Any GRAY (Canada) Tool users here?

[RRmech]

When a Canadian-born co-worker retired about 15 years ago, I bought up his GRAY (Canada) wrenches and 1/2 drive ratchet & sockets.
He didn't want to drag everything back to Toronto, so he sold his tools off fairly cheap.
The 1/2 drive ratchet, looks a lot like the post WWII Snap-On ratchets?
The wrenches & sockets look quite old too, but very heavy duty.
The GRAY Tools were given a real good workout for years, with no problems whatsoever.
Those old GRAY Tools, are the only ones I have ever seen here in the US?
Good stuff!!

Steve

 

[wrenchr]

I'm a big fan and have a long 1/2 gray!! These are high grade tools that not many people know about!!

 

[vssjim]

They are around but all I have is a Gray 3/8 industrial finish ratchet, I bought it new from Central Armature Works in Washington, DC.

 

[arkangel06]

great tools are one of the benifits of being in canada

all my gray tools are great never had any porblems very high quality!

 

[RRmech]

Central Armature Works was right down the tracks, from our rail yard on T street, N.E

Steve

 

[dxdexter]

Over half my tools are Gray. Between the 1960's and 1980's they came in basically two different series: the professional Gray Canada series with high polish chrome finish and a much rougher nickel plated hardware store series called "Maple Leaf" (often having a leaf symbol stamped into the tool). You can check out my gallery in the pictures and albums section and see many different Gray and Gray-Bonney tools.

Many feel the ratchets are rough, especially the 1/2" drive, but they are virtually bullet proof.

Which ratchet does yours resemble? They have a date code on the handle. I haven't quite figured the code, but have an idea based on known purchase dates of some of my tools.

 

[riley.m]

i really like the look of those ratchets,early Snap-onish.

 

[davestlouis]

Very nice ratchets...I don't own any wrenches.

 

[RRmech]

The 1/2 drive ratchet, looks very much like the ratchet to the immediate left of the Gray-Bonney.
The wrenches are NOT chromed, and have the same finish as that Gray-Bonney ratchet also.

Steve

 

[a390st]

I have a few odd Gray wrenches from different eras, and none of them are high polished chrome. They are all the matte nickel finish.

 

[rhandwor]

I have a set of metric combination,1/2 ratchet and a couple of impact sockets.

 

[dxdexter]

The 1/2 drive ratchet, looks very much like the ratchet to the immediate left of the Gray-Bonney.
The wrenches are NOT chromed, and have the same finish as that Gray-Bonney ratchet also.

Steve

If you mean the forth from the left, then that is a model 5297 and was produced from the 1950's through to the late 1970's. They are different from the later ratchets in that they have removable plates on both the upper and lower sides of the oval head. If it has the hole in the handle then it is more than likely earlier in the date range given.

 

[dxdexter]

I have a few odd Gray wrenches from different eras, and none of them are high polished chrome. They are all the matte nickel finish.

They are more than likely either the maple leaf series or pre 1960's

Gray has had many different finishes since 1912. Some I have range from black painted finish from the 1930's to highly polished chrome. The wrench on the bottom is the roughler finished Maple Leaf Series.

 

[Paladin]

Speaking of Gray, anyone know of some good stores to buy Gray Tools in BC, namely Prince George, Chetwynd, Dawson Creek?

 

[lbgradwell]

If you mean the forth from the left, then that is a model 5297 and was produced from the 1950's through to the late 1970's. They are different from the later ratchets in that they have removable plates on both the upper and lower sides of the oval head. If it has the hole in the handle then it is more than likely earlier in the date range given.

Good to know!

So may I assume my 5297 with the hole in the handle and a date code of a 9 inside a circle with double line off both sides of the circle is a 1959 or 1969? If so, it's older than I had realized...

 

[1961MGA]

Gray tools are great!

hard to find a dealer though. I live just up the road from the head office on Orenda in Brampton, but they won't sell from there for some reason.

I can only think of a few places out here that even sell a limited section of their tools. They don't have trucks or anything and like I said, difficult to find.

 

[RRmech]

I need to get my eyes examined.....or my memory checked?
I took a GOOD look at that 1/2 drive GRAY ratchet I own.

Model #1497
It has separate bands of knurling on the handle, along with a hole through the handle.

Steve

 

[dxdexter]

I need to get my eyes examined.....or my memory checked?
I took a GOOD look at that 1/2 drive GRAY ratchet I own.

Model #1497
It has separate bands of knurling on the handle, along with a hole through the handle.

Steve

That's an old one for sure. The 5th ratchet from the left is a 1497. It would be a Gray-Bonney and made somewhere in the late 40's to early 50's. Not sure when the 1497 was discontinued (not in the 1955 catalog), but the same number was used on the wide flat handle type as early as 1941(similar to the old Snap-on flat handled ratchets) as well as the knurled handle type you have.

The bottom line is that you should definitely sell that ratchet to me as soon as possible.

Got any pictures???

 

[Tool Pants]

I saw my first Gray tool at the flea market yesterday. It was a 1/2" ratchet like the second from the left. Had Gray and a model number on one side of the handle, and Canada on the other side. Guy wanted too much, a little beat up, and some chrome loss. So I did not buy it.

Would be interesting to find out how it ended up in California.

 

[Jared]

Speaking of Gray, anyone know of some good stores to buy Gray Tools in BC, namely Prince George, Chetwynd, Dawson Creek?

I would think that gray would be easy to buy in prince george, i know there is a western equipment there they stock a fair bit of gray stuff atleast the one in victoria does.

 

[Paladin]

I would think that gray would be easy to buy in prince george, i know there is a western equipment there they stock a fair bit of gray stuff atleast the one in victoria does.

Cool! Thanks Jared. I'll look it up. I'll be passing thru on my way back to Alaska in July, so I figured I take a look at some Gray stuff. I see your avatar: Watch for black smoke behind an '03 CTD Ram as I go thru BC!

 

[Jared]

Cool! Thanks Jared. I'll look it up. I'll be passing thru on my way back to Alaska in July, so I figured I take a look at some Gray stuff. I see your avatar: Watch for black smoke behind an '03 CTD Ram as I go thru BC!

Where abouts in alaska are you going? going camping?

 

[Paladin]

Where abouts in alaska are you going? going camping?

Anchorage/Kenai penninsula area. We'll be taking the toy hauler with us, so we'll be camping. I'm an Alaska resident, just in Idaho because I'm stationed here.

 

[caper]

Gray tools are great!

hard to find a dealer though. I live just up the road from the head office on Orenda in Brampton, but they won't sell from there for some reason.

I can only think of a few places out here that even sell a limited section of their tools. They don't have trucks or anything and like I said, difficult to find.

If you live on Orenda take a drive down Dixie Rd to Cisco Industrial supply down just north of the 401.The have a really good selection of Gray Tools and usually have a large yard sale every spring with alot of scratch and dent toolboxes and such.The Gray Tools Factory Display trailer was onsite there for the yard sale the last time I was there,just like getting on a snap on truck,everything on display on the walls.Anything you wanted was available instore.Got a side cabinet with prybar storage for 100 bucks with a small dent that can't be seen,insulated phillips screwdrivers for 2 bucks the last trip.

 

[lbgradwell]

Model #1497
It has separate bands of knurling on the handle, along with a hole through the handle.

...It would be a Gray-Bonney and made somewhere in the late 40's to early 50's. Not sure when the 1497 was discontinued (not in the 1955 catalog), but the same number was used on the wide flat handle type as early as 1941(similar to the old Snap-on flat handled ratchets) as well as the knurled handle type you have.

Bumping an old thread...

Steve, I can now add a more specific date to the information Dex provided above:

Gray discontinued the No. 1497 ratchet in November 1952 according to the 1961 Price List.

 

[buco]

Speaking of Gray, anyone know of some good stores to buy Gray Tools in BC, namely Prince George, Chetwynd, Dawson Creek?

in prince george wiser rope carries gray.

 

[buco]

Gray also uses steel out of Hamilton to make the tools. 100% Canadian product.

here's there current sales flyer

http://www.graytools.com/specialoffers/specialoffers.html

 

[Tylermorris]

I have lots of Gray tools and they are great.
I’ve got full sets of wrenches and sockets just to lazy to pull all out right now

 

[sberry]

I was trying to attach my Gray video but ain't happnin.

 

[sberry]

****, still a vid problem. I wanted to show my busted Gray 8 inch adjustable. If I drove north about 4 hours can I get it warranted?

 

[rmsg0040]

You can get it warranted but you will get a Taiwan adjustable wrench, I recently had an old 6" made in Canada but got handed back a Taiwan made one.

They no longer make adjustable wrenches that are made in Canada

Is it worth a 4 hour drive for an adjustable wrench?

 

[gerryw]

I buy Gray direct from them. Sign up to email/ physical address, to get specials/catalogs.

Gerry

 

[bczygan]

Got a few random wrenches from garage sales.

Bill

 

[buckwheat_la]

I saw a tool store in Calgary go under who had a **** load of Gray tools. Took me two days to go through individual boxes but I got new sets of almost everything for pennies on the dollar.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have a few GRAY tools including ratchets, sockets, extensions and wrenches. The Gray tools were always part of a bigger purchase. I don't prefer Gray, the brand is just Okay.
.

 

[buckwheat_la]

I have a few GRAY tools including ratchets, sockets, extensions and wrenches. The Gray tools were always part of a bigger purchase. I don't prefer Gray, the brand is just Okay.
.

Just ok? Seem to have great chrome and are tough. Whats not to like?

 

[rmsg0040]

^^ Doesn't have that "bling" factor like other brands but we use em at work and they hold up

 

[Professional Tool User]

Gray is what Canada has for Proto. A former co worker told me he bought a Gray 3/4 dr set back in the day, not sure if was chrome or not, impacted it and only one of the sockets broke so far which he later welded back together. If you can find used Gray tools for cheap, buy it. The tools are not the shiniest ones out there, but they are solid. I've got a few of their pry bars, some sockets, and wrenches.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The only thing I use this c. 1920's Gray set for is show n' tell.

 

[buckwheat_la]

Gray is what Canada has for Proto. A former co worker told me he bought a Gray 3/4 dr set back in the day, not sure if was chrome or not, impacted it and only one of the sockets broke so far which he later welded back together. If you can find used Gray tools for cheap, buy it. The tools are not the shiniest ones out there, but they are solid. I've got a few of their pry bars, some sockets, and wrenches.

I agree they are a lot like Proto. Difference is that they are really good value. I am surprised they don't aim at the USA market as with the dollar difference they would make a killing.