Dunlap tools & boxes

[HeelSpur]

Just added the hacksaw and tack hammer to these today.
Dunlap had a nice variety of different tools, makes collecting fun

 

[bonneyman]

I have a chrome 1/4" drill, small vise, some ratcheting box wrenches, and other small items. I think I also have a DL egg beater drill somewhere.
I like Dunlap tools!

 

[Duth62]

Hey ! You stole my fence pliers(not a tack hammer) ?
I have the same era. No idea where I got them.

 

[Garage Junky]

Cool stuff. The only Dunlap item I have is a small 3.5" vise which I de-rusted and re-painted. It doesn't get much use because of the size but I like to look at it

 

[bonneyman]

Here is a restored egg beater. I believe it is a Dunlap.

 

[454ragtop]

Have some vises, one of which I've restored. For a lighter duty vise, they seem very well made.
Jim

 

[454ragtop]

Missed a pic.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I've been building my Dunlap screw driver collection by watching out for them at flea markets.. I started with a few that I inherited from my uncle, where I first saw them as a kid.

 

[bonneyman]

I've been building my Dunlap screw driver collection by watching out for them at flea markets.. I started with a few that I inherited from my uncle, where I first saw them as a kid.

Cool!

 

[PFSard]

And because of this thread, I bought a few Dunlap ratcheting wrenches today. Otherwise, ........

 

[bubinga]

Missed a pic.

454 that vise is beautiful.

 

[bonneyman]

And because of this thread, I bought a few Dunlap ratcheting wrenches today. Otherwise, ........

I'm glad we could be of some "assistance".

 

[paulm12]

picked up this Dunlap socket set this summer

 

[IRQVET]

I purchased an old 3.5 inch Dunlap vise that is in need of restoration, but its very functional.

 

[bonneyman]

And because of this thread, I bought a few Dunlap ratcheting wrenches today. Otherwise, ........

I have a spare 1/4" x 5/16" if you want to buy it. PM me.

I recently found out there's one larger than the four I have - I think it is 7/8" x 25/32"?

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Added this P1 to my collection from the flea market finds today...

View media item 64398

 

[safariknut]

Here is my Dunlap machinists' tool box I picked up several years ago. I use it to store some of my pocket knife collection.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Here is my Dunlap machinists' tool box I picked up several years ago. I use it to store some of my pocket knife collection.

Unspoiled....and very classic....


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[d42jeep]

My collection started with a $2.00 flea market toolbox that came with an offset screwdriver. It seems that not a week goes by without something being added. Now my Buddies are sending me their Dunlap finds.
-Don

 

[Cruzan80]

I have some random Dunlap stuff, along with the hex tool holder. Mine has the double sizes in it.

 

[paulm12]

another Dunlap socket set I have.

 

[Jim C.]

Here's a pretty clean set of Dunlap SAE deep offset DBE wrenches.

Jim C.

 

[Duct_Dummy]

I got this Dunlap Ratchet today, it was part of a package deal that consisted of 8 sockets (2 Wiz , 1 Mac, 1 Matco, 1 Snappy, 1 Easco, 1 SK, & 1 Blackhawk) and this fella for $5.

Can anyone help me with a parts list for the Dunlap socket set this came from? I'm missing adapters I know, but sizes and 6 pt or 12 pt would be helpful.

I think this thread also helped me identify a lone socket that has been stumping me. It has two knurled bands with MADE IN USA & 10 MM between them. 1/4 hex drive & is 6 point. Confirmation please? Thanks to all in advance.


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[Cruzan80]

The ratchet came from the set at the top of the page. Had straight and bent L hex's, a 1/2" ratchet, and was a mix of 1/4 and 1/2" stuff.

If you don't have a use for it, it is about the only thing missing from my set. Willing to swap for something you need.

 

[Duct_Dummy]

Cruzan80 - PM Sent


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[d42jeep]

Here are some recent additions to my Dunlap collection donated by my tool buddies.
-Don

 

[ken w.]

I picked up this cool Dunlap punch and chisel set in the red holder last week at an estate sale.

 

[paulm12]

little Dunlap labeled cabinet of drawers. About 6' wide x 6" high x 8" deep. Very clean, but plastic drawers.
.

 

[bluebolt]

Nice find paulm12, I have two of those Dunlap parts cabinets and later one with clear drawers and a Craftsman label.

 

[d42jeep]

This is my Dunlap haul from an Oakland CA. estate sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

My Dunlap collection has kind of taken off since my last post.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up a Dunlap blowtorch at the Tahoe flea on Sunday. Here it is with my similar Craftsman torch and an image from the 1949 catalog.
-Don

 

[DadsTools]

I've been building my Dunlap screw driver collection by watching out for them at flea markets.. I started with a few that I inherited from my uncle, where I first saw them as a kid.

Always found the Dunlap screwdrivers to be rather attractive looking.

 

[DadsTools]

Here's a pretty clean set of Dunlap SAE deep offset DBE wrenches.

Jim C.

Extra credit for guessing who made these.

 

[Jim C.]

Extra credit for guessing who made these.

You know, that's a good question. I never really thought too much about who manufactured the wrenches. I've always been a Sears/Craftsman fan and I remember seeing Dunlap tools along side Craftsman tools at my local Sears store when I was growing up. I think my dad still has a couple old Dunlap wrench sets. Anyway, the wrenches in my post above all bear the "LC" manufacturer's mark. Based on a little research I did as a result of your quiz question, I'd say they were manufactured by J.P. Danielson & Co.

Jim

 

[crackit]

Extra credit for guessing who made these.

Don't know about the wrenches, but I have a pair of Dunlap bent-nose pliers that are identical to a pair made by Boker.

 

[d42jeep]

Along with Craftsman tools, Sears was sourcing the Dunlap offerings from many manufacturers. The DOE wrenches below are all from Moore Drop Forging and the pliers are a close match to the Boker pair.
-Don

 

[DadsTools]

You know, that's a good question. I never really thought too much about who manufactured the wrenches. I've always been a Sears/Craftsman fan and I remember seeing Dunlap tools along side Craftsman tools at my local Sears store when I was growing up. I think my dad still has a couple old Dunlap wrench sets. Anyway, the wrenches in my post above all bear the "LC" manufacturer's mark. Based on a little research I did as a result of your quiz question, I'd say they were manufactured by J.P. Danielson & Co.

Jim

Okay, I'll let the cat out of the bag....these are re-labeled Lectrolite Corp. TruFit wrenches. I've studied Lectrolite extensively for a couple of reasons. Alloy Artifacts speculates that the LC stands for Letrolite Corp., but I'm very confident it's indeed what those initials stand for. These were made starting in the early 1950s, and were made in the very same Defiance Ohio plant that made the S-K wrenches up until its bankruptcy and acquisition by Ideal. The LC can be found on many contract wrenches from that era that have no brand name on them, sold by who knows how many companies--I know they sold a slew of them!

The Lectrolite 'fingerprint' is the length/shape of the recess and that odd sharp angle where the descending offset meets the box. Almost all that are not marked TruFit will have the little LC initials, but not all. Once you get an eye for them, you can instantly pick them out of a tool pile a mile away.

Lectrolite made the TruFit design double box ends for Sears starting sometime in the first half of the 1950s. They are first marked Dunlap until about 1958, when corporate decided to phase out the name on these kinds of wrenches, replacing it with just the plain SEARS name. The only difference I have observed is that the Dunlap/Sears/no-name contract versions appear to have a better finish than the TruFit marked, probably so Lectrolite could distinguish them from the high-end SK-Lectrolite within the brand itself, but did a better finish for the contract tools.

Around 1962, Sears changed manufacturers to overseas. You'll see many more Sears DBEs marked BF Japan (the BF code is still a mystery as to what mfr it represents). They are virtually identical in appearance to the LC USA Sears, so there's little doubt that Sears sent the mfr a sample of the LCs and said to copy them exactly. The reason for the changeover could be one of two factors. The date corresponds to the purchase of SK and the Lectrolite Corp. by Wayne Industries (this is when the LECTROLITE brand name disappeared, no doubt being seen as a bit odd, and was certainly redundant and confusing with regard to having that name on the SK line). It could very well be that Wayne either decided to end that contract or raised the prices beyond what Sears wanted to pay. I believe it might be the former because I think it less likely that Sears essentially counterfeited the LC TruFit design without some sort of nod from Wayne ("we're not going to make these for you under contract any more, but feel free to have anyone else make them because we ourselves are abandoning the design."). But it's also true that at around this same time, Sears management was making some major changes to its marketing/merchandising/branding strategies and so decided to move overseas with these wrenches, but I also think this less likely because I just don't see Wayne simply allowing Sears to rip off their Lectrolite TruFit design.

Anyway, that's the scoop as I know it. One more vintage tool secret released into the public domain.

 

[ganymede]

Anyone know about the Y code groove joint pliers?
I'm guessing they're from Japan but maybe they just didn't bother to stamp USA on them.

 

[DadsTools]

Anyone know about the Y code groove joint pliers?
I'm guessing they're from Japan but maybe they just didn't bother to stamp USA on them.

It's my understanding that Sears phased out the "Dunlap" brand name on its hand tools by the 1960s. Japan really didn't do much importing tools under contract to the USA until the 1960s. Don't know what mfr the Y code represents on pliers, but if it's marked Dunlap it's almost certainly of USA manufacture.