Spreading the Bonney affliction!
- Thread starter bonneyman
- Start date
Mikeske
Well-known member
Liking that satin finish long combo!
I have not even cleaned the latest additions to my collection, I had to run down to Seattle to get some things for a family project. The satin finish is the next focus as I have pretty much completed my basic set of Bonney full polish set. Just a few odds and ends are all that I have to locate and now whenever I am looking at tools on eBay I have to consult my tool list to make sure I am not duplicating tools.
One nice thing that I've noticed with the satin finished wrenches are the better grip you get. The full polish - though beautiful to look at and easier to clean - tend to slip easily when my hands get greasy.
Also, the satin wrenches "appear" to be slightly wider and thicker than their full polished counterparts. It could just be my eyes - I have not put a micrometer on any tools - but they do appear ever so slightly larger in the shanks. I've surmised that ALL Bonney combos start out as satin's, and some are sent through more thorough smoothing and polishing - which removes some of the metal from the shank.
What do you all think?
Also, the satin wrenches "appear" to be slightly wider and thicker than their full polished counterparts. It could just be my eyes - I have not put a micrometer on any tools - but they do appear ever so slightly larger in the shanks. I've surmised that ALL Bonney combos start out as satin's, and some are sent through more thorough smoothing and polishing - which removes some of the metal from the shank.
What do you all think?
Mikeske
Well-known member
I really have not noticed the slippery nature of the full polish but I spent over 30 years using the Bonney full polish on new aircraft. I do know that I really do not care for the raised panel wrenches from any manufacture. The raised panels tend to be more clumsy to use and shorter. I love the maximum length of wrench for the easier application of torque and the Bonney long pattern wrenches have that. My Bonney short wrenches were only used in tighter areas.
For the satin finished wrenches that I do have at home before I retired, I really never paid much attention to whether it was more or less slippery and I did have a bunch of Armstrong wrenches (the Armstrong wrenches did end up with my son) that were satin finished and it was what ever I could get my grubby hands on to what I used.
For the satin finished wrenches that I do have at home before I retired, I really never paid much attention to whether it was more or less slippery and I did have a bunch of Armstrong wrenches (the Armstrong wrenches did end up with my son) that were satin finished and it was what ever I could get my grubby hands on to what I used.
LostBoy(IRL)
Well-known member
Slightly odd find today, 3/8 drive 2 in 1 socket. Code T750. Stoplight and oil pressure switches socket.
Mikeske
Well-known member
A couple things appearing in my mailbox from eBay.
A T-703K flex head ratchet I watched this for a month or so and I decided on the spur of the moment to make a low offer of $20.00. It was accepted and it is in my collection.
Then this 23712 was on eBay for a few dollars and I choose to get it and it will be added to the collection.
A T-703K flex head ratchet I watched this for a month or so and I decided on the spur of the moment to make a low offer of $20.00. It was accepted and it is in my collection.
Then this 23712 was on eBay for a few dollars and I choose to get it and it will be added to the collection.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
bonneyman said:
Almost every American car from the 1940s through the 1980s. Special socket - 3/8" drive 6-pt 1-1/16 semi-deep - used to remove/install oil pressure sending units, temperature sending units, stop light switches.
Real oddball unit, but when you need one, you need one. Almost every US tool manufacturer offered it in their line.
Mikeske
Well-known member
The flex head ratchet for years was my go to ratchet when I worked on vehicles. I sure wish that Bonney had made a 1/4" flex head ratchet but they did not. I had several places on the lavs and galleys on the Boeing 747 and 777 that the flex heads would be worth their weight in gold as they several places where you had to put in fasteners that were not visible and you had to be at a 45% angle to install. I had a 1/4" stubby Snap-on flex that worked perfect for the installation. After a few years I acquired Snap-on ratchets in the more common sizes of straight and flex and I actually prefer the non comfort grip Snap-ons to any other brand of ratchet. The Bonney's were more of me just kind of collecting them now.
On Lostboys temp/oil pressure socket I have 2 of them one is a Mac and the other I think is a off brand I have to look but I have used them when I needed to replace the oil pressure switch and water temp switches for years. One little trick on the water pressure switch I learned real quick is to open the radiator cap, have the new switch sitting ready next to old switch spin out the old switch really fast and then spin in the new switch fast. that way you don't lose much coolant.
LostBoy(IRL)
Well-known member
Thankfully others replied as I would not have had a clue. Only reason I bought was the Bonney name. Can say for certain I will never use it 
I wonder if one could be cobbled together using a Bonney breaker and gear cluster from a buggared ratchet? It would be
Mikeske
Well-known member
I have never gave it much thought of cobbled together collection of Bonney and other parts. I do have a stubby flex Snap-on 1/4" drive ratchet that fulfills my needs so I just ran with that. I found it at a swap meet and the guy and I had a swap for it in a set of Matco impacts that I did not like. So actually I paid nothing for it and it works great.
Today I got a eBay deal for less then $4.00 a NOS Bonney K-57 feeler gauge.
Oh yeah I went and looked at my oil pressure switch sockets and one is a Proto Challenger and the other is a Matco
Today I got a eBay deal for less then $4.00 a NOS Bonney K-57 feeler gauge.
Oh yeah I went and looked at my oil pressure switch sockets and one is a Proto Challenger and the other is a Matco
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Yesterday, I saw a Snap-On dial Torqmeter wrench with its original cardboard box priced lower than this pair of linesmans:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/112860599006
I routinely see used linemans pliers for $2 to $3. Klein, Kreuter, etc. Bonney, too. I guess this seller will figure it out.
Edit: These Kreuters were $.50 today (I paid eBay-equivalent for the combo, though, because it fills a hole and flea season hasn’t begun here yet). The 3/8" hole that's been lurking in my early Bonaloy (1944-1947, tapered shank) combos is plugged; just have to find four more, 1-⅛" to 1-7/16" now.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/112860599006
I routinely see used linemans pliers for $2 to $3. Klein, Kreuter, etc. Bonney, too. I guess this seller will figure it out.
Edit: These Kreuters were $.50 today (I paid eBay-equivalent for the combo, though, because it fills a hole and flea season hasn’t begun here yet). The 3/8" hole that's been lurking in my early Bonaloy (1944-1947, tapered shank) combos is plugged; just have to find four more, 1-⅛" to 1-7/16" now.
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Mikeske
Well-known member
davethorik
Well-known member
Looks like a Lang/Kastar, who relabeled them for just about everybody. I've never seen a Bonney marked unit, not a bad price for nos either!
Mikeske
Well-known member
I actually have 3 Bonney labeled feeler gauges K-52, a K-53 and the K-57 and all of them look like Lang/Kaster feeler gauges. I have also seen Snap-on, Matco Cornwells and Mac all look the same so likely they are also relabeled
Mikeske
Well-known member
Well today I got my first damaged item off eBay. I wanted to pick up a additional Bonney T-702K 3/8ths drive ratchet and the person who sent it put the ratchet in a envelope inside a plastic mailer bag. Come on a bit of bubble wrap and little card board box would have been more protection. The handle was totally missing and all I got was the head of the ratchet. I already informed the seller to file a claim of damage by the Postal Service.
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Sunset_Z28
Well-known member
Wow! USPS never fails to amaze me.
Mikeske
Well-known member
Mikeske
Well-known member
I did notify the ebay seller and he immediately refunded me. To snap off the handle like that I am thinking that it was at the postal service because the plastic bag was really torn up. All I did was drop the ratchet out of the bag as it was badly torn up, I never had to open the bag it was already ripped up. I am waiting for a return message from the seller and see if he wants the damage ratchet back before I do anything with the ratchet.What postal machine could do that to a forged steel handle? That looks real peculiar.
Though a Bonney nut like me would try and somehow keep that head portion for the gear assembly.
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
That is insane, I not sure any amount of packaging could have prevented that. I mean if it snapped the handle, I don't think any shipping box would have stopped that.Mikeske
Well-known member
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Nice sweetheart ratchet. Best Bonney ratchet, possibly one of the top five best vintage ratchets of all time. IMHO, anyway....
Mikeske
Well-known member
I have already used it and it is awesome as smooth if not smoother then my snap-on ratchet. I did a minor cleaning and it good to go. It also looks better then the pictures as it appears almost new.
Mikeske
Well-known member
Follow up on the broken T-702K ratchet was the eBay seller told me to keep the broken end and I provided him 2 pictures of the broken ratchet and he is filing a claim with the postal service. So I took my grinder and smoothed out the end and radius the edge and now I have a modified tight area 3/8ths ratchet
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Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Nice save on the broken ratchet. I find myself needing one of those short handle ratchets from time to time, but have not found one I can bring myself to cut up. Last few times I switched to 1/4” and used my SK round head and was able to save the day.
Agreed. Only thing I would suggest Mike is dip the cut handle in a rubber coating like Flex-Seal. Put on a couple of coats. Ratchets that short tend to want to slip out of the hand really easy - the rubber coating helps with that.
When you've been "collecting" old ratchets long enough you'll find yourself buying ones that are bent, buggared, or otherwise damaged. I tend to grab them anyway.....and eventually those are the ones that get cut, re-welded to another handle, or modified into a special tool.
Mikeske
Well-known member
Well that just *****. The post office strikes again but so does the eBayer seller. I found 4 wrenches on eBay and ordered them well the “package” arrived today and the packing slip is inside the envelope and the entire top of the envelope has been torn open and the wrenches were NOT in the bubble wrap envelope. Ebayers get smart. I realize that the offer of free shipping to go as cheap and minimal on packaging but a little tape to reinforce the seams and envelopes would really go a long way to keeping customer satisfied.
dutchgray
Well-known member
I lost a Bonney made Matco long 17mm hex wrench the same way recently, just got the empty paper USPS envelope which was mostly covered in tape apart from the corner the wrench escaped through, seller expected it to survive going half way round the world like that. Tape the wrench to a decent size piece of cardboard is all you need to do, so it cant float around and make holes in the envelope.
Came across a combo wrench in 9/6" today marked Klein with the Loc-Rite box end and v-gullet open end. Didn't get it because the open end had one fork broke off.
I only know Bonney-made stuff for John Deere and Matco. I didn't know Bonney made wrenches for Klein. Anybody know the years Bonney did this?
I only know Bonney-made stuff for John Deere and Matco. I didn't know Bonney made wrenches for Klein. Anybody know the years Bonney did this?
Mikeske
Well-known member
I saw a Klein set a couple months ago and thought it looked awfully familiar and no I did not get it so my memory might be playing tricks again. Where I saw it was at a pawn shop that went out of business.
davethorik
Well-known member
Picked this Bonney V25 1/4 rat up yesterday with some other stuff. It has some really gross looking grease seeping out of it. I'd like to take it apart because it feels worn or like a spring is worn out, but it is riveted together so I'll have to do surgery.
Still a neat little tool.
You can make out the word OIL stamped into faceplate.
Still a neat little tool.
You can make out the word OIL stamped into faceplate.
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Thought I’d draw attention to this 2540 Chevy “4” main bearings DBE I’ve been watching on eBay for some time. The photo is dark, blurry, and unflattering. Can’t see if the disfigurement is just paint or worse, but I did have to exercise restraint not to buy it, because I think it’s CV. I’ve been searching for Zenel, which I got in the mail today, so I’m not going after this one.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/292473546101
Edit: Here's the new 2540 (Chevy6) from "CZ"Mar1934, with the 2840(Chevy6) from "LX"(Nov1932/46?).
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/292473546101
Edit: Here's the new 2540 (Chevy6) from "CZ"Mar1934, with the 2840(Chevy6) from "LX"(Nov1932/46?).
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Picked this Bonney V25 1/4 rat up yesterday with some other stuff. It has some really gross looking grease seeping out of it. I'd like to take it apart because it feels worn or like a spring is worn out, but it is riveted together so I'll have to do surgery.
Still a neat little tool.
You can make out the word OIL stamped into faceplate.
Please document your surgical process with photos. I for one would like to see your rivet solution.
Also received a 2806L that is a twin to one I already had (with Zenel decal, a stamped "Z" prefix to part number, and slightly smoother overall texture). Both are date coded "LV" (Dec1944) with additional forged-in dots arranged identically, but looking carefully at the dots, the one with the stamped "Z" prefix also has two additional dots at the top of the array.
If additional dots represent subsequent uses of the master dies, as has been suggested, then the stamped "Z" prefix is also a later development, perhaps added to distinguish the Zenel line from the CV or Bonaloy lines in the catalogs as a response to customer complaint, because it certainly is not necessary on the tools themselves, which bear Zenel, CV, and Bonaloy forged-in logos already.
If additional dots represent subsequent uses of the master dies, as has been suggested, then the stamped "Z" prefix is also a later development, perhaps added to distinguish the Zenel line from the CV or Bonaloy lines in the catalogs as a response to customer complaint, because it certainly is not necessary on the tools themselves, which bear Zenel, CV, and Bonaloy forged-in logos already.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Very interesting, LS.
I don’t know if you or other vintage Bonney guys know about KRIEGER wrenches, all made by Bonney in a 5-month period in late 1943, but it’s an interesting story. I found another one today, posted here, in a query thread on the subject. See post #10 here for a more detailed explanation.
I don’t know if you or other vintage Bonney guys know about KRIEGER wrenches, all made by Bonney in a 5-month period in late 1943, but it’s an interesting story. I found another one today, posted here, in a query thread on the subject. See post #10 here for a more detailed explanation.
Last stop of the day, an antiques emporium, where I had left an unfinished Bonney Ford reverse gear wrench, expecting to buy it a month later - but it was GONE! Oh, well.
But the same booth holds (I didn't buy it at $10), a Bonney WP3 Phillips wood handle screwdriver...with BLACK lacquer...
All others I've seen are red lacquer.
Lugz Yes, I recall reading some posts about them. Krieger had a government contract to supply wrenches (among other things), but wasn't a wrench manufacturer.
2018 Easter Egg Hunt
But the same booth holds (I didn't buy it at $10), a Bonney WP3 Phillips wood handle screwdriver...with BLACK lacquer...
All others I've seen are red lacquer.
Lugz Yes, I recall reading some posts about them. Krieger had a government contract to supply wrenches (among other things), but wasn't a wrench manufacturer.
2018 Easter Egg Hunt
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