Anyone collect vintage Taps and dies?

[leg17]

I also like the vintage Greenfield Taps and Dies. ...... I have posted pics of the ones I have and use in the shop.

Real nice condition and beautiful sets.
great finds.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

First pic is of the monster sized wrench. It has a die stuck in it that's about a half inch or so, but it will take a much larger size. I laid a set of fencing pliers next to it for size comparison.

That is a big'n. The biggest I have, a Little Giant, is missing the handle for the other side, but the one handle alone is 21" long, the die stock is 4" across, and the screw plate on the back is for split dies 2-3/8" in O.D. See thumbnails.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The small die can do 0 something I believe

What is the brand and model number of that big threader with the double dies in it?

I also like the vintage Greenfield Taps and Dies.

Real nice condition and beautiful sets.
great finds.

+ 1

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I’m in the market for a Magnetic Floor Sweeper!

Yes, there is a story relevant to this tap and die thread behind that opening statement. And if the rest of the story wasn’t so good, I’d probably be a lot more pissed off about it!

So, last weekend I came home with this NOS Armstrong No. 2 adjustable stock and dies pipe threading set, 1/8” to 1”. The heavy duty riveted cardboard box may be dirty and a little banged up, as are the cardboard boxes with the split rectangular dies inside, but it’s all original, never used, and 100% complete.

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If you look up in the right hand corner of the box, you’ll see the shank of a little single open end wrench with a little screwdriver blade-like tab on the end. If you look even closer you’ll see that it’s marked “No. 2” to match the set. And on the flip side it’s marked ARMSTRONG. It’s used to tighten and loosen the hold-down and adjusting bolts in the die stock, and came with the set for that purpose.

Somehow between my truck and the garage and a little potable folding table I like to set up outside in the broad daylight to clean, de-rust, and oil my flea market finds, I lost it!

I spent a few days fuming and grumbling and more than a few minutes on my hands and knees combing the grass and the leaves and other debris for the danged wrench. Hence the need for the magnetic sweeper! I know it's out there somewhere! Aaargh.

My mood lightened considerably tonight when I finally got around to really inspecting the set in earnest down the basement.

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I thought I knew what I might have found, but I wasn’t sure until I spotted the tiny form number on the left hand corner of the label on the end of the box.

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Which reads: “Form M189-20M 5-45”

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That’s May 1945. As in wartime.

The set is a "41-T-2023, THREADING SET, pipe, NPT, compete with rectangular adjustable dies, stock, complete with wrench and adjustable guide, and right hand taps, capacity 1/8 in. to 1 in." The only thing slightly out of step is the missing cardboard box for the 1” split dies. The only things missing for the complete threading set are the taps.
(EDIT: I see that I had the 1/2" dies in the stock, and the 1" dies inside the 1/2" die box for the pic.)

For a visual historical reference, here are some excerpts I made from a WWII tools manual. These sets were issued to 3rd Echelon Set No. 1, 3rd Echelon Set No. 2, and 4th Echelon Set No. 2, which is a lot of military mumbo-jumbo for facility motor pools and repair depots well behind the lines, as well as maintenance companies, regiments, and battalions attached to Armored Forces.

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[Private Lugnutz]

In celebration of finding the little checknut wrench...

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...I decided to do a little more photo-documentation with all the dies out of their boxes.

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In the process, I discovered another form, hidden inside the 1/8” die box. This one is instructions, dated November 1944!

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And since I had all the pieces out, I decided to do a Raritan Arsenal Publication Department (RAPD) style photo shoot, mimicking the layout of RAPD 22268, from the 1945 ORD 6 SNL G-27. I posted that above, but I'm gong to post it again for easier comparison. (The lighting was terrible!)

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[Maui]

The die set that I still use was manufactured in 1888. There is no wooden box to keep them in, but that doesn't matter to me. I'm just happy the dies still cut threads properly.

 

[Galaxie-Ed]

In celebration of finding the little checknut wrench...

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...I decided to do a little more photo-documentation with all the dies out of their boxes.

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In the process, I discovered another form, hidden inside the 1/8” die box. This one is instructions, dated November 1944!

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View media item 76904
And since I had all the pieces out, I decided to do a Raritan Arsenal Publication Department (RAPD) style photo shoot, mimicking the layout of RAPD 22268, from the 1945 ORD 6 SNL G-27. I posted that above, but I'm gong to post it again for easier comparison. (The lighting was terrible!)

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Just missing the taps

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[Oldtuleguy]

Found these at an old mechanics estate sale. Mostly greenfield, some Brubaker, john bath, one winter bros. Came in the box, no dies just taps.

 

[Galaxie-Ed]

Found these at an old mechanics estate sale. Mostly greenfield, some Brubaker, john bath, one winter bros. Came in the box, no dies just taps.

Uss or sae taps?

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[drivesitfar]

ALL: i had no idea they were collectable, but i have more than a few. i'm here to learn which ones to keep and which ones to pass while i'm GETTING ORGANIZED.

thanks for starting the thread and i'll try to post up a few pics of mine when i find them.

 

[bonneyman]

I found this nifty little complete DUNLAP set a few weeks ago, but I sent it to a friend.

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Dang that was a nice set! And Dunlap, too!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Uss or sae taps?

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Mix of stuff. Still very sharp and usable.

 

[four.cycle]

 

[four.cycle]

 

[four.cycle]

 

[four.cycle]

 

[four.cycle]

==

Woody, I got nothin' on Bay State. This is all the "tap/die" I have right now. If you think it might work better to put these into a new/different thread let me know. BK

 

[TheCraneGuy]

I have this set. It is not complete, but would like to make it as original as possible.

It has everything, taps, dies, and thread cutters. Has the cam type system for the individual dies, the big handle and the cardboard boxes shown.

I believe they told me it was the 50’s. Not sure if it is a master set or not.


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[Private Lugnutz]

Yowza. Very nice.

 

[TheCraneGuy]

Yowza. Very nice.

Thank you


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[four.cycle]

pretty fabulous set there!

 

[M_George]

I have three sets that I picked up at an estate sale about twenty years ago. The Ixion set might qualify as an antique as it has a hand forge latch.

 

[billybudge]

I am mad about tools heres a couple of sets that I have, the one in the wood case is vintage about 1930s 40s, Made by SPEEDICUT British UNF and UNC set, and the newer one made by a company called PRESTO, and is a Metric Master Tap and Die set, and I do have a lot more,

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have three sets that I picked up at an estate sale about twenty years ago. The Ixion set might qualify as an antique as it has a hand forge latch.

I love everything about that Ixion set, from the burnt inscriptions on the wood box to the wild, futuristic looking design of the handles.

...and the newer one made by a company called PRESTO, and is a Metric Master Tap and Die set, and I do have a lot more,

That Presto set is modern, but the company has been making tap and die tools for a long, long time. Colleagues of mine in the UK have WWII tap and die sets made by Presto with the defense ministry 'broad arrow' logo.

 

[Farleyfan]

Came across these in an old 3 drawer chest I bought at an estate sale.

It has a starter, regular, and a bottom tap in each box.

 

[TheCraneGuy]

I have this set. It is not complete, but would like to make it as original as possible.

It has everything, taps, dies, and thread cutters. Has the cam type system for the individual dies, the big handle and the cardboard boxes shown.

I believe they told me it was the 50’s. Not sure if it is a master set or not.


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EDIT: I originally thought this set was from the 50’s. Started looking at catalog pages online and found this was sold in the 1941 catalog. I am happily surprised.



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[Galaxie-Ed]

EDIT: I originally thought this set was from the 50’s. Started looking at catalog pages online and found this was sold in the 1941 catalog. I am happily surprised.



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Pre 1947 Tap and Die sets will have SAE and USS specifications as NC and NF was not instituted until 1948 or so.

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[Galaxie-Ed]

Pre 1947 Tap and Die sets will have SAE and USS specifications as NC and NF was not instituted until 1948 or so.

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Unless im wrong

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[Galaxie-Ed]

Pre 1947 Tap and Die sets will have SAE and USS specifications as NC and NF was not instituted until 1948 or so. I might be wrong lol

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[Private Lugnutz]

Unless im wrong

That's UNC and UNF you're thinking of. Unified.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up this Craftsman tap & die set at the flea market this morning.

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[Galaxie-Ed]

I picked up this Craftsman tap & die set at the flea market this morning.

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Reminds me alot of Greenfield stuff

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[Galaxie-Ed]

That's UNC and UNF you're thinking of. Unified.

Ah. That makes sense

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[454ragtop]

Reminds me alot of Greenfield stuff

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99.9% sure Greenfield made these for Sears.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Reminds me alot of Greenfield stuff

99.9% sure Greenfield made these for Sears.

Yup.

 

[454ragtop]

I've had that fractional set for probably close to 40 years, it's a decent set, quality about on par with the Ace Hanson sets. Not machinist HSS quality, but decent.

 

[JMLangford]

I also posted this set of Ace Hanson tap & dies in the Garage Sale thread.....don't know how vintage they are, I think late '60's early '70's???
(It was before Irwin acquired Hanson)


4 of the smaller taps are not Hansons and it's missing the small screwdriver....

.

 

[JMLangford]

I also have a Craftsman set that I bought back in 1978....I've use this set for 40 years......


Probably got a replacement tap or two in there somewhere......


.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Everything about that acquisition is amazing, ecotec, including the price, but especially the frozen-in-time quality of the set. It's not only that you got it at a 1975 cost, but in a 1975 condition!

 

[bluebolt]

Nice stuff guys! I will have to post mine later.