Ever seen chrome plated IHC marked tools?

[Lump]

I've lived around Southwestern/South Central Ohio for all my life...not more than 40 miles from the International Harvester plant in Springfield, Ohio at any time. I have often found OLD rusty IHC tractor wrenches, usually of cast or rough forged steel. But I have not ever before found modern-style wrenches, ratchets, and sockets with the IHC logo...until Saturday at the auction.

Every tool on the stiff and dirty old blue plastic pouch in the photo above is clearly marked with the familiar IHC logo, and stamped "International" prominently. Have you other folks often seen them yourselves?

The above photo shows a close up view of the IHC markings on the pouch, which was found later, hanging on the old dirty barn wall where the auction was being held.

The two 1/2" drive ratchets in the photo above are the first ones I have ever noticed with IHC logos and markings like that. Have you folks seen lots of others...or are they perhaps uncommon?

Three IHC-marked extensions, plus sockets in 1/2" drive, 3/8" drive, and a couple in 1/4" drive. Mostly SAE, but a few metrics in the sockets. Some 6-point, some 12-point. But notice the open end of that 1" IHC combo wrench at the bottom center of the photo! OOPS!

All the combo wrenches are clearly marked with the IHC logo too.

Strange that I haven't seen more of these. How about you folks?

 

[heelsroll]

If you decide to sell....DIBS!

Great find, Lump!

 

[shotgunfatcat]

Didn't I just see those in another thread?

Not sure about the tools, my dad used to work at navistar, I can ask him about them, We have a bunch of casted things from them, but no tools

 

[heelsroll]

On a more serious note, I've seen one or two pieces listed here, but never seen them in the wild or in a big group. 10 years ago if I'd found them I'd have bought every one, it's not like I wasn't 'in the market' then when I had 12 IHs on my place.

Shine those up and bring 'em to the Nationals. (Wish I could make it, haven't been since '01 with this big guy.)

 

[caper]

They are not overly common.Not extremely rare but they don't show up for sale often.Most guys who have them usually were former International mechanics(like me) or are guys who own Internationals.They were available for purchase at dealerships like Cat tools and John Deere tools are now so they weren't readily available to the general public.Many of the ratchets were made by Wright,wrenches seem to be Wright as well.I've been searching for one of the ratchets for awhile now.Everytime I find one on ebay the seller won't ship to Canada.

 

[csp]

I have an IH rollaway that was made in Canada in the 1940s. My granddad used it as his tool chest.

 

[SS5150]

The IH stuff was made by Wright. My Dad has a 3/4 socket set and a set of drill bits that I know of. He was an IH mechanic.

 

[FoMoCoPower]

It all looks like Wright stuff to me.

 

[FoMoCoPower]

Hah,just saw SS5150`s post now...knew I was right...or is that wright.

 

[SCscoutguy]

All of those tools together would easily go for over a grand on ebay and no I am not kidding.

 

[Scout Driver]

That's a huge, envyable haul! As posted above, they are made by Wright. People have told me that they were a pretty expensive tool when they were new. Probably another reason for their scarcity today.

But......I do have a set of chrome plated IH sockets that were made in Taiwan. The artwork in the box lid makes me think that the Taiwan tools were offered later than the Wright made tools. A couple of these Taiwanese sets came across ebay this spring.

I'd also be interested in them if you ever decide to sell!

Scott

 

[bgott]

I was an IH mechanic back in '78 or '79 or so, I had quite a few chrome plated IH tools in my box. Did they even sell any industrial finish tools?

 

[Scout Driver]

I was an IH mechanic back in '78 or '79 or so, I had quite a few chrome plated IH tools in my box. Did they even sell any industrial finish tools?

I've seen a lot of IH mechanics tools, but never with an industrial finish.

Scott

 

[eborcim]

I bet Lump is happier than a pig in slop right now!

I wish I could sit and watch this one play out.

 

[caper]

Yeah it's going good.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320581438376&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[woody 73]

Those are wright ratchets,even with my bad eyesight ;A little bird told me you are looking to make a killing on E-bay and retire to Florida. Can you just see Heelsroll as your new neighbor.

I can see it now, Fathers will not have to lock up their daughters,they will have to lock up their garage doors...

 

[Lump]

Yeah, I'm very pleased indeed.

Now I have both ratchets and all the 1/2" drive sockets in two different eBay auctions. Then this weekend sometime I will sell the 3/8 drive sockets and one extension. It's a shame I didn't get an IH 3/8 drive ratchet!

In truth, I had never before seen chrome-plated USA-made IH-marked wrenches or socket tools before when they came up at that auction. I had no idea of value...but my instincts (born of YEARS of auctions, yard sales, flea markets, and swap meets) told me that they might be special. But, WOW, I had no dream of that kind of value.

Maybe this will help cover the costs of so many vintage items I have bought wrongly over my lifetime, using the same "instincts" and "experience!"

 

[bindernut]

I bid the 1st ratchet lot up to $75, that got passed quick. Don't know yet if I will bid more or not. I have a strong hunch it will end higher than the wrenches did.

 

[Lump]

Binder,
Don't overlook that second IH ratchet. It's stuck, and it comes with just one socket. So I expect it to sell for much less. And don't forget that you have the advantage of being at the swap meet next week, where you can pick it up totally for free.

Later this weekend I will be listing those 3/8 tools too.

Hoping you get something at a great price.

I bid the 1st ratchet lot up to $75, that got passed quick. Don't know yet if I will bid more or not. I have a strong hunch it will end higher than the wrenches did.

 

[Lump]

WOW! The eBay auction for the first 1/2" drive ratchet just ended.

Who would EVER have thought that these IH-marked tools could be in such strong demand??!!??

Whoa...I need to start paying better attention to boxes of used wrenches, sockets, etc...at estate sales, flea mkts, and auctions around here!

Thank you SO much, IH guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SCscoutguy]

WOW! The eBay auction for the first 1/2" drive ratchet just ended.

Who would EVER have thought that these IH-marked tools could be in such strong demand??!!??

Whoa...I need to start paying better attention to boxes of used wrenches, sockets, etc...at estate sales, flea mkts, and auctions around here!

Thank you SO much, IH guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well what did they go for?

 

[Lump]

well what did they go for?

$255!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SCscoutguy]

$255!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You did really well. If you would have bought those tools probably about 5 years ago and put them on ebay you probably would have gotten close to 2k for them as they were going for big $ then. I saw a complete IH 3/4" drive set go for $1300 once.