Outlawmws
Well-known member
It should be all the way down to 5/16 & 3/8 size. (At least)
My small but growing DBE wrench collection
- Thread starter BlueBomber
- Start date
r_olson_06
Well-known member
Proto had a larger size variety than Plomb but here is Plomb ones.
Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061
d42jeep
Well-known member
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Here's a few DBEs that I've neglected to post. A pair of Jos. Shaw and presumably Duro/Indestro Ford Brake wrench. Marked only 'Chicago'
jaymoss
New member
Awesome Pic's. I remember my Dad had his own lawn mower repair shop just during the summer time, because he had a traveling job the rest of the time. His favorite tools were the offset box end wrenches. This really brought back some good memories, thanks! I was the tool runner when he needed something from the shop. The 1/2" / 9/16" was his most used wrench. I remember it had a smooth rounded shaft, didn't remember seeing a name on it. He had a craftsmen set of tools, but he had some older wrench I couldn't read names on them he really liked.
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Outlawmws
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Yeah the first pic died...
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I don't think I've ever seen a Long C stubby that short in that big a size...
Private Lugnutz
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powerstrokin
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- Joined
- Jan 12, 2016
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Hmmm i just found this thread.. I have probably 200 double box end wrenches laying around that i have no use for at all. They are all older ones i bought from my grandfathers friends when i was younger. If i sorted through some of them, would anyone be be interested? If not, they will stay collecting dust! lol
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Here's a more conventional single offset DBE than the one I picked up two days ago (see post #2413). I seriously don't know why I even bothered bringing it home. This is quite literally thee first one I have ever seen in the wild, I probably have no hope of completing the set, and BB has the market cornered on APCO-Mossberg single offset DBE's, anyway, with a set and a second near-complete set in his possession! 
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r_olson_06
Well-known member
I think a near complete set is much more down putting than just having 1. With possibility of finding another more likely than finding a the last one. I find that completing a wrench set often follows a logarithmic model where the further you are along in the set the more time and energy it takes to find the next one. I have several sets that are 1 wrench away from completion and have been that way for a couple years. But when it looks like it is never going to happen one just happens to come available.Here's a more conventional single offset DBE than the one I picked up two days ago (see post #2413). I seriously don't know why I even bothered bringing it home. This is quite literally thee first one I have ever seen in the wild, I probably have no hope of completing the set, and BB has the market cornered on APCO-Mossberg single offset DBE's, anyway, with a set and a second near-complete set in his possession!
Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
That's an astute observation, Roy, and true in many cases. But I have A LOT of lonely solo tools and have a feeling this one will be lonely for a long time! I hope I'm wrong.
r_olson_06
Well-known member
Haha. I always pick them in the effort of helping someone else out. I might have a problem of trying to pick up orphan tools.That's an astute observation, Roy, and true in many cases. But I have A LOT of lonely solo tools and have a feeling this one will be lonely for a long time! I hope I'm wrong.
Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Yeah, I a mainly just playing it up for the crowd on how rare these are. I already looked to see if it's one BB needs. Unfortunately, it's not.
Here's an oldtimey single offset for you single offset fans.
One on eBay referred to as a Packard tool kit wrench.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-19...969976?hash=item48d4ced4b8:g:0swAAOSwIvddqJyV
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Thanks, leg!
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
You give me too much credit, Lugz. I have not yet completed the Apco SO set that 454ragtop found and picked up for me. In fact, I've filled only one of the three holes in the year plus since.
I've had very little spare time lately to hunt for DBEs, or pretty much anything else. My Twertsy fraction is definitely falling off...
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I've had very little spare time lately to hunt for DBEs, or pretty much anything else. My Twertsy fraction is definitely falling off...
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
My bad. I hope that distracting real life stuff turns around for you soon!
I picked up this half of a DBE wrench yesterday. Somebody really wanted a SBE and a Single Offset at the same time!
I had to grab it, if only because we don't see too many Duro-made "Perfection" wrenches. Or I don't anyway.
I picked up this half of a DBE wrench yesterday. Somebody really wanted a SBE and a Single Offset at the same time!
I had to grab it, if only because we don't see too many Duro-made "Perfection" wrenches. Or I don't anyway.Attachments
Crawling through a multi-vendor shop on a rainy Sunday, I came across a Vlchek DBE that resembles a Craftsman. The similar-looking Barcalo raised-panel wrenches always caused me some skepticism, and I guess choosing a long while back to NOT COLLECT Vlchek caused me to ignore any examples like this, preventing me from seeing the resemblance.
At the same vendor’s stall, I saw a “chopped” PLVMB DBE, so now it’s a SBE, like the Duro Lugz just posted.
Why do folks have to mess with “Perfection,” eh?
Elsewhere the same day, I bought a small “alloy steel” Bonney S144 DBE; CR or GR date code, so March or July 1940. SOMEWHERE, my notes tell me, I have a Bonney TuHex 144, but I can’t lay hands on it to make a comparison.
At the same vendor’s stall, I saw a “chopped” PLVMB DBE, so now it’s a SBE, like the Duro Lugz just posted.
Why do folks have to mess with “Perfection,” eh?
Elsewhere the same day, I bought a small “alloy steel” Bonney S144 DBE; CR or GR date code, so March or July 1940. SOMEWHERE, my notes tell me, I have a Bonney TuHex 144, but I can’t lay hands on it to make a comparison.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I had a good dialogue with lauver about them (and their DOE cousins) being a strong alternative to the MDF conventional wisdom on the crashed-and-burned GG forum.
Provincial
Well-known member
I have encountered "chopped" wrenches fairly often. I have even done that to wrenches, but rarely good ones.
Sometimes you need to make a tool for a specific job. Often it requires reaching into a spot that a normal wrench won't fit, or needs a handle with a special offset. Welding is often part of this modification.
I try not us use quality tools for modification, but sometimes the job requires it. In those cases I use the most common and cheapest option that meets the quality standard required. I will never butcher a collectible tool.
That said, when it was "chopped" the tool may not have been collectible, or even that old. It may have been a perfectly good wrench that was chosen because it was available, or perhaps because it had been "put out to pasture" because the owner had filled that slot with a newer and shiner model.
Another common reason is that the missing end had been damaged by abuse or accident, so the owner reverted it to a single-end for a more streamlined shape.
At any rate, and "chopped" tool has lost its collectible value, and becomes simply a tool with a more limited usefulness.
Sometimes you need to make a tool for a specific job. Often it requires reaching into a spot that a normal wrench won't fit, or needs a handle with a special offset. Welding is often part of this modification.
I try not us use quality tools for modification, but sometimes the job requires it. In those cases I use the most common and cheapest option that meets the quality standard required. I will never butcher a collectible tool.
That said, when it was "chopped" the tool may not have been collectible, or even that old. It may have been a perfectly good wrench that was chosen because it was available, or perhaps because it had been "put out to pasture" because the owner had filled that slot with a newer and shiner model.
Another common reason is that the missing end had been damaged by abuse or accident, so the owner reverted it to a single-end for a more streamlined shape.
At any rate, and "chopped" tool has lost its collectible value, and becomes simply a tool with a more limited usefulness.
Provincial
Well-known member
The Vlchek WBE DBE wrench series are yeoman wrenches that perform with the best of their contempories. Strong, relatively light, and somewhat streamlined for the time. I have several I use regularly. The 1-1/2" end is my most-used, as it gets in places my other wrenches of that size won't venture into.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Me too, Jock. I hope I didn't give you the impression that I was mystified by the SBE SO that started life as a DBE. User-modified tools is one of my favorite predilections. I have a special bin for them. Hmm, that might be another good thread idea some day!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Me too, Jock. I hope I didn't give you the impression that I was mystified by the SBE SO that started life as a DBE. User-modified tools is one of my favorite predilections. I have a special bin for them. Hmm, that might be another good thread idea some day!
I'm with you on this Lugs. User mods are sometimes interesting. I don't buy them all, but I DO buy some...
Whoever saw a toolbox full of picture perfect tools "back on the day"? They were tools, and were used and sometimes abused... Probably more so during the war where the "get'er done" emotion was HIGH.
RubiconJK
Well-known member
Kind of surprised that we don't have a thread for Previous Owner / User Mods. I searched this forum and didn't see one. Also, Outlaw I see you are getting in the Halloween spirit!
twertsy
Well-known member
There is/was a thread for those, but I can't find it either............
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Somebody start one! Between the 'Sticky' and the 'Vintage Automobile Paraphernalia' thread, I don't want to be a bandwidth hog, and I'm not with my examples anyway. Staying with Provincial's terminology, isn't their a popular cooking contest/chef challenge show called "Chopped!"?
How about "Chopped! The GJ User Modified Tools Thread"
I have to admit that I am not a fan of every example in my collection. Some I pick up just to make fun of. WWII jeepers use the term "Bubba" to describe some of the monstrosities we see in terms of fixes (as in "Bubba really did a number with the welder on the hat channel in that tub," or "Bubba strikes again with the CJ-5 bumper," etc), and it applies to some Bubba-fied tools, too.
How about "Chopped! The GJ User Modified Tools Thread"
I have to admit that I am not a fan of every example in my collection. Some I pick up just to make fun of. WWII jeepers use the term "Bubba" to describe some of the monstrosities we see in terms of fixes (as in "Bubba really did a number with the welder on the hat channel in that tub," or "Bubba strikes again with the CJ-5 bumper," etc), and it applies to some Bubba-fied tools, too.
There are some modifications on the Home-Made Tools thread, but it isn’t quite what’s been mentioned.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
That's it, LS! Thanks. Yeah, most of the projects are very specialized fabrications, but there are a few goodies on there, such as this "slammer" and this composite screwdriver handle mounted 3/8 chuck. EDIT: I'd prefer a Vintage board one and 'found' examples. Just sayin.
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RubiconJK
Well-known member
Thread started Lugz under the handle you suggested!Somebody start one! Between the 'Sticky' and the 'Vintage Automobile Paraphernalia' thread, I don't want to be a bandwidth hog, and I'm not with my examples anyway. Staying with Provincial's terminology, isn't their a popular cooking contest/chef challenge show called "Chopped!"?
How about "Chopped! The GJ User Modified Tools Thread"
I have to admit that I am not a fan of every example in my collection. Some I pick up just to make fun of. WWII jeepers use the term "Bubba" to describe some of the monstrosities we see in terms of fixes (as in "Bubba really did a number with the welder on the hat channel in that tub," or "Bubba strikes again with the CJ-5 bumper," etc), and it applies to some Bubba-fied tools, too.
Today’s catch: two Blue-Point single-offset DBEs, and a Bonney-made unbranded double-offset “Alloy Steel” DBE with the part number of a TuHex (but not marked so), date-coded Jan1941(AS).
Edit-cleaned the B-Ps up enough, I can see the smaller one is dated -29 (1929). The larger one, I don’t see a date.
Edit-cleaned the B-Ps up enough, I can see the smaller one is dated -29 (1929). The larger one, I don’t see a date.
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Provincial
Well-known member
OP
BlueBomber
Well-known member
Hi, folks! Long time, no post. I've been super busy lately, but on a hardware store run a few weeks ago, I managed to stop in to a ReStore and found these four DBEs:
Billings Vitalloy 8025 offset, 19/32" x 1/2"--might be my first with those two together!
K-D No. 2-91 super deep offset, 1/4" x 3/8"
New Britain angled, 7/16" x 3/8"--never seen a grooved NB before...
Thorsen 2120 offset stubby, 11/16" x 5/8"
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Billings Vitalloy 8025 offset, 19/32" x 1/2"--might be my first with those two together!
K-D No. 2-91 super deep offset, 1/4" x 3/8"
New Britain angled, 7/16" x 3/8"--never seen a grooved NB before...
Thorsen 2120 offset stubby, 11/16" x 5/8"
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
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r_olson_06
Well-known member
Hey BB.Hi, folks! Long time, no post. I've been super busy lately, but on a hardware store run a few weeks ago, I managed to stop in to a ReStore and found these four DBEs:
Billings Vitalloy 8025 offset, 19/32" x 1/2"--might be my first with those two together!
K-D No. 2-91 super deep offset, 1/4" x 3/8"
New Britain angled, 7/16" x 3/8"--never seen a grooved NB before...
Thorsen 2120 offset stubby, 11/16" x 5/8"
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Those Grove NBs are hard to find. Well done.
They also made them in stubbies.
Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061
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454ragtop
Well-known member
Hi, folks! Long time, no post. I've been super busy lately, but on a hardware store run a few weeks ago, I managed to stop in to a ReStore and found these four DBEs:
Billings Vitalloy 8025 offset, 19/32" x 1/2"--might be my first with those two together!
K-D No. 2-91 super deep offset, 1/4" x 3/8"
New Britain angled, 7/16" x 3/8"--never seen a grooved NB before...
Thorsen 2120 offset stubby, 11/16" x 5/8"
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
The KD is a brake bleeder wrench.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
And SOE looooongies!
But you're right about them being scarce. In seven or so years of tool scrounging, those are the only two NB Groovies I have ever seen in the wild. Which is a shame, because they are really good-looking wrenches.
