Why no Vlchek

Elroy · Apr 4, 2009

With the great history behind these tools, Elroy is a little surprised there is not more interest in them. With people falling all over themselves to pick-up those pebble grain Plombs, why no interest in Vlchec??

Here is an oldie but goodie for ya:

And another:

krusty the clown · Apr 4, 2009

i have a few vlchek wrenches, while it's not my main area of collecting, i rarely pass on anything old and cool.

speed bump · Apr 4, 2009

I have a 13/16 Vlcheck combo wrench that is very interesting as its beam is designed to be used in only 1 direction. One side of the beam is pretty flat (think mac wrench flat) and the other side is rounded (like a non-ASD proto) and so you have a nice flat spot to put your thumb and rounded place to wrap your fingers around.

krusty the clown · Apr 4, 2009

mine are the v-shield style, like this one on alloy-artifacts......

Merkava_4 · Apr 4, 2009

Never heard of them until now.

PowderKeg · Apr 4, 2009

I like those Vlchek/Wizard wrenches with the ((((( ))))) as well. Don't see them very often and only have a few. Those and the old Thorsens with the V shaped beam that sorta resembles older Snap-On open ends. And the old Blue Point Supremes that recently sold in the classified. And also.....

No!!!! Must.... fight..... urge.... to..... collect.....wrenches!!!!

krusty the clown · Apr 4, 2009

PowderKeg said:
No!!!! Must.... fight..... urge.... to..... collect.....wrenches!!!!

awww go ahead........your almost out of ratchets to collect :bounce:

better than collecting screwdrivers :spit:

back2class · Apr 4, 2009

seen a few Wizards at the flea mrkt today

krusty the clown · Apr 4, 2009

not all wizard's were vlchek produced. duro/indestro made some as well. wizard was monkey wards private brand.

Elroy · Apr 4, 2009

Wizard was a Western Auto brand

Uncle Buck · Apr 4, 2009

Elroy said:
Wizard was a Western Auto brand

Yup, he beat me to it Krusty. :thumbup:

krusty the clown · Apr 4, 2009

ooops..........damn memory...........

Elroy · Apr 4, 2009

Elroy has the funny hat

Krusty has the funny hair

Bolster · Apr 4, 2009

Funny this gets posted, I have just recently (last month) been training my sights on Vlcheks and a few other brands. I agree the Plomb mania has gotten a little silly and out of hand. I like the Vlcheck history quite a bit.

How does one distinguish a Vlchek Wizard from other Wizards?

krusty the clown · Apr 4, 2009

here ya go my gopher eating friend.......

http://alloy-artifacts.com/vlchek-story-p4.html#wizard-h2103

PowderKeg · Apr 4, 2009

krusty the clown said:
awww go ahead........your almost out of ratchets to collect

better than collecting screwdrivers

Nah, I'm still short of having a different one for each day of the year. :drool:

Although I'll need to watch for one of those Beach cabinets with the bunch of thin drawers to store 'em in (like the one that was in the 'fieds awhile back). I've nearly run out of room in the couple of filmstrips cabs I got 'em in now.

Scooterfish · Apr 4, 2009

I believe the Indestro -duro should have a small "d" on the wrench .

Uncle Buck · Apr 4, 2009

PowderKeg said:
Nah, I'm still short of having a different one for each day of the year.

Although I'll need to watch for one of those Beach cabinets with the bunch of thin drawers to store 'em in (like the one that was in the 'fieds awhile back). I've nearly run out of room in the couple of filmstrips cabs I got 'em in now.

I been meanin to talk to you bout all them ratchets, don't you think you might need to thin the herd a bit? Lets you and I jaw that over a bit! :spit:

v8garage · Apr 5, 2009

I am trying to put together a set of Vlchek combos together like the one in the picture below from Alloy Artifacts. Been picking them up at the flea markets and also have a few box ends.

MAD · Apr 5, 2009

Here are a couple of my tappet wrenches for ya.

Tool Pants · Apr 5, 2009

Have a Vlchek 3/8" ratchet #2800. Just like the 3800 on Alloy Artifacts, except for the drive size.

http://alloy-artifacts.com/vlchek-story-p3.html#sockets

I consider this an economy ratchet.

Coach James · Apr 5, 2009

I have some Vlchek wrenches and a couple screwrivers as well. I like them but I like any tools that are old and USA made.

Coach

Chris Adams · Apr 5, 2009

I have a number of 'Wizard' brand wrenches, sockets, spin handle, but I never really thought about who made them.
I bought them when I worked at Western Auto, in 70.
They were just tools, but lots of them survived the fire I had in 84 mostly because they were in the junk drawer at the bottom.

The Vlchek would all have that V emblem?

I suspect all mine are duro/indestro, small D right?

I may look today.

lauver · Apr 5, 2009

Tool Pants said:
Have a Vlchek 3/8" ratchet #2800. Just like the 3800 on Alloy Artifacts, except for the drive size.

http://alloy-artifacts.com/vlchek-story-p3.html#sockets

I consider this an economy ratchet.

TP,

Nice find!

That ratchet has got to be pretty smooth; I counted 45 teeth, plus or minus.
I've never run across a Vlcheck ratchet...How does it feel now that it is cleaned and lubed?

RRmech · Apr 5, 2009

I hit the flea markets/yard sales in my area all the time.
I would buy a Vichek/Wizard tool, if I saw one.
Problem is, I never see one?

Steve

Vulturej · Apr 5, 2009

I was looking through my junk drawer, um I mean miscellaneous tool drawer and found these.

PowderKeg · Apr 5, 2009

Uncle Buck said:
I been meanin to talk to you bout all them ratchets, don't you think you might need to thin the herd a bit? Lets you and I jaw that over a bit!

I do have a small handful I've been intending to post in the classified, if I can get off my **** and take some pics...

Tool Pants · Apr 5, 2009

lauver said:
TP,

Nice find!

That ratchet has got to be pretty smooth; I counted 45 teeth, plus or minus.
I've never run across a Vlcheck ratchet...How does it feel now that it is cleaned and lubed?

That thing is maybe from 35 years ago. Don't remember where I got it, but I did not buy it. It does work. Nothing wrong inside, but it is cheap construction. Vlchek mass-produced tools for the masses. Go down to the local auto parts place in the olden days and that is what was being sold for a few dollars. These days it is China and Taiwan stuff.

lbgradwell · Apr 5, 2009

Tool Pants said:
Have a Vlchek 3/8" ratchet #2800. Just like the 3800 on Alloy Artifacts, except for the drive size.

Pretty sure that's a Pendleton Tools ratchet...

fatfillup · Apr 5, 2009

v8garage said:
I am trying to put together a set of Vlchek combos together like the one in the picture below from Alloy Artifacts. Been picking them up at the flea markets and also have a few box ends.

I've got a 7/8 combo in my road box. I really like the narrow handle. Bought it at a flea market at a steam engine show for $2. Thought it felt good and looked cool. Course that was before I got the sickness :lol_hitti

. I really like the quality and look for more.

old salvage · Apr 5, 2009

lbgradwell said:
Pretty sure that's a Pendleton Tools ratchet...

Agreed.
I have a Challenger and a Fleet that have identical innards.

lauver · Apr 5, 2009

Tool Pants said:
That thing is maybe from 35 years ago. Don't remember where I got it, but I did not buy it. It does work. Nothing wrong inside, but it is cheap construction. Vlchek mass-produced tools for the masses. Go down to the local auto parts place in the olden days and that is what was being sold for a few dollars. These days it is China and Taiwan stuff.

TP,

That ratchet does not look like a POS; it looks to be well made. Throw some fresh butter in it and take it for a spin. You may be surprised.

LG suggests that ratchet may have actually been made by Pendleton, and someone else mentioned Fleet. I think you may have the wrong impression of Vlchek tools.

Tool Pants · Apr 6, 2009

I have butter.

The Pendletons are rolling over in their graves if they made something as cheap as that.

No different then the Taiwanese stuff I have taken apart.

v8garage · Apr 6, 2009

Tool Pants said:
I have butter.

The Pendletons are rolling over in their graves if they made something as cheap as that.

No different then the Taiwanese stuff I have taken apart.

Of course you must know that the asian ratchets are all copies of American designs. That being so I don't see your point. Just because the Taiwanese copy an American ratchet half a century or more after the fact doesn't make the original bad.
V/8

Kev442 · Nov 21, 2009

I took a brass brush to an ancient pair of pliers that probably arrived at my doorstep in the trunk of a project car and lo and behold: vlchek pr208, made in the good old USA! first I've heard of vlchek myself, so I thought I would tack it onto this thread. :thumbup:

supertooljunkie · Nov 21, 2009

I found a Vlchek WHH1618 1/2 x 9/16 box end wrench and a 28-S open end 25/32 x 5/8 at the pawn shop this week. The 28-S looks like new. Paid $1 each.
Hell of a deal.

tatra · Nov 21, 2009

seen vlcheck on wrenches at work that were being scrapped and thought it was an employee who put his name on the wrenches he used on the equipment they came with..........mostly double open ends for mills and such...........

eborcim · Nov 21, 2009

I'll try and dig out some of my Vlchek for ya...I see quite a bit on flebay, but sellers seem to want to trade your first born for it.

Dale B · Nov 22, 2009

I've been collecting the Vlchek dbl box and box open end wrenches for about ten years . If anyone needs some to fill sets , contact me , I have lots of duplicates . I'll post my sets when I learn how to do it .....

Zrexxer · Nov 22, 2009

I found this Vlchek box wrench buried in the dirt on the back side of a Corps of Engineers lake about 35 years ago while heading to a fishing hole. Never really took it seriously until a few years ago. 1-1/4" and 1-5/16".

Why no Vlchek

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