Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
The combination wrench design we know was standardized by Plomb (Proto) about 90 years ago, As a standard mechanics wrench that happened about 70 years ago. I get that 70 years from an old Gray catalogue that included combination wrenches in their big master mechanic tool set for the first time. If a Canadian tool company in the sticks did it, you can be assured American tool companies had already done it.
What I'm looking at is the box end or ring end. What twigged me to design changes was a conversation over a few, maybe more than few, we are Canucks after all, beer with a HD mechanic around the campfire at a campground in the Yukon. We were discussing our passion, tools. He had changed out his Snap-On combis for Jet brand. The Jet worked better on some truck motor. I told him he should have gotten Stahwille.
Enough background. Its where and how the shank meets the ring.
On my Thorsen bought in the late '60s and my Craftsman bought in the early '70s the shank comes directly out at the top of the ring. My Blackhawk also does this . The Blackhawk was purchased in the early '90s at clearance, so it's likely a not a Stanley, but a New Britain. This was the very feature he was talking about.
Now I come to the more common design in my scrap iron collection. The Proto bought in the late '70s and the Gray in the late '80s both have the shank coming out at the mid point of the ring. A Mastercraft, I guess a Chinese Gearwrench, purchased in 2014 also is made like this.
Recently thanks to you guys, I have been filling the gaps. Canadian made Gray is my default brand . Here is quite a design change , the shank comes out at right ang and at the bottom of the ring, then makes the 15 degree bend. 'ell for stout. The shank is more square instead of oval.
Those of you with other brands, like Snap-On, MAcC, etc. could you have look and give an era.
What I'm looking at is the box end or ring end. What twigged me to design changes was a conversation over a few, maybe more than few, we are Canucks after all, beer with a HD mechanic around the campfire at a campground in the Yukon. We were discussing our passion, tools. He had changed out his Snap-On combis for Jet brand. The Jet worked better on some truck motor. I told him he should have gotten Stahwille.
Enough background. Its where and how the shank meets the ring.
On my Thorsen bought in the late '60s and my Craftsman bought in the early '70s the shank comes directly out at the top of the ring. My Blackhawk also does this . The Blackhawk was purchased in the early '90s at clearance, so it's likely a not a Stanley, but a New Britain. This was the very feature he was talking about.
Now I come to the more common design in my scrap iron collection. The Proto bought in the late '70s and the Gray in the late '80s both have the shank coming out at the mid point of the ring. A Mastercraft, I guess a Chinese Gearwrench, purchased in 2014 also is made like this.
Recently thanks to you guys, I have been filling the gaps. Canadian made Gray is my default brand . Here is quite a design change , the shank comes out at right ang and at the bottom of the ring, then makes the 15 degree bend. 'ell for stout. The shank is more square instead of oval.
Those of you with other brands, like Snap-On, MAcC, etc. could you have look and give an era.
