Barcalo Buffalo Tools

[Private Lugnutz]

Pic 1 are the three (3) Barcalo DOE's (25, 27-C, and 731-A) I picked up among that retired, deceased WWII Master Mechanics lot, after clean-up. I may work on those unsightly box rot stains on the 731-A a little more. In Pic 2 they are joined by a 723 and 28-S from my stash, making a complete WWII jeep set. Pic 3 is a flip side shot. Pic 4 a stacked set shot.

This set provides an interesting, infamous illustration about wartime Barcalo DOE's, and that is, that they were produced in a multitude of variants. Note that no two of these wrenches are exactly alike!

The 731-A wrench (largest in the set) has no ISN stamp and the size markings are on the panel bracketed by hyphens. No markings on the flip side.

The 28-S wrench has an ISN stamp and the size markings are on the heads with no bracketing hyphens. No markings on the flip side.

The 27-C wrench has no ISN and the size markings are on the heads bracketed by hyphens. No markings on the flip side.

The 25 wrench has no ISN and the size markings are on the shank bracketed by hyphens. No markings on the flip side.

The 723 wrench has an ISN and the size markings are on the heads not bracketed by hyphens, but they're on the flip side. Also, this wrench is flipped from the others. Jaws pointing the other way (in other words, branded on the side that is the flip side for all the others).

 

[Provincial]

The etched markings on what I call the "large panel" Barcalo wrenches are commonly worn off. They all seem to be from a particular age period, but I don't know just when. I suspect it was the 1960's somewhere, and probably after Barcalo was bought out/merged and the bean counters started compromising quality.

 

[four.cycle]

d42jeep:
re: model 922 "Crusader" combination wrench in post #277:

Am I reading the brand name correctly? Crusader?
Was that piece made by Barcalo?

my list currently shows:

Crusader / (see Belknap Hardware) /

 

[d42jeep]

d42jeep:
re: model 922 "Crusader" combination wrench in post #277:

Am I reading the brand name correctly? Crusader?
Was that piece made by Barcalo?

my list currently shows:

Crusader / (see Belknap Hardware) /

BK,
Barcalo contract wrench for sure. Probably made for Belknap.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Found these two little matching DBE wrenches at a garage sale on Friday.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

thanks!

 

[outofbounds]

I tripped over a “private” opportunity on this Barcalo lot, as an adjunct to a SnapOn box I bought. $62 for 62 pieces total. Sound like a good deal based on the best pics I can offer?

 

[d42jeep]

A $1.00 per piece it would seem to me to be a good deal. I may be slightly biased though.
-Don

 

[lardy1]

I think it's a great price.

 

[Catfishdan]

I picked up some big barcalo pieces today at an estate sale...

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up some big barcalo pieces today at an estate sale...

I have a set of the Stillson wrenches and other than the name, they are almost indistinguishable from Plomb wrenches. I wonder who the manufacturer was?
-Don

 

[outofbounds]

I have a set of the Stillson wrenches and other than the name, they are almost indistinguishable from Plomb wrenches. I wonder who the manufacturer was?
-Don

Looks like one of those "Hocus Focus" features from the puzzle pages of the newspaper!

 

[LesserSon]

I have a set of the Stillson wrenches and other than the name, they are almost indistinguishable from Plomb wrenches. I wonder who the manufacturer was?
-Don

I get a heavy J.P.Danielson vibe.
The crescent-shaped depression in the dynamic jaw is almost a signature; the placement and font of the size markings add confidence. And of course, Danielson was acquired by Plomb in 1947.
On the other side of the argument, one could point out that all Stillson-pattern pipe wrenches are inherently similar in appearance, and further, that Jamestown and Buffalo would share significant regional/vernacular characteristics, but I think the resemblance goes beyond that.
I only have one Danielson (8”); do either the Plomb or Barcalo versions have forged-in features like those on the back side of my Danielson?

 

[d42jeep]

I have a set of both Barcalo and Plomb Stillsons so I’ll take a closer look. Barcalo bought some contract adjustable wrenches from Danielson or Plomb so it isn’t unlikely. Your 8” Danielson sure looks like a close cousin! I think I see a Danielson date code on the movable jaw of my 6” BB Stillson.
-Don

 

[Farmer J.]

Here's some pics of a Barcolo Whitworth set for sale on eBay UK. Same pattern as the Whitworth I have only much better condition and a whole set!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-SET...TH-VANADIUM-/264636621713?hash=item3d9d926391

 

[Provincial]

Friday I stumbled upon a set of Barcalo Buffalo offset DBE wrenches. They cover 3/8 to one inch. I couldn't get to the sale until mid-afternoon, and was surprised that they were still there, or that at least one would be missing! They are raised-panel, with one side marked "BARCALO BUFFALO" and the other side marked "CHROME VANADIUM".

Last Sunday I stopped back at another estate sale for half-price day. I bought a Crescent LTB 618 scoop-style DBE 1/2 x 9/16.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a nice large DBE at an estate sale today. It cleaned up well and looks good on the Barcalo board.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some other recent Barcalo finds. The Barcalo marked 3/4” cold chisel is a little unusual.
-Don

 

[lardy1]

Can anyone provide a link to a Barcalo catalog with the "geometric pane'" DOE's? Does anyone know which sizes were sold in that design?

Any catalogs I can find are older.

 

[d42jeep]

I know of no catalog that shows those wrenches. I know of a 1958 and 1960 catalog that I haven’t yet seen. They may be in those. Mine seem to range from 9/32” to 1” but I think there may be larger ones out there.
-Don
Edit. Shelbylex has a 1-1/16” x 1-1/8” posted upthread

 

[lardy1]

Thank you, Don. Another one of those things I have just enough of to justify collecting.

 

[Shelbylex]

Great looking set, Don!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, guys. They are unique in appearance.
-Don

 

[outofbounds]

Thank you, Don. Another one of those things I have just enough of to justify collecting.

Larry, You do know that I left that Barcalo lot at Phil's (I couldn't buy everything!)

 

[Shelbylex]

Couple of Barcalo saves: the first picture of them is prior (with part of name shown after scratching the rust off with the glove), the second picture shows them after restoration/cleaning

 

[d42jeep]

These matches came in the mail from an eBay seller this week. I couldn’t resist them.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

And they say that the Coronovirus isn't stimulating the economy!

 

[LesserSon]

And they say that the Coronovirus isn't stimulating the economy!

The states managed to convince eBay to collect sales tax just in time!

 

[d42jeep]

Tin Medic recently traded me this smallest wartime Barcalo DOE wrench. It came with the wrapper that showed the FSN, 41-W-895. It’s an excellent addition to the Barcalo shrine.
-Don

 

[outofbounds]

Some Barcalo Buffalo wrenches poked their head out after hiding at the bottom of a hand-held tool box I won in a local auction the other day.....

 

[d42jeep]

Since you have the beginning of a collection, you may find this of interest.
-Don

 

[outofbounds]

Since you have the beginning of a collection, you may find this of interest.
-Don

Don,

Are you sharing this because you believe that I likely have more than one finish amongst my humble "collection"?

 

[d42jeep]

I just thought that since you posted your recent “double grip” finds that you might like to add to them.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

Neat to see the little packaged wartime wrench.

When I was sorting through tools recently, ran across these that I’d stuck somewhere.


Partial Mastercraft set, with two (different) Barcalo in there.

 

[d42jeep]

Like many other early manufacturers, they were happy to make contract wrenches with lots of different brand names
-Don

 

[DadsTools]

Alloy Artifacts tells me these are post war. They show a set of these in a pouch which they attribute to military stock.





1/2 X 9/16 vintage wrenches seem to be hard for me to come by. Missing that from my Vlchek DBE set, also. If I already posted this, I apologize. Forgetful in my old age.

Anybody know if these really are post-war military kit wrenches like Alloy Artifacts suggests? Almost all the Barcalo I come across have either raised or recessed panels, but I do see these on rare occasion.

 

[Provincial]

The missing wrench in Lardy 1's set should have been 9/16 x 5/8, unless there were two missing and included /32 sizes.

 

[d42jeep]

I don’t think that they are particularly rare. I have no idea about any military contracts bur they are certainly postwar. I recently sold these duplicates on eBay. I wish that I’d noticed that Lardy needed one.
-Don

 

[Isaiah6113]

Greetings all,

A friend of mine gave me a six wrenches that belonged to his Grandfather. In the bag he handed me were three Barcalo Buffalo.

I'm not sure of the time frame, I think the two raised panel are 50s to mid-60s? And I suspect the big 1"-15/16 is earlier? Am I on track there?

Also, the two raised panel wrenches have "C 8" embossed on each wrench. The larger one has a "C" embossed. What's the significance of these markings?

They were dirty, but cleaned up nicely. They've seen surprisingly little use. What I do find remarkable is the tool box wear. How many years, how many drawer openings and closings does it take to wear away chrome.

Thanks,

Matthew

 

[d42jeep]

Your raised panel wrenches are a little unusual in that they have the ISN (Industry Standard Number) marked on the raised panel. They are certainly pre ‘60, probably mid ‘50s on. The smooth wrench is earlier but postwar. The C markings are probably insignificant forging numbers.
-Don