My small but growing DBE wrench collection

[twertsy]

Mmmmm, love those pebble-paneled Plombs (say that three times fast!).

Classic, classic, classic.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

It sure is hard to clean between all those little pebbles though.

The circle is a lie, it's an aftermarket drill hole
No runes, hieroglyphs, or other inscriptions
best measurement at back of openings 0.413 and 0.425...
26/64 and 27/64? Seems like a lot of spread for them to be the same, but not enough for them to be different.

on camera there almost seems to be a 7 at the right end...

The wash helped out a bit

 

[twertsy]

It sure is hard to clean between all those little pebbles though.

The circle is a lie, it's an aftermarket drill hole
No runes, hieroglyphs, or other inscriptions
best measurement at back of openings 0.413 and 0.425...
26/64 and 27/64? Seems like a lot of spread for them to be the same, but not enough for them to be different.

on camera there almost seems to be a 7 at the right end...

The wash helped out a bit

Pretty sure I see "something" On the heads?? Could just be sctatches, or the fact that I'm practically blind......[emoji4]

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[Outlawmws]

That DOE looks REAL thick, so I suspect its early and not a tough tool steel

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

My mind wants to see/make patterns too.
Click here to show it bigger

Edit;
Well there goes my patina
pic1
pic2
pic3
pic4

The phone camera is far better than my eye.

Its 4 1/4" long

 

[McFarmer]

My mind wants to see/make patterns too.
Click here to show it bigger

Edit;
Well there goes my patina
pic1
pic2
pic3
pic4

The phone camera is far better than my eye.

Its 4 1/4" long

Who is the yellow lady ?

(Close your bucket)

 

[twertsy]

My mind wants to see/make patterns too.
Click here to show it bigger

Edit;
Well there goes my patina [emoji38]
pic1
pic2
pic3
pic4

The phone camera is far better than my eye.

Its 4 1/4" long

I can't get to your pics......keep winning a 1k gift card and can't see pics (phone)

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Apparently she was a Starbellied Sneech. Nobody I know.

I use adblock on the computer, and don't see any of the popup junk.
some phone users complain bitterly about Photobucket, I don't usually have much trouble. I'll try to do them up as attachments in a little bit.

...
Well that didnt turn out great, You can get more zoom if you look in the mobile uploads of my photobucket.

 

[bulletpruf]

From a flea market today in Prague, Czech Republic - Smalcalda made in GDR (East Germany) 25mm/28mm. Cost me $1.20.

 

[BlueBomber]

From a flea market today in Prague, Czech Republic - Smalcalda made in GDR (East Germany) 25mm/28mm. Cost me $1.20.

Excellent! I tried scoring wrenches while on business in Canada a few weeks again, but came back empty. Well done!

 

[BlueBomber]

Classic, classic, classic.

And that's why our official unit of measure for DBE quantities is the Twertsy.

1 Twertsy: a constantly increasing quantity of DBEs in a garage in Northern Virginia;
can be expressed as a relative decimal number (always less than one when referring to other DBE collections);
in absolute number form, always at least one more than you have.

 

[Rileysan]

And that's why our official unit of measure for DBE quantities is the Twertsy.

1 Twertsy: a constantly increasing quantity of DBEs in a garage in Northern Virginia;
can be expressed as a relative decimal number (always less than one when referring to other DBE collections);
in absolute number form, always at least one more than you have.

I would like to add: "An irrational number that can never be calculated; A moving target"

Brian

 

[Outlawmws]

"Do not try to compute using synthetic division and imaginary numbers"

 

[twertsy]

You gents crack me up...........I'll post today's later[emoji1]

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[twertsy]

Here are today's DBEs.

Top to bottom: Gambles, Plomb x2, Bonney x3, NB, Williams, NB, Chrome Molybdenum x2 (Vlchek)

 

[BlueBomber]

This new brand arrival via a trade with d42jeep. AA and Google know nothing about it. (Thanks, D!)

Gardner deep offset stubby, 11/16" x 5/8", 41W624 on the other side.




The only reference I could find was in a WWII manual for "the setting up and operation of a Two Unit Pack (T.U.P) Assembly Plant for the assembly of the 2-1/2 ton GMC cargo and dump trucks."
Page 25 included the stock number above amongst a list of tools required for that particular step, but no reference to Gardner.

Web site is here but you have to join up via a trial membership to see it: https://www.fold3.com/image/1/291157539

 

[3baygarage]

Nice find. Before I scrolled down I thought that looked like a military #. Never heard of the brand. Where is Private Lugz?

 

[d42jeep]

I imagine that I ran it by him, as I usually do. I was unable to find that Federal Stock Number in my listings of upper echelon tools so it's impressive that you found an application for that particular size. During WW2 the 5/8" X 3/4" stubby DBE wrenches were much more common. I hope somebody on the GJ will be familiar with the brand and can solve the mystery.
-Don

 

[twertsy]

I imagine that I ran it by him, as I usually do. I was unable to find that Federal Stock Number in my listings of upper echelon tools so it's impressive that you found an application for that particular size. During WW2 the 5/8" X 3/4" stubby DBE wrenches were much more common. I hope somebody on the GJ will be familiar with the brand and can solve the mystery.
-Don

I find reference to a Gardner Tool Co in Denver in '42. Also a Gardner Specialty Company in the 20's in Scranton, PA. Also a Gardner Machine Co. in Beloit, WI in the 20's. Not much for details though, sorry but at least it'll possibly point you in the right direction.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

My only DBEs this week, I was most excited about the Lectrolite, already have a set of the craftsman.

Passed on a bunch of select steel and Indestro super. Seller wanted $3 and $6 for each of them. I would have liked the Indestro but for that price I think I can build a set off eBay. I also passed on a real nice craftsman DBE 1" x 15/16 price was $8.

 

[LesserSon]

There was so much interest in Lectrolite Defiance O, that I thought I'd post these "twins."
Notice that the period is gone after Corp. and O. For those trying to develop a chronology, I would suggest the period is older than the no-period tools, as formality in abbreviations eroded over time. The spacing of words and the length of the depressed panel are a bit different, as well.

 

[twertsy]

There was so much interest in Lectrolite Defiance O, that I thought I'd post these "twins."
Notice that the period is gone after Corp. and O. For those trying to develop a chronology, I would suggest the period is older than the no-period tools, as formality in abbreviations eroded over time. The spacing of words and the length of the depressed panel are a bit different, as well.
And a little Plomb pebble DBE. Was someone looking for that size?

I'm leaning your way on the punctuation. The non punctuated examples also appear to have much cleaner lines. I suppose that could simply be attributed to a better or more experienced die maker but I like your theory.

There was so much interest in Lectrolite Defiance O, that I thought I'd post these "twins."
Notice that the period is gone after Corp. and O. For those trying to develop a chronology, I would suggest the period is older than the no-period tools, as formality in abbreviations eroded over time. The spacing of words and the length of the depressed panel are a bit different, as well.
And a little Plomb pebble DBE. Was someone looking for that size?

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[MShaw]

It was probably a cost reduction. Maintaining the raised period would require the dies to be maintained at more frequent intervals.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

3 today! Wards lakeside, Penens, and a Lectrolite. Only set me back $3 which is high for the condition they are in but not unreasonable.

 

[Username already in use]

I added a few over the weekend as well.
Lectrolite offset 3/8" and 7/16"
Plomb 1/2" and 9/16"
and an interesting grind off. I think it's a Vlchek by the part number (WBH 1922) 11/16" and 19/32". I don't think I've ever seen a Vlchek grind off, if that's what it is. Thoughts?

 

[twertsy]

I added a few over the weekend as well.
Lectrolite offset 3/8" and 7/16"
Plomb 1/2" and 9/16"
and an interesting grind off. I think it's a Vlchek by the part number (WBH 1922) 11/16" and 19/32". I don't think I've ever seen a Vlchek grind off, if that's what it is. Thoughts?

I was doing a bunch of cleaning up / organizing in the shop Monday and noticed I have multiple Vlchek wrenches with Vlchek ground off. I have no idea what they mean yet but something obviously prompted the factory to clean off their name. I'll keep looking and see what I can dig up.

 

[Rileysan]

I was doing a bunch of cleaning up / organizing in the shop Monday and noticed I have multiple Vlchek wrenches with Vlchek ground off. I have no idea what they mean yet but something obviously prompted the factory to clean off their name. I'll keep looking and see what I can dig up.

Interesting. I have some as well.

Brian

 

[Username already in use]

I was doing a bunch of cleaning up / organizing in the shop Monday and noticed I have multiple Vlchek wrenches with Vlchek ground off. I have no idea what they mean yet but something obviously prompted the factory to clean off their name. I'll keep looking and see what I can dig up.

Thanks Twertsy!

 

[Outlawmws]

Twertsy, AA lists Vlchec as being acquired by Pendleton (Proto) around '59, and implies that there was contract work before that. I wonder if the contract work went to the time of the lawsuit grinds, and those grind offs were marked Plvmb?

 

[twertsy]

Twertsy, AA lists Vlchec as being acquired by Pendleton (Proto) around '59, and implies that there was contract work before that. I wonder if the contract work went to the time of the lawsuit grinds, and those grind offs were marked Plvmb?

Right now we have 2 theories: 1. They are grind-offs reflecting "post-Pendleton" delivery but pre Pendleton production. In other words they would need to have the Vlchek removed to ship under Pendleton. But, that doesn't work for me because I see plenty of advertisements and business listings post acquisition naming them as "Vlchek Tools, a Division of Pendleton Industries" so they still branded them Vlchek well after '59.; 2. They are wartime. All my examples are CAD "like" plated, no chrome. This, to me, points much more to some sort of wartime production activity. Perhaps delivered under Plomb's contracts so they made them remove the Vlchek stamp, or something along that order.

 

[Outlawmws]

Wartime is a possibility, but I would be surprised if they took the time, since it was for contract wrenches and as long as they meet spec, the Gov wouldn't care back then.

I guess my theory is No. 3.

ps: Pendleton was known to have sold tools with the Vlchec name after the purchase according to AA.

 

[twertsy]

Wartime is a possibility, but I would be surprised if they took the time, since it was for contract wrenches and as long as they meet spec, the Gov wouldn't care back then.

I guess my theory is No. 3.

ps: Pendleton was known to have sold tools with the Vlchec name after the purchase according to AA.

Exactly, that was my point disqualifying #1.......

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[BlueBomber]

It was Proto day Saturday, adding five to the collection. They are all in good condition, but all have PO marks.

Proto 1145 hybrid, angled-deep offset hybrid, 1" x 7/8"--looks like one end was heated and bent into a deep offset. Well done, doesn't look like the typical hack job.

Proto 1140 angled, w/ chevrons, 7/8" x 13/16"
Proto 1130 angled stubby w/ chevrons, 5/8" x 9/16"
Proto 1125 angled stubby, 1/2"" x 7/16"--another unicorn! You don't usually find these two sizes on the same wrench!
Proto 8122 deep offset stubby 6-pt, 9/32" x 1/4"
No-name deep offset, 7/16" x 3/8"

 

[BlueBomber]

I really need to stop buying wrenches off of eBay. Either I've bought all of the cheap DBE lots, or I'm singlehandedly raising the price point on them. My limit used to be $2 per wrench, delivered, but I just bought these 7 for $17. Estate sales are way cheaper.

Still, I scored some new brands (all 12-pt), so that's something.

Wards Master Quality offset, 19/32" x 11/16"--FIRST!
Wards Master Quality offset, 1/2" x 9/16"
Western Giant offset, 9/16" x 1/2"--FIRST!
Powr-Kraft deep offset stubby, 7/16" x 3/8"--FIRST!--the small end was ground down to fit a tight space, so not a great example
Vlchek WBH 1214 offset, 3/8" x 7/16"
Vlchek WBH 2428 offset, 7/8" x 3/4"
Westline angled stubby, 3/4" x 25/32"

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I also acquired a few today, Bonney, Williams, and Bluepoint.

 

[four.cycle]

I really need to stop buying wrenches off of eBay

no way!

Indestro Super and Thorsen 6 pieces SAE double-end wrench assortment
3/8", 7/16", 1/2" 9/16", 5/8", 3/4", 11/16" (see ad text and photos for content)
used
$7.50 + $10.28 shipping OBO "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Six-Used-Db...530954?hash=item3d1f345f0a:g:HV4AAOSwzLlXgMZt

 

[BlueBomber]

I also acquired a few today, Bonney, Williams, and Bluepoint.

Nice set of DBEs, Sam!

no way!

Indestro Super and Thorsen 6 pieces SAE double-end wrench assortment
3/8", 7/16", 1/2" 9/16", 5/8", 3/4", 11/16" (see ad text and photos for content)
used
$7.50 + $10.28 shipping OBO "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Six-Used-Db...530954?hash=item3d1f345f0a:g:HV4AAOSwzLlXgMZt

You enabler, you.



Yes, I made him an offer....

 

[Outlawmws]

Isn't this the same guy the "retired" from yard sales?

 

[four.cycle]

Yes, I made him an offer....

sold!



I thought they looked pretty good, myself, but I already have a 741 Indestro Super with that hex shank. I think my 743 is the later "oval-y" shank.

 

[BlueBomber]

Isn't this the same guy the "retired" from yard sales?

Umm, well, retired from actively driving out to four or five sales every weekend. I was spending practically all of my spare time buying and selling. That on top of a full time job--SWMBO had had enough. Now I just go if a sale is close, or "on the way". Admittedly, if I let it, the bargain fever could take over again.

WRT DBEs, I wanted to keep growing the collection, and without a steady supply of sales, I turned to eBay. Much less time spent in the acquisition phase, but I pay for it in the wallet. I'm also growing it more quickly this way.