My small but growing DBE wrench collection

[bonneyman]

Nice set fanders!

This is an assortment:

#1 Belzer with only one cranked end (Germany)
#2 Walter (Germany)
#3a V-Check……………………….#3b Tewel Athol (UK)
#4a Bonney PWA……………….#4b Nickel Molybdenum
#5a + 5b are Snap-On Spline Wrenches



and the back sides where there was printing:





The Nickel-Molybdenum no-name is most probably a Bridgeport.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Been a while since I made any additions to the collection. Today I found these at the flea market.

One grind off, Bonney, velchek, Hinsdale, 2 P&C, Bon-E-Con, craftsman, amco, proto, and a JH Williams.

 

[Username already in use]

Nice DBEs Sam. What's the model number and sizes of that Bonney in the last pic?

 

[twertsy]

Nice DBEs Sam. What's the model number and sizes of that Bonney in the last pic?

Knew you'd be all over that Jason.........................

 

[Rileysan]

Great finds! That shorty Craftsman DBE seems to be really popular on eBay.

Brian

 

[Username already in use]

Knew you'd be all over that Jason.........................

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Nice DBEs Sam. What's the model number and sizes of that Bonney in the last pic?

Model # 2894C
13/16 X 7/8

 

[twertsy]

Model # 2894C
13/16 X 7/8

Ut....oh.....[emoji1]

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[Username already in use]

Ut....oh.....[emoji1]

Haha. Yeah, that's the only one that I DO have...
I'm looking for a wartime 2893C (3/4"x11/16") and 2894B (15/16"x1").
Anybody have them?

 

[BlueBomber]

Hey, guys! I'm back from two weeks of backpacking with the Boy Scouts in New Mexico, and found an unplanned surprise in the mail. McFarmer sent me a New Britain NDF200 angled 7/16" x 3/8" DBE to add to my Working Museum of DBEs!

Totally appreciated! Just what I needed to rewhet the ol' collecting appetite!

 

[Outlawmws]

Last weekends, DBE's:

Two PowrKraft, P&C, Vlchek, & Indestro:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I usually don't collect offset DBEs (the wartime kits I collect specified 15* angle head pattern), but these were a buck a piece at the Early early bird flea market and interesting for a few reasons.

The Williams ALLOY STEEL No. 8034 (1-1/6 x 7/8) is definitely wartime. Correct logo and plain steel finish, tool-set unknown (it's the 40xxx and 70xxx series that are GMTK spec-correct).

According to Alloy Artifacts, Williams also made the "CROMAL" No. 303A (1-1/16 x 15/16) below it. Per AA, CROMAL (or Chrome-All) was a Williams economy line in the late 1930's. What's interesting though is the examples on Alloy Artifacts are all chrome-plated and have model numbers that re-use the Williams model number scheme (prefix plus ISN) and add a 1 in front of it. (So, the CROMAL version of the ALLOY STEEL wrench above it would be model number 18034, for example.) EDIT: Probably a bad example since the Williams version of this CROMAL wrench would've been the round-shanked Duo-Hex, but you get the idea. See AA/Williams page 3 for this explanation and other examples. http://alloy-artifacts.org/williams-supercompany-p3.html

This "CROMAL" wrench does not appear to be plated and it has its own unique model number (No. 303A).

The HINS(-)DALE HD6 (1 x 15/16) doesn’t look plated to me either. Given the markings and composition, might be a late 1941 wrench.

I'll have to clean them both up better and inspect them more closely.

 

[Outlawmws]

Maybe it looks different in person, but all three look to have remnants of Cadmium plating on them?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Definitely either natural steel mottled with age spots or old cad plating, Outlaw. I'll let you know and post pics.

 

[McFarmer]

Hey, guys! I'm back from two weeks of backpacking with the Boy Scouts in New Mexico, and found an unplanned surprise in the mail. McFarmer sent me a New Britain NDF200 angled 7/16" x 3/8" DBE to add to my Working Museum of DBEs!

Totally appreciated! Just what I needed to rewhet the ol' collecting appetite!

My folks passed away in the last few months and I have been organizing the house. I found that in a kitchen drawer. Why it was there I will never know, dad had some "None Better" tools, but this is the only New Britian I have seen around the farm.

Doesn't look like it saw much use, don't know how old it would be.

 

[BlueBomber]

My folks passed away in the last few months and I have been organizing the house. I found that in a kitchen drawer. Why it was there I will never know, dad had some "None Better" tools, but this is the only New Britian I have seen around the farm.

Doesn't look like it saw much use, don't know how old it would be.

I'm sorry you lost your folks, McF. I hope you have lots of good memories to soften the pain of their passing.

Thanks for the back story, and for thinking of me during the clean up. This makes the first forged New Britain wrench in my collection, so I'm jazzed and will display it with pride.

Let me know if you're on the lookout for any particular tools--I don't get out to sales nearly as much as I used to, but sometimes I still find good ones!

 

[McFarmer]

I'm sorry you lost your folks, McF. I hope you have lots of good memories to soften the pain of their passing.

Thanks for the back story, and for thinking of me during the clean up. This makes the first forged New Britain wrench in my collection, so I'm jazzed and will display it with pride.

Let me know if you're on the lookout for any particular tools--I don't get out to sales nearly as much as I used to, but sometimes I still find good ones!

You're welcome, but I'm trying to shed myself of stuff, not on the look out for much.

Fricken'ell, I don't think my dad ever threw a watch band away. How many does a person accumulate in a life- time ? I have maybe two.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

my newest addition


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[timbitca]

You're welcome, but I'm trying to shed myself of stuff, not on the look out for much.

Fricken'ell, I don't think my dad ever threw a watch band away. How many does a person accumulate in a life- time ? I have maybe two.

Let me guess... your parents must have lived through the Depression?

My Grandfather passed away 5 years ago in July. I'm still finding stuff I didn't know I had at the house/garage/sheds. He kept everything, in triplicate, and many more if he could. He used to work maintenance at the paper mill, and when guys would pick up a new pair of gloves from the store, he'd grab their old ones from the trash (often they were only dirty or had one tiny hole). I have two or three huge boxes full of work gloves. And he'd still buy new ones on sale!

 

[Teenager with old tools]

Let me guess... your parents must have lived through the Depression?



My Grandfather passed away 5 years ago in July. I'm still finding stuff I didn't know I had at the house/garage/sheds. He kept everything, in triplicate, and many more if he could. He used to work maintenance at the paper mill, and when guys would pick up a new pair of gloves from the store, he'd grab their old ones from the trash (often they were only dirty or had one tiny hole). I have two or three huge boxes full of work gloves. And he'd still buy new ones on sale!

Reminds me of my grandpa. He has tons probably literally, of tools and still buys them on sale and at yard sales.


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[Zeeman]

Thanks for starting this thread, and letting us share. Here as some of mine.


This is my mix matched set. I kinda like them because they are different, but I have to admit I'd like a complete set too.

The Crescent, Walden, and Bluegrass are wrenches my dad gave me as a teenager, and I used them quite a bit. The others, I got from my father-in-law, and I'm proud to own them too.

 

[r_olson_06]

Thanks for starting this thread, and letting us share. Here as some of mine.


This is my mix matched set. I kinda like them because they are different, but I have to admit I'd like a complete set too.

The Crescent, Walden, and Bluegrass are wrenches my dad gave me as a teenager, and I used them quite a bit. The others, I got from my father-in-law, and I'm proud to own them too.

Isn't that craftsman tray for DOEs? Nice wrenches.

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[BlueBomber]

Thanks for starting this thread, and letting us share. Here as some of mine.


This is my mix matched set. I kinda like them because they are different, but I have to admit I'd like a complete set too.

The Crescent, Walden, and Bluegrass are wrenches my dad gave me as a teenager, and I used them quite a bit. The others, I got from my father-in-law, and I'm proud to own them too.

A real nice set of Craftsman DBEs, and bonus points for the display rack.

Let me know via PM if you're interested in trading to add to your Indestro deep offset stubbies--I have several duplicates, I believe, in a few of the sizes you don't have.

 

[Zeeman]

A real nice set of Craftsman DBEs, and bonus points for the display rack.

Let me know via PM if you're interested in trading to add to your Indestro deep offset stubbies--I have several duplicates, I believe, in a few of the sizes you don't have.

Right on. Thanks. I'll definitely send you a PM.

 

[Zeeman]

Isn't that craftsman tray for DOEs? Nice wrenches.

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It is for DOE's. I was not using it at the time, so I just put the box ends in it to help with the picture. Good eye.

 

[Offwith]

That is a really diverse set. I have never thought of collecting different manufacturers, but it has set me thinking.....

I have always been a Britool bloke. The pic is of my metrics, but there is a similar AF toolbox and a now little-used Whitworth one too. The RBM oval shaft set runs from 6-24mm, with a round shaft 30/32mm. The two stubbies run from 10-13mm. The thin fella is a King **** 6/7mm I must have needed for something or other. The one at the bottom a modern (prob not GB made) 24/27mm Sykes Pickavant, who in their prime were superb toolmakers.

All are car-boot/steam-rally buys. The whole lot were probably no more than £10. Last really good buy was a full set of Elora AF DBE half-moons (8 of them) for £4.

Offwith

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Blue bomber was away last week, so I grabbed these off eBay without any competition. Lol





Got these at an auction today, one tru-test, Lectrolite, and an SK

 

[CrotalusAtrox]

Here are a few I have acquired kind of by accident. I buy a bunch of stuff at a yard sales and there is alway one or two in there.

 

[BlueBomber]

Here are a few I have acquired kind of by accident. I buy a bunch of stuff at a yard sales and there is alway one or two in there.

Hey, welcome to the thread! What a great, eclectic collection. That's exactly how mine started--a handful at a time from sales!

Blue bomber was away last week, so I grabbed these off eBay without any competition. Lol





Got these at an auction today, one tru-test, Lectrolite, and an SK

Dang, how'd I miss those?!?

Nice grab, Sam!

 

[BlueBomber]

Well, the thread's slowed down a bit lately. Allow me to fan the embers a bit with my latest delivery.




A mixed lot from Ebay for about $15 delivered.

Indestro Super deep offset, 15/16" x 1"--bent on one end
Fairmont angled, 15/16" x 1"
Sears deep offset, 3/4" x 11/16"
No name (Drop Forged, made in India) deep offset, 5/8" x 3/4"
Indestro Chicago angled, 11/16" x 5/8"--pretty grungy and also bent
Westline deep offset stubby, 5/8" x 11/16"
Pow'r-Kraft angled, 1/2" x 9/16"



Here's an unusual way to mark your tools: five of these wrenches have grinder marks at the ends of the handles, just before the forgings for the boxes. It is too "repeated" to be accidental. Maybe they are former shop tools...

 

[MShaw]

The shop I worked in years ago used grind notches to identify tools. The new guy got one notch and the boss had the most. Guess who had the most tools.

 

[Username already in use]

Some nice additions there BlueBomber! Any interest in divesting yourself of that Fairmount DBE? A trade perhaps? Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

 

[BlueBomber]

Some nice additions there BlueBomber! Any interest in divesting yourself of that Fairmount DBE? A trade perhaps? Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

Dunno, I'm usually interested in a good trade. However, the only other Fairmont I have is a deep offset, so this is a First in the BlueBomber Working Museum of DBEs. Let me know what you have to trade via a PM--I like the oddballs!

 

[stage20]

what are you guys searching for or is it a secret? any time i type in DBE or boxed wrench or wrench lot i get 25,000 hits. sometimes i go to buy it now or sometimes ill bid on whats ending soonest. i never see these wrench lots lol

 

[Outlawmws]

You need to add search criteria like brand, offset, sizes, SAE, metric... Also, sometimes you use a minus sign for things that are trashing the search

 

[2oolhound]

Last really good buy was a full set of Elora AF DBE half-moons (8 of them) for £4.

Offwith

Those are some nice wrenches Offwith but how about pics of the Elora's.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

what are you guys searching for or is it a secret?

I check the 'used' box of overloaded searches.

 

[four.cycle]

what are you guys searching for or is it a secret?

If you are talking about Ebay:

click on "Advanced" (just to the right of the "Search" button)

enter "brand-name wrench" (pick a manufacturer. if you can't think of any, refer to this list: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5858981#post5858981 ) (omit quotation marks)

OR enter " (size) wrench " (i.e., " 9/16 wrench " ) (omit quotation marks)

use the "exclude words from your search" box to enter any brands you do NOT want to see (i.e., Pittsburgh, Kobalt, etc. the more brands you exclude, the less BS you have to wade through.)

scroll down and click "used"

scroll down and click "US only"

scroll down and select "newly listed"

click "search"

 

[twertsy]

Catch me if you can.......[emoji1]







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[Outlawmws]

Is that "new" stuff, or part of the collection?