Early auto specialty tool or newer, cheap, double socket bar?

[Leviton]

Is this a first third of the 1900’s automotive specialty tool or just a random newer economy double-ended socket?

The hex socket ends have a pressed steel appearance and the shank is a solid 5/8” square bar. It looks well made. Openings are 19/32” and 1/2”. Overall length is 8.3 inches.

I bought it hoping I would find some markings after I cleaned it up but is has no marks whatsoever.

(I browsed through Alloy Artifacts photos for Mossberg, Packer, Hinsdale, P&C, King, Barcalo, and Billings & Spencer and did not see anything similar.)

Any thoughts?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My vote is early socket wrench. I have some.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I was waiting for you to respond to that post, Lugz. I didn't even know where to start looking.

 

[Leviton]

My vote is early socket wrench. I have some.

Interesting difference between yours and mine: the outside shape of the socket section - round versus hex.
Have you ever seen them in a catalog or an advertisement?

Thanks Lugz.

 

[Ayrhead]

Hi All: I came across two of these hoping to find out more information if possible… mine came in an old bag that also had some Walden-Worcester sockets in it as well.

 

[Ayrhead]

Hi All: I came across two of these hoping to find out more information if possible… mine came in an old bag that also had some Walden-Worcester sockets in it as well.

Here’s a couple pics of the bag… the material feels like the material that was used to make tents out of… wondering if it was some kind of a tool kit for a car… there was also a Frank Mossberg #360 ratchet in the bag…

 

[Leviton]

Hi All: I came across two of these hoping to find out more information if possible… mine came in an old bag that also had some Walden-Worcester sockets in it as well.

Well, if yours aren't from the same manufacturer as mine, they are at least an identical tool. I hope someday someone finds a clue to link these to a manufacturer.
Thank you for sharing your find!

 

[Ayrhead]

Well, if yours aren't from the same manufacturer as mine, they are at least an identical tool. I hope someday someone finds a clue to link these to a manufacturer.
Thank you for sharing your find!

I’m wondering if once there was a switch from pressed steel sockets to drop forged sockets there would no longer be a need/demand for the pressed steel sockets. So, maybe these were made to use up the pressed steel in hopes of creating a different tool that would be used by the mechanics of the day… the only thing that doesn’t work with that train of thought is that there are no dimension or manufacturer stampings on the tool at all… so maybe they were a prototype of the tool… I don’t think they are before/earlier than the pressed steel socket sets as they are hex sockets and not square sockets as I think the square one would have come out b4 the hex sockets… anyone else have an opinion ??

 

[four.cycle]

^ I dug through all my "Mossberg" stuff and the only thing I found that was even remotely similar was an item not made by Mossberg, but branded "Auto Friend" - giving no indication of maker. Reading the descriptions, I think these might be similar to what you have.

 

[Ayrhead]

^ I dug through all my "Mossberg" stuff and the only thing I found that was even remotely similar was an item not made by Mossberg, but branded "Auto Friend" - giving no indication of maker. Reading the descriptions, I think these might be similar to what you have.

Thanks for taking the time to find this information. This definitely looks very similar to what we have.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

In my opinion, they're just very early fixed socket wrenches, probably made by a blacksmith. Similar to Gruber, or later, to Braunsdorf-Mueller and Vlchek, but even less commercial, and straight instead of an offset on one end. The square shank was for turning them. I don't think they have anything to do with the production of detachable socket wrenches or ratchets or other handles. I don't think you'll find a manufacturer, and I don't think there's a manufacturer to be found.

 

[four.cycle]

looks very similar

somewhat, yes... but if you read those descriptions, clearly not identical.
I own a widget kinda-sorta like that, but it's WAY bigger - clearly made for spark plugs - and almost a foot long.
I have never seen anything exactly like your specimens in any of the catalog pages I've harvested off the web.

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve run across some doubles enders in my travels although I don’t know where they are now. I left this one behind at today’s estate sale.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found another doubled-ended fixed socket wrench this morning, hand-forged, square stock, similar to the three I already have and posted (post #2), this one marked. FAIRMOUNT.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Adding this one, found at the flea this morning, to the topic. The hex service openings are 1-1/8" x 7/8". Something tells me that when I am dead and gone and my grandsons are going through all my cool old stuff, AJ is going to get this one without an argument.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Context.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found this offset at the flea this morning. Both ends have a 9/16" hex service opening.