My small but growing collection of Wizard tools (all Western Auto welcome)

[JoCoSawdust]

My meager Wizard offering. The screwdriver has an odd tip, I believe it was for a clutch-head screw. I grew up in a small Kansas farming community. If you needed a tool quick, you went to Western Auto (Wizard), Plainsman Supply (S-K) or Coast to Coast (not sure what brand they carried). The alternative was ordering from Sears and picking it up at the catalogue store.

 

[3baygarage]

Now that is cool! I've looked for specialized tool catalogs on eBay but haven't seen anything bigger than a few pages of seasonal advertising. Nice find!

Agreed. Hope Mr. X posts more for our delight, that book really is some find. The sets, probably like a unicorn sighting.

How many even knew that those two particular S-K ratchets were sold under Western Giant? Learned something new. I wonder if the pear head was branded? I never knew about the “beaver tail” WG until Rileysan posted it.

 

[MR.X]

They certainly are not common around here. Considering the location of the thrift store I purchased my box from, I could almost link it to the one confirmed Western Auto location I've been made aware of in Dallas, Oregon (~60 miles SW of Portland for those who care).

I'm curious - is there an old store listing available out there in the ether? I would make it a point to check out thrift stores, estate sales, and swap meets in towns where stores were located - assuming they're close enough to me.

Brian

This may be going back a little too far but here's a listing of stores from 1929.

 

[MR.X]

So I'm not really into Western Auto or Wizard but I do have some reference material. 22, 29 and 31ish.

 

[MR.X]

This is kinda cool. Came in an old toolbox I bought when I lived in Missouri years ago.

 

[3baygarage]

Cool!

 

[Username already in use]

Cool!

very cool!

 

[Nfenimore]

I have a small number of 1/2" drive sockets inherited from my father-in-law's old, rusty toolbox. He didn't keep things up very well, but these well-used sockets and one extension are a few that are decent in shape. I'll have to see what else I can find from his box to rescue. There may be some really old wrenches I can restore as well.

 

[HeelSpur]

Westline wrenches, different styles.

DSCF2201 by wvwheaties, on Flickr

 

[3baygarage]

A nice 3/8 Westcraft ratchet #45-2636-4. Probably nice as I’ll ever find, looks and works close to new.

 

[Rileysan]

A nice 3/8 Westcraft ratchet #45-2636-4. Probably nice as I’ll ever find, looks and works close to new.

That is cool. Any idea who made it? I've never seen a selector like that.

Brian

 

[3baygarage]

That is cool. Any idea who made it? I've never seen a selector like that.

Brian

It’s the same as an Indestro 2775A.

Should add the Duro Chrome 4475A as well, I believe. So Duro is the maker.

 

[BFBOB]

I already posted this in the Garage Sale thread, but here goes here too:
A Duro-made Wizard 1/2" drive set. I think there must be a few sockets missing (and the deepwell 13/16" added), probably 1-1/16" and 1-1/8" and maybe a smaller one. I also got a 1 1/4", but it's too big to fit the box, so must not be part of the set. The ratchet and breaker bar just barely cram in; probably it came with only one wrench, I'm guessing the breaker.
The label is the original water-transfer decal, and is deteriorated. I've heard there is some treatment to stabilize these - anyone know about that? A good sneeze would probably rip half of it off!

 

[Rileysan]

I already posted this in the Garage Sale thread, but here goes here too:
A Duro-made Wizard 1/2" drive set. I think there must be a few sockets missing (and the deepwell 13/16" added), probably 1-1/16" and 1-1/8" and maybe a smaller one. I also got a 1 1/4", but it's too big to fit the box, so must not be part of the set. The ratchet and breaker bar just barely cram in; probably it came with only one wrench, I'm guessing the breaker.
The label is the original water-transfer decal, and is deteriorated. I've heard there is some treatment to stabilize these - anyone know about that? A good sneeze would probably rip half of it off!

That set is really cool!

As far as preserving the decal is concerned, I simply use rattle can clear gloss to seal decals.

Brian

 

[four.cycle]

Any idea who made it? I've never seen a selector like that.

Equivalent to the Indestro 2775A, 60-tooth model with 6-point selector knob, first introduced in the very late 1970s/early 1980s.
(Replaced the earlier 52-tooth model 2775, which had a 4-point selector knob on the later production units.)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As far as preserving the decal is concerned, I simply use rattle can clear gloss to seal decals.

Same here, Brian. A note of extreme caution, though, in case you or others haven't run into this yet, but most rattle can polyurethanes contain linseed oil that will instantly turn anything white on a decal into yellow. An acrylic won't, though. And apparently there are water-based polyurethanes on the market. Obviously not an issue with this Wizard decal.

 

[B17E1943]

Same here, Brian. A note of extreme caution, though, in case you or others haven't run into this yet, but most rattle can polyurethanes contain linseed oil that will instantly turn anything white on a decal into yellow. An acrylic won't, though. And apparently there are water-based polyurethanes on the market. Obviously not an issue with this Wizard decal.

Great info!

 

[Rileysan]

Same here, Brian. A note of extreme caution, though, in case you or others haven't run into this yet, but most rattle can polyurethanes contain linseed oil that will instantly turn anything white on a decal into yellow. An acrylic won't, though. And apparently there are water-based polyurethanes on the market. Obviously not an issue with this Wizard decal.

I appreciate that information! Being color blind, those little details often escape me.

Brian

 

[3baygarage]

I appreciate that information! Being color blind, those little details often escape me.

Brian

I’ve always wondered about that pink duck on a purple motorcycle in your avatar.

 

[d42jeep]

I was updating my user 1/2” drive tools today and found this socket. It’s not strange that it’s a deep Duro/Indestro made Westcraft but I think that the size would have to be considered a little unusual.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I had wondered about that size. I have an indestro super 53/64s. No idea what it was for.

 

[Provincial]

I had wondered about that size. I have an indestro super 53/64s. No idea what it was for.

It is almost exactly 21mm.
53/64 = .828125
21mm = .82677
difference = .001355 larger.

Close enough for my purposes!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...I think that the size would have to be considered a little unusual.

I have an indestro super 53/64s. No idea what it was for.

According to the 1939 and 1940 catalogs, it was for "14 mm. Spark Plugs and Chevrolet 1933 to 1936."

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for looking that up. Next time one of those rolls into OTG’s shop that has it’s original plugs, he’s all set.
-Don

 

[B17E1943]

Some 7" shears I found over the summer. Don't remember seeing any before.

***EDIT*** - forgot the numbers - H-1284-7"

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

Some 7" shears I found over the summer. Don't remember seeing any before.

Great find. Never seen Wizard branded shears myself. Drop me a PM if you decide to let them go.

 

[B17E1943]

Great find. Never seen Wizard branded shears myself. Drop me a PM if you decide to let them go.

Duly noted.

I'm slowly building a little collection.

About the only tools my dad left me was a Wizard 3/8 socket set in the (red, IIRC) blow molded case, and the case and ratchet have gone missing.

 

[Ticotiger14]

My only western auto tool

 

[Username already in use]

This pair of Wizard tools followed me home today. 9/16" and 1/2" DBE and a small pair of slip joint pliers.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a Wizard marked pair of ignition pliers on Friday
-Don

 

[HeelSpur]

Forgot I had this set. Looks to be unused.

DSCF2276 by wvwheaties, on Flickr
DSCF2277 by wvwheaties, on Flickr

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Found this little 40 page brochure today. Pencilled Mar 42 on cover, looks like a aug 41 date printed on back.

I always wondered what this ratchet was(I see it there on the second page)

 

[twertsy]

I picked up this Western Auto box today for $1.00. No wrenches inside, just some old hacksaw blades, but I still thought it was pretty cool.

Dang Stuart. I have two full sets in a drawer just waiting to find a home like that box. Perhaps we can strike a deal?

 

[Rileysan]

I have a few new additions to my Wizard tool collection.


1/2" drive Wizard socket set that came from an estate sale for $20. These are MINT!
1/2 drive Wizard H2831 ratchet
1/4" drive Wizard socket set

Brian

 

[Tylermorris]

Some 7" shears I found over the summer. Don't remember seeing any before.

***EDIT*** - forgot the numbers - H-1284-7"

Those look very similar to my Snap-On ones

 

[RubiconJK]

I have a few new additions to my Wizard tool collection.
1/2" drive Wizard socket set that came from an estate sale for $20. These are MINT!
1/2 drive Wizard H2831 ratchet
1/4" drive Wizard socket set
Brian

All very nice and especially that 1/2" set!

 

[d42jeep]

I found these two Wizard marked tools at the Tahoe flea this morning.
-Don

 

[toolfool1994]

These are the only Wizard tools i had on hand. I collect them because i grew up in a Western Auto. My grandparents ran one for 40 years here in Mississippi. As far as quality goes the older tools are great. Towards the end of Western Auto’s days the tools declined and some were made in Taiwan

 

[Rileysan]

These are the only Wizard tools i had on hand. I collect them because i grew up in a Western Auto. My grandparents ran one for 40 years here in Mississippi. As far as quality goes the older tools are great. Towards the end of Western Auto’s days the tools declined and some were made in Taiwan

Excellent! So glad you found us here at GJ and look forward to your future posts!

Out of curiosity, did you or a family member save any catalogs and/or ads? They help to identify era the tools came from

Brian

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Welcome to the board! Sounds like you have some interesting history with western auto .