4" Diamalloy adjustable wrench

[Stuart in MN]

Over time I've ended up with a small collection of Diamalloy / Diamond Caulk adjustable wrenches, and the one size I was missing was the little 4" one. I finally found one at a swap meet today - it's a cute little thing.

 

[camarotoolman]

I collected all of them once 4 to 24"

 

[HandyManny]

Nice collection. Snag them up when you see them. They don't make them like that anymore.

I have a 12 inch I bought back in '55 and and a 10 inch a year later. Both Diamalloy,and both with Diamond Calk Horseshoe Co and horseshoe/calk symbol raise forged in. The 12 incher is chrome plated and well worn, and the 10 incher is (or was) black oxide finished with plenty of wear, basically most if the whole tool has patina'd to a dark grey. Those were great American made adjustables. Those old Diamond wrenches are functional relics of a by-gone era in US tool manufacturing. Mine have been excellent hand tools. Right now as we speak there are approx only 3 manufacturers of adjustble wrenches still left here in the USA, those are:

Western Forge,
Reed Mfg Co.
Klien Tools.

If anyone esle knows of others, let me know.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Right now as we speak there are approx only 3 manufacturers of adjustble wrenches still left here in the USA, those are:

Western Forge,
Reed Mfg Co.
Klien Tools.

If anyone esle knows of others, let me know.

The Williams catalog says their adjustables are still USA-made:

http://www.snaponindustrialbrands.com/DSN/wwwsnaponindustrialbrandscom/Content/PDF/SNCAT1_126.pdf

And Proto adjustables are probably still USA-made (hard to be certain, since under the corporate umbrella of Satanly Black & Darker (sic) they no longer list any COO:

http://www.stanleyproto.com/default...HES&strSiteName=PROTO&strDefaultCatalog=PROTO

I haven't been paying much attention in recent years, and am a little shocked to see that Cooper or Apex or whoever-the-hell owns Diamond Tool now has reduced the Diamond Tool line to a shadow of its former self.

 

[HandyManny]

The Williams catalog says their adjustables are still USA-made:

http://www.snaponindustrialbrands.com/DSN/wwwsnaponindustrialbrandscom/Content/PDF/SNCAT1_126.pdf

And Proto adjustables are probably still USA-made (hard to be certain, since under the corporate umbrella of Satanly Black & Darker (sic) they no longer list any COO:

http://www.stanleyproto.com/default...HES&strSiteName=PROTO&strDefaultCatalog=PROTO

I haven't been paying much attention in recent years, and am a little shocked to see that Cooper or Apex or whoever-the-hell owns Diamond Tool now has reduced the Diamond Tool line to a shadow of its former self.

You might be thinking older Williams. I don't think Williams has actually made an adjustable wrench here in USA since they closed the New York facility in the early 1080's. Todays Williams are like Snap-On. They seem to be Bahco's (modern Spanish made Irimo wrenches)

I believe that the current Proto adjustables are (were) made by Cooper Apex. Just rebranded USA Crescents. Not sure about this year though. Crescent seems tohave moved production to China this year.

 

[metaldad]

Crescent seems to have moved production to China this year.

Yes they have. all new stock i've seen at wholesalers are chink

 

[5lima30]

I have a couple of Diamond adjustable wrenches. They are some of the best IMHO. BTW, Diamond still makes farrier tools as well. I have a pair of my Dad's old farrier nippers.

 

[WWIIjeep]

You might be thinking older Williams. I don't think Williams has actually made an adjustable wrench here in USA since they closed the New York facility in the early 1080's. Todays Williams are like Snap-On. They seem to be Bahco's (modern Spanish made Irimo wrenches)

Then, why, on the Williams (Snap-On Industrial) website link I posted, does it say "Made in USA"...? IMO, Snap-On seems to be pretty good about telling us where things are made.

I believe that the current Proto adjustables are (were) made by Cooper Apex. Just rebranded USA Crescents. Not sure about this year though. Crescent seems tohave moved production to China this year.

I'm calling Proto this week to order a few puller parts, so I'll try to remember to ask them about their adjustable wrenches. Not that it exactly matters to me, because I haven't bought an adjustable wrench in this century, and I have enough of them so that I probably won't ever need to buy another one.

 

[thammel]

I really like diamalloy. I have their large and small long nosed pliers. They have seen a LOT of use over the years!

Tom

 

[HandyManny]

Then, why, on the Williams (Snap-On Industrial) website link I posted, does it say "Made in USA"...? IMO, Snap-On seems to be pretty good about telling us where things are made.



I'm calling Proto this week to order a few puller parts, so I'll try to remember to ask them about their adjustable wrenches. Not that it exactly matters to me, because I haven't bought an adjustable wrench in this century, and I have enough of them so that I probably won't ever need to buy another one.

Good question. Maybe they are now having Western Forge make their adjustables for Williams. As far as I know Williams hasn't made an adjustable for about 30 years. Seems unlikely that thay would tool up to make their own in-house now that they are importing some of their tools from Taiwan. Since Snap-On has their adjustables made by thier Spanish Bahco owned subsidiary these days I'm not sure why SO would not have Williams utilize the same production. Again, good question.

As far as Proto goes the new one I saw looked and felt just like the recent USA Crescents, but I could be mistaken on Apex/Cooper being the OEM. Would be interesting to hear what they say. As far as I know most of Proto's in house domestically made tools are made in the old National Handtool facility in Texas that Stanely had acquired. As far as I also know, Proto never made an adjustable, their were contract manufacture for them. At least they were. Will be interesting to find out. Let us know.

 

[HandyManny]

Hey WWIIjeep, not sure how credible this is, but read the first review (one star). http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XZKMMY/?tag=atomicindus08-20


These ones on ebay are clearly Western Forge for Williams. Not only can you see the WF where it is on all Western Forge made adjustables, but they are mirror images of the current Craftsman Black Oxide pattern, but these are Cobalt plated. http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-JH-Will...ps=63&clkid=151405771553433576&_qi=RTM1062689

 

[WWIIjeep]

Good question. Maybe they are now having Western Forge make their adjustables for Williams. As far as I know Williams hasn't made an adjustable for about 30 years.

Well, 30 years is about how long it's been since my main new tool buying days ended. There's been very little I've needed since then, other than a few specialty wrenches and warranty or replacement parts. That's probably another reason why the Snap-On salesman doesn't exactly come running when I call.

As far as Proto goes the new one I saw looked and felt just like the recent USA Crescents, but I could be mistaken on Apex/Cooper being the OEM. Would be interesting to hear what they say. As far as I know most of Proto's in house domestically made tools are made in the old National Handtool facility in Texas that Stanely had acquired. As far as I also know, Proto never made an adjustable, their were contract manufacture for them. At least they were. Will be interesting to find out. Let us know.

I wrote it on my parts want list to remind me to ask, otherwise I'll certainly forget. Proto adjustables of the 60s and 70s (which are what all of mine are) had a distinct shape to the head, unlike any of the other common brands at the time. I'd say 90% of my Proto tools are Ingersoll-Rand era, and still mostly in excellent condition.

 

[plumber84]

The only makers of adjustable wrenches in the US nowadays are, Western forge, Klien and Apex, also there is a US manufacturer called MRI that makes a titanium adjustable wrench but this tool costs almost $850 for a "10 wrench. Reed mnfg uses the Spanish firm irega as their supplier of adjustable wrenches.

 

[4x4gearhead]

The only US williams adjustables I remember seeing were the "Superjustables" which I happen to have a small collection of

 

[HandyManny]

The only makers of adjustable wrenches in the US nowadays are, Western forge, Klien and Apex, also there is a US manufacturer called MRI that makes a titanium adjustable wrench but this tool costs almost $850 for a "10 wrench. Reed mnfg uses the Spanish firm irega as their supplier of adjustable wrenches.

Are you sure about Reed Mfg Co? I had just seen some of their new tools this past weekend at a specilaty tool store across town. First time I'd seen any of their new stuff since about the early 1970's. Didn't see any of their adjustables, but their website shows some. Any well improved 8" adjustable these days typically has more that 7/8ths inch jaw capacity. Irega's typically have thinner jaws, lighter in weight, very nicely balanced feel, less wiggle in the jaws, wider jaw capacity, and overall a different profile. Also according to Reed's website, most of their tools are made by them in Erie Pa, USA. Perhaps Reed is using the Irega Model 77 wrench? If so then I guess Reed knows a high quality product when they see one and Irega makes excellent wrenches.

From Reed Mfg Co FAQs:
Q: Does Reed manufacture their own tools or does someone else?
A: Reed manufactures their own tools with quality workmanship and parts made in the USA. Almost all tools are made right in Erie, Pennsylvania.




Off topic, but I'll tell you one thing after observing Reeds recent offering in tools. I was terribly disappointed with much of their USA made tools. Not at all the levels of quality that I once recall from them. Not sure why a lot of members here always think that Made in USA always means quality these days, it's just no true anymore. The Reed pipe wrenches I handled had terrible slop and unacceptable side to side movement of their dynamic jaw, and I'm not talking about the forward and rear pivoting movement that a pipe wrench is supposed to have to function properly either. The broached jaw teeth felt so dull that I had serious doubts that they could bite in and hold onto any iron or steel pipe. Their pipe cutters also left a lot to be desired. I have some other brand USA made cutters that are way better in feel and function that those new Reed's I saw. To me it appeared that a lot of their tools are still being made on old worn out machinery and equipment. And people think this means quality?? Seems to me like Reed, an industrial tool manufacturer for the pipe fitting and plumbing industry would know better! Ridgid still makes much better piping and plumbing tools than Reed does.

 

[plumber84]

Ridgid makes a few tools for Reed, such as their offset hex wrench and their adjustable spud wrench, also think they are supplied by Imperial for some of their pipe cutters and flaring tools.
If you check out reeds website they offer the Irega model 99 in "6+"8 handless versions.

 

[HandyManny]

Ridgid makes a few tools for Reed, such as their offset hex wrench and their adjustable spud wrench, also think they are supplied by Imperial for some of their pipe cutters and flaring tools.
If you check out reeds website they offer the Irega model 99 in "6+"8 handless versions.

I was just noticing the same thing about their cutters. Their smallest mini tube cutter looks exactly like the old Imperial tube cutter I bought at Sears years ago. A quick check on Reeds website for replacement cutting wheels showed that the Imperial also fits theirs. Their looks exactly alike. Hmmm, guess Reed is having many tools made for them too these days. I'm glad to hear that Reed is using the Irega wrenches these days. Those are some top notch wrenches, not only tough and light weight, but also well balanced in feel just like the the old Diamond Calk wrenches felt.

One things is for certain though, Reed may make great vises, but doesn't seem like they can make a good pipewrench to save their life, maybe they should just have The Ridge Tool Co make theirs for them.

 

[fordbroncodave]

i have a few pairs of adjustable joint pliers with green handles. they remind me of SK in a way.