Show Your Vlchek Tools

[Provincial]

Don and I both posted flat shank WBE's earlier on this page. It appears that these superseded the raised panel version, while keeping the same part number.

 

[d42jeep]

I seem to keep finding these 1/2” chisels at sales.

i cleaned up this WBE combo today.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Thought I'd share a few VLchek wrenches from a few weeks of finds. The one is kinda squirrelly, looks like it has a greenstick fracture in the casting. WBC1012 5/16 3/8 DBE, WBE18, 9/16" Combo wrench, which needs a bit of Evaporust cleanup. Think I'm up to 10 now, and only 1 duplicate.



Check out the flaw in the little wrench. Wonder if I should ask for a warranty exchange? Or maybe I'll just baby it. Like I could ever force a 5/16" wrench hard enough to break the wrench before the bolt. Just an interesting find I guess

 

[leg17]

Looks like the billet got folded somehow during the forging. Maybe it fell out and got put back in crooked or something. Curious.

 

[gearhead1960]

Ran across an old add for Vlchek Tool Company in Mechanix Illustrated from 1966. Thought I would share.... hope this is the right place for it....

 

[Mintgrun]

Thanks for sharing that ad. It shows some of their narrow beam combination wrenches, which are the ones I like best. I think I read that they came after the slightly wider ones. In the ad it says, "... balanced for easy handling." I'm tempted to set up a pivot point and balance-test a bunch of wrenches, to compare their center of gravity. It'd be interesting to see which ones I prefer and contemplate why they "feel right." I started reading the VW story on the opposite page and wish I could see the rest of it. Okay, I googled the author/title/year and found it.

Flashback 1966! Exciting Road Test of Volkswagen's New Fastback!

MCM Mid Century Modern Estate Sales Cars Hot Rods Vintage Automobiles Tools

goldberg60.blogspot.com

Tom

 

[gearhead1960]

Thanks for sharing that ad. It shows some of their narrow beam combination wrenches, which are the ones I like best. I think I read that they came after the slightly wider ones. In the ad it says, "... balanced for easy handling." I'm tempted to set up a pivot point and balance-test a bunch of wrenches, to compare their center of gravity. It'd be interesting to see which ones I prefer and contemplate why they "feel right." I started reading the VW story on the opposite page and wish I could see the rest of it. Okay, I googled the author/title/year and found it.

Flashback 1966! Exciting Road Test of Volkswagen's New Fastback!

MCM Mid Century Modern Estate Sales Cars Hot Rods Vintage Automobiles Tools

goldberg60.blogspot.com

Tom

I have the original magazines with the article......for your edification...

 

[gearhead1960]

Thanks for sharing that ad. It shows some of their narrow beam combination wrenches, which are the ones I like best. I think I read that they came after the slightly wider ones. In the ad it says, "... balanced for easy handling." I'm tempted to set up a pivot point and balance-test a bunch of wrenches, to compare their center of gravity. It'd be interesting to see which ones I prefer and contemplate why they "feel right." I started reading the VW story on the opposite page and wish I could see the rest of it. Okay, I googled the author/title/year and found it.

Flashback 1966! Exciting Road Test of Volkswagen's New Fastback!

MCM Mid Century Modern Estate Sales Cars Hot Rods Vintage Automobiles Tools

goldberg60.blogspot.com

Tom

Tom,

That link is my blog....LOL. Haven't updated it in a while due to the GJ rabbit holes....

 

[3baygarage]

I seem to keep finding these 1/2” chisels at sales.

I’m going to make it a point (pun intended) to find a small chisel to fill this.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I grabbed these water pump pliers at the flea this morning. A little uncommon. I've put five different GMTK's together over the years and the water pump pliers have either been Channellock (which can be dated by the patents) or J.P. Danielson (which are date coded). The "ALLOY STEEL" marking is a wartime tell and these would be perfect for a Vlchek-oriented GMTK.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Also grabbed this valve lifter. It's a Fitz-All No. 600. Much later than the other two screw type valve lifters I have that Vlchek patented in 1915. The 1936 catalog (see Pic 7) says the finish is "Velco White Rust Proof Finish", which is a term I have always suspected was their branding for cadmium, and this lifter helps confirm it. I haven't yet been able to locate the patent number the "PATENT PENDING" marking refers to, but if I was a betting man, my money would be on the swiveling upper jaw (see Pic 5 & 6). The toothed adjuster is nothing new (K-D and others were using the same mechanism...) but the 1936 catalog highlights the swiveling jaw.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up a pair of wartime Vlchek Phillips screwdrivers with Flying V logos in a trade with LS yesterday. The blonde one might have been military surplus. The Dodge WC kit Vlcheks were blonde and this one has traces of cosmoline on it. I've had several of these in the past, and this is only the second one I have seen with the hex shoulder.

 

[3baygarage]

Nice drivers. I brought home a stubby Phillips yesterday.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I brought home a stubby Phillips yesterday.

Nice.

Does it have the round bulbous handle with notches? Like these? (Ignore the others, posed for a size comparison shot in the Plomb thread.)
I know I like to say I don't like to use my vintage collectibles, and it is true, for the most part, but in some cases it's a bit of hyperbole. This is one of those cases. I will reach for the Vlchek Phillips from time to time and the Vlchek slot tip is in my trouble bag. There is no more comfortable stubby in the hand than these style handles in my opinion.

 

[3baygarage]

Yep, looks like those

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yep, looks like those

 

[wtn1271]

Recent estate sale pick up, Vlchek AW 10 adjustable wrench, Clik-Stop. Appears to be black oxide type finish. Works nice, think it will go in the box and be put to use.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice wrench. Patent granted in 1959, so maybe made in ‘65 if the Danielson date codes were still being used.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple of recent Vlchek finds I’ve been meaning to post.
-Don

 

[saukit]

I'll follow Don's example and post a few things that have been sitting in the photography queue. Finally got through part of it. WBC 1012 DBE, 731A DOE, little VlChek Standard punch.

 

[saukit]

A few more Vlchek pieces: 1/2" punch, W1214 DOE, WBH 1820 DBE, 92 and 90 tappet wrenches.



This pic has a WBH 3032 DBE, two WBH 2628 DBE's, A WBE 18 combo, and W 1012 DOE. I have to stop buying 2628's, not sure how many I have but it's too many!

 

[d42jeep]

Here are three Vlchek Phillips screwdrivers with the Flying V logo. Left to right is a #4, #3 and #2 Phillips.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

A tool collecting buddy sent me these pictures of his Vlchek chisels.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

wow! pretty snazzy!

 

[JjKk40]

Just wow!

 

[ForrestT]

Does anyone know difference of Vlchek series wbe vs wc Vlchek combo wrenches? I want to build a set of these wrenches. I have a few of both. All I can see difference wise is width in beams. Thanks.

 

[Stillgottimefor1]

Someone was serious about marking this wrench, looks like it was in depot where wrenches were carefully monitored? Any clues?

 

[d42jeep]

I have no idea.
While going through my Vlchek tools yesterday I took a picture of my shorty DBE wrenches.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Any clues?

What is the number on the top side? I can't read it.

 

[Stillgottimefor1]

What is the number on the top side? I can't read it.

Sorry for the previous photos, I went up to the barn to put the chickens away for the night and decided to dig that wrench out of the ‘probably nothing’ box and snag a quick pic in the failing light.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I am asking you to transcribe the number for me. You're right there looking at it. I still can't read it. I can read the number ("8021") on the flip side. What is the other number?

 

[Stillgottimefor1]

. I can’t tell..maybe 6010S220

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks. That "S" is probably a mis-struck "8" but I will check them both.

 

[Stillgottimefor1]

Thanks. That "S" is probably a mis-struck "8" but I will check them both.

Someone stamped a series of 1’s horizontally through them causing my confusion.

 

[ForrestT]

Does anyone know if Vlchek made 1/4” and 5/16” combination wrenches? Working on filling out my set and have never seen 1/4” or 5/16” combo wrenches leading me to believe that the smallest size they made was 3/8”. Thanks.

 

[Mintgrun]

3/8" is the smallest size I have found. I looked through the No. 11 catalog and 3/8" appears to be the smallest. There are a couple other catalogs I have not checked.

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

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[d42jeep]

I had the Vlchek tools out to add some little wrenches so took a few pictures.
-Don

The pliers are fairly common and can be identified by their unique shape. They are shown in some WW2 images.

 

[genog]

How about another pic of a 3/8-7/16 double box end?

 

[JjKk40]

Found a pair of these awesome "FitzAll" channellocks. I guess the rocking lower jaw gives the tool the ability to be like parallel jaws? Very cool design!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Anything with the Flying V is a nice find; that's even better.