4 pounds of JH Williams Socket 1/2" Drive

[3baygarage]

Yeah, you guys read that right. I do not know what in the world this thing was for, but it is ridiculous.
1/2" Drive
6" Long
4 lbs.
Satin Chrome
Part #M-13141

Somebody please enlighten me on this one. All I know it is way too heavy to even function on a 1/2" ratchet. The ratchet wants to just spin sideways in my hand.
First of all, I can't even believe it is chrome and not impact. Aside from that it is way longer and heavier than any deep 3/4" impact I have! I know there are humongous sockets that are proportionate in size and weight, but this thing just doesn't make sense.

 

[3baygarage]

1 pound of Pork and Beans, 4 POUNDS OF SOCKET!

 

[DanarchyCustoms]

A quick google search brought me right back here ... go figure.

My wild *** guess would be a military socket to take lug nuts off out in the field. 1/2" drive instead of 3/4" or 1" so they don't have to carry an extra (heavier) breaker bar.

 

[Exceller8]

Is it for sale?

 

[3baygarage]

I'm with you. Leaning toward military too, with the M in the part number and all. I just picked it up from a sale today. Haven't been able to find anything out online either.

 

[Flatintoone]

A quick look through my 1978 Williams catalog turned up... Nothing. In fact, the "M" prefix is normally reserved for 1/4" drive tools. However, I also noticed that Williams offered a service to design and produce custom tools. Maybe that's what you have?

 

[3baygarage]

Is it for sale?

HMMM, well, if you can guess the weight, I may just give it to you. On second thought, I do get attached to things quite easily.

 

[3baygarage]

A quick look through my 1978 Williams catalog turned up... Nothing. In fact, the "M" prefix is normally reserved for 1/4" drive tools. However, I also noticed that Williams offered a service to design and produce custom tools. Maybe that's what you have?

Yeah, quite possible Flatintoone. Williams was known for making a lot of custom stuff. I just mentioned yesterday in another post that I love thinking about what's out there. You never know whatcha might find.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Yeah, you guys read that right. I do not know what in the world this thing was for, but it is ridiculous.
1/2" Drive
6" Long
4 lbs.
Satin Chrome
Part #M-13141

Somebody please enlighten me on this one. All I know it is way too heavy to even function on a 1/2" ratchet. The ratchet wants to just spin sideways in my hand.
First of all, I can't even believe it is chrome and not impact. Aside from that it is way longer and heavier than any deep 3/4" impact I have! I know there are humongous sockets that are proportionate in size and weight, but this thing just doesn't make sense.

Truck axle nut. Why is it in 1/2"? Meant for a breaker bar?

 

[monomach]

A quick google search brought me right back here ... go figure.

My wild *** guess would be a military socket to take lug nuts off out in the field. 1/2" drive instead of 3/4" or 1" so they don't have to carry an extra (heavier) breaker bar.

Lugs that big would take more torque than you could really put on it with a 1/2", though. This thing has to be custom and for a low-torque application. Some big-*** recessed industrial nut that isn't on too tight.

 

[racingtadpole]

How big is the hex? Looks a bit like the tool you use to take the ball joints off the front of a mini. Being Williams I doubt it is but you never know.

 

[jerryW]

Looked like it was marked 1 1/2 inch. It wouild look good next to my Proto 3 1/2 inch socket!


jerry

 

[racingtadpole]

I think I need better reading glasses...

 

[ken w.]

Did you get this at an estate sale on Shirley st ?

 

[rsanter]

How about a manufacturing application?
Or the name of the company that ordered them started with M

I'm thinking that was used on one of those automatic torquing machines that factories use. They are non impacting but they are strong so you have something that is beefy but cromed

Bob

 

[Farmall450]

I'm with you. Leaning toward military too, with the M in the part number and all. I just picked it up from a sale today. Haven't been able to find anything out online either.

I would agree, maybe lug nuts like previously mentioned.

 

[3baygarage]

Did you get this at an estate sale on Shirley st ?

Sure did Ken. You aren't the Ken who sold it to me are you?

 

[3baygarage]

Truck axle nut. Why is it in 1/2"? Meant for a breaker bar?

Could be used on axle nuts but unusual that it is chrome too.

Lugs that big would take more torque than you could really put on it with a 1/2", though. This thing has to be custom and for a low-torque application. Some big-*** recessed industrial nut that isn't on too tight.

I really would have to rule out lug nuts too. They would never have made a chrome lug socket unless they wanted a lawsuit.
A recessed nut would make the most sense. The socket seems overly heavy for any application. Probably was custom made for something that had to be torqued by hand. Maybe the person who ordered it was tired of breaking sockets.

 

[Farmall450]

Could be used on axle nuts but unusual that it is chrome too.


I really would have to rule out lug nuts too. They would never have made a chrome lug socket unless they wanted a lawsuit.
A recessed nut would make the most sense. The socket seems overly heavy for any application. Probably was custom made for something that had to be torqued by hand. Maybe the person who ordered it was tired of breaking sockets.

Apparently he/she preceded back pain...
Imagine a 14 piece set of those suckers!

 

[Farmall450]

Lugs that big would take more torque than you could really put on it with a 1/2", though. This thing has to be custom and for a low-torque application. Some big-*** recessed industrial nut that isn't on too tight.

That's true...I wonder what?

 

[ken w.]

Sure did Ken. You aren't the Ken who sold it to me are you?

Wasn't me but I think I bought your Vulcan box. I went by that estate sale Saturday @ 2:30 and it was already shut down.

 

[3baygarage]

Apparently he/she preceded back pain...
Imagine a 14 piece set of those suckers!

Now that would be quite the set. I'll take a locking metal case with those. None of todays crunchy plastic socket trays!

 

[zkling]

Does anyone have a williams catalog from the 50's, maybe early 60's? I think it may be in there.

 

[3baygarage]

Wasn't me but I think I bought your Vulcan box. I went by that estate sale Saturday @ 2:30 and it was already shut down.

Hmmm, I haven't sold any Vulcan box. Had to ask if you were the same Ken cause one of the tool guys is Ken and I thought what a small world it would be.
I got to the sale probably 1-ish. Didn't get to look at everything though, there were still a bunch of guys when everybody got thrown out. Guess we just missed each other. I wish I had gone the first day to see what was all there. There was a nice smaller Snap On top/bottom box and a roll cab but they were not for sale. Everything in the yard was a flooded mess. They are going to re-open the sale in the Spring.

 

[Danglerb]

Any spark plug types that big?

I'd work backwards, what has a 1.5" hex and only needs 1/2" drive torque.

32348 is the Williams part for 1/2 drive 6pt 1 1/2 inch extended chrome socket.

 

[LeGarage]

A quick google search brought me right back here ... go figure.

My wild *** guess would be a military socket to take lug nuts off out in the field. 1/2" drive instead of 3/4" or 1" so they don't have to carry an extra (heavier) breaker bar.

I can't imagine an army technician (only) using 1/2" tools.

 

[KnurledNut]

Could've been used as a water heater element socket.

 

[brilliantv]

I used to use very similar sockets on brass nuts that would secure extrusion heads to the large extrusion screws in cable manufacturing.

 

[3baygarage]

Interesting opinions guys.

Could've been used as a water heater element socket.

Would definitely crank that element right the heck out of a water heater.