My small but growing DBE wrench collection

[int3414]

my smaller ones,looking to trade for armstrong 7000 series DBE long............

 

[Provincial]

I chanced upon a garage sale that had some Thorsen tools today. In addition, there were a couple of 5/8x11/16 DBE wrenches that I can't find any information on. They are marked BOYD 1B2022. The size marking are on opposite sides. They have the same form as the old Plomb 15-degree DBE's, but are somewhat longer.

The markings are interesting. The BOYD and the 20 look like they were stamped at the same time. The 1B and 22 look like they were stamped just before the wrench was plated, and there was no polishing after this stamping process. Further, the 1 is smaller (1/8" tall, compared to 3/32" for the BOYD and 3/16" for the rest of the markings), so it is mismatched.

There was some Action stuff at the sale, so it is possible that the Boyd is related to Thorsen, too. The part number follows the Caterpillar formula, but I can't find any match on the internet.

Anyone recognize BOYD as a trademark?

 

[davethorik]

I have a Boyd 1B1618, 1/2"×9/16"
It looks like zinc or cad plated
To me it resembles older Mac/Wright/Cornwell DBEs. When I asked about it here, nobody had any idea.

 

[Provincial]

Dave, is the numbering on your wrench consistent, or is it varied like on my wrenches?

 

[BlueBomber]

Boyd wrenches have showed up in this thread a few times, in posts 1117 (stage20) and 2013 (Dave already chimed in with his). No consensus on who the manufacturer was...

Below are a brace of Craftsman DBE, metric and standard, found at an estate sale Saturday. These are all dupes, but I'll put them in the new garage, which has a shortage of DBEs in these sizes...

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[Provincial]

It is beginning to look like in the BOYD part number system the last four digits indicate the sizes in 32nds of the two box ends. In the case of my 5/8 x 11/16 DBE's, it is 20/32 and 22/32, or 2022. I suspect the 1B prefix is linked to the DBE form. Since the 1 appears to be stamped at the same time as the BOYD, there may be a link there.

 

[Provincial]

I did some more research, and other than a round-shank Blue Point DBE, the only manufacturer that used the /32 equivilent of the 12-point openings on DBE wrenches was Vlchek! They used a three-letter prefix to indicate the form and length of their DBE's.

I suspect that these were made by Vlchek under contract, probably with the US government as the end purchaser. The shape similar to older Plomb follows the spread of that form to P&C and other Plomb Empire brands, and since Pendleton bought Vlchek in the late 1950's it would make sense.

Could Ned Boyd have been involved?

 

[davethorik]

Dave, is the numbering on your wrench consistent, or is it varied like on my wrenches?

It is consistent and looks to have been stamped before plating.

 

[davethorik]

I will add that Mac used a similar numbering system.
Having one size stamped on one side and the other size on opposite side makes me think Mac.

I don't have any Plomb DBE's to compare to.

 

[leg17]

I believe Hinsdale used the 32" sizes as well.

 

[d42jeep]

I found kind of an unusual wrench today. I’ve had Bog sockets but this is my only Bog wrench. It’s has an unusual shape and both ends are 5/8”
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

Don,
Maybe for Chevy6 starter cap? The shape is more like a Chevy6 manifold wrench, but they have 9/16” ends.

 

[d42jeep]

Maybe. Here is a Barcalo Starter Manifold wrench in 5/8” X 3/4” that is supposed to fit Chevys.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

Some recent DBE finds:

P&C 2518
Hinsdale 5/8x11/16 shorty
Cornwell 1/2x9/16 shorty 25 BW 16-12

 

[Provincial]

Here is a Craftsman Starter-Manifold wrench I picked up recently. 9/16x5/8. Not sure of the date it represents. Pretty similar to the Barcalo D42 posted.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found a FORD BRAKES wrench at the flea today, and, as expected, it has the typical 7/16" x 1/2" 8-point service openings. These were true knucklebusters with no angle and everyone and their brother made them. We've seen Lectrolite, Bonney, Cornwell, and Plomb on this thread alone. This one is not branded, but the shank has a Duro-Chrome look to me, and it is marked CHICAGO on the flip side. I will page through some cats.

 

[Rileysan]

Found a FORD BRAKES wrench at the flea today, and, as expected, it has the typical 7/16" x 1/2" 8-point service openings. These were true knucklebusters with no angle and everyone and their brother made them. We've seen Lectrolite, Bonney, Cornwell, and Plomb on this thread alone. This one is not branded, but the shank has a Duro-Chrome look to me, and it is marked CHICAGO on the flip side. I will page through some cats.

You forgot Craftsman on this thread!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You forgot Craftsman on this thread!

Thanks for picking me up on the oversight, Brian!

EDIT: I confirmed Duro as the OEM, by the way. In my cross-posting of the wrench on the Duro-Indestro thread, I included a 1939 catalog excerpt. Link to my post here.

 

[Outlawmws]

I picked up most of a set of Bonney Zenel Single offset DBE's today!

from 7/16 to 15/16ths, Missing 1/2, 3/4 and 7/8. for sure

Did they have a 3/8 or 1" (or above?)

 

[BlueBomber]

Nice set, and welcome to the Bonney SODBE club! They do have the one-inch size and one or two more above that. I don't recall if there's a 3/8" or not.

I'll check in my extras drawer when I return home to see if I can fill in your holes. I'm canoeing and camping with our Scout troop this weekend on Newfound Lake in New Hampshire. Here's a shot from yesterday:

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[Outlawmws]

That scouting trip looks like fun!

Thx in advance for that look for spares!

 

[davethorik]

Found this today in a box of other old tools.
I believe it to be cast iron.
Only marking "RA 224"
Sizes are 1-5/16" and 1-3/16" 6 point
10.5" long

 

[Outlawmws]

Dave, what makes you think CI? I'd think CI too brittle to do much wrenching on big stuff...

 

[LesserSon]

I picked up most of a set of Bonney Zenel Single offset DBE's today!

from 7/16 to 15/16ths, Missing 1/2, 3/4 and 7/8. for sure

Did they have a 3/8 or 1" (or above?)

Those are very nice, Outlaw - clear of rust and retaining partial decals (which can be fragile). Looks like yours are from around Jan1944 (“AV” date code on the 13/16”).
The Z33 set ran from Z2814(7/16”) to Z2830(15/16”). I don’t think anything smaller in single-offsets was offered. 1” and above probably exist, following the same model number scheme - 2832(1”), 2834(1-1/16”), 2836(1-1/8”) & 2839(1-1/4”), but these are more often seen in CV or Bonaloy. Bonney used “2812” and lower for dual-offset DBEs, and “2840” and higher for specialty and 15° DBEs.*
I have a Chrome-Vanadium alloy 2832(1”). I think I recall something bigger in Zenel alloy go beyond my grasp on eBay, but it may have been a dual-offset.
Here’s a pic of my Z33 set (really a Z34 set, because of the additional Z29 set of dual-offset Z2804, Z2805, Z2806) on the left, and CV 34 set (plus the 2832) on the right. (There’s a pile of mixed CV, Zenel & Bonaloy DBEs in the lower center.)

*More comprehensively:
2803-2806C were short dual-offset DBES
2804L-2812 and odd-numbered 2813-2821 were long dual-offset DBEs
2885-2889 were short 15° DBEs
2890-2898A were long 15° DBEs

 

[Outlawmws]

LS thx for the 411.

Date code: The 13/18 is AW? is it the A of a combination? because all seem to have a different letter after the A?

 

[davethorik]

Dave, what makes you think CI? I'd think CI too brittle to do much wrenching on big stuff...

It's slightly lighter than steel, magnetic, and doesn't ring when struck. Might be for large size fastener/low torque, even if it were steel at 10.5" long that's too short for a wrench of either of the sizes.

 

[LesserSon]

Outlaw, what are the codes on the other wrenches?
The Bonney date code is believed to be two revolving sets of letters.
In the first position, A-L represent the 12 months - A being January, L being December.
In the second position, M-Z represent years, starting in 1921...cycling until about 1966, when the system was abandoned.
Like any single-digit-year code, other features help identify decades of production.
There are often other marks included with the two-letter code - dots and the occasional large central V. These are thought to possibly represent reuse of the forging dies.

If what I thought was a V is a W, then AW would be Jan1945.

 

[leg17]

It's slightly lighter than steel, magnetic, and doesn't ring when struck. Might be for large size fastener/low torque, even if it were steel at 10.5" long that's too short for a wrench of either of the sizes.

Dave look at the parting line.
I thin fairly crisp line is usually found on castings.
A thicker area that has been hand ground is often the mark of a forging.

 

[davethorik]

Dave look at the parting line.
I thin fairly crisp line is usually found on castings.
A thicker area that has been hand ground is often the mark of a forging.

I know what you mean, but you can't really see a line at all.
Regarding the offset, if the wrench was cast, the offset would have to be made in the mold, no?

 

[Outlawmws]

Yes. cast does not bend well.

 

[Prichman38]

Found this NIC Swedish Adjustable DBE wrench




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[Rileysan]

It's time for an update from the Pacific NW where, as you know doubt know by now, P&C tools sprout from the garden every year.

This spring I found a rare P&C No. 0424, 3/4" single offset DBE. Illustration is from the 1928 P&C Tools catalog.

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

My next post features wrenches I've had for some time but didn't have the time to identify - though I wouldn't be surprised if they've already been identified and shown here. As it turned out, I was browsing the 1934 Craftsman catalog and found an advertisement for them.

Cross Country deep offset DBE wrenches, sold by Sears & Roebuck in the 1930s. What I don't know is if any other retailers sold these.

Can anyone identify the manufacturer?

Brian

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The italicized CHROME VANADIUM STEEL marking is a Duro-Chrome tell. But the shape of the raised pad and the raised diamond aren't. Might have been a die exclusive for Sears, Roebuck.

 

[Rileysan]

Finally comes two partial sets of Ward's Riverside DBE wrenches (standard and deep offset).

I've been after a set for years now because a close friend has been carrying around a set in his tool box for decades, and I always wanted them. His story was that he acquired them from his grandfather after he passed away in the 90s (not the wrenches shown here) so he wasn't willing to part with them.

This past weekend, I found these at an estate sale. There was one other wrench (3/4" x 25/32") that I gave to my friend because that was the only one he was missing from his set.

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

The italicized CHROME VANADIUM STEEL marking is a Duro-Chrome tell. But the shape of the raised pad and the raised diamond aren't. Might have been a die exclusive for Sears, Roebuck.

That would make sense. The Riverside wrenches I posted also have the same CHROME VANADIUM STEEL markings indicating they're probably made by the same manufacturer.

Brian

 

[MR.X]

So this may be old news but if you've ever come across one of those random Buckeye double box end wrenches and wondered what that was all about there's an ebay auction on now with the original pouch for the wrenches marked Six Chrome-vanadium steel box wrenches The Buckeye Jack Mfg Co. Alliance Ohio. So, not unusual to see Buckeye Jacks but didn't assume there was any connection.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Not old news at all. Just the opposite. That's well-spotted. It's been a mystery until now as far as I know with several theories (buckeye Portable Tools, Lamson & Sessions, etc) and no evidence. And "random" is the perfect word. I've never seen more than one in one place at the same time!

 

[MR.X]

Not old news at all. Just the opposite. That's well-spotted. It's been a mystery until now as far as I know with several theories (buckeye Portable Tools, Lamson & Sessions, etc) and no evidence. And "random" is the perfect word. I've never seen more than one in one place at the same time!

Cool. I was hoping it wasn't just me.

 

[leg17]

Cool. I was hoping it wasn't just me.

I was kind of hoping it was ONLY me.