1930s Craftsman tappet wrench mystery

[Rileysan]

I picked up a couple of Craftsman tappet wrenches off eBay this past week and, along with one other wrench of the same style that I already own, I have a bit of a mystery on my hands because I have yet to find similar wrenches in the catalogs , and AA does not show them either.

I'm hoping one of you might recognize the style/maker and therefore be able to narrow down the years they were available. I'll then focus more attention on the catalogs from those years.

Craftsman Vanadium 1090D (x2)
Craftsman Vanadium 1092F

Note the single offsets that are similar (buy not close enough) to Bonney wrenches from the late 20s through early 30s.


Also included in the photo is an early 1930 "Craftsman Vanadium Steel" 1092F tappet wrench for reference.

I seem to recall seeing these numbers on the wrenches of other manufacturers. Are those numbers an industry standard or do they point to a specific manufacturer?

Brian

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have seen those numbers on some old wrenches, including williams and armstrong, so must have been some sort of numbering system

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Can't help with an answer but those are some classy looking wrenches. I've never seen the word vanadium incorporated into the Long C logo before. Nice find!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I seem to recall seeing these numbers on the wrenches of other manufacturers. Are those numbers an industry standard or do they point to a specific manufacturer?

I have seen those numbers on some old wrenches, including williams and armstrong, so must have been some sort of numbering system

You got it, Otg. It's the Williams numbering system. The two dominant systems were Williams and Billings. Williams became the industry standard, and even Billings conceded that, having enough sense to list it next to their own number in their own catalogs by the 40's. We're much more used to seeing it adopted in the DOE wrenches.

I don't think it helps identify those absolutely drop dead gorgeous tappet wrenches, though, because Williams did not to the best of my knowledge make tappet wrenches in the 15* x 22-1/2* angle configuration.

As you already noted, Brian, Bonney did, but Bonney did not use the Williams numbering system for their tappet wrenches. Those wrenches were their 40x series.

 

[Rileysan]

Can't help with an answer but those are some classy looking wrenches. I've never seen the word vanadium incorporated into the Long C logo before. Nice find!

Sometimes you encounter a wrench that just POPS! I've not seen that logo on any Craftsman tool, ever. After owning the 1092F for some time, and not seeing another similar example posted anywhere, I was beginning to think I had something special. So when the two 1090D wrenches came up for sale this past week, I couldn't click BIN fast enough! (I paid $17.90, shipped, for the pair).

I don't think it helps identify those absolutely drop dead gorgeous tappet wrenches, though, because Williams did not to the best of my knowledge make tappet wrenches in the 15* x 22-1/2* angle configuration.

As you already noted, Brian, Bonney did, but Bonney did not use the Williams numbering system for their tappet wrenches. Those wrenches were their 40x series.

I am fortunate enough to own a set of Bonney tappet wrenches in the original tool roll, so I immediately thought to make the comparison. The numbering system aside, Bonney tappet wrenches from this era are the same size on both ends of the wrench, so I learned that was not the right answer. And since you mentioned it, I recall having a large number of pre-war Williams tappet wrenches at work, so that's likely the source of my recollection of those part numbers.

Are there other manufacturers who used that angle configuration besides Bonney? Did Wilde make Tappet wrenches? What did they look like? I have a set of Craftsman DBE wrenches that, after Mr. X showed me Wilde versions, I believe were made by them. I'm grasping at straws but I don't have much to go on!

Thanks for your input!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Wilde is one of our least documented mfgrs, unfortunately.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Brian, I've spent the monsoon-ridden morning here scouring the catalogs from 27 to 42. No sightings of those tappet wrenches.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Those wrenches look amazing and the logo is so cool. I would display them just to look at ! Great find.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Check Herbrand. Also Hinsdale. They both made Craftsman tools.

 

[d42jeep]

Check Herbrand. Also Hinsdale. They both made Craftsman tools.

I checked Herbrand. No dice. They don’t seem to be made by Lectrolite either. I feel like I’ve seen a wrench in that shape but can’t remember where.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

They’re also shaped like the Blue Points/Blue Point of old.

Check out AA.

Nice wrenches you found.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I noticed that

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Saw this blackhawk armstrong wrench

 

[Rileysan]

This is a follow-up to the question of: When?

I was searching through the catalogs for information on yet another unusual long-c Craftsman wrench I purchased and was fortunate enough to find the answer to my question on the Craftsman 1090D and 1092F tappet wrenches.

They were advertised in the 1932 catalog only. I can find no tappet wrenches of any type in the 1931 or 1933 catalogs so there's no telling exactly how long they were available. The 1932 catalog shows only two sizes of wrenches and offered a 4-piece set (2 of each) that is shown in the illustration.

I want to thank David Maher once again for his work on digitizing these hard-to-find catalogs, thus making it possible to identify these wrenches.

Brian

 

[Rileysan]

Saw this blackhawk armstrong wrench

Thanks OTG! I spent a little time looking through eBay listings for "vintage tappet wrench" and found the one you mentioned, as well as similarly designed Blue Point and Barcalo wrenches. At this point, I'm still unsure who the maker is, or even if there are other potential manufacturers out there.