Help Me Date this Craftsman DBE Wrench

[slow_mow]

I was gifted a large box of older craftsman tools. As I was going through them, I spotted this little wrench. It appears much older than the rest. The only identifying mark is a stamped AF, as can be seen in the pics. I went through the craftsman date page, and found nothing that shows this stamp.

Thank You

 

[LesserSon]

AA site says Billings manufactured these in the 1930s & 40s.
http://alloy-artifacts.org/craftsman-early-tools.html#mfg-table

 

[four.cycle]

list of Craftsman production codes:
http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?topic=867.0

 

[slow_mow]

Wow, older than I expected. I notice that they're saying on both alloy artifacts and the garage gazette that these are normally flat and stamped. This wrench looks forged and is also slightly offset on both ends. It also looks nothing like the merit wrenches listed on alloy-artifacts.

Maybe a rare one?

 

[woody 73]

Slow mo did you bring roses for your first date? I do hope you bought a good bottle of wine you know the good stuff, not the two buck chuck stuff. Darn I bet it was hard asking her age she might get upset for your first date.

I don't know what this world is coming to, now we have members wanting to "help me date" old musty, rusty, and vintage DBE tools.

What ever happened to lets hold hands first...

 

[four.cycle]

Note Mr. Lauver's entry on the "AF" code:
"AF = Billings & Spencer, ca. 1934 - 1938 (primarily flat wrenches)"
Note he makes no mention there of "stamped"

Flat: as opposed to..... 45° offset double-end box wrenches, maybe?
The "flat" double-end box wrenches that are forged are generally going to have some type of offset on the head, even if only 10 or 15 degrees.

Respectfully, I would defer to Lauver's list in this instance, but that's just my lousy opinion.

 

[slow_mow]

Slow mo did you bring roses for your first date? I do hope you bought a good bottle of wine you know the good stuff, not the two buck chuck stuff. Darn I bet it was hard asking her age she might get upset for your first date.

I don't know what this world is coming to, now we have members wanting to "help me date" old musty, rusty, and vintage DBE tools.

What ever happened to lets hold hands first...

At first she wasn't interested, but after I gave her a warm bath, and rubbed her down a bit, she loosened up and sparkled lol

 

[slow_mow]

Note Mr. Lauver's entry on the "AF" code:
"AF = Billings & Spencer, ca. 1934 - 1938 (primarily flat wrenches)"
Note he makes no mention there of "stamped"

Flat: as opposed to..... 45° offset double-end box wrenches, maybe?
The "flat" double-end box wrenches that are forged are generally going to have some type of offset on the head, even if only 10 or 15 degrees.

Respectfully, I would defer to Lauver's list in this instance, but that's just my lousy opinion.

I don't disagree at all. I've never been much of a tool collector, but these old tools have piqued my interest. I love the history, and I'm surprised at the shape this wrench is in for its age.

Thanks for your help.

 

[four.cycle]

I love the history, and I'm surprised at the shape this wrench is in for its age.

They were made by men who took great pride in their work. The product was intended to last a lifetime (or forever, whichever comes first.)

 

[LesserSon]

Yes, your wrench is forged. I think "stamped" as used in AA's discussion refers to how the letters and numbers on the wrench were produced, and not to the production method of the wrench itself. If the letters are raised up, they are "forged in" and if they are sunk in, they are "stamped." A stamped wrench is made from sheet steel, and never could have "forged in" letters, whereas a forged wrench can have either forged in or stamped letters, and often both.
It doesn't look like a Merit wrench because it isn't a Merit wrench. I would call it a "long C underline" Craftsman Vanadium dbe. It looks like a lot of Craftman wrenches from that time, and if you look at the vintage DBE thread, I bet you'll see some more like it.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5770023&postcount=466
Longer version, different manufacturer code (CI), but also presumed to be Billings by AA (Lauver says Moore Drop Forge).
Here's an AF short Craftsman dbe on the AA site, which they date from 1934-1941: http://alloy-artifacts.org/Photos/t...wrench_short_vanadium_af_f_cropped_inset2.jpg