J H Williams vintage hand tools

[outofbounds]

Found these (4) Williams Superrench DOBE wrenches on my lunch hour. The seller indicated them to be tools from the Chrysler assembly line where his Grandpa worked. Alloy Artifacts suggests them as mid-late 1940s. Hard for me to determine if they are of any particular attributable "war era" finish, but don't seem to be chrome plated. Could be wrong.

 

[d42jeep]

Probably 1945 or earlier based on the Forged In USA markings. Here is the one from my GMTK that is less offset.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Two different series. Offset shanks and heads set at 15* angles on straight shanks.

 

[misterbill]

Forgive me if this has been asked and answered before but, which came first - "Alloy" or "Alloy Steel"?

Bill

 

[poppinjohnnies]

I was reorganizing my tool box this evening and came across this Williams Superrench. It’s a 6 point 9/16 on both ends. I’m not sure why I never use it, because I can think of many instances where it would have come in pretty handy. It’s moved to a more visible part of the drawer.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[misterbill]

I recently picked up this early 1930's Williams Garage Set No. 20. All the pieces are in very good shape as is the box. Three of the sockets (1/2", 3/4", 25/32") were replaced with some placeholders (Craftsman -V-, S-K, S-K Wayne) but everything else appears to be original.

Bill

 

[outofbounds]

I recently picked up this early 1930's Williams Garage Set No. 20. All the pieces are in very good shape as is the box. Three of the sockets (1/2", 3/4", 25/32") were replaced with some placeholders (Craftsman -V-, S-K, S-K Wayne) but everything else appears to be original.
Bill

She's a beaut, Clark!

PS - I really like that shallow lift out tray.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I recently picked up this early 1930's Williams Garage Set No. 20.

Dang that's sweet, Bill!

 

[Username already in use]

Dang that's sweet, Bill!

Very nice!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Love that it came with two speeders (regular, brace) and the rotating grips on all the handles.

 

[Old Radar]

I recently picked up this early 1930's Williams Garage Set No. 20. All the pieces are in very good shape as is the box. Three of the sockets (1/2", 3/4", 25/32") were replaced with some placeholders (Craftsman -V-, S-K, S-K Wayne) but everything else appears to be original.

Bill

Black and Orange with envy!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Sweet set

 

[bmwrd0]

Nice! I have the '40s version of that set, #26,

 

[d42jeep]

Nice set. It looks like the breaker bar was optional. I like those extensions with the sleeves.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The williams spinner extensions are hard to come by

 

[3baygarage]

Very nice set Mr. Bill. The offset breaker is tougher to find than many of their tools.

Put me in the rotating extension fan club as well, as I like to collect those in different brands.

 

[outofbounds]

Misterbill I’m not sure if any of these match to your set but let me know. I feel like I owe you this wrench from a previous deal. Feel free to let me know. Happy to send any or all.

 

[misterbill]

Misterbill I’m not sure if any of these match to your set but let me know. I feel like I owe you this wrench from a previous deal. Feel free to let me know. Happy to send any or all.

OoB,

The style of socket that goes with the set is the leftmost knurled one in this picture. They were manufactured from the early to mid 1930s. The middle socket was the style from the mid 1930s until the late 1940s. There was another short-lived style but I can't find an example just now. The right-most socket represents the style from late 1940s early 1950s until the 1970s at least.

Bill

 

[outofbounds]

Noted with thanks misterbill! I’ll have a closer look in my Williams bin

 

[Macduf]

ok it's a cobblers pliers-hammer. marked diamond w
.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Early in my career as a millwright I was working in sawmill as an unticketed millwright. I had carpenter's ticket and they thought I might work out. They hired a 3rd year apprentice and put him with me. I can honestly say I learned a lot from him. Some are deep into their trade, he was just such a person. I've only met two from the hundreds I've worked with, BTW. So when he said something, it was gospel. One of the things he said was ( J.H.) Williams and Proto were millwright tools, Snap-On were for auto mechanics.

Needless to say, I pick them up.

 

[3baygarage]

OoB,

The style of socket that goes with the set is the leftmost knurled one in this picture. They were manufactured from the early to mid 1930s. The middle socket was the style from the mid 1930s until the late 1940s. There was another short-lived style but I can't find an example just now. The right-most socket represents the style from late 1940s early 1950s until the 1970s at least.

Bill

Is this the style you were referring to Misterbill? I think it’s 1950ish/early to mid 50’s.

Had to get this set of 1/2” sockets when I saw it. It came with a captive plug ratchet and a S diamond W extension. There is a common link between all the pieces, and that is the copper showing through. Around the drive gear of the ratchet, throughout the extension, and the socket ends. The chrome had to be thin on those areas and on this era of socket.

 

[3baygarage]

pics

 

[3baygarage]

Found a wrench at the Restore to go with it.

 

[misterbill]

Yes, sir, that is the one I was thinking of. Nice set you've got there! Must have been a short-lived branding effort as I hardly ever see them and have only a few pieces.

Bill

 

[n8n]

Early in my career as a millwright I was working in sawmill as an unticketed millwright. I had carpenter's ticket and they thought I might work out. They hired a 3rd year apprentice and put him with me. I can honestly say I learned a lot from him. Some are deep into their trade, he was just such a person. I've only met two from the hundreds I've worked with, BTW. So when he said something, it was gospel. One of the things he said was ( J.H.) Williams and Proto were millwright tools, Snap-On were for auto mechanics.

Needless to say, I pick them up.

Maybe primarily, but I just changed the rear shocks on my E92 a couple hours ago, and two Superratchets and a JH Williams breaker bar were utilized in this exercise (did use a Snap-On torque wrench to put the wheels back on though. Sockets were mostly SO or S-K.)

 

[3baygarage]

Yes, sir, that is the one I was thinking of. Nice set you've got there! Must have been a short-lived branding effort as I hardly ever see them and have only a few pieces.

Bill

Same here. I used to see the wrenches and pass by them at estate sales because I wasn‘t sure what to make of them. Have aquired a few over the years.

Have these pics of some items I posted before.

3/8 and 1/2 ratchets, and three 3/8” u joints missing the ball.

 

[3baygarage]

As mentioned earlier in the Garage Sale Thread, Williams snap ring pliers with a twist.

Note the Williams diamond W.

Flip them over and...they’re actually Mac, made by Williams.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Those are parallel snap ring pliers. Handy inside transmissions. Other places too, I’m sure.

 

[outofbounds]

I have this S-50 1/2 Drive plug ratchet with S150A plug. Plug slides through easily enough but does not come out. Is the set screw on the side of the ratchet head intended to allow for that? It moves, but to this point hasn’t allowed for the release of the plug. Am I missing something obvious?

 

[d42jeep]

Captive plugs are very cool. I had a Ward Master a while back with a captive plug. So many ratchets I find have missing plugs. I grab plugs whenever I see them at sales.
-Don

 

[wrenchguy]

Bump'
Now down to 3 needed for the display board!
It's nice when sellers put wrench number in the title!
Oval logo part numbers wanted. thanks 4 any help.
1
7
994

 

[outofbounds]

Just roped this case in off of Facebook tonight.

I have most all the sockets, standard and tall, and handles, save for a tee handle and breaker bar (like a dunce, I sold a suitable example a short while ago, and now I'll need to keep my eyes peeled ) Eager to get this home and move my Williams bits into their new home.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a real nice box.

 

[outofbounds]

That's a real nice box.

Thanks. I haven't touched it yet but I'll assume it will perform the task intended which is to get my old Williams sockets out of the Armstrong work tray they are presently residing in. (sacrilege)

 

[bmwrd0]

Thats nice OOB, I have the #26 set, which has everything yours has minus the 8-point sockets.

 

[outofbounds]

Thats nice OOB, I have the #26 set, which has everything yours has minus the 8-point sockets.]

Thats a great looking set. I'm sure your tools present more "period correct" than will mine, but I'm eager to start filling it out.

 

[drivesitfar]

I've been gone for a few months, but just caught up on this thread and saw some pretty nice stuff from Mister Bill, Bmw and 3Bay ... Well done guys!!

i've got a question for those of you that maybe have one of these old tool boxes with the handle on the side. if you are moving them (or using them) is there maybe a good way to keep them from just banging around? maybe putting some rags on top to keep them in place or do tell?

Or maybe these never were meant to be carried which seems odd?

 

[misterbill]

I've been gone for a few months, but just caught up on this thread and saw some pretty nice stuff from Mister Bill, Bmw and 3Bay ... Well done guys!!

i've got a question for those of you that maybe have one of these old tool boxes with the handle on the side. if you are moving them (or using them) is there maybe a good way to keep them from just banging around? maybe putting some rags on top to keep them in place or do tell?

Or maybe these never were meant to be carried which seems odd?

Thanks for the complement, drives. Mine has been stationary since my one cat seems to like it where it is currently sitting and sleeps on it. But, I have put spongy mesh shelf liner in some of my boxes and tried some old school cork (which comes in a roll) in another. Both can be purchased at Walmart/Home Depot/Lowes. If I was moving them around a lot I'd probably stick an old t-shirt or something in the box to keep the tools from rolling around and destroying the decal.

Bill

 

[joel63]

Thanks for the complement, drives. Mine has been stationary since my one cat seems to like it where it is currently sitting and sleeps on it. But, I have put spongy mesh shelf liner in some of my boxes and tried some old school cork (which comes in a roll) in another. Both can be purchased at Walmart/Home Depot/Lowes. If I was moving them around a lot I'd probably stick an old t-shirt or something in the box to keep the tools from rolling around and destroying the decal.

Bill



Excellent idea.