My small but growing DBE wrench collection
- Thread starter BlueBomber
- Start date
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Yeah, it's amazing they have stayed together all these years.
mitusa
Well-known member
Great set of wrenches, Paulm, even if some of them are half breeds (combos).
Well, I'm retired from garage sale-ing (mostly), but I'm still craving DBEs for my collection. So, I've turned to Ebay, where I can shop the world for good deals on old wrenches without spending my whole weekend driving hither and yon. At first it felt like cheating, but I quickly discovered that most auctions are for single wrenches and asking big money (for me, anything over $5 a wrench is big money). Well, I'm still more bargain hunter than collector, so it took a while but I did find this lot of 27 DBEs that I got for $30.50, with shipping. I'm super stoked--there are MANY new brands here for my collection!!! And just over a Dollar a wrench.
Here's the whole lot:
Indestro Chicago stubby 11/16" x 5/8"
Indestro Super (1st!) offset 712 1/2" x 9/16"
KAL (1st!) offset 3/8" x 7/16"
Lectrolite stubby deep offset Tru-fit 5001 3/8" x 7/16"
Lectrolite deep offset Tru-fit 3102 raised panel 1/2" x 7/16"
Lectrolite stubby Tru-fit (no number) 3/4" x 13/16"
Brian, I believe that puts me at 139 DBEs, or in our unofficial official unit of DBE quantity, about 0.5 Twertsies.
I'm trying to complete a set of the indestro Chicago stubbies like in the pic above. Anyone know how many wrenches in that set...
I have a 7/8 x 13/16
3/4 x 11/16
3/4 x 25/32
and a couple more that I don't remember right now.
Anybody have any different ones??
TIA!
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
mitusa: welcome to the thread. I do believe I have a pair of very small Indestro stubbies that I can take pics of tomorrow. If they are what you're after, we can exchange PMs about a trade.
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
This long weekend, I finally got enough things off my to-do list to justify spending time building my new DBE wrench rack.
In part, I had to because the workbench was getting crowded with DBEs waiting for a peg. Here's what I started with:
The first step was clearing off the workbench and bringing all of the DBEs down onto the lift (which, BTW, makes for an excellent temporary work surface that you can put at whatever height is convenient). With the collection now over 200 wrenches, I knew I needed to make room for a second row on the wrench rack. So, the license plates and souvenir racing slick had to move up.
First, I extended the existing plate rows a bit, and got the entire collection up above the window line. Then I bumped the tire up a few inches.
Here are all the DBEs sitting on the lift.
Next, the two metal cabinets had to come down. I found that I wasn't accessing them as frequently as expected, so they will go onto the workbench near the door. I also turned the tool box sideways to expose more wall. Here's the blank canvas with the holes spackled.
Next up were the racks themselves. I decided to abandon the pegboard design, as they put the big wrenches too close together. Instead, what better to display round-ended wrenches than some surplus round 1.5" pine trim?!
I threw it up on the drill press and drilled a hole every 1.5" down 228 inches of moulding. I then banged in some 3-1/2" framing nails (another estate sale score)to a uniform height. Here's all the A and B wrenches on the new rack.
I ran out of time tonight, so I'll try and finish during the week. So far, I like it.
In part, I had to because the workbench was getting crowded with DBEs waiting for a peg. Here's what I started with:
The first step was clearing off the workbench and bringing all of the DBEs down onto the lift (which, BTW, makes for an excellent temporary work surface that you can put at whatever height is convenient). With the collection now over 200 wrenches, I knew I needed to make room for a second row on the wrench rack. So, the license plates and souvenir racing slick had to move up.
First, I extended the existing plate rows a bit, and got the entire collection up above the window line. Then I bumped the tire up a few inches.
Here are all the DBEs sitting on the lift.
Next, the two metal cabinets had to come down. I found that I wasn't accessing them as frequently as expected, so they will go onto the workbench near the door. I also turned the tool box sideways to expose more wall. Here's the blank canvas with the holes spackled.
Next up were the racks themselves. I decided to abandon the pegboard design, as they put the big wrenches too close together. Instead, what better to display round-ended wrenches than some surplus round 1.5" pine trim?!
I threw it up on the drill press and drilled a hole every 1.5" down 228 inches of moulding. I then banged in some 3-1/2" framing nails (another estate sale score)to a uniform height. Here's all the A and B wrenches on the new rack.
I ran out of time tonight, so I'll try and finish during the week. So far, I like it.
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mitusa
Well-known member
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
That wrench rack is awesome BB, I ran outta room on mine as well, but I'm planning a garage re-organization sometime in the near future so it's gonna have to wait until after I finish that.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
BB, those "fish Eye Lens shots are cool it make the wall look curved and like the bench was built curved to fit it! Awesome! I want a wall like that!
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Thanks, Outlaw. My phone has a panorama mode that produces the fish eye effect for anything close in.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
BlueBomber that is one hell of a collection there.
mitusa:
In the Indestro "Super" short 15° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
751 3/8" x 7/16"
752 1/2" x 9/16"
753 5/8" x 11/16"
In the Indestro "Super" short 45° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
741 3/8" x 7/16"
742 1/2" x 9/16"
743 5/8" x 11/16"
In the Indestro "Super" long 10° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
711 3/8" x 7/16"
712 1/2" x 9/16"
713 9/16" x 5/8"
714 11/16" x 25/32"
715 3/4" x 7/8"
In the Indestro "Super long 45° offset double-end wrench series, they made:
730 3/8" x 7/16"
731 1/2" x 9/16"
732 5/8" x 11/16"
733 3/4" x 25/32"
734 13/16" x 7/8"
735 15/16" x 1"
In the Indestro "Select" long 45° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
911 3/8" x 7/16"
912 1/2" x 9/16"
913 5/8" x 11/16"
914 3/4" x 25/32"
915 13/16" x 7/8"
916 15/16" x 1"
917 1-1/16" x 1-1/8"
In the Indestro "Select" medium 15° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
919 1/4" x 5/16'
921 3/8" x 7/16"
922 1/2" x 9/16"
923 5/8" x 11/16"
924 3/4" x 25/32"
925 13/16" x 7/8"
In the Indestro "Select" short 45° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
929 1/4" x 5/16"
931 3/8" x 7/16"
932 1/2" x 9/16"
933 5/8" x 11/16"
934 3/4 x 25/32"
(* Indestro Tool Catalog No. 16 pp. 35-37 - 1948 *)
Later some other models were added to the line:
Indestro "Super" long 45° offset double-end wrench series:
730 3/8" x 7/16" (6-point)
730A 7/16" x 1/2"
731A 1/2" x 9/16"
732B 5/8" x 3/4"
732C 11/16" x 13/16"
733A 3/4" x 7/8"
Indestro "Super" extra long 45° offset double-end wrench series:
757 1-1/16" x 1-1/8"
758C 1-1/6" x 1-1/4"
758B 1-1/8" x 1-1/4"
758A 1-3/16" x 1-1/4"
759A 1-5/16" x 1-3/8"
759B 1-7/16" x 1-1/2"
Indestro "Super" long 15° offset double-end box wrench series:
711A 7/16" x 1/2"
713A 5/8" x 11/16"
713B 5/8" x 3/4"
714B 11/16" x 13/16"
716 15/16" x 1"
Indestro "Super" extra long 15° offset double-end box wrench series:
717 1-1/16" x 1-1/8"
717A 1-1/16" x 1-1/4"
718E 1-1/4" x 1-3/8"
(* Indestro Tool Catalog No. 22 pp 24- 1959 *)
later a couple more were added, and some were removed:
Indestro "Super" short 45° offset double-end box wrench series:
743A 5/8" x 3/4" (making the 743 obsolete)
Indestro "Super" short 15° offset double-end box wrench series:
753A 5/8" x 3/4" (making the 753 obsolete)
Indestro "Super" midget ignition type double-end box wrench series:
748 1/4" x 5/16"
749 9/32" x 11/32"
(* Indestro Tool Catalog No. 55 pp. 32 - 1972 *)
Unfortunately the later catalogs don't show the "Select" series, which (as I recall from when we were selling them) were available only as promotional "sets" with the "Klip-Tite" holders. We carried only the "Super" in open stock.
I've posted this one before, but for your benefit so you can see the difference between the "Select" and "Super" line:
mitusa:
In the Indestro "Super" short 15° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
751 3/8" x 7/16"
752 1/2" x 9/16"
753 5/8" x 11/16"
In the Indestro "Super" short 45° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
741 3/8" x 7/16"
742 1/2" x 9/16"
743 5/8" x 11/16"
In the Indestro "Super" long 10° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
711 3/8" x 7/16"
712 1/2" x 9/16"
713 9/16" x 5/8"
714 11/16" x 25/32"
715 3/4" x 7/8"
In the Indestro "Super long 45° offset double-end wrench series, they made:
730 3/8" x 7/16"
731 1/2" x 9/16"
732 5/8" x 11/16"
733 3/4" x 25/32"
734 13/16" x 7/8"
735 15/16" x 1"
In the Indestro "Select" long 45° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
911 3/8" x 7/16"
912 1/2" x 9/16"
913 5/8" x 11/16"
914 3/4" x 25/32"
915 13/16" x 7/8"
916 15/16" x 1"
917 1-1/16" x 1-1/8"
In the Indestro "Select" medium 15° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
919 1/4" x 5/16'
921 3/8" x 7/16"
922 1/2" x 9/16"
923 5/8" x 11/16"
924 3/4" x 25/32"
925 13/16" x 7/8"
In the Indestro "Select" short 45° offset double-end box wrench series, they made:
929 1/4" x 5/16"
931 3/8" x 7/16"
932 1/2" x 9/16"
933 5/8" x 11/16"
934 3/4 x 25/32"
(* Indestro Tool Catalog No. 16 pp. 35-37 - 1948 *)
Later some other models were added to the line:
Indestro "Super" long 45° offset double-end wrench series:
730 3/8" x 7/16" (6-point)
730A 7/16" x 1/2"
731A 1/2" x 9/16"
732B 5/8" x 3/4"
732C 11/16" x 13/16"
733A 3/4" x 7/8"
Indestro "Super" extra long 45° offset double-end wrench series:
757 1-1/16" x 1-1/8"
758C 1-1/6" x 1-1/4"
758B 1-1/8" x 1-1/4"
758A 1-3/16" x 1-1/4"
759A 1-5/16" x 1-3/8"
759B 1-7/16" x 1-1/2"
Indestro "Super" long 15° offset double-end box wrench series:
711A 7/16" x 1/2"
713A 5/8" x 11/16"
713B 5/8" x 3/4"
714B 11/16" x 13/16"
716 15/16" x 1"
Indestro "Super" extra long 15° offset double-end box wrench series:
717 1-1/16" x 1-1/8"
717A 1-1/16" x 1-1/4"
718E 1-1/4" x 1-3/8"
(* Indestro Tool Catalog No. 22 pp 24- 1959 *)
later a couple more were added, and some were removed:
Indestro "Super" short 45° offset double-end box wrench series:
743A 5/8" x 3/4" (making the 743 obsolete)
Indestro "Super" short 15° offset double-end box wrench series:
753A 5/8" x 3/4" (making the 753 obsolete)
Indestro "Super" midget ignition type double-end box wrench series:
748 1/4" x 5/16"
749 9/32" x 11/32"
(* Indestro Tool Catalog No. 55 pp. 32 - 1972 *)
Unfortunately the later catalogs don't show the "Select" series, which (as I recall from when we were selling them) were available only as promotional "sets" with the "Klip-Tite" holders. We carried only the "Super" in open stock.
I've posted this one before, but for your benefit so you can see the difference between the "Select" and "Super" line:
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Whew--great info, four.cycle. To paraphrase the line from Jaws, I'm gonna need a bigger rack!
twertsy
Well-known member
drivesitfar
Well-known member
BB: love the new racks. did you plan for the 3rd row? I also love the old fridge and i'm hoping to have an old fridge and oven in my shop one day.
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Drives: I love my 1948 Coldspot fridge. That it still works is a tribute to the simplicity and craftsmanship of days gone by. As for more storage, I think I'd have to break down and add a tool chest just to store DBEs. I just don't have any more wall space to give up.
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OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Here's the final wrench rack rebuild picture:
Of course, the work bench is a mess again. Maybe next Sunday afternoon....l
Of course, the work bench is a mess again. Maybe next Sunday afternoon....l
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Mitusa: here's the little Indestro I mentioned before. Here they are with my other extra tradable wrenches:let me know what you have and what you need....I have quite a few dbes.
Send me a PM if you want to talk swapping...
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
3baygarage and I did some tool bartering, and I ended up with the Blackhawk DBE he posted a week ago. It is a beauty, even if repainted. Here it is again:
It is 15/16" x 1", part number 15627, with the "-3" date mark, which is a close match to the "3" date marked Blackhawk bonneyman sold me a month ago. Here's the family photo:
It is 15/16" x 1", part number 15627, with the "-3" date mark, which is a close match to the "3" date marked Blackhawk bonneyman sold me a month ago. Here's the family photo:
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
The Blackhawk wasn't the only thing waiting for me in the mailbox today. I received another ebay score, these eight 12-pt DBEs for $12.50.
Forged Steel no name deep offset stubby, 1/2" x 9/16"
Indestro Super 753 angled stubby, 1/2" x 9/16"
IBM 9900182 offset stubby, Japanese made, but highly polished, 3/8" x 9/16" -- first!
Giller 2216 offset, 9/16" x 1/2"
Billings 8723 offset, 7/16" x 3/8"
Mac BXL2024 long angled, 5/8" x 3/4"
Trust T6524 angled stubby, 3/4" x 5/8" -- first!
Rhode Island Tool Company (circle-RI logo) 8725 offset, 1/2" x 9/16" -- first, and a rare brand! The handle cross section reminds me of a Williams Superrench or a Vlchek.
Forged Steel no name deep offset stubby, 1/2" x 9/16"
Indestro Super 753 angled stubby, 1/2" x 9/16"
IBM 9900182 offset stubby, Japanese made, but highly polished, 3/8" x 9/16" -- first!
Giller 2216 offset, 9/16" x 1/2"
Billings 8723 offset, 7/16" x 3/8"
Mac BXL2024 long angled, 5/8" x 3/4"
Trust T6524 angled stubby, 3/4" x 5/8" -- first!
Rhode Island Tool Company (circle-RI logo) 8725 offset, 1/2" x 9/16" -- first, and a rare brand! The handle cross section reminds me of a Williams Superrench or a Vlchek.
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
And finally, on post number 500 of this thread, I'd like to say thanks to everyone for all the continuing interest in double box end wrenches. I never expected to launch a top ten thread on the Vintage Tools forum with a post about a wrench collection. But hey, this is Garage Journal, where there's an 8000+ post thread on just one type of Craftsman bench grinder!
So, let's keep this thread going! Post up your DBEs, old or new, US-made or not. If you like 'em, post 'em!
So, let's keep this thread going! Post up your DBEs, old or new, US-made or not. If you like 'em, post 'em!
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four.cycle
Well-known member
^ quite the score there on the 752 Indestro - by itself probably worth the price of the whole batch.
twertsy
Well-known member
3baygarage and I did some tool bartering, and I ended up with the Blackhawk DBE he posted a week ago. It is a beauty, even if repainted. Here it is again:
It is 15/16" x 1", part number 15627, with the "-3" date mark, which is a close match to the "3" date marked Blackhawk bonneyman sold me a month ago. Here's the family photo:
I'm having a very hard time finding those. I need them for my Blackhawk "Chief" set / Tool Box. As a matter of fact, except for one 7/16" drive socket, I believe those deep offset DBE are the only things I'm missing. I think I have a couple DBEs I'd be willing to trade if you're interested.
Attachments
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Way cool tool box! 7/16"-drive sockets?! You are truly tool collector royalty.
Hmmm, I am sympathetic to your plight, but I've only just been smitten by these longitudinally grooved Blackhawks. Let's see if the romance lasts beyond the summer.
twertsy
Well-known member
Fair enough. I understand the smite! Just look at the handles on those Blackhawk drive tools I posted. Blackhawk made some beautiful tools!
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Yep, I did notice. BTW, check your PMs.
Rileysan
Well-known member
As I stated before - this is one of my favorite threads! Until you started this thread, I never acknowledged I was a DBE collector, even though I had always made it a point to buy them whenever I found them cheap enough. Now I am a full-fledged junkie. Even though I haven't posted many pix lately, I have plenty of new material to show off once I get the time to organize and photograph all of it.
Of course, the participants here make it worthwhile too. Well done to all!
Brian
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Can't wait to see the new ones, Brian!
Speaking of being a junkie, I'm definitely also more of one thanks to this thread. Case in point:
I found ANOTHER Blackhawk striped deep offset DBE on ebay, and at $6.99, way more than I've paid for any other wrench. This one's a Blackhawk 15624, 5/8" x 11/16", date coded likely to 1951.
That makes three of these hard to find beauties in about three months.
I found a fourth of this type on ebay mixed in with an unlabeled group of wrenches, sheerly by chance, but couldn't bargain the seller down to a reasonable price. Maybe that means I'm not yet at full "junkie" status yet. [emoji1]
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3baygarage and I did some tool bartering, and I ended up with the Blackhawk DBE he posted a week ago. It is a beauty, even if repainted. Here it is again:
It is 15/16" x 1", part number 15627, with the "-3" date mark, which is a close match to the "3" date marked Blackhawk bonneyman sold me a month ago. Here's the family photo:
Great find!
Just remember don't wire-brush that to clean it - they were cadmium plated (very toxic if inhaled!)
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
B-man: I think that was the wartime production only. The hard part about the Indestro date codes is that they are ambiguous of decade. I believe this wrench is a 1953.Great find!
Just remember don't wire-brush that to clean it - they were cadmium plated (very toxic if inhaled!)
I looked for several years looking for another wrench after my first one (which I sold to you). Not a trace. Then you snag two in a row. 
Be rally nice if you could find the complete set of those. The center groove just looks so cool.
Be rally nice if you could find the complete set of those. The center groove just looks so cool.
3baygarage
Well-known member
Bomber I'm glad you are happy with that. Im happy I finally picked it up at the flea after eyeballing it since last year! The sad part of this for me is probably seven, eight years ago I passed up the whole wrench set in the chest which I believe could be the same one Twertsy has. Not as nice looking, but I wanted the box and was just too cheap although it was cheap! Slap me now. 
twertsy
Well-known member
More Blackhawk.
Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk
Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Very nice. Are they new acquisitions or are they the few you been able to find so far?More Blackhawk.
Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Two wrenches from today's round robin with SWMBO.
Chrome X Quality angled stubby, 3/8" x 7/16" 1930s vintage, I believe.
Forged Select Steel (Indestro) deep offset, 5/8" x 11/16"
Chrome X Quality angled stubby, 3/8" x 7/16" 1930s vintage, I believe.
Forged Select Steel (Indestro) deep offset, 5/8" x 11/16"
twertsy
Well-known member
These are the ones I've found thus far, although a couple came in the recently acquired Blackhawk toolbox.
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
More Blackhawk.
Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk
Those are some neat looking wrenches, I'm gonna have to keep an eye out for some. I love a challenge....lol
Rileysan
Well-known member
Here's some of the DBE wrenches I've picked up over the past couple of months.
Pic 1:
- Westline 5/8 x 11/16
- Barcalo-Buffalo
- Tru-fit
- Craftsman (x5)
- Unknown
- Plomb 1125 7/16 x 1/2
Pic 2:
- Duro Chrome (circle x)
- Unknown
- Craftsman -V-
- Westline
- Craftsman ignition wrenches (1/4 x 9/32 and 7/32 x 15/64)
Brian
Pic 1:
- Westline 5/8 x 11/16
- Barcalo-Buffalo
- Tru-fit
- Craftsman (x5)
- Unknown
- Plomb 1125 7/16 x 1/2
Pic 2:
- Duro Chrome (circle x)
- Unknown
- Craftsman -V-
- Westline
- Craftsman ignition wrenches (1/4 x 9/32 and 7/32 x 15/64)
Brian
Attachments
twertsy
Well-known member
How about a couple closer pics of the "Unknowns?"
Rileysan
Well-known member
I plan on taking better pix sometime this week. If memory serves me right, I think they are both Indestro.
Brian
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Some firsts today, first perfection, and a made in Germany chrome vanadium. Also a vlcheck RP, a PowrKraft, and an a unmarked made in USA.
Also ended up with another Select Steel set, I bought a box for some other wrenches and ended up with set of SS. If anyone wants to trade for it let me know
Also ended up with another Select Steel set, I bought a box for some other wrenches and ended up with set of SS. If anyone wants to trade for it let me know
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ nice set of Indestro Selects there!