UNION HARDWARE CO ice skates size 11

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNION HARDWARE CO., Torrington, Connecticut: The Union
Hardware Company began in 1864 in what had been an old lock shop in the area
known as Torrington Hollow. By autumn of 1865, the company relocated down
the Naugatuck River into its own set of new buildings. Throughout this time,
the company was engaged in the manufacture of ice skates of all sizes and
styles. In the following years, Union Hardware expanded its product line to
include items made of iron, leather, and wood. In 1905, the manufacture of
steel fishing rods began followed by the manufacture of fishing reels in
1923. Through acquisitions, a line of silk fishing line and silk cords was
added and, in 1925, split bamboo rods were added to the line of products.
Other acquisitions brought Union Hardware into the business of tools and
police goods, rules and levels, and athletic shoes and ice skate outfits.
During the 1920s, Union Hardware began production of the tubular steel golf
shaft and, by 1946, the company discontinued its vast line of hardware
products to concentrate solely in the sporting goods area. In 1960, Union
Hardware became part of Brunswick Corporation and continued to be one of the
leading producers of sidewalk roller skates and golf club shafts. The
production of roller skates was phased out in 1967. In 1996, FM Precision
Golf Corporation acquired the Union Hardware Division of Brunswick. The
following year, after a merger with Royal Grip, the company changed its name
to Royal Precision. Royal Precision was engaged until recently in the
manufacture of golf club shafts. In June 2006, Royal Precision was purchased
by True Temper Sports Inc of Memphis, Tennessee. Courtesy of the Torrington
Historical Society, 192 Main Street Torrington, CT 06790