


The interesting thing in there that caught my eye was the early 7/16” hex drive ratchet. I believe I’ve seen it before but can’t remember the maker. Kind of a neat piece, it reverses direction by turning the knob far the other way. Also the extension and L handle. Not sure which of the old hex sockets go with it.
It is! Nice find. But I need that ratchet adaptor!! There was one included in my set, but it's missing the camphered "dog" or pin that acts as a pawl against the gear. As you know, since you figured out how to pull it all the way and turn it (which turns the end of the pin with the campher to reverse direction), it's that piece with the knurled knob sitting under the screwed-on strap spring. My ratchet adaptor just free spins without it. PLEASE let me know if you're not wedded to it! These were very early, by the way. Twertsy's Bay State set has a ratchet adaptor with the patent date on it in which this entire funky external mechanism is in-line. They internalized it between the time the patent was applied for and granted. EDIT: Link to thread with much more info here.Update: the hex ratchet and parts are likely from the Bay State socket wrench set by Allen Manufacturing. It looks like the sets posted by Twertsy and Lugz.






Lugz, somewhere I have a Nu-Thre(a?)d no1 (tpi 11,12,13,14,16,18,20,24) which is the typical design. Here’s a pic, but it doesn’t show the brand. I’ll see if I can lay hands on it and update this post.
Picked up this rather crude thread file at the flea today. It's a fairly boring and innocuous tool to most, but interesting to me, especially because I had never seen one like it. I am used to seeing (and I own several examples of...) the square Reiff & Nestor design with a handle in the middle and four sides of eight different thread sizes, patented in 1928. They made them for themselves as well as Blue-Point, branded as NU-TRIX. As you can see, this one is flat with two thread sizes - 10 and 14. It has no manufacturer's name, but the brand name (NU-THRED) makes me think it was an earlier Reiff & Nestor product, i.e., you can teach an old dog new tricks.
I'll have to do some research now to see if my hunch is correct.
Lugz - dang, I see what you mean. I’d kind of like to hang onto it, having the ratchet and extensions. The shop has some more hex drives as well as some Mossberg that I want to go back and look through with more time.
Outlaw- I noticed your speeder. Cool. Though I can’t give a positive I.D on it, Indestro indeed made some 3/8 hex drive. I will keep an eye out for what it may be.
They and others also had 1/4 hex drive. There’s 5/16 hex drive like Williams/Husky, and can’t leave out their larger drive stuff in hex 1”. I even saw some Proto special made 1” hex drive.
Lugz, somewhere I have a Nu-Thre(a?)d no1 (tpi 11,12,13,14,16,18,20,24) which is the typical design. Here’s a pic, but it doesn’t show the brand. I’ll see if I can lay hands on it and update this post.
No prob, 3bay. Good luck finding the rest of the set. My plan was to fab the pin. I may ask you to send me the ratchet adapter just so I can get accurate dimensions.
Thanks, LS. That raises my confidence level appreciably, since Reiff & Nestor owns the patent. I'll be curious to see if I'm right.
Nu-thread I believe is a name used by Jawco. They are Reading, PA based. I do not know if there is a connection with R&N. I have modern production Jawco thread files and they are excellent.
DSCF2472 by wvwheaties, on Flickr
DSCF2469 by wvwheaties, on Flickr
DSCF2468 by wvwheaties, on Flickr
DSCF2465 by wvwheaties, on Flickr
DSCF2467 by wvwheaties, on FlickrThe tool I found is marked NU-THRED, Dave. No "A". Reiff & Nestor is in Lykens, PA, which is not far from Reading, and they are still in business. So that's interesting. But this tool seems vintage to me.Nu-thread I believe is a name used by Jawco. They are Reading, PA based. I do not know if there is a connection with R&N.
Check the back to see if any are stamped Plomb. Hit me up if any are.![]()
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Found these at the flea market this morning. No room for them though, I'm going to need to find a buyer.
Just a decoration, Growing up, everyone had them and I always thought they were cool. I know that not everyone likes them but i do, it dont look the best on my current truck in the pic but soon im going to be buying another slightly newer truck of the same bodystyle and it will go on that.Do those have a purpose besides decorational? I can't figure out why someone would want to put that on a truck.
I love the shape of that box, LS. Cool find. I have a few of those combination L-T wrenches and none of them have the sliding sheath/handle that you have in that box. That buy was worth it just for that!...an old socket set (only the T-handle is marked Duro) in a nice green carry box,
No luck yet with finding the thread file. The search continues.
Upon review of PMs, seems there were at least three of us GJers at Jake's today. The other two set up to sell, but I was only buying.
Today I got down to Jake’s Flea Market before sunrise, so was treated with a fine view of rosy-fingered Dawn as I trudged up the hill. Well worth the solo drive (MrsLS elected to stay behind), and $31.
In addition to the beautiful sky, I came away with an old socket set (only the T-handle is marked Duro) in a nice green carry box, a 1896-1917 Disston no4 backsaw, a 1917-1928 Disston no16 panel saw, a Perfect Handle screwdriver, a skate sharpener, a gauge, etc. plus, a Bonney Champion no121 or no122 table vise.
Yes, I thought it was kind of different. Sort of straight and offset too. Not seeing it online, and the only catalog pdf I have is a 4-page excerpt that doesn’t include it.Cool multi driver LS!
I am just the opposite - I have two of the T-L wrenches without the pivoting sheath/handle. I'll give you one of my wrenches if you give me one of your handles! We can do the swap at Q-town this fall.The Duro square drive handle is the second I’ve found without the el.
Fairbanks made all kinds of dollies, carts, and hand trucks. That's a good find.Pic 3 & 4--Believe this was used in factory setting for trash containers. Cast iron wheels by Fairbanks
I'm on travel and I missed this the first time around, HeelSpur. I have one, far less ornate. Nice find!Duro 711 valve grinder
AA has one model with a hex stock wrench with hex drive studs, not a round shank with square drive studs. And it looks like one of the Ell hex wrenches in that box you found has the extra stops on it for the sheath/handle. Did you test it?I see the hex ones everywhere, so maybe I just don’t recognize the round/square ones.