Cornwell Aircraft open-end wrench set.

[Brethart77]

I found my grandpa's Cornwell open-end wrench set in a leather pouch today. My dad gave me his tool box a decade ago, but I had never looked at it closely until today. Grandpa worked at the Chrysler plant during WW2 and was an inspector for the plant, building Jeeps and Aircraft. If these tools could speak...

Does anyone have any information about these?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Ignition wrench set. Handy along with 1/4 socket sets for tune up work.

 

[Provincial]

The file is for dressing the points.

 

[Brethart77]

Thanks so much! That makes sense for the points. The entire tool box was handmade too. Super heavy, its full of old sockets and various sized hammers, and a socket wrench that looks like and old drill.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Does anyone have any information about these?

It has all the characteristics of an early- to mid-war 41-W-900 ignition wrench set. It had seven (7) wrenches. Six (6) of them, in pairs, from 13/64" to 5/16", with each end afforded a 15* and a 60* angle, and the seventh wrench was 11/32 (60*) by 3/8" (15*). The late war set added two additional wrenches (the other angles mate for the 11/32" x 3/8" wrench, and a 7/16 (15*) by 1/2" (60*) wrench), mini-pliers, and mini-screwdriver. And the roll-up was larger with more pockets to accommodate the additional tools. Wartime sets did not contain a points file, points adjuster, feeler gage etc., which were included in other related sets.

See page from a 1943 manual below.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is the wrench without markings flipped over? Or just no markings? That could be the 13/64" (15*) x 15/64" (60*). You appear to be missing the largest (11/32"-15* x 3/8"-60*) wrench.

I collect ignition wrenches, especially wartime. I will look through my stash of orphans and see if I can help complete that set.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have a Cornwell set just like your grandpop's. Ironically, it's also missing a wrench.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I found my grandpa's Cornwell open-end wrench set in a leather pouch today. My dad gave me his tool box a decade ago, but I had never looked at it closely until today. Grandpa worked at the Chrysler plant during WW2 and was an inspector for the plant, building Jeeps and Aircraft. If these tools could speak...

Does anyone have any information about these?

They are glad you asked.

 

[d42jeep]

Twertsy posted his set of Cornwell ignition wrenches early on in the Cornwell thread.

Little guys







Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

@Brethart77
No dice. The only extra Cornwell I have is a dupe. Not that the missing wrench diminishes the significance of your set one iota in its sentimental power, but if you check back here now and again, ya never know..., I collect them at a fairly frequent pace.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a picture that Username posted on G503 some years back showing a Cornwell ignition wrench at the bottom of the picture. I need his wrench marked 41-W-900, just as a coincidence.
-Don

 

[RobertWill31]

I found my grandpa's Cornwell open-end wrench set in a leather pouch today. My dad gave me his tool box a decade ago, but I had never looked at it closely until today. Grandpa worked at the Chrysler plant during WW2 and was an inspector for the plant, building Jeeps and Aircraft. If these tools could speak...
Does anyone have any information about these?

That’s an awesome find! Those old Cornwell sets from the WWII era are real pieces of history — especially with the aircraft connection. The leather pouches were typical for toolkits issued to mechanics and inspectors back then.

If they’ve got the Cornwell script logo with “Made in U.S.A.” stamped in, they’re likely 1940s production. Even more special that they belonged to your grandfather who worked at Chrysler during the war — definitely worth keeping as a family heirloom.