Dunlap tools & boxes

[Bryan Burns]

Here are most of mine. The small flat head probably the least common among them. I also have a black rubber Dunlap hammer in the garage. (tools pictured are in a basement toolbox).

Some people dis Dunlap tools because it's been written that they were a second tier brand - second to Craftsman - for Sears but as you're all probably aware, they are very good quality tools.

 

[BlueHeart]

Here's a box (and some wrenches) I picked up at the ReStore this week.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this 10” Dunlap adjustable wrench at the Tahoe flea on Saturday. It is marked Made in Japan but seems to be of excellent quality.
-Don

 

[Gidge]

I posted this over at the Garage Sale thread, it would also be apropos here as well :

 

[Hdonly0]

Have to throw this Dunlap/Sears powered hacksaw in here. Still need to get it running again. $75 Craigslist find.

 

[MayerMR]

Have to throw this Dunlap/Sears powered hacksaw in here. Still need to get it running again. $75 Craigslist find.

Ahhh, lucky find! I've been keeping my eye out for.those.old.blue.hacksaws.for.awhile.now!

 

[d42jeep]

I found a tiny ratchet wrench at a Berkeley estate sale on Saturday and received this cool valve lapper yesterday from Username.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

That valve lapper was a neat find. Looks like it would be a pain in the rear to have to actually use it though...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up this 6-inch steel rule sheath at my Thursday early bird flea market this morning. Genuine leather, strong marking. The rule inside is not a DUNLAP though. It's a General Tool No. 4 with decimal equivs on the flip side.

 

[d42jeep]

I should check to see if I have a 6” Dunlap rule. I united my Dunlap hand grinder with my new Dunlap saw box and it just barely fit. It will be perfect for storage.
-Don

 

[HeelSpur]

Those are some great finds.

 

[bubinga]

I should check to see if I have a 6” Dunlap rule. I united my Dunlap hand grinder with my new Dunlap saw box and it just barely fit. It will be perfect for storage.
-Don

Very Nice!!

 

[Catfishdan]

Grabbed an odd ball pair of Dunlap pliers today. They're the same size as ignition pliers, but a different pattern. They feel really light duty.



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[bonneyman]

Grabbed an odd ball pair of Dunlap pliers today. They're the same size as ignition pliers, but a different pattern. They feel really light duty.



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[d42jeep]

Since my family celebrated Thanksgiving on Wednesday, I had yesterday free to go through the Dunlap tools and eliminate some duplicates. Since the machinists box is filled to capacity, I started another Dunlap hip roof box to store some larger tools and other extras.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's impressive, Don!

Grabbed an odd ball pair of Dunlap pliers today. They're the same size as ignition pliers, but a different pattern. They feel really light duty.

I know this is an older post but I missed it first time around, sorry.

I believe they're what's called the "needle point" pliers that were part of the 4-pc set (part number 9PC4671) that's shown on page 29 of the 1942 catalog and on page 5 of the 1948 catalog and described as a "4-pc. Ignition Plier Set" and a "4-piece Tiny Plier Set", respectively. (See Pic 1 for an excerpt from the 1942 cat.) Or a similar set that I can't seem to find in any catalogs. In both instances, the figures show pliers with a FULTON brand, but I'm not sure if that's meant to be exclusive or representative (handiest figure).

I have the "standard slip-joint" as well; I am missing the "parrot-head slip joint" and the "flat nose". (See Pics 2 - 4.) It must be a tribute to how fond I am of them that they haven't ended up in Don's box yet! I wouldn't mind completing the set some day. (Before someone sends me an eBay sales ad - I mean from in the wild.)

Note that the dark band area behind the brand in Pics 2 and 3 is not a stain or discoloration, but the bend in the handle. See Pic 5 for the same area in a glare rather than shadow angle.

 

[bonneyman]

I found a tiny ratchet wrench at a Berkeley estate sale on Saturday and received this cool valve lapper yesterday from Username.
-Don

I love those double ratcheting box ends. Have a set of 4 - just lacking the largest (13/16" x 7/8"). Tough and durable, plus upon disassembly you find a simple spring/ratcheting system that's easy to repair in a home shop.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a closer view of mine. It looks like I'm missing an intermediate size.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Here is a closer view of mine. It looks like I'm missing an intermediate size.
-Don

Here's mine, with an internal shot showing the simple guts.
1/4 X 5/16
3/8 x 7/16
1/2 x 9/16
5/8 x 3/4

 

[LesserSon]

Bought and cleaned up these Vlchek-made slip-joints today. I once had a beautifully chromed pair, but didn’t pull them out of my wife’s jeep before she sold it. Got a couple other Dunlap items to post, mostly buried in the basement.

 

[d42jeep]

Bought and cleaned up these Vlchek-made slip-joints today. I once had a beautifully chromed pair, but didn’t pull them out of my wife’s jeep before she sold it. Got a couple other Dunlap items to post, mostly buried in the basement.

They do have a similar shape to the Vlchek gull wing pliers but all of the Vlchek gull wing pliers I have (way too many) have plain handles. I wonder if somebody else may have supplied them to Sears?
-Don

 

[Corndoggeh]

Have to throw this Dunlap/Sears powered hacksaw in here. Still need to get it running again. $75 Craigslist find.

Nice find! Such a tough time to find tools like that, I always mount mine on the older delta stands.

 

[LesserSon]

They do have a similar shape to the Vlchek gull wing pliers but all of the Vlchek gull wing pliers I have (way too many) have plain handles. I wonder if somebody else may have supplied them to Sears?
-Don

Yeah, I included the side pics because of that detail. Secondary forging seems like an extra expense for an economy line of tools (vs Craftsman), but these have the characteristic forged-in “FORGED IN U.S.A.” in low relief on the side flats of the handles, just like Vlcheks.
One thing I noted was the use of a regular (though still cad-plated) hex nut on the side I haven’t shown, rather than a round-with-two-flats nut. I’ll add a pic when I get a chance.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have yet to find or see through research a pair of so-called 'gull-wing' pliers (Vlchek called them "Perfect Grip" in in the 1936 catalog, by the way) that were branded anything other than Vlchek. Unbranded, yes, but without any other pair with another brand on them, one has to ID those as Vlchek as well. If someone finds a pair of pliers in an ad, a catalog, or in the steel with a gull-wing/"Perfect Grip" pattern and another brand, it would change this, of course. The absence of them is very compelling though.

As another point to consider, Vlchek very notably supplied several other DUNLAP tools. Code BT.

 

[d42jeep]

I have yet to find or see through research a pair of so-called 'gull-wing' pliers (Vlchek called them "Perfect Grip" in in the 1936 catalog, by the way) that were branded anything other than Vlchek. Unbranded, yes, but without any other pair with another brand on them, one has to ID those as Vlchek as well. If someone finds a pair of pliers in an ad, a catalog, or in the steel with a gull-wing/"Perfect Grip" pattern and another brand, it would change this, of course. The absence of them is very compelling though.

As another point to consider, Vlchek very notably supplied several other DUNLAP tools. Code BT.

Additionally, all of my gull wing pliers have a rivet rather than a bolt and nut holding them together. I’ll go through the Dunlap plier drawer later and check for codes.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I didn't mean to suggest the pliers should have a BT code, Don. I was just noting for the record and for LS, in case he was not aware, that Vlchek is a known and notable DUNLAP supplier, and that their code is BT.

As for the bolt vs. the rivet, it may have been replaced. But even if you showed me more of them, all with bolts, all suggesting the handles were put together with bolts instead of rivets from the factory, I would note that it's a secondary construction feature that doesn't sway me any more than the patterned vs. blank handle does in comparison to the exclusiveness of the die pattern of the forged steel handles to begin with. If someone disproves the exclusiveness, I would immediately change my mind. But again, as far as I know, that gull-wing shaped "Perfect Handle" pattern has never been seen on anything but Vlchek-branded pliers, or pliers without a brand, but bearing other features shared with Vlchek-branded pliers, such as the unmistakable forged in 'MADE IN U.S.A.' marking - as LS notes, and/or the unmistakably Vlchek forged-in forge code numbers. In my opinion, that gull-wing pattern being exclusive to Vlchek - so far, is impossible to argue with.

 

[bubinga]

Have to throw this Dunlap/Sears powered hacksaw in here. Still need to get it running again. $75 Craigslist find.

Nice find! Such a tough time to find tools like that, I always mount mine on the older delta stands.

Yeah, Cool Little saw.

 

[d42jeep]

I didn't mean to suggest the pliers should have a BT code, Don. I was just noting for the record and for LS, in case he was not aware, that Vlchek is a known and notable DUNLAP supplier, and that their code is BT.

As for the bolt vs. the rivet, it may have been replaced. But even if you showed me more of them, all with bolts, all suggesting the handles were put together with bolts instead of rivets from the factory, I would note that it's a secondary construction feature that doesn't sway me any more than the patterned vs. blank handle does in comparison to the exclusiveness of the die pattern of the forged steel handles to begin with. If someone disproves the exclusiveness, I would immediately change my mind. But again, as far as I know, that gull-wing shaped "Perfect Handle" pattern has never been seen on anything but Vlchek-branded pliers, or pliers without a brand, but bearing other features shared with Vlchek-branded pliers, such as the unmistakable forged in 'MADE IN U.S.A.' marking - as LS notes, and/or the unmistakably Vlchek forged-in forge code numbers. In my opinion, that gull-wing pattern being exclusive to Vlchek - so far, is impossible to argue with.

Although cheaper in construction details, these Harrold pliers have a bit of the gull wing thing going on, not to suggest that they were a supplier to Sears.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Those are probably Thin Nose Pliers. Vlchek made them, too, (and may have made them for Harrold!). Whereas the regular Vlchek slip-joint combination pliers had a "PR20X" model number (i.e., "PR206" for the 6-inchers), Vlchek's "Thin Nose Pliers" were PS206 and they only made them in the 6-inch length. See page 31, 1936 Catalog.

 

[d42jeep]

Snap-on may have taken note of the Vlchek handle shape when they brought out these vacuum grip pliers.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Interestingly, Vlchek did not make the 'gull-wing' (which they describe as "perfect grip, hand fitting") handles in 5" or 10", just 6" and 8". I think because the pattern would not work in terms of form-fitting a standard hand with anything else. Too small and that flare-out at the end would be poking into your last palm knuckle instead of resting on the outside of your pinky finger. Too large and there would be a gap between your pinky and that flare-out.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Snap-on may have taken note of the Vlchek handle shape when they brought out these vacuum grip pliers.
-Don

Is that a 1941 date code?

It's probably a good topic for more research one day.

 

[d42jeep]

Is that a 1941 date code?

It's probably a good topic for more research one day.

I think that they were made in 1951.
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

Here are as many Vlcheks as I can pull together. The non gull-wings at top do have a grip pattern, but it’s different, matches Crescent’s “Checkerdot” 1915 design patent. They have “MADE IN U.S.A.” forged into the sides of the handles, are joined by a bolt with a significantly flatter head, and a round nut with two flats (a la Crescent), and sport the flying V logo. Other than they say Vlchek, these are Crescent pliers. Contract manufacture, explaining why fly Vs are scarce?
The Dunlaps are next, with the hex nut detail I mentioned before, “FORGED IN U.S.A.”
Both of the gull wings at bottom have “MADE IN U.S.A.” forged into the sides of the handles, no grip pattern, are rivetted, and do not have “Vlchek” or any other brand visible.

 

[d42jeep]

I have only found one pair of gull wing pliers with the "Flying V" Vlchek logo. My other pair are the Crescent or Cee Tee style. The gull wings are the same as yours with the only difference being the Logo.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My Flying V's are in Dodge WC Tool-Sets sold to Dodge WC owners many years ago, but FWIW, I've had two with gull-wings and one without, all rivets.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

But I have hung onto an interesting pair of pliers that may prove useful for the discussion, especially regarding LS's DUNLAP gullwings. These gullwings have the Fairmount Tool & Forge triangle logo behind the pivot (See Pic 3), which is a nut and bolt type. Maybe LS can compare the hardware (See Pic 4). They have the faint remains of the forged-in 'MADE IN U.S.A.' on the shoulder of each handle (See Pic 5), which are plain (no knurling/grip pattern)(See Pic 6).

 

[LesserSon]

Those are interesting. That nut has beveled corners, but the nut on mine has sharp/flat corners.

 

[d42jeep]

After surveying all of my Dunlap pliers, I think a better question would be who wasn’t Sears buying the pliers from? They all seemed to come with nuts and bolts. None were riveted. There were some familiar and unfamiliar handle patterns.
Here are some pictures. The first two are all the pliers, the second shot showing the nuts. The next shot is of the first three, left to right. Two are gull wing and the handle pattern on all three looks kind of like a Vlchek variation of the Champion deArment/Channellock pattern. The next shot is the second three, left to right. The leftmost is almost certainly Danielson, the next two are a pattern I don’t recognize. The two on the right are two more supplied by Danielson. I’m hoping that one of you guys can pin down the unfamiliar handle patterns.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I feel like I've seen that before, but can't pin it down.

As long as you mentioned Danielson, they did use a gullwing pattern - but on battery pliers.