J H Williams vintage hand tools

[Da Beast]

What a centerpiece! Are the tools to the sides of the box part of the original NOS that you got? Any sales brochures etc. etc. to go with the set?

What year would place that set at originally?

DJ

No. Only the tools inside the box. The cardboard on the left is from the box it came in. I got the set inside the original box with the cotton padding. This set is 1948-1950. It only gets used on vintage cars.

 

[David Jackson]

I have a 1939 Williams Superrench pamphlet A-409. The M-series ("Midget Pattern") 9/32-inch drive tools and sets, presented on pages 2 and 3, do not include a ratchet. The Refrigeration tools and sets, presented on page 25, do include 9/32-inch drive sockets, a 9/32-inch to 1/4-inch adaptor, and a special ratchet with a 3/8-inch square male drive stud on one side and a 1/4-inch square female drive opening on the other side.

I am curious what the 1939 pamphlet has to say about finishes for the 6XXX thru 9XXX series box end wrenches.

DJ

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I am curious what the 1939 pamphlet has to say about finishes for the 6XXX thru 9XXX series box end wrenches.

If those are AISI references, their DBE Superrenches were Chrome-Molybdenum (4xxx) in 1939. The finish was chrome-plated. I did find a note on page 30 pertinent to your other query thread that reads, "Also finished in baked grey enamel at a lower price."

 

[David Jackson]

If those are AISI references, their DBE Superrenches were Chrome-Molybdenum (4xxx) in 1939. The finish was chrome-plated. I did find a note on page 30 pertinent to your other query thread that reads, "Also finished in baked grey enamel at a lower price."

Not AISI but JHW model series numbers. Baked enamel, I saw in another catalog, could have been 401, not sure, a reference to unfinished as a choice and that being baked enamel, forget the color but think it was gray. Also in another catalog the 6000s and the 7000s and 8100s were listed with Chrome finish and the 8000s and 9000s were listed with cadmium.

What color is cadmium finish anyway?

And, careful perusal of an earlier catalog, '37 I think it is, makes plain your well taken point, of which I was completely ignorant being just focused on one tiny fragment of total JHW production, that there were lots of "Superior" wrenches made of carbon steel and that they were a separate line from the Superrenches. In fact one catalog has a long paragraph explaining how wonderful the Superrench steel is in comparison to what has gone before.

Thanks for the education!!

DJ

 

[ganymede]

I wanted to take the paint of this box wrench but was never quite bored enough.
Glad I left it.
View media item 103341View media item 103342

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah, and that example is still fairly evenly coated.

Williams must have offered the same price point option on spud and DOE wrenches, too. It's funny how much the old 'out of sight, out of mind' saying applies to tools. I forgot I had these.

 

[ganymede]

Yeah, and that example is still fairly evenly coated.

Williams must have offered the same price point option on spud and DOE wrenches, too. It's funny how much the old 'out of sight, out of mind' saying applies to tools. I forgot I had these.

Yup.
Somewhere I've got an ignition superwrench or two with grey enamel.
I'd forgot until I saw your double open with the raised letters.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Kind of cool with the stamped letters in the logo on the face filled in with the same grey.

 

[ganymede]

Absolutely.
If I ever restore one Ill love doing that.

 

[David Jackson]

Absolutely.
If I ever restore one Ill love doing that.

I know these wrenches aren't worth a lot but I have wondered about rechroming some and now wonder about repainting, just for the fun of having some like new. Wonder what kind of paint and what color.

DJ

 

[ganymede]

I know these wrenches aren't worth a lot but I have wondered about rechroming some and now wonder about repainting, just for the fun of having some like new. Wonder what kind of paint and what color.

DJ

Nothing home owner grade seems hard enough and spray can options are too thin.
Some day < eye roll. > I'm going to experiment maybe epoxy enamel mixing.

 

[Da Beast]

Holy Chit! Never thought I would see NOS.

Her dad was a Rep and lived in Brooklyn by the factory. She has a whole bunch of NOS and was selling it but hates jerks on Ebay (not me) and isn't selling right now. So sad.

And sad that tools like this are not made any more. Just the quality and feel is beyond anything made today. Yes my Gearwrench 120XP is smooth but its just not the same. When I'm working on my vintage car I don't need smooth I need a tool.

 

[David Jackson]

Nothing home owner grade seems hard enough and spray can options are too thin.
Some day < eye roll. > I'm going to experiment maybe epoxy enamel mixing.

Do you think the old time enamel is strong enough to resist electrolysis? If any kind of repainting were to be done the rust would have to go. I have used electrolysis successrully in the past, I like it because it doesn't cost anything! and I have considered using it on some tools which have rust as well as paint. Chrome seems to be OK as long as there is not rust underneath it; I am just wondering if the paint used back then will stay as well.

DJ

 

[Provincial]

In the old days, a lot of enamel paint was applied by dipping the parts in a vat of paint. The process was automated with a conveyor system that carried the parts through a hot air dryer. The paint viscosity was tailored to leave a uniform coating. I suspect that this system enabled a thicker coating that was more durable than spray painting.

 

[ganymede]

Do you think the old time enamel is strong enough to resist electrolysis? If any kind of repainting were to be done the rust would have to go. I have used electrolysis successrully in the past, I like it because it doesn't cost anything! and I have considered using it on some tools which have rust as well as paint. Chrome seems to be OK as long as there is not rust underneath it; I am just wondering if the paint used back then will stay as well.

DJ

Dont know. I never tried electrolysis.
I've used vinegar to remove rust and sometimes it doesn't touch the paint and sometimes..... yeeeesh .

In the old days, a lot of enamel paint was applied by dipping the parts in a vat of paint. The process was automated with a conveyor system that carried the parts through a hot air dryer. The paint viscosity was tailored to leave a uniform coating. I suspect that this system enabled a thicker coating that was more durable than spray painting.

Cool. I saw something similar in a Channellock video when plier handles were being coated.

 

[d42jeep]

I discovered that I had a grey painted Superrench sitting in my few Williams pieces. I had forgotten having it. Although my Williams ratchets don’t measure up to Mr Bill’s nice selection, I took a couple of pictures of mine while I had them out.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

A recent eBay pickup

 

[outofbounds]

A recent eBay pickup

That's a beaut!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A somewhat rare 9/32 drive set. Williams discontinued 9/32 drive sometime in 1940. The drive tools and sockets have an "m" prefix, which was changed to "nm" with the switch to 1/4" drive in late 40 41.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice set. 9/32” drive Williams stuff is hard to find. I picked up this 7033C DBE wrench yesterday at a garage sale 10 minutes from home. It has traces of it’s original gray paint.
-Don

 

[misterbill]

A somewhat rare 9/32 drive set. Williams discontinued 9/32 drive sometime in 1940. The drive tools and sockets have an "m" prefix, which was changed to "nm" with the switch to 1/4" drive in late 40 41.

Nice! Thanks for solving the mystery as to whether or not there was a 9/32" M-51 ratchet, too!

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Apparently there was, though I suspect only for part of 1940, as it is not in 39 catalog.

 

[gpw_42]

Don, that 7033C is a nice snag, congrats!

 

[d42jeep]

Steve,
It's a duplicate for me if you need it. The other one is in my GMTK.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

Those are some real nice old sets there gentlemen.

Here is a pair of lock ring pliers with the box, that came from a local estate sale a few years ago.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Oooo. Purdy.

 

[d42jeep]

Oooo. Purdy.

I really like those lock ring pliers.
-Do

 

[ChefRex]

Stuff in my work box,


Some home stuff,

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gpw_42]

Steve,
It's a duplicate for me if you need it. The other one is in my GMTK.
-Don

PM sent. Sorry for the slow response!

 

[wrenchguy]

Bump'
Down to 4!
Oval logo part numbers wanted. thanks 4 any help.
1
7
35
994

 

[misterbill]

Seeing Private Lugnutz's fine work on the c. 1920's Blue Points Chicago Toolbox Resto reminded me of the job he did on the box for my Bantam set in post #708. I recently picked up a partial set on eBay which allowed me to finish the #5 set.

Bill

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hey, congrats, Bill! That whole set looks awesome. The finishes match so well the overall impression is those pieces and that box have been together forever. And thanks for the compliment. I was awfully proud of that box. That was my first homemade decal. I would defy anyone to know the difference.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Brooklyn-made flea market find from this morning.

 

[leg17]

Brooklyn-made flea market find from this morning.

She survived in pretty good shape.
Love it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ready for another 100+ years!

 

[Shiftless]

Here is a beat up JH Williams 1731 “Superrench” that I picked up at a garage sale for $1. It looks like somebody used it for a hammer more often than for a wrench.
I repurposed it as a door handle for the access door to under house crawl space storage.
Those are elevator bolts epoxied on and attached with washers and nuts on the back of the 3/4 “ plywood door.

 

[bonneyman]

Here is a beat up JH Williams 1731 “Superrench” that I picked up at a garage sale for $1. It looks like somebody used it for a hammer more often than for a wrench.
I repurposed it as a door handle for the access door to under house crawl space storage.
Those are elevator bolts epoxied on and attached with washers and nuts on the back of the 3/4 “ plywood door.

That's a real nut job!

 

[Shiftless]

That's a real nut job!

Yep...it took 4 of them and 4 washers to make it happen.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Teeny weeny (3/16" x 1/4") "S" wrench find from this morning.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Hello! I am looking for a 50’s socket set box. I know someone working on 2 sets. They are looking for either a s-5 or an h-3... I believe this is the black and orange era ? I don’t know much about this era so hopefully this makes sense... anyone have either metal carry box? Of someone has one for sale that would be great! Thanks


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