J H Williams vintage hand tools

[drivesitfar]

Gany: feel free to follow my garage gallery thread and make a few great posts like this one over there if you have some time. thank you!!

Farmer: thank you too and I maybe over did the size of the vise I put on my bench a bit, but since I own it I asked myself "WHY NOT".

thanks for the nice words.

ALL: what is that part called that has the ******* in two sides that can be removed on my old Williams ratchet?

this one pushes through all the way and the one on my big 1 inch Plvmp only goes in one side so I have to pull it out and turn it around to switch from clockwise to counter clockwise.

 

[Provincial]

If you are talking about the part the socket fits on, it is called a "drive plug" and the one that pushes through it the same both sides. The one that has to be removed and reversed is probably necked-down on one end, with the small size fitting the ratchet.

 

[drivesitfar]

Provi: sounds about right. My Williams does push all the way thru but I think I like my big plumb one better that has to be removed to change directions.

Thanks!!

 

[INSP380]

Oddball, 25/32 & 11/16....

Steve

 

[misterbill]

Oddball, 25/32 & 11/16....

Steve

I think that's the size for a standard #29 DOE. Nice shape. Nice find.

 

[INSP380]

I think that's the size for a standard #29 DOE. Nice shape. Nice find.

Thanks! Finding a bunch of neat stuff in the shop while 6S is taking place. Company always bought Williams, Snap- On & Par-X..

Steve

 

[wtn1271]

Picked up this Williams box recently. Probably made by MBC, missing the lock, has a few extra holes where someone added a hasp at one time but otherwise it is in great shape. Black krinkle paint on top and a cool Pratt & Whitney sticker on the back. Removeable tray too. It got a good cleaning, some Door Ease on the slides and it is now back in service.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Wait is this the same one with the huge PWA sticker we just saw a few weeks ago? Or a second one?

 

[wtn1271]

Same one, just didnt know about individual manufacturer threads.

More stuff to post in other threads as I sort and clean them up.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Same one, just didnt know about individual manufacturer threads.

No problem at all. I was just wondering if they were trending somehow suddenly! Thanks for posting it here, too.

 

[tombell572]

Here's a nice Williams chain wrench, a tag sale acquisition many years ago.




Tom B.

 

[David Jackson]

Wow! What a nice set! The duo boxes are what I like; what a find!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found this oddball at the flea market this morning.

It was in some oldtimer's 'tiny wrenches stash' box. Per the 1941 catalog, a Williams Superior (carbon steel) model number "M21T" DOE wrench should have 7mm x 9mm openings (See Pics 3 & 4). But they measure roughly 5/16" x 3/8", which does map fairly well to 8mm x 9.5mm, as marked.

I have never seen any other Williams metric wrench, but I find it hard to believe those size markings - or the marking on the shank ("U804E") - are factory. So I don't know what's going on with this wrench.

 

[misterbill]

Found this oddball at the flea market this morning.

It was in some oldtimer's 'tiny wrenches stash' box. Per the 1941 catalog, a Williams Superior (carbon steel) model number "M21T" DOE wrench should have 7mm x 9mm openings (See Pics 3 & 4). But they measure roughly 5/16" x 3/8", which does map fairly well to 8mm x 9.5mm, as marked.

I have never seen any other Williams metric wrench, but I find it hard to believe those size markings - or the marking on the shank ("U804E") - are factory. So I don't now what's going on with this wrench.

For ze zecret vork on ze captured unterseeboot, ja?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Haha!

 

[leg17]

Found this oddball at the flea market this morning.

..... but I find it hard to believe those size markings - or the marking on the shank ("U804E") - are factory. ......

They're not.
User modified wrench.
The hand-stamping and the irregular profile of the opening all point to that.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah the openings look milled again.

 

[Targa68]

Hi All

Found this very solid C-clamp.

"NO.2 VULCAN" "HEAVY SERVICE CLAMP"

Curious to the age, anyone know?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Curious to the age, anyone know?

Hard to say, for sure, Targa68, but I can give you some data points.

In 1912, they made three classes of "C" clamps: Extreme Service, Less Severe Service, Light Service.

In 1941, those same classes were: Heavy Service, General Service, and Light Service.

So, sometime between 1912 and 1941, the terminology changed. Unfortunately, I don't have any general catalogs in between. My guess would be 1930's.

One more thing: the screw is not original. They had square heads.

Nice find!

 

[Targa68]

Thank you!

Appreciate the information, was not aware of the bolt.

 

[leg17]

That text smells like pre WWI to me.
FWIW.

 

[davethorik]

Picked up these unusual looking machinist hold downs today. I can't say I've seen any like them. They are adjustable, there are teeth on top of the clamps and corresponding teeth on the square washers. And they're curved. Marked no. 22

 

[Provincial]

Those were available in the 1970's, for sure. I remember my employer buying some around 1973. They work well for many applications. They are another option for holding things down to the big drill press or milling machine table. Select the length of T-slot fastener to match the height you need for the specific job.

 

[d42jeep]

Hi All

Found this very solid C-clamp.

"NO.2 VULCAN" "HEAVY SERVICE CLAMP"

Curious to the age, anyone know?

When I put together my WW2 Welders set, these were exactly the clamps pictured and called for in the set. Here are mine from that set.
-Don

 

[Targa68]

Thank you, nice

Now I also know how the screw i supposed to look like.

 

[Provincial]

That is a "square-head set screw with dog point." I think the original Williams screws were made of better material than standard set screws, but if not used for the original heavy-duty purpose, a standard set screw will substitute nicely. A dog point can be easily added to a plain screw with a lathe, or even using a file with the screw rotated in a drill chuck.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

CatfishDan

The other thing that was throwing me off about your NM-8 set over on the midget socket drive thread were the engineers wrenches (15* x 15* ends) in your photo. They did have a very small combo set in the 40's that took those, but the NM-6 and NM-8 electrical sets both had the full complement of the electrical configuration (15* x 75* ends), eleven (11) wrenches, from 1112 (3/16") through 1132 (1/2").

My stash of those is shown in Pic 1. I would like to keep the ALLOY (1943-) and CHROME-ALLOY (1941-2) wrenches on the far left and middle, but I would let the CHROME-MOLYBDENUM on the right (See Pic 2 & 3) go. That would give you eight (8) wrenches, 1115 through 1132, leaving you only the 1112, 1113, and 1114 to find.

The issue is that these are much older than your set. I don't even know if they were still making Superrenches in the late 50's, and if they were, how they were marked. And it's not just the composition. It's a little hard to tell, because they're miniature wrenches, but you can see how the prewar C-M wrenches have a larger profile than the C-A wrenches in Pic 1.

PM me if you want to go this route, because I would definitely let them go to someone looking to fill a set out. If not, though, I understand. And I'm not itching to get rid of them.

 

[Catfishdan]

Lugz- Thanks for the generous offer, but I hint I’ll go without the wrenches. At least until I find a bigger box.

 

[bonneyman]

Came across a 3/8" Superratchet the other day, and after freeing it up and cleaning it I gotta say it's a nice ratchet. The knurling on the handle is so pristine the points almost feel like they're going to cut you.
I may have to keep my eyes open for more of these.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks to a little trade with mrbill, I was able to upgrade my Bantam set with a missing deep-well socket (BD-1224, 3/4" service opening) and a missing std socket (B-1222, 11/16" service opening).

 

[misterbill]

I LIKE it! Are you trying to make a B-5 set or just amalgamating?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I LIKE it! Are you trying to make a B-5 set or just amalgamating?

No, Bill. Set No. 5 was small. It didn't have any deep or extra deep sockets or swivels and only the basic assortment of handles. I am just two (2) pieces shy of the largest set Williams made, Set No. 7-A. See Pic 1 & 2 for an image and list of the No. 7-A set in the 1943 catalog. The pink highlights in the list show what I am missing. The layout in the figure looks different than my set because my set is inside a 1950 Set No. 7-A box. All of my pieces have wartime markings and finish except BD-818 (9/16" deep) and BU-1218 (9/16" swivel), which are plated. The speeder and Ell are shiny cad. The extra long 18" extension (B-118) is extra - it isn't even listed, but it is clearly wartime.

 

[misterbill]

Lugz,

Is that catalog online?

Bill

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I don't think so. I'm away for the day, on phone. I will PM you later.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found this brake wrench last Thursday, but finally had a chance to attend to it. It's a No. 1984 Chro-Moly "SUPERRENCH" with 4-point 1/2" x 7/16" service openings. I have a few other Williams special brake service tools from the No. 19xx series set. A similar wrench to this with eccentric openings. Pliers. Etc. I will have to make a note to gather them for a group shot some time next year.

 

[outofbounds]

A terrific pair of 7-1/2" pliers. Williams No. 370. Haven't have a pair feel so good in hand in well....forever!

 

[Rickster]

I picked up this Williams S-50 1/2dr Ratchet a while back at an estate sale. It's been soaking in trans fluid for the past several weeks to get it un-stuck. Got it moving but it kept hanging up in one spot. I used a small punch that fit into the retaining ring hole and smacked it with a hammer a couple of times to loosened it up.

The ratcheting pall had chipped off and lodged itself in between two teeth. The piece is just a spring loaded square steel, so I reversed it. Cleaned everything up and reassembled. Works great!

You change direction by pushing the 1/2dr through the head and flipping the ratchet over. An oldie but a goodie. I thought I'd take a pic of it disassembled to show everyone what it looks like apart.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As first reported in the 2020 Garage Sale thread, I picked up a Williams 3/8-inch drive hinge handle today at the flea market.

It's an odd one though. The " < W > " logo is barely legible and the only other marking is a large "B". (I remember seeing that someone had a tool marked like this before, because I remember theorizing that it may have stood for Bantam, Williams' branding term for their junior size socket drive tools.) And on top of that, it has some characteristics that are different than the standard 3/8-inch drive hinge handle.

As you can see in these comparison shots, it has a considerably thinner handle, no female drive opening in the **** end, and the drive stud has no step-down. Contract production, I am assuming.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

One with the broached handle is a b40, the other a b42. Not sure about the odd marking, maybe wartime?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ah, makes sense. That weird marking threw me off like a red herring. I didn't think about two different branded variants - one for a Tbar. One not. Should've looked in the catalogs. I see it now.