J H Williams vintage hand tools

[Mark914]

Digging thru my stuff and thought I would share a couple pics of my 100+ year old Williams wrenches. The small one is in very good shape for its age.

 

[wrenchguy]

Your right v-good shape.

 

[leg17]

Looks like the start of a nice little collection.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Would you guys with late 30's/early 40's era Williams 1/2-drive sockets sets please check your S-140 universal joint and see if there is a little set screw on the bottom/end of the drive stud.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

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

That is super cool!


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[misterbill]

That is super cool!


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

Thanks!

 

[outofbounds]

I got roped in on another inexpensive "box and contents" lot with a mixed bag of random sockets that included these two 1/2 Drive square sockets (S-416 = 1/2" and S-420 = 5/8") I'll assume were primarily for drain plugs.

 

[misterbill]

I got roped in on another inexpensive "box and contents" lot with a mixed bag of random sockets that included these two 1/2 Drive square sockets (S-416 = 1/2" and S-420 = 5/8") I'll assume were primarily for drain plugs.

Or anything with a square nut. Those are from the early to mid-1930s. I remember lots of things from around my grandfather's farm that had square nuts.

Bill

 

[WNYflyer]

Not tools per say but,

Photo's of the former JH Williams factory in Buffalo NY, fronting on Vulcan Street at the corner Kenmore Avenue. Looks like most of the original buildings are still standing. Funny, William's former tool truck experiment, Vulcan Tools mailing address was Kenmore Avenue basically the corner fronting on Kenmore Avenue. Suppose a way for them to try to differentiate the brands in folks minds...........those slick marketing guys I tell you.

View media item 111115

View media item 111116

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Or the marketing guy was looking out the window and just saw the street sign!

 

[3baygarage]

Cool view Flyer. I recognize the red building. A lot of it looks like it did in the catalog! There was a house over there I used to hang out and party at, a few blocks toward the water, on Ullman. Good times. The Friendship Festival right there at the park too. Best fireworks ever! Used to sit right under the falling ashes. Then I dated a girl off Ontario St.... that’s about as far as I’m going.

I wanted to ask if you’ve seen wrenches like this. I’ve seen them with a Diamond in the center, 50’s era. This got my attention the other day.

 

[piehammer]

The only two Williams I have.

 

[WNYflyer]

Cool view Flyer. I recognize the red building. A lot of it looks like it did in the catalog! There was a house over there I used to hang out and party at, a few blocks toward the water, on Ullman. Good times. The Friendship Festival right there at the park too. Best fireworks ever! Used to sit right under the falling ashes. Then I dated a girl off Ontario St.... that’s about as far as I’m going.

I wanted to ask if you’ve seen wrenches like this. I’ve seen them with a Diamond in the center, 50’s era. This got my attention the other day.

3Bay,
Nice story on the neighborhood/old haunts.

Concerning the wrench, I have never seen a Williams combination wrench with those markings. Wonder of it was made for some other company thus only the W stamp

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this 2729 (5/8" x 3/4") Chrome-Moly PAT. PENDG obstruction wrench at the flea on Saturday. It's had a hard life, and not the most pleasing looker, but it's only the second Williams 2xxx series Superrench I have ever found, the other being a 2028S (5/8" x 25/32").

 

[leg17]

.....I wanted to ask if you’ve seen wrenches like this. I’ve seen them with a Diamond in the center, 50’s era. This got my attention the other day.

Could possibly be a variation on what AA refers to as "Volume Line" in the 'Contract Production' section under Williams.
Similar to these examples:

 

[piehammer]

Picked this up since my last post - Williams S-110P extension. Has the Diamond W logo.

 

[four.cycle]

one of you gentlemen needs this....

J.H. WILLIAMS & Co. Superior Wrench Set POUCH ONLY
used
cotton canvas. some signs of deterioration commensurate with age. excellent graphics.
$9.99 + $6.00 shipping OBO "Buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/114781441862

 

[d42jeep]

If I was more into Williams, I’d be all over that.
I disassembled cleaned and reassembled this Williams adjustable I picked up on Friday. I find a lot of tools in the Bay Area marked SP Co. Southern Pacific?
-Don

 

[RTM]

I’ve got an Adze with the SPCo, from Alameda flea, and have found many other people claiming Southern Pacific heritage on that mark.

 

[leg17]

one of you gentlemen needs this....

J.H. WILLIAMS & Co. Superior Wrench Set POUCH ONLY
used
cotton canvas. some signs of deterioration commensurate with age. excellent graphics.
$9.99 + $6.00 shipping OBO "Buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/114781441862

Thanks four-c
I got it.
Not too sure about the 'gentlemen' part tho.

 

[four.cycle]

no problem. first one of those I've ever seen. great graphics!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Wtf? How did I miss that? Perfect for 5 ********* carbon steel wrenches. Happy for leg17. Mad at myself.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I saw that. Figured one of guys would buy it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I know I saw Don and RTM talking about Southern Pacific but I missed 4.c's tip just above that. Looking forward to seeing those pockets loaded up with Lego's superior Superiors.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this cute little ****** (ISN 21, 5/16" x 13/32") at the flea this morning. Whether "DEXTER" is the name of a company (there were a few in NY, a lithographer, and one that made washing machines) or a person's proprietary stamp, I don't know, but I like the marking, which is well done, centered, ornate, and appealing to the eye.

 

[leg17]

A lil' sweetie Lugz.

 

[3baygarage]

Neat little wrench. Took me a second to pick up on the size! I wouldn’t be surprised if it was for a printing press or similar, there happens to be a print of a Dexter printing press on Ebay. I’ve seen a number of old contract wrenches they did for machinery.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I’ve seen a number of old contract wrenches they did for machinery.

Yeah, I have a few.

 

[outofbounds]

I turned this over in a pile of garage sale wrenches. First Vulcan or Williams offset Hydraulic service wrench I've seen.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up this obstruction wrench at the flea market yesterday. A PO put that offset in the shank, unfortunately. The FSN ("41-W-642-15") data plate was spot-welded. I think it's early. I have another one with the "41-W-642-25" forged into the shank. Why am I posting them in the Williams thread? I think Williams made them. They match the Williams obstruction wrench profile with the 75* angles on both ends, two different opening sizes, on the same side of the wrench. Could also be Blackhawk-Armstrong, I suppose, but I still think Williams had something to do with those as well vis-a-vis their relationship with Armstrong.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this wrench on Saturday. I think that it is possibly a Tappet wrench.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

What gave it away??

 

[d42jeep]

Just a guess.
-Don

 

[Shiftless]

After careful study, thorough research, and due deliberation, I have come to the same conclusion. Definitely a tappet wrench.

 

[bonneyman]

I picked up this obstruction wrench at the flea market yesterday. A PO put that offset in the shank, unfortunately. The FSN ("41-W-642-15") data plate was spot-welded. I think it's early. I have another one with the "41-W-642-25" forged into the shank. Why am I posting them in the Williams thread? I think Williams made them. They match the Williams obstruction wrench profile with the 75* angles on both ends, two different opening sizes, on the same side of the wrench. Could also be Blackhawk-Armstrong, I suppose, but I still think Williams had something to do with those as well vis-a-vis their relationship with Armstrong.

I'm liking your snag of obstruction wrenches. I find them extremely handy in and around A/C's and evap coolers.
As I recall, Williams, Armstrong, and Blackhawk did the same style, with both open ends facing the same way. It's one reason I don't like the Bonney's of that period. The OE are opposite so trying to turn one side with authority has the other OE gullet digging into your hand.

 

[sqyards]

Hello, Happy New Year. I don't get on here much. But I always look for vintage J H Williams vintage tools. I am from Buffalo, NY. My Grand Father worked there in the 50's and early 60's.

I have many tools from him and my Father handed down to me. I lost my Dad when I was young. So to this day I still use these hand tools.

I don't have any pictures right now. But I can easily take some. I am hesitant to ebay some of these. I am a part time ebayer.

If I see any response I can take some cool pictures Like the old 19/32" size wrench. I don't ever recall using that on any nut or bolt in the past 40 years.

Thanks,
Marty in Buffalo, NY

Wow what a collection the post said it was years ago im sure you sold everything them old socket tins and great

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's one reason I don't like the Bonney's of that period. The OE are opposite so trying to turn one side with authority has the other OE gullet digging into your hand.

Yeah, I can see how the jaws could jab you, especially on the smaller wrenches where you can't just grab the shank. But I am more of a cosmetic collector. Those Bonney ends pointing opposite ways just look cool (see Pics 1, 2, & 3)! Missing the old pimpflash emoji!

Not to geek out too much, but have you noticed that the ends on the Bonney are at 90* angles to the shank and the ends on the Williams are at 75*? It's harder to see the 15* difference that you might expect with the naked eye, but it's there. See Pic 4.

Finally, and not to venture too far from Williams, but I also have this other obstruction wrench that I haven't taken the time to identify yet. It is like a Williams & Blackhawk/Armstrong pattern in that the ends are on the same side of the wrench, but it is like the Bonney pattern in that the ends are at 90* angles. As you can see, the branding has been ground down unhelpfully on the shank. R1416 part number. See Pics 5 & 6.

 

[MR.X]

Finally, and not to venture too far from Williams, but I also have this other obstruction wrench that I haven't taken the time to identify yet. It is like a Williams & Blackhawk/Armstrong pattern in that the ends are on the same side of the wrench, but it is like the Bonney pattern in that the ends are at 90* angles. As you can see, the branding has been ground down unhelpfully on the shank. R1416 part number. See Pics 5 & 6.

Pretty sure that's a Blue Point.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, X.

 

[532r5]

Found these in my father's tool box. Probably haven't seen daylight in 35 years.

Sent from my SM-G965U using The Garage Journal mobile app