Anyone collect vintage Taps and dies?

Provincial · May 29, 2019

I posted this on the Garage Sale thread, but am adding it here.

Little Giant No. 101 set. 1/4' to 1/2" NC threads. Missing all the original taps, but has all the dies, diestock, and tap handle.

I'll have to dig through my old taps, as I'm sure I have some GTD taps and some may fit the missing slots.

It was sitting open, with the tray out, and it was starting to rain. I just couldn't let it sit out in the rain! I didn't pay much, as I put together a decent bundle for $10.00, so this probably cost me about a dollar.

bonneyman · May 29, 2019

I know a tool dealer (member fatfillup) who has a roll away full of nothing but taps and dies. I saw it with my own two eyes! :shocking:

Galaxie-Ed · May 29, 2019

bonneyman said:
I know a tool dealer (member fatfillup) who has a roll away full of nothing but taps and dies. I saw it with mu own two eyes!

[emoji46]

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Galaxie-Ed · May 29, 2019

thin_concrete said:
Hi all - I recently picked up a Greenfield set. The tools themselves can be cleaned up with a bit of elbow grease, so no worries there. My concern is the box - does anyone know how to remove wear without damaging the box itself? Does anyone know what kind of wood these were made of? I’d guess starting with a ultra-high grit and then work my way down as needed? Anything I should consider as I build the finish back up?

This set isn’t going anywhere but my shelf in the office with a handful of old tools, and I’d like to find a place for this somewhere.

Thanks in advance,

TC

Honestly, less is more. The less work you do on it the better in terms of originality and sometimes value. Finishes like lacquer can be lightly sanded and reapplied.

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JoCoSawdust · May 30, 2019

While I don't necessarily collect T&Ds specifically, I'm a sucker for anything in cool packaging so T&Ds and stud extractors generally follow me home if the price is right.

outofbounds · Jan 27, 2020

I also posted on Ridgid Pipe Wrench thread, but perhaps better here? Any thoughts on age? My guess is they probably had a decades long run with this 3-way design,(3/8", 1/2", & 3/4" pipe) but this one was found among some pretty old stuff so thought I'd at least inquire.....

Mintgrun · Jan 27, 2020

I have no clue as to the age of your tool, but I'll add photos of a couple of three way models I have; since I scanned the photos in the thread and did not see any that looked similar. I'd guess these are a little older than the Ridgid one, based on their clunky design.

Pretty clever design. On these, one of the three guide holes has a set screw and I am guessing it is there to hold a reducer, so a smaller die can be used in the opposing holder. They are set up for 1/2", 3/4" and 1" now.

outofbounds · Jan 27, 2020

Mintgrun said:
I have no clue as to the age of your tool, but I'll add photos of a couple of three way models I have; since I scanned the photos in the thread and did not see any that looked similar. I'd guess these are a little older than the Ridgid one, based on their clunky design.

Pretty clever design. On these, one of the three guide holes has a set screw and I am guessing it is there to hold a reducer, so a smaller die can be used in the opposing holder. They are set up for 1/2", 3/4" and 1" now.

Cool! I agree. Yours does look to be a bit older than my Ridgid.

Private Lugnutz · Jan 27, 2020

The RIDGID can't be any older than the patent, which is 1941.

Galaxie-Ed · Jan 30, 2020

Galaxie-Ed · Jan 30, 2020

Stuart in MN said:
I picked up this Craftsman tap handle for $2.00 at a yard sale earlier this fall, and was wondering who made it for Sears. It kind of looks like a Greenfield but I'm not sure about that. It's fairly large, about 15" long overall.

Looks like a good user

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Shelbylex · Jan 30, 2020

VM is Danaher 1998+

four.cycle · Feb 14, 2020

1897 "Iron Age" Magazine:

1897 Iron Age Butterfield & Co. Screw Plate ad pp 45.jpg

1897 Iron Age Butterfield & Co. screw plate ad pp 51.jpg

1897 Iron Age Curtis & Curtis screw plate ad pp 51.jpg

1897 Iron Age Duplex Mfg. Co. ad (patent 263402 Aug 29 1882) pp 42.jpg

1897 Iron Age J.M. Carpenter Tap & Die Co. ad pp 139.jpg

1897 Iron Age Manning Maxwell & Moore Morse Twist Drill & Machine Co. ad pp 44.jpg

1897 Iron Age Oster Mfg. Co. screw plate ad pp 50.jpg

four.cycle · Feb 14, 2020

1897 "Iron Age" Magazine:

1897 Iron Age S.W. Card Mfg. Co. ad pp 50.jpg

1897 Iron Age S.W. Card Mfg. Co. ad pp 63.jpg

1897 Iron Age Wells Bros. & Co. ad pp 43.jpg

1897 Iron Age Wells Bros. & Co. ad pp 50.jpg

1897 Iron Age Wells Bros. & Co. ad pp 65.jpg

1897 Iron Age Wiley & Russell Mfg. Co. Screw Plate ad pp 52.jpg

1897 Iron Age Wiley & Russell Screw Plate ad pp 45.jpg

four.cycle · Feb 14, 2020

1897 "Iron Age" Magazine:

1897 Iron Age Wiley & Russell Screw Plate ad pp 140.jpg

1908 "Domestic Engineering" Magazine:

1908 Domestic Engineering Armstrong stocks dies ad pp X.jpg

1908 Domestic Engineering Connecticut Tool Co. ad pp VIII.jpg

four.cycle · Feb 14, 2020

1910 "Machinery" Magazine:

1910 Machinery E.F. Reece Co. ad pp 165.jpg

1910 Machinery S.W. Card Mfg. Co. ad pp 115.jpg

Private Lugnutz · Feb 14, 2020

Good stuff, 4.c. Thanks for your effort.

didit · Feb 14, 2020

I'm not a collector but have a few. A set of Hilkas I bought 55 years ago, use quite often and have never broke one. They have a lifetime guarantee.
The Snap-On set was given to me for doing a job for someone as a gift 25 years ago and have never been used. The last pic is just some odds and ends in a drawer.

didit · Feb 14, 2020

I'm not a collector but have a few. The set of Hilkas I bought 55 years ago, use them quite often and have never broke one. They have a lifetime guarantee.
The Snap-On set was given to me for doing a job for someone as a gift 25 years ago and have never been used. The last pic is just some odds and ends in a drawer.

Private Lugnutz · Mar 5, 2020

I found this Wells Brothers, Greenfield, Mass., "Little Giant" piece today. I believe it's a ratcheting tap handle or possibly for brace type bits. The hole is tapered. The switch at the end reverses direction. That spring screwed into the head provides tension on the drive wheel. I'll have to inspect it closer this weekend.

Oregon rock crusher · Mar 6, 2020

Now that is an interesting ratcheting handle and one I've never seen before. The tapered socket would be an odd duck for taps. Ed.

Jim C. · Mar 6, 2020

I have a couple gently used Craftsman SAE sets. I like the adjustable dies. I’ve been on the hunt for a Craftsman metric set from the same general time frame.(1960s to early 1970s). That seems like a tough set to find. I saw one about a year ago, however, it was missing pieces and the box was in bad shape. I passed on it. The hunt continues.....

Jim C.

Private Lugnutz · Mar 6, 2020

Oregon rock crusher said:
Now that is an interesting ratcheting handle and one I've never seen before. The tapered socket would be an odd duck for taps.

Agreed, Ed. I'm going with drill for now.

RTM · Mar 6, 2020

Wells did make chucks etc for converting taps to work in braces, so this may be an alternate driver. Does it hold a bitstock tool?

In catalogs found at Vintage Machinery, nothing looked like yours. But yours also looks a bit newer than these catalogs.

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=1269&tab=3

Private Lugnutz · Mar 6, 2020

Ed, RTM:

My bad for confusing or wild-goose-chasing you guys. I should've done more investigation before posting.

I found my tap ratchet wrench in the 1895 Wells Brothers catalog.

I am not at home to confirm this, but I would bet dollars to donuts that the opening is not tapered. It probably has two different size openings, one on each side, both square, and each accommodating a different size tap. The box set came with four (4) "sockets" - one (1) inside the tap ratchet and three (3) others, for use with eight (8) different taps, covering 1/4" to 3/4".

I saw two different openings and, in my haste, and knowing what Wells Bros made, I just thought, hmmm, tapered.

Now I need to find the box and the three other tap sockets!

Provincial · Mar 6, 2020

I suspect that sales were slowed by the fact that it applied an uneven force to the tap, increasing the chance of breakage. Most tap handles either have two handles of roughly equal length, or a sliding bar that can be moved to a center point to make equal length handles.

Perhaps they made a version with equal handles? The ratcheting action is very handy in some cases. A removable second handle would make sense.

Private Lugnutz · Mar 6, 2020

Did you read the description, Jock? It seems explicitly intended for close-quarter jobs, where you'd have trouble even getting a tap over your work let alone a full turn with a typical fixed or sliding T tap handle.

Provincial · Mar 6, 2020

Guilty of not reading the catalog description. I still think they should have had a "two-handle" option. Sales might have been quite brisk.

Oregon rock crusher · Mar 6, 2020

That is still cool as hell. I don't know how many times I've gone looking for a 4 or 8 point socket to get a tap to drive in a tight spot. Something else to keep an eye out for... Ed.

RTM · Mar 6, 2020

Argh, I was scrolling quickly for something outside of a box, not a tool in a box. Nice find.

I think my Yankee ratchet tap handle can slide off center for similar work, but a bit smaller.

Private Lugnutz · Mar 6, 2020

RTM said:
Nice find.

Thanks, and thanks for the VM.com prompt. I always forget they can be useful for hand tools, too, sometimes.

Oregon rock crusher said:
That is still cool as hell.

I thought so! Thanks, Ed.

It was giving me fits changing directions, so I took it further apart this time and discovered that the spring was all bent and gunked up, preventing the business end of that rod from turning the pawl/dog. Fixed that and lubed it up. Works like a charm now.

ifishaholic · Apr 3, 2020

Ok, also inherited from my grandpa:

Private Lugnutz · Apr 3, 2020

Nice. I don't think I've ever seen a /G\T/D\ tap set in a box that opened from the narrow end like that.

Private Lugnutz · Sep 13, 2020

I found this old tap handle at the flea market this morning. It cleaned up pretty well. The black is original japanning. I love the grain in the handles. No brand markings. One of the bolts and wingnuts has been replaced, but that hardware is just as old! There are captive springs in there to provide tension when adjusting.

r_olson_06 · Sep 13, 2020

Private Lugnutz said:
I found this old tap handle at the flea market this morning. It cleaned up pretty well. The black is original japanning. I love the grain in the handles. No brand markings. One of the bolts and wingnuts has been replaced, but that hardware is just as old! There are captive springs in there to provide tension when adjusting.

Very neat piece! That wood grain is amazing.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

snapmom · Sep 13, 2020

Blue Point whitworth set

davethorik · Sep 14, 2020

Private Lugnutz said:
I found this old tap handle at the flea market this morning. It cleaned up pretty well. The black is original japanning. I love the grain in the handles. No brand markings. One of the bolts and wingnuts has been replaced, but that hardware is just as old! There are captive springs in there to provide tension when adjusting.

Is the square opening tapered? I have one and the name escapes me at the moment, but it is for brace bits and has a tapered hole.

davethorik · Sep 14, 2020

Found it. Mine comes in at 16" oal. Also no markings, has traces of original finish but this one has some rust. The square opening tapers from roughly 3/8" to 1/4".

Private Lugnutz · Sep 14, 2020

r_olson_06 said:
Very neat piece! That wood grain is amazing.

Thanks, roy.

davethorik said:
Is the square opening tapered? I have one and the name escapes me at the moment, but it is for brace bits and has a tapered hole.

davethorik said:
Found it. Mine comes in at 16" oal. Also no markings, has traces of original finish but this one has some rust. The square opening tapers from roughly 3/8" to 1/4".

Hi Dave. They sure look like the same exact tool and mine is also 16" OAL. But it's not a tapered opening. Per se. Not continuous, anyway. Two different square openings with a cavity between them.

Have you ever had yours open? Are you sure it tapers? Or is it identical to mine? I suppose it could accommodate, chuck-like, the tapered bit of a large and long brace bit drill, but I'm still leaning toward tap handle that can accommodate a different size tap on either side. I could be wrong. I was going to look through some old cats today.

Interesting how I had a similar issue with the Little Giant Ratcheting Tap Handle I found earlier this year. In that case I initially thought it was a ratcheting drill because of the "tapered" opening; it turned out to be a tap handle with two different openings. See Posts #140, #145, and #151.

MR.X · Sep 14, 2020

Anyone know who made this? :headscrat

Anyone collect vintage Taps and dies?

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