Boye steel -

Top to bottom: Boye 3 7/8″ safety hook, 5″ nickel plated steel, 5″ black oxide finished steel, 6″ nickel plated steel rug hook, 6″ black oxide finished steel rug hook, 9″ nickel plated steel

Boye began selling crochet hooks in 1917. Early hooks were imported from Abel Morrall, Redditch, England. In 1921 Boye patented a crochet hook making machine, US patent 1391365, and began making their own hooks.

During WWII Boye was the only US manufacturer to continue making crochet hooks and this was on a limited scale. Nickel was reserved for military use so a black oxide finish was used on hooks from June 1942 – May 1945.

Material: nickel plated steel or black oxide finished steel

Manufacturer and Distributor: Boye Needle Company, Chicago, Illinois

Trademark: 1949 US 544,508. Claims use since 1913.

Patent: 1921 US 1391365

“Boye” Brand

Length: 3 7/8″

Size: English sizing 2 1/2

Have seen at least 3 of these. Made by Abel Morrall with English sizing.

“Boye” – word Boye in quotes stamped on front, size on back

Hooks made from 1917 – February 1925. The stamped one is probably older than the raised one.

Length: 5″

Sizes 1917 – 1924: US sizes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

“Boye” – word Boye in quotes raised on front, size on back

Hooks made from 1917 – February 1925. The stamped one is probably older than the raised one. The raised Boye hooks may be the ones from 1924 – 1925.

Length: 5″

Sizes 1917 – 1924: US sizes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Sizes 1924 – 1925: US sizes 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

# Boye #

Raised on grip. February 1925 – about 2005 in nickel plated steel, except June 1942 – May 1945 when hooks were coated with black oxide. March 1943 – April 1945 no steel hooks in sizes 0 or 00 produced.

Length: 5″

Several different backs are associated with this front. Oldest to youngest –

MADE IN U.S.A. in small text was used through WWII.

Sizes 1925 – about 2005: US sizes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Don’t know when size 15 hook was discontinued.

June 1942 – May 1945 black oxide finished hook

U.S.A. – 10¢ back

U.S.A. – 15¢ back

U.S.A. – 19¢ back

U.S.A. – 25¢ back

U.S.A. – 35¢ back

MADE IN U.S.A. large text

U.S.A.

Boye U.S.A. in Wrights/Boye packaging

After about 2005

Sizes: US sizing 00/3.50 mm, 0/3.25 mm, 1/2.75 mm, 2/2.25 mm, 3/2.10 mm, 4/2.00 mm, 5/1.90 mm, 6/1.80 mm, 7/1.65 mm, 8/1.50 mm, 9/1.40 mm, 10/1.30 mm, 11/1.10 mm, 12/1.00 mm, 13/0.85 mm, 14/0.75 mm