Irwin chalk line

This is a chalk line, used to mark a line with powered chalk.  It could also be used as a plumb bob.  What is interesting is that it made by the Irwin Auger Bit Company of Wilmington, Ohio. In 1884 Charles Irwin owned a pharmacy in Martinsville, Ohio. A local blacksmith who was a customer of Mr. Irwin's came up with the idea for a solid center auger bit. He sold the rights to this invention to Mr. Irwin and a year later, after patenting the auger bit, Charles Irwin, along with four other business partners formed the Irwin Auger Bit Co.  The company was acquired in 1993 by American Tool Companies, previously named Petersen Manufacturing and best known for the invention and production of “Vice-Grip” locking pliers.  In 2002, American Tool was acquired by Newell Rubbermaid, and in 2003 American Tool was renamed the Irwin Industrial Tool Company.  It’s hard to keep track of all of this!  As an aside, in 2008 Irwin ended 80 years of American production of Vice-Grips when it closed the DeWitt, Nebraska plant and moved production to China “to keep the Vice-Grip name competitive.”

Rodale's New Shelter April 1985