has expired, and others have started to copy the Toles design (i.e., Morgan Vise).

In 1929, Wilford's niece (Harriet, nee Osborn, Hoy) dies. Wilford died in 1930, and at some point (likely late 1930s or early 1940s), Fremont sold the company to John Ritter Jr. Fremont dies in 1944.

In June 1942, John sold the company to Charles T. Lau and F.W. Sinroll of Birmingham MI before entering WWII. The sale is mentioned in the June 15, 1942 - The Daily Sentinel from Woodstock, Illinois, page 1. The article reads:
John Ritter Sells Toles Vise Co. The W. C. Toles Co., makers of vises and tool shop, owned by John Ritter Jr. has been sold to Charles T. Lau and F. W. Sinroll of Birmingham, Mich. Mr. Ritter is leaving on Wednesday for the Navy.

There is no record of the company after this time. I can guess that the WWII war effort got in the way.

I don’t know if there is a way to date these vises, other than some say W.C. Toles & Co (presumably before 1902) and some say W.C. Toles Co (1902-1942).

There is an obscure reference to C.T. Lau Co. in Birmingham, MI, and F.W. Sinroll as Sales Manager for Robotools, Dexter, MI in 1945. But I couldn't find any further reference to W.C. Toles.

Photo 1:

Comments: 1942 ad
Source: 1942 Industrial Arts & Vocational Education - Volume 31 - Page 60 of 62

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Photo 2:

Comments: Article from the Daily Sentinel
Source: The Library

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