\"Tool Chits\"

[Ryan]

So "Jim1932" posted a thread asking to see everyone's Ford "trinkets." Among those posts were a few people t... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Ford Barn, click here.

[Mark Slight]

They were called "tool checks" used for checking out a tool from the "factory tool crib" to be used generally in a production area. Chrysler also called them "tool checks".

The tool cribs were normally located within a short walking distance of the area that tool was to be used at.

Google "chit" it normally is used by the military as a written request.

Ryan, it will be interesting to see how many variations there are!

Thanks, Mark

[Shadetree]

I remember chits in the air force. They were used instead of money in a small coffee shop just outside the hangar. This was in Germany in the mid-late 50's.

[ford38v8]

Mark, you are so right you stink. It was I who first called them chits on the other thread and I was wrong wrong wrong. Other times I may have been mistaken but that time I was wrong.

[mhsprecher]

I worked at a GM plant one summer in the early 1970s. There was a tool crib there. I don't remember if their were chits for tools, but you also had to get your items like gloves there.

[jim1932]

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You should repost Brad's russian and Brazilian ones here.

[Mark Slight]

Dear ford38v8,

Not true, I took a shower this morning! :-)

Mark

[FL&WVMIKE]

I have some FORD "chits" from the D.T.& I RR (Detroit, Toledo & Ironton) which FORD owned from 1920 until 1929.
Henry Ford got disgusted with the regulations from the government and sold it to the Pennsylvania Rail Road in 1929.
MIKE
CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE - Twice

[Ryan]

I like the word "chits," so I'm sticking with it!

[Mark Slight]

It's your site! :-)

I would suggest looking at Ryan's http://atomicindustry.com/ site. Well worth the time! Neat automotive stuff among other things.

Check out Clients, Posts & Partners!

Mark

[39portlander]

Nice informative/ Ford historical thread. When I was @ Bath Iron Work's when we were sched. to do any hot work, we would have to get a "Hot Work Chit" before the job could be started

After hot work was performed and a half hour cool down the "chit" had to be turned in to safety to prove completion of task.

[Gary in La.]

Here are some of mineDT&IRR, WILLOW RUN, FORDSON, DEARBORN, HIGHLAND PARK, R.ROUGE (River Rouge), ROUGE.

[BILL WZOREK]

How did that work?
Did the Employee Have a bunch of the "Chits" with a employee # on it and he gave it to the tool crib guy to get the tool and the "Chit" was hung in place of the tool.
If this is the way it worked How many "Chits" were assigned to each employee ?
Or was the tool assigned a # that matched the "Chits"
Or still yet Was the tool & "Chits" in possession of the tool crib Guy and the employees name was written down next to the # and the "Chit" was hung in place of the tool?

One more Question what was the Title of the tool crib guy?
( and I don't mean Sir George )( or Dr.George DR. of tools )

THANKS

[oliverguy]

Almost every factory does this both with large or expensive tool and also maintenance supplies. I have a bar code on my I'd badge which says who I am. When I request a consumable such as grease or borrow a tool it's logged by the computer through barcode swipes both on the tool location tool supply and my badge. Not as neat as those chits but our system can track how many times a tool was used and by whom. Comes in handy pinpointing those who like to abuse tools

[Gary in La.]

I was in commercial aviation for 40 years and in the main hangar and repair facility each mechanic was issued 10 chits. That number on the chit was assigned to that mechanic and when he went to the tool crib for a special tool the chit was put in the space occupied by that tool. It was for accountability.

[Ken B]

Our Model A Ford Club took a trip to the Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. After the visit to the museum, someone had placed one of these "chits" in each of our Model As in the parking lot. I often wondered who did it but the mystery adds to the uniqueness of it.

[Mark Slight]

Bill Wzorek, good question.

The "tool checks" (5) were issued to workers with the same number as their Ford badge. As in my photo top of the page. It was fairly easy to cross referance who had the tool if it wasn't returned. Aslo if you quit or were fired all your "tool checks" had to be turned in or you didn't get Paid. Ford Motor Company didn't call them "Chits".

The person behind the counter was the tool crib manager. The cribs I knew were enclosed on four sides with heavy wire. You could see into them and of course out to the work floor for whoever was inside.

I my area they we called the "tool crib guy" unless you new him by name for some reason.

Look at the above posting from "ford38v8" (Alan) about "chits," it is a military term. Ryan likes it, it was not used in the factory to describe "tool checks".

Mark

[modelAtony]

I also saw them marked as TOOL TAGS have fun modelAtony Lafayette,LA

[Mark Slight]

This is how they are identified for sale on eBay today. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=ford+tool+check

Up to you what you want fo call them.

Mark

[Dale Fairfax]

Mark is right on! You used those tokens to "check" out the returnable tools from the tool crib. The check was hung on a hook at the shelf or compartment where the tool was kept. At a glance, the tool crib attendant could see not only what was missing but who had it. If you lost it while you had it checked out, eventually it came out of yor paycheck.