Beerhippie
Well-known member
I found this Elora double-end 3/8" L-wrench today:
First double-ender I've seen of any make.
First double-ender I've seen of any make.
Elora L-wrench
- Thread starter Beerhippie
- Start date
RoninB4
Well-known member
-One end for torque, one end for spinning.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Ironically, it's the first I have seen of European make.
All the examples I have or have seen are either APCO-Mossberg or Armstrong, although I do have a rare Plomb, and a few unmarked. The double end offset Ell-handle socket wrench was a US Ordnance Dept GMTK issue tool in WWII, part of the 1/2-inch square drive set, and a popular piece for wartime collectors to hunt down. I pick them up onesy twosy from time to time, but these (below) that I one-fell-swooped a few years ago were all cosmo jobbies.
Attachments
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
We have a thread if you're interested in seeing more. Under "Ell/L wrenches" in the A-Z Index in the Sticky.
four.cycle
Well-known member
-> "tools of the old world" <-- thread
Elora doesn't get any respect.
Elora doesn't get any respect.
OP
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Wait--you were at Back Achers in Wallowa today? It was right next to the Blackhawk 4-in-1 Rim Nut Wrench.
OP
Beerhippie
Well-known member
Forgot to look for L spelled Ell. Thanks.
OP
Beerhippie
Well-known member
BTW--It's a 1/2" drive, not 3/8".
OP
Beerhippie
Well-known member
BTW: It only said "DIRT" on it--I carry a small wad of 4-0 steel wool, a small flashlight and a 10X loupe for that.
Yep, I never saw the Elora on it but I did see the Germany part. I left there about 10:15 and headed to the antique store in Lostine, had to sit there for 40 minutes till they opened. I usually make a day of it and drive up there hit those two stores once a year. No other tool stores like them that I know of in NE Oregon, everything else went out of business..
I carry a flashlight cause Back Achers is kinda dark, but not the other stuff.
I got some good stuff out of those two small buckets on the floor that had SAE and metric wrenches, I only dropped $15. I got even better stuff in Lostine but you have to buy the tools that aren't priced to get any great deals, VERY over priced but I did well.
I got some good stuff out of those two small buckets on the floor that had SAE and metric wrenches, I only dropped $15. I got even better stuff in Lostine but you have to buy the tools that aren't priced to get any great deals, VERY over priced but I did well.
OP
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I call the Lostine Second Hand Antiques the "tool museum" because I can always go back and look at the ridiculously priced tools, as they aren't going anywhere. I collect Coleman lanterns and stoves, and always get a chuckle out of things like the barn-fresh 200A lantern for $125--it's a fairly common lantern that I can sell, if in good shape, fully restored and working, for maybe $100--maybe--more like $60.
I was down Wallowa way a little after noon. I missed the buckets you hit! I did see an NIB set of SK 1/4" deep sockets that appeared to be priced at $5--but closer examination revealed $45--nope.
The lighting in Back Achers *****, but it's worse out in the "barn" part of the Lostine store, IMO.
So, you're in LaGrande? Oregon Trail Traders has produced some goodies in the past, but also tends to be overpriced.
I was down Wallowa way a little after noon. I missed the buckets you hit! I did see an NIB set of SK 1/4" deep sockets that appeared to be priced at $5--but closer examination revealed $45--nope.
The lighting in Back Achers *****, but it's worse out in the "barn" part of the Lostine store, IMO.
So, you're in LaGrande? Oregon Trail Traders has produced some goodies in the past, but also tends to be overpriced.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The mullet of tools
One of these with a 10" extension makes for a really compact breaker bar for tire changes on a trailer or car
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
No worries. You're welcome.
If you dip into the other thread, you'll see me talk about this, and I am loathe to perpetuate splinter threads, but I will mention it here as well. My theory is that these bars are a good example of the Ordnance Dept driving industry with specs. I have never found any literature with this tool in this exact form before WWII and the GMTK manuals. Early (1930's) versions of the double end offset handle were not this sleek, just a round steel bar, considerably larger, 9/16" or even 5/8" stock, with just the very ends machined down to 1/2-inch square drive studs with a detent ball, and no forged "stops" reminiscent of extensions, like you see on the wartime spec versions. I have a few examples of those as well.
Indestro and Hinsdale even made "convertible" versions with a moveable sheath-like handle that you would put on the long leg to use it as an offset (or "L") bar...
...or the short leg, to use it as a "T" bar.
Oddly enough, and bucking the WWII GMTK spec type trend, MDF was making a smaller form of that earlier, prewar, cruder type of offset bar in the early 50's for Sears Heritage =V= era sets.
So true
but if you find the unmarked tools that Dave didn't price then you can score good sometimes. That is where I bought those unmarked Snap on Ford brake spring pliers I posted yesterday.I drove back by Back Achers about 12:30 to take a second look but changed my mind and headed home. That SK set was on the same shelf asthe old Thorsen socket set for $15? They had a ton of NOS SK stuff when they moved BJ's from Enterprise to Wallowa.
Baker City. Are you in Enterprise?
Oregon Trail traders is all guns and ammo now since the new ownership several years ago unless they have a room I don't know about. Baker doesn't have any options anymore other than yard sales, John Day has a shop but everytime I've been through there it's closed but the local's say he's open normally, just my luck.
Dave455
Well-known member
Elora still offer this tool in 1/2” drive.
Available from some other manufacturer's too, such as KoKen.
Historically these were the cheapest option, and were supplied for that reason.
They still have a certain following now. A motorcycling friend has one in 1/4” drive (I think) as part of his minimal “under seat” tool kit. A fixed handle is better than a ratchet if you are adjusting something, rather than tightening it.
Another friend has one (maybe two) by his lathe - perfect for tool clamps, top slide adjustment or steady adjustment.
Available from some other manufacturer's too, such as KoKen.
Historically these were the cheapest option, and were supplied for that reason.
They still have a certain following now. A motorcycling friend has one in 1/4” drive (I think) as part of his minimal “under seat” tool kit. A fixed handle is better than a ratchet if you are adjusting something, rather than tightening it.
Another friend has one (maybe two) by his lathe - perfect for tool clamps, top slide adjustment or steady adjustment.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Why am I not surprised!?
As you know (from other threads, including yours on hex keys), I don't hang out up on the General Tools board, but I do like to drop in occasionally, especially when the topic intersects with vintage tools history. I absolutely cherish the fact that Elora, Wera, FACOM and other European mfgrs are still making (and improving on...!) some types of tools that went out of vogue here in the US a long, long time ago. You may remember me weighing in on this thread up on the General board about modern Clés à pipes ("pipe wrenches," but not wrenches for pipes, wrenches made out of tubular steel, i.e., pipes or piping), a style of wrench invented here, made by the likes of venerated, long-defunct American mfgrs such as Braunsdorf-Mueller and Vlchek in the 1920's, and then quickly, unceremoniously (and, I might argue, too hastily) vanished with the advent of detachable socket drive tools. They are very practical and very popular users among European mechanics, but would be considered foolish antiques here.
four.cycle
Well-known member
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Farmer J.
Well-known member
I used to have one of those Elora 'Ell handles' somewhere around the farm. Dunno what happened to it, but I suspect it fell victim to use with a pipe extension. I never have replaced it, I suppose because they didn't sell them on the Snap On truck!
Farmer J.
Well-known member
From a lifetime observation of both American and European people I have a theory about the reasons behind this..
Dave455
Well-known member
I think that the “Tool’s” forum’s greatest strength is that we can share info on manufacturers that some members may not even know exist, let alone what they offer.
I quite like Elora. They offer a considerable range of tools, and the quality is very good. They don’t get discussed much here, I suspect because they don’t have much of a presence in the U.S. I don’t have many of their tools myself, but what I do is very good.
The French style (though I acknowledge the U.S. manufacturers) “pipe wrench” does have some uses I think. They’re great if you don’t want to carry / risk losing small parts.
I know a gardener that has a load in his tool bag, and no way would he want to be carrying tiny 8 and 10 mm sockets. I have quite a few myself. The bigger sizes have limited uses, as they don’t have the leverage, but the small to medium sized ones are a great tool to shove in a pocket if I’m just going to change a battery or work with my chainsaw.
I have some Facom, but really like these SAM ones. They are french made (Facom no longer are) and the finish is superb!
OP
Beerhippie
Well-known member
You're a little out of date. Dave's been gone for a few years now, and his daughter and her husband now run the store. When they first inherited it, they went on a "clear the shelves" drive and things were very reasonable--for a while. Then Mama discovered Ebay and Facebook and the prices went higher than Dave's fantasy pricing. A lot of stuff still has Dave's hang-tags on it. The new prices are generally stickers or Sharpie.So true
I drove back by Back Achers about 12:30 to take a second look but changed my mind and headed home. That SK set was on the same shelf asthe old Thorsen socket set for $15? They had a ton of NOS SK stuff when they moved BJ's from Enterprise to Wallowa.
Baker City. Are you in Enterprise?
Oregon Trail traders is all guns and ammo now since the new ownership several years ago unless they have a room I don't know about. Baker doesn't have any options anymore other than yard sales, John Day has a shop but everytime I've been through there it's closed but the local's say he's open normally, just my luck.
I was probably in Back Achers when you drove by. My white Toyota Corolla is hard to miss, as it's got a roof rack (made from a pallet rack shelf) and spare tire on top.
It was a sad day for me when BJ's moved to Wallowa--they were just about three blocks from the brewpub where I work in Enterprise.
They didn't always have the best pricing on the new/overstock tools they carried--including the SK stuff--which is still the most overpriced stuff at their new location. I'd gladly have paid $15 or $20 for that set of 1/4" deeps, but $45? Color me cheap-***.
I haven't been through Baker in a while. Need to get down that way before winter closes in.
Thanks for the heads-up on Oregon Trail. Last time I was there was in '20 or '21 and it still had a mind-numbing assortment of guns, knives, surplus and rural junk--the latter being my forte.
I'll clean this old tool up some--both balls are stuck--and post it up to the Ell and Old World threads. I missed the spelling of the Ell thread and thought the Old World thread was more about brand new tools.
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Where do you buy the SAM wrenches?I have some Facom, but really like these SAM ones. They are french made (Facom no longer are) and the finish is superb!
Dave455
Well-known member
I’m in the U.K. and get them through Radio Spares (a well known British electronics supplier).
I don’t know what the availability is like in the U.S. I could see it being difficult. I felt that it was worth making the effort for these particular tools though, as they do seem to be the nicest examples of the type.
I’ve also got one or two other SAM tools I picked up in France, but I think they are less common than Facom, even there.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I said it on the other thread, but I admire the way "they" (not sure which European maker did it first...) dual-used the service opening on the short leg side by opening up the back of the bend for passing a tommy bar through. The 1920's US wrenches (BMCo, Vlchek) cross-drilled a hole through the tubular shank near the bend for that purpose.
four.cycle
Well-known member
Not sure where you'd find the Facom branded models, but one can find DuraTech on Amazon or Ebay cheap cheap.
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
These are pretty nice for the money
four.cycle
Well-known member
very much so.
was pretty hard to say no at that price point.
I shipped a set of them down to @Chrome Vanadium Cody but he seems to have fallen off the planet.
was pretty hard to say no at that price point.
I shipped a set of them down to @Chrome Vanadium Cody but he seems to have fallen off the planet.
esben57
Well-known member
Britool 3/8" dr A61
Have an Elora somewhere. Think eldest swiped it for his bike toolkit.
Also have a 1/4" and 5/16" but not sure what that's for
esben57
Well-known member
I think that the “Tool’s” forum’s greatest strength is that we can share info on manufacturers that some members may not even know exist, let alone what they offer.
I quite like Elora. They offer a considerable range of tools, and the quality is very good. They don’t get discussed much here, I suspect because they don’t have much of a presence in the U.S. I don’t have many of their tools myself, but what I do is very good.
The French style (though I acknowledge the U.S. manufacturers) “pipe wrench” does have some uses I think. They’re great if you don’t want to carry / risk losing small parts.
I know a gardener that has a load in his tool bag, and no way would he want to be carrying tiny 8 and 10 mm sockets. I have quite a few myself. The bigger sizes have limited uses, as they don’t have the leverage, but the small to medium sized ones are a great tool to shove in a pocket if I’m just going to change a battery or work with my chainsaw.
I have some Facom, but really like these SAM ones. They are french made (Facom no longer are) and the finish is superb!
These ACESA 707 are ok. Have a small Record vice I bolt through T nuts to my ancient BD workmate, always use the 17mm