Anyone collect vintage Taps and dies?
- Thread starter Galaxie-Ed
- Start date
Private Lugnutz
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That is a big'n. The biggest I have, a Little Giant, is missing the handle for the other side, but the one handle alone is 21" long, the die stock is 4" across, and the screw plate on the back is for split dies 2-3/8" in O.D. See thumbnails.
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Private Lugnutz
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What is the brand and model number of that big threader with the double dies in it?
+ 1
Private Lugnutz
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I’m in the market for a Magnetic Floor Sweeper!
Yes, there is a story relevant to this tap and die thread behind that opening statement. And if the rest of the story wasn’t so good, I’d probably be a lot more pissed off about it!
So, last weekend I came home with this NOS Armstrong No. 2 adjustable stock and dies pipe threading set, 1/8” to 1”. The heavy duty riveted cardboard box may be dirty and a little banged up, as are the cardboard boxes with the split rectangular dies inside, but it’s all original, never used, and 100% complete.
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If you look up in the right hand corner of the box, you’ll see the shank of a little single open end wrench with a little screwdriver blade-like tab on the end. If you look even closer you’ll see that it’s marked “No. 2” to match the set. And on the flip side it’s marked ARMSTRONG. It’s used to tighten and loosen the hold-down and adjusting bolts in the die stock, and came with the set for that purpose.
Somehow between my truck and the garage and a little potable folding table I like to set up outside in the broad daylight to clean, de-rust, and oil my flea market finds, I lost it!
I spent a few days fuming and grumbling and more than a few minutes on my hands and knees combing the grass and the leaves and other debris for the danged wrench. Hence the need for the magnetic sweeper! I know it's out there somewhere! Aaargh.
My mood lightened considerably tonight when I finally got around to really inspecting the set in earnest down the basement.
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I thought I knew what I might have found, but I wasn’t sure until I spotted the tiny form number on the left hand corner of the label on the end of the box.
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Which reads: “Form M189-20M 5-45”
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That’s May 1945. As in wartime.
The set is a "41-T-2023, THREADING SET, pipe, NPT, compete with rectangular adjustable dies, stock, complete with wrench and adjustable guide, and right hand taps, capacity 1/8 in. to 1 in." The only thing slightly out of step is the missing cardboard box for the 1” split dies. The only things missing for the complete threading set are the taps.
(EDIT: I see that I had the 1/2" dies in the stock, and the 1" dies inside the 1/2" die box for the pic.)
For a visual historical reference, here are some excerpts I made from a WWII tools manual. These sets were issued to 3rd Echelon Set No. 1, 3rd Echelon Set No. 2, and 4th Echelon Set No. 2, which is a lot of military mumbo-jumbo for facility motor pools and repair depots well behind the lines, as well as maintenance companies, regiments, and battalions attached to Armored Forces.
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Yes, there is a story relevant to this tap and die thread behind that opening statement. And if the rest of the story wasn’t so good, I’d probably be a lot more pissed off about it!
So, last weekend I came home with this NOS Armstrong No. 2 adjustable stock and dies pipe threading set, 1/8” to 1”. The heavy duty riveted cardboard box may be dirty and a little banged up, as are the cardboard boxes with the split rectangular dies inside, but it’s all original, never used, and 100% complete.
View media item 76870
If you look up in the right hand corner of the box, you’ll see the shank of a little single open end wrench with a little screwdriver blade-like tab on the end. If you look even closer you’ll see that it’s marked “No. 2” to match the set. And on the flip side it’s marked ARMSTRONG. It’s used to tighten and loosen the hold-down and adjusting bolts in the die stock, and came with the set for that purpose.
Somehow between my truck and the garage and a little potable folding table I like to set up outside in the broad daylight to clean, de-rust, and oil my flea market finds, I lost it!
I spent a few days fuming and grumbling and more than a few minutes on my hands and knees combing the grass and the leaves and other debris for the danged wrench. Hence the need for the magnetic sweeper! I know it's out there somewhere! Aaargh.
My mood lightened considerably tonight when I finally got around to really inspecting the set in earnest down the basement.
View media item 76865
View media item 76866
View media item 76867
I thought I knew what I might have found, but I wasn’t sure until I spotted the tiny form number on the left hand corner of the label on the end of the box.
View media item 76868
Which reads: “Form M189-20M 5-45”
View media item 76869
That’s May 1945. As in wartime.
The set is a "41-T-2023, THREADING SET, pipe, NPT, compete with rectangular adjustable dies, stock, complete with wrench and adjustable guide, and right hand taps, capacity 1/8 in. to 1 in." The only thing slightly out of step is the missing cardboard box for the 1” split dies. The only things missing for the complete threading set are the taps.
(EDIT: I see that I had the 1/2" dies in the stock, and the 1" dies inside the 1/2" die box for the pic.)
For a visual historical reference, here are some excerpts I made from a WWII tools manual. These sets were issued to 3rd Echelon Set No. 1, 3rd Echelon Set No. 2, and 4th Echelon Set No. 2, which is a lot of military mumbo-jumbo for facility motor pools and repair depots well behind the lines, as well as maintenance companies, regiments, and battalions attached to Armored Forces.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
In celebration of finding the little checknut wrench...
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...I decided to do a little more photo-documentation with all the dies out of their boxes.
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In the process, I discovered another form, hidden inside the 1/8” die box. This one is instructions, dated November 1944!
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And since I had all the pieces out, I decided to do a Raritan Arsenal Publication Department (RAPD) style photo shoot, mimicking the layout of RAPD 22268, from the 1945 ORD 6 SNL G-27. I posted that above, but I'm gong to post it again for easier comparison. (The lighting was terrible!)
View media item 76898View media item 76871
View media item 76900
View media item 76899
...I decided to do a little more photo-documentation with all the dies out of their boxes.
View media item 76901
In the process, I discovered another form, hidden inside the 1/8” die box. This one is instructions, dated November 1944!
View media item 76903
View media item 76904
And since I had all the pieces out, I decided to do a Raritan Arsenal Publication Department (RAPD) style photo shoot, mimicking the layout of RAPD 22268, from the 1945 ORD 6 SNL G-27. I posted that above, but I'm gong to post it again for easier comparison. (The lighting was terrible!)
View media item 76898View media item 76871
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Maui
Well-known member
The die set that I still use was manufactured in 1888. There is no wooden box to keep them in, but that doesn't matter to me. I'm just happy the dies still cut threads properly.
OP
Galaxie-Ed
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Oldtuleguy
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Galaxie-Ed
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drivesitfar
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ALL: i had no idea they were collectable, but i have more than a few. i'm here to learn which ones to keep and which ones to pass while i'm GETTING ORGANIZED.
thanks for starting the thread and i'll try to post up a few pics of mine when i find them.
thanks for starting the thread and i'll try to post up a few pics of mine when i find them.
Oldtuleguy
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- Messages
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Mix of stuff. Still very sharp and usable.
four.cycle
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four.cycle
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four.cycle
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four.cycle
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four.cycle
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==
Woody, I got nothin' on Bay State. This is all the "tap/die" I have right now. If you think it might work better to put these into a new/different thread let me know. BK
TheCraneGuy
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I have this set. It is not complete, but would like to make it as original as possible.
It has everything, taps, dies, and thread cutters. Has the cam type system for the individual dies, the big handle and the cardboard boxes shown.
I believe they told me it was the 50’s. Not sure if it is a master set or not.
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Private Lugnutz
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Yowza. Very nice.
TheCraneGuy
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four.cycle
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pretty fabulous set there!M_George
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billybudge
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I am mad about tools heres a couple of sets that I have, the one in the wood case is vintage about 1930s 40s, Made by SPEEDICUT British UNF and UNC set, and the newer one made by a company called PRESTO, and is a Metric Master Tap and Die set, and I do have a lot more,
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Private Lugnutz
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I love everything about that Ixion set, from the burnt inscriptions on the wood box to the wild, futuristic looking design of the handles.
That Presto set is modern, but the company has been making tap and die tools for a long, long time. Colleagues of mine in the UK have WWII tap and die sets made by Presto with the defense ministry 'broad arrow' logo.
TheCraneGuy
Well-known member
I have this set. It is not complete, but would like to make it as original as possible.
It has everything, taps, dies, and thread cutters. Has the cam type system for the individual dies, the big handle and the cardboard boxes shown.
I believe they told me it was the 50’s. Not sure if it is a master set or not.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
EDIT: I originally thought this set was from the 50’s. Started looking at catalog pages online and found this was sold in the 1941 catalog. I am happily surprised.
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Galaxie-Ed
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Pre 1947 Tap and Die sets will have SAE and USS specifications as NC and NF was not instituted until 1948 or so.EDIT: I originally thought this set was from the 50’s. Started looking at catalog pages online and found this was sold in the 1941 catalog. I am happily surprised.
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Galaxie-Ed
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Galaxie-Ed
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Private Lugnutz
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That's UNC and UNF you're thinking of. Unified.
Private Lugnutz
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Galaxie-Ed
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454ragtop
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99.9% sure Greenfield made these for Sears.
Private Lugnutz
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454ragtop
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I've had that fractional set for probably close to 40 years, it's a decent set, quality about on par with the Ace Hanson sets. Not machinist HSS quality, but decent.
JMLangford
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I also posted this set of Ace Hanson tap & dies in the Garage Sale thread.....don't know how vintage they are, I think late '60's early '70's???
(It was before Irwin acquired Hanson)
4 of the smaller taps are not Hansons and it's missing the small screwdriver....
.
(It was before Irwin acquired Hanson)
4 of the smaller taps are not Hansons and it's missing the small screwdriver....
.
JMLangford
Well-known member
I also have a Craftsman set that I bought back in 1978....I've use this set for 40 years......
Probably got a replacement tap or two in there somewhere......
.
Probably got a replacement tap or two in there somewhere......
.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Everything about that acquisition is amazing, ecotec, including the price, but especially the frozen-in-time quality of the set. It's not only that you got it at a 1975 cost, but in a 1975 condition!