Basement Finds

[madmikeee]

While cleaning out the basement and garage over the past few weeks I came across a bunch of old rusty crusty tools.
Just for grins I gave these three a soak overnight in vinegar. They were so rusty I was actually concerned that they would disintegrate in the vinegar. After 24 hours I took a wire wheel to them and discovered they had a ford logo and part numbers on one of them. Turns out they were made in the 20’s and were part of a tool kit that went to Model A Cars and Model N Tractors. Google shows it as a Ford Spark Plug / Head Nut Wrench.
They aren’t actually brass/bronze it was just a trick of the light on my workbench. I have a bunch more wrenches and the likes. Should be interesting to see if I find anything else like these

 

[Warrenator]

Nice! Got any before pics?

 

[John in OH]

Very nice find!

As you have found, Ford provided a basic tool kit with their early cars and the N series tractors. The kits varied slightly in content as the tractor kit included a double-open end wrench with graduations on it for measuring furrow depth. I suspect the screwdrivers are the hardest components of the kits to find as they had wood handles and have usually split/broken/rotted away over the years.

Although not rare, the wrenches that you found are rather collectible and make great garage art!

 

[anndel]

Nice find. Like John in OH says, frame it up!

 

[madmikeee]

Nice! Got any before pics?

No actually. I just got the wild hair across my *** to clean them up for something to mess around with. I figured they were just old wrenches. Now that I have found them to be COOL old wrenches I will do before and afters with the other stuff I have found.

 

[madmikeee]

I figure once I get them totally cleaned I will hit them with a light coat of black hammer finish paint then mount them as shown above. They'll make cool wall art for the shop.

 

[John in OH]

I figure once I get them totally cleaned I will hit them with a light coat of black hammer finish paint then mount them as shown above. They'll make cool wall art for the shop.

Another finish option you could consider ....

Get a bottle of gun bluing from your local ****'s or whatever sporting goods store. If you've mechanically polished the old tools well and the steel is bare, a coating of the bluing looks great. Then give them a good coating of light machine oil or WD40 and they will remain rust-free (assuming they are in a decent environment) for quite some time.

 

[ttpete]

While cleaning out the basement and garage over the past few weeks I came across a bunch of old rusty crusty tools.
Just for grins I gave these three a soak overnight in vinegar. They were so rusty I was actually concerned that they would disintegrate in the vinegar. After 24 hours I took a wire wheel to them and discovered they had a ford logo and part numbers on one of them. Turns out they were made in the 20’s and were part of a tool kit that went to Model A Cars and Model N Tractors. Google shows it as a Ford Spark Plug / Head Nut Wrench.
They aren’t actually brass/bronze it was just a trick of the light on my workbench. I have a bunch more wrenches and the likes. Should be interesting to see if I find anything else like these

The part numbers on those wrenches will tell you what they are for.

Ford used a system where the basic number denoted the part. All camshafts were 6250, all distributors were 12127, etc. 17017 is the sparkplug-head nut wrench. The prefix denoted the first model it was used on, and the suffix described a variation or application.

So we have 40-17017.

40 means it was first used on a 1933 Ford V8. My parts book said it was used through 1937. Those years used an 18mm sparkplug with a 1" hex.

Models A, B, and the 1932 V8 used the big 7/8" plugs with a 1-1/8" hex. That wrench would have been A-17017.

The later 1939-48 engines had 14 mm plugs with 13/16" hex, and that would use an 01A-17017 or 01A-17017-B.

 

[fatfillup]

Some great old tools worth saving.

Well done

 

[dadsEH]

For a near perfect finish I use black liquid 'kiwi' shoe polish on old tools after derusting. It drys hard and the shine lasts for years.

 

[madmikeee]

the part numbers on those wrenches will tell you what they are for.

Ford used a system where the basic number denoted the part. All camshafts were 6250, all distributors were 12127, etc. 17017 is the sparkplug-head nut wrench. The prefix denoted the first model it was used on, and the suffix described a variation or application.

So we have 40-17017.

40 means it was first used on a 1933 ford v8. My parts book said it was used through 1937. Those years used an 18mm sparkplug with a 1" hex.

Models a, b, and the 1932 v8 used the big 7/8" plugs with a 1-1/8" hex. That wrench would have been a-17017.

The later 1939-48 engines had 14 mm plugs with 13/16" hex, and that would use an 01a-17017 or 01a-17017-b.

thanks!!

 

[unslow1]

For a near perfect finish I use black liquid 'kiwi' shoe polish on old tools after derusting. It drys hard and the shine lasts for years.

I'll have to try that. I've been using vinegar, wire wheel then spray paint.

I gave away literally dozens of those wrenches last year. I inherited several garages of mostly old Ford stuff. Those are hard to even giveaway around here. Most of the guys I offered them to already had a bunch. I didn't know you could identify what they went to. When I look at the few I saved I'll keep that in mind.

 

[ttpete]

I'll have to try that. I've been using vinegar, wire wheel then spray paint.

I gave away literally dozens of those wrenches last year. I inherited several garages of mostly old Ford stuff. Those are hard to even giveaway around here. Most of the guys I offered them to already had a bunch. I didn't know you could identify what they went to. When I look at the few I saved I'll keep that in mind.

The rare one is 52-17017. It's for the V8-60 engine.

 

[unslow1]

The rare one is 52-17017. It's for the V8-60 engine.

I just sold a car with that engine. It was a 37 slantback. I'm sure there was at least one in that bunch. I still have the manual and a couple of other things like the ashtray the guy hasn't picked up. Is that wrench worth anything $ wise?

 

[ttpete]

I just sold a car with that engine. It was a 37 slantback. I'm sure there was at least one in that bunch. I still have the manual and a couple of other things like the ashtray the guy hasn't picked up. Is that wrench worth anything $ wise?

I suppose it's worth whatever you can get someone to pay you for it at a given time. My first car was a 37 V8-60 slantback 2 door. Paid $10 for it with 35,000 miles on it.

 

[unslow1]

I have to run by that garage in a few minutes. Maybe I'll just grab those while I'm thinking about it.

 

[unslow1]

The ones I still have are 3x 40-17017
1x 81A-17017
Then 1 double box end 01A-17017B

 

[unslow1]

For a near perfect finish I use black liquid 'kiwi' shoe polish on old tools after derusting. It drys hard and the shine lasts for years.

I think I might try that on the jack for my 1912. It looks pretty rough.