My small but growing DBE wrench collection

[Provincial]

Chromium-Molybdenum Steel was a very common high strength steel prior to WWII. The SAE grades of 4130 and 4140 were used for tubing and shafting respectively. Thinner sheet were made of 4130. 4140 had a higher carbon content to aid in heat treating.

I think you have Magnesium confused with Manganese, which is an alloying element for wear-resistant steel.

 

[disston]

Well I'm sorry I got the facts screwy but I thought this referred to a better steel the Germans had during WW II. So if it wasn't Molybdenum then what was it?

 

[Provincial]

Perhaps you were thinking of Krupp Steel, which was the name of the company, not a particular alloy. Krupp made tanks, guns, warships, submarines, and other arms.

 

[disston]

I've read the Krupp story, the big book about the dynasty of the Krupp family and all it entailed for hundreds of years. Fascinating book and Krupp was definitely involved in anything regards manufacturing steel durning both wars. But this was a remark made in another book as almost a throw away comment. The book was "An Unfortunate Hour" (I still have the book so I'm going to try and find it, but I don't have it in front of me at the moment). It's about the German conquest and ruling of France during WW II. It tells the story of the Holocaust and the rule of the Vichy Powers and a lot of all that stuff. Very good book. Not really about the technology of war or making steel. But I believe it was in this book that the author alludes to the manufacture of Molybdenum steel by the Germans and says the Allies didn't have it. Well I'm always sensitive to mention of steel manufacturing technology and pick up on any mention of Molybdenum because of it's various uses today.

Sorry about stealing this thread. The DBE thread is one of my favs. I'll try to dig up some info on this subject and start another thread on different steels used throughout history and used today. Interesting right? But first I have to dig up some good info. Thanks for the patience.

 

[sberry]

Looks about like my collection.

 

[bonneyman]

I received this DBE in the Garage Journal 2018 Summer Swap:

Bridgeport Nickel Molybdenum angled, 5/8" x 11/16"

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There's a Bridgeport tool thread going - perhaps you could post a pic of this wrench over there?

 

[BlueBomber]

There's a Bridgeport tool thread going - perhaps you could post a pic of this wrench over there?

Done!

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a single offset Bonney DBE I posted on the Bonney thread. It will be headed to Username’s hoard of all things Bonney.
-Don

 

[clcartwr]

Here's my small collection. Found all of these in my grandfather's old house. I've posted some of my finds in the Snap on thread. These are mostly Dunlap, Sears, and Indestro with one Blue Point and a Duohex Superrench (Williams?)

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[d42jeep]

Here's my small collection. Found all of these in my grandfather's old house. I've posted some of my finds in the Snap on thread. These are mostly Dunlap, Sears, and Indestro with one Blue Point and a Duohex Superrench (Williams?)

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It’s interesting that the majority of your wrenches were made for Sears by Lectrolite. That accounts for the similar appearance of your Dunlap and Sears marked deep offset wrenches.
-Don

 

[BlueBomber]

I did some wrench trading with LesserSon and ended up with these three DBEs to fill holes in my collection.

Craftsman Long-C deep offset, 11/16" x 5/8"
Craftsman Long-C angled stubby, 11/16" x 5/8"
Lectrolite Defiance deep offset, 5/8" x 11/16"

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[davethorik]

Got a few interesting examples today.

Powr-Kraft 100 USA 3/4 & 5/8. NOS, unused. Marked second. Looks like zinc or cad plating?

Boyd 1B1618 1/2 & 9/16 looks like old VTC/Cornwell. Also cad or zinc??

Barcalo Buffalo USA Manifold-Starter wrench, 5/8 & 3/4

 

[3baygarage]

Never heard of Boyd, but the same exact wrench is on ebay. It does have that Ohio wrench look.

I see the Powr Kraft is a Barcalo Second, neat.

 

[BlueBomber]

Mr Ned Boyd was one of the founders of Thorsen tools. I wonder if it has something to do with him?

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[Provincial]

1B1618 is a caterpillar part number format. That number doesn't give any responses in a internet search that connect to a wrench, but it doesn't give any reponses with a Caterpillar part description, either.

 

[r_olson_06]

Here are some extras I haven't gone through yet.

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[bonneyman]

Done!

Thanks!

 

[BlueBomber]

Interesting technique, Al--I'll have to remember that one.

I found this specimen in an antique store in Gloucester today. Although technically not a double box end (one end is 1/2" square for a ratchet driver), I'm including it anyway because both ends are in fact boxed.

Snap-on S-8164, 5/8" 12-pt x 1/2" square, dated 1947

This is a specialty wrench, often described as being for head bolts, but CollectingSnapon describes it as for starter or distributor bolts. Anyone know?

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Hey, gang: it's a "double end crowfoot Boxocket"! I found it in a catalog page posted for another topic on the Snap-on thread.

Specified application is Oldsmobile-Pontiac starter bolts.

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[BlueBomber]

An Ebay purchased landed me these DBEs, plus some interesting combos I'll post on that thread.

The smooth sided Barcalo Buffaloes are all sizes I don't gave already, and are in great condition. The Snappy was deeply personalized by Johnnie Stancu (may he never be forgotten, who ever he was).

2x Barcalo Buffalo USA offset, 7/16" x 3/8"
Barcalo Buffalo USA offset, 9/16" x 1/2"
Barcalo Buffalo USA offset, 3/4"" x 5/8"
Westcraft deep offset, 1/2" x 9/16"
Snap-on XV-1416 offset, 7/16" x 1/2", 1949 date code

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[Username already in use]

Nice DBEs BlueBomber. That Westcraft is certainly Duro made. Don't show those Barcalos to Don!

I picked up this wartime NewBritain DBE and posted it over in the NewBritain thread. I think it belongs here too.

 

[leg17]

Here is a couple of the New Britain DBE shorties.
The smaller one is plated.

 

[MR.X]

3 Plomb DBE's
Model A carb wrench
Standard 1164
Contract? 1 7/8 X 1 3/4

 

[LesserSon]

The owner of that 1949 S-o wrench may have been this guy?
John W Stancu
26Nov1918-23Oct2007
WWII vet

 

[BlueBomber]

Wow, could be!

Excellent wrenches, gents, especially the giant Plombs, Mr X.

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[r_olson_06]

3 Plomb DBE's
Model A carb wrench
Standard 1164
Contract? 1 7/8 X 1 3/4

That large one has to be contract. Never seen above 1-11/16 in the catalogs under the flat panels.

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[d42jeep]

Nice DBEs BlueBomber. That Westcraft is certainly Duro made. Don't show those Barcalos to Don!

I picked up this wartime NewBritain DBE and posted it over in the NewBritain thread. I think it belongs here too.

Did somebody say Barcalo?
-Don

 

[MR.X]

So here's 3 you don't run across too often.
Owatonna Ford brake wrench
Thorsen OAK, CALIF.
(Stevens) Walden Worcester Chrome Nickel late 20's era Chevy main bearing

 

[BlueBomber]

Nice complete set, there, Don. Let me know if you're willing to trade for/part with any of those larger sizes that you have dupes for. I'm also missing a "2" and a "4" if you ever happen to stumble across more if those.

Mr X: those are indeed very rare DBEs! The Thorsen should be very early, I think. Did you acquire them recently or have you treasured them for a long time?

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[MR.X]

Hi. Thanks. I've had these 3 awhile. The Thorsen is def. from the 30's, I'm thinking the Walden, which interestingly seems to have a Moore drop forging mark, is the oldest of the 3.

 

[MR.X]

Here's the mark on the Walden.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice complete set, there, Don. Let me know if you're willing to trade for/part with any of those larger sizes that you have dupes for. I'm also missing a "2" and a "4" if you ever happen to stumble across more if those.

Mr X: those are indeed very rare DBEs! The Thorsen should be very early, I think. Did you acquire them recently or have you treasured them for a long time?

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I won’t be where the wrenches are until mid October but I would be happy to trade any duplicates. I’ll let you know what I have then.
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

Got home after a week away, and finally got to admire my receiving end of a recent trade with BlueBomber. A Zenel single-offset with nice decal joined the family, so I thought I’d update the family portrait. The CV cousins are on the left, and the Zenels are on the right. Keeping my eyes open for a (CV) 2808, and a Zenel Z2826.

 

[BlueBomber]

Very nice set, LS. Glad to help you fill it out.

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[Username already in use]

Got home after a week away, and finally got to admire my receiving end of a recent trade with BlueBomber. A Zenel single-offset with nice decal joined the family, so I thought I’d update the family portrait. The CV cousins are on the left, and the Zenels are on the right. Keeping my eyes open for a (CV) 2808, and a Zenel Z2826.

That's a nice group shot right there!

 

[BlueBomber]

I picked up three additions to the wrench rack, all filling holes in my collection.

Snap-on S9615 offset, 1991 date code, 9x16" x 15mm--first mixed standard wrench in my collection
Long-C Craftsman Vanadium deep offset, 11/16" x 5/8"--missing nearly all its chrome
Craftsman stamped ratchet, 3/8" x 7/16"--I have the Dunlap version of this ratchet, but this is my first Craftsman

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[McFarmer]

Thought of you folks when I was at the local flea market.

One guy had a tub of DBE wrenches of every sort, most pretty good shape. Must have been dozens.

 

[BlueBomber]

Hey there, McFarmer! So....how much did he want for them?

 

[d42jeep]

On Friday I found a Vlchek 1/2” x 9/16” DBE shorty at a garage sale. On Saturday I found it’s little brother at the Tahoe flea. Here they are together after a bit of cleaning.
-Don

 

[454ragtop]

Went to a car show with a small swap meet Sun. A woman, professional tool vendor, had a Bonney CV single offset DBE, but strangely it had no size marking or part #. Looked to be about 15/16" or 1", she wanted $12 or $15 for it, can't remember which, just knew it was too much, at least for me.

 

[BlueBomber]

Hmm, one thing I've noticed as I've collected the Bonney single offsets is the variety in the production. CV vs Zenel, of course, but even within each, some are marked in the concave hollow of the shank with cast in nomenclature, while others (especially large ones) have stamped markings on the convex sides. I guess I'm not surprised that there are examples in the wild with nothing at all.

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