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r_olson_06
Well-known member
Thanks for the post. Could you take an O.D. measurement of the round portion?
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Extension ID help needed. 41-B-311-500
- Thread starter r_olson_06
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Are the longs 10 or 12 inches? (Hard for me to gage with them staggered.) And what is your opinion on the FSN marked specimen? Does it look like it could be made by Snap-On?
Rileysan
Well-known member
Great information! I take it, the same applies to my 'S' shaped DBE I posted yesterday? I posted updated pix and info in that thread today, btw.
Brian
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Yes. I didn't go into as much background about the numbering system itself on your thread, because I thought you'd see it here.
Your 'S' wrench and r_olson_06's swivel grip extension bar showing up here within days of each other with FSN's seems to imply that they're common, but you guys should know that nothing could be further from the truth.
They are rare. They show up on very few WWII tools, indicating that it was not SOP to stamp them on tools, and my research - greatly aided by a history book on the Ordnance Dept, with a whole chapter dedicated to the supply system, reinforces that. These numbers, assigned by the Treasury Department, believe it or not, which administered the Federal Standard Stock Catalog, are found in all Army and Navy technical manuals and catalogs, anything that lists tools, but are rarely found on the tools themselves. So rare that the examples to the contrary, while few in number, are very well known to all WWII collectors. And most of them are controversial (as being wartime or not) for the same reason. Some examples: DOE engineers wrenches made by a short-lived company in L.A. named Arcturus have the FSN famously forged into the shank. A few Armstrong DOE wrenches have been found with them. A shock absorber tool made by Miller. Some Hamilton toolboxes, a couple of which have shown up and been pointed out by me here on the toolbox thread, have them. The Mossberg extensions I posted upthread have been seen by others, but the unbranded 3/8-inch drive speeder (any help on ID'ing that from anyone?) and the Williams hinge handle are the only ones I have ever seen of those. EDIT: In contrast, think about the hundreds and hundreds of popular wartime tools made by Plomb, Snap-On, etc, that you've seen, in person or here or AA etc, almost all without FSN's, and you'll have the context for tools with them.
Ironically, most of the examples are considered post-war. Ironic, because a commission was established shortly after the war was over, due to all the supply issue and competing stock numbering systems, and the 11-digit National Stock Number was eventually established (1953).
Your 'S' wrench and r_olson_06's swivel grip extension bar showing up here within days of each other with FSN's seems to imply that they're common, but you guys should know that nothing could be further from the truth.
They are rare. They show up on very few WWII tools, indicating that it was not SOP to stamp them on tools, and my research - greatly aided by a history book on the Ordnance Dept, with a whole chapter dedicated to the supply system, reinforces that. These numbers, assigned by the Treasury Department, believe it or not, which administered the Federal Standard Stock Catalog, are found in all Army and Navy technical manuals and catalogs, anything that lists tools, but are rarely found on the tools themselves. So rare that the examples to the contrary, while few in number, are very well known to all WWII collectors. And most of them are controversial (as being wartime or not) for the same reason. Some examples: DOE engineers wrenches made by a short-lived company in L.A. named Arcturus have the FSN famously forged into the shank. A few Armstrong DOE wrenches have been found with them. A shock absorber tool made by Miller. Some Hamilton toolboxes, a couple of which have shown up and been pointed out by me here on the toolbox thread, have them. The Mossberg extensions I posted upthread have been seen by others, but the unbranded 3/8-inch drive speeder (any help on ID'ing that from anyone?) and the Williams hinge handle are the only ones I have ever seen of those. EDIT: In contrast, think about the hundreds and hundreds of popular wartime tools made by Plomb, Snap-On, etc, that you've seen, in person or here or AA etc, almost all without FSN's, and you'll have the context for tools with them.
Ironically, most of the examples are considered post-war. Ironic, because a commission was established shortly after the war was over, due to all the supply issue and competing stock numbering systems, and the 11-digit National Stock Number was eventually established (1953).
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Interesting, snapmom. I'm not sure if that's in reply to my post, but we do find plenty of other stock numbers on wartime tools. NAF-###, for example, a Navy Aviation stock number, seen on toolboxes and wrenches (including Plomb DBE's, and Diamond Calk auto wrenches, just to name a few examples). WF- (USAAF), of course, and Ordnance Dept "TAXI" numbers, etc. But not many Federal Stock Numbers (41-x-xxxx).
I don't know what MSO-6118173 is, but it's not an FSN.
It's not Navy, USAAF, QMC, ORD, Signal Corps or Corps of Eng either, as far as I know. Has anyone ever tried identifying it for you?
I don't know what MSO-6118173 is, but it's not an FSN.
It's not Navy, USAAF, QMC, ORD, Signal Corps or Corps of Eng either, as far as I know. Has anyone ever tried identifying it for you?
No, I assumed it was military, does not have the snap on name, and usually if it was made for industrial, it would have a S to start the model number. Also it has a 41 code, and no finish. I have seen a couple of them.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I'll see if I can find anything on it. MSO not ringing any bells though.
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d42jeep
Well-known member
Here are a few of the FSN marked tools I've collected. Lugz has seen most of them. The last two pictures are of a very rare FSN marked crossbar that Tin Medic found.
-Don
-Don
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I didn't realize that sneaky son of a gun had a tommy bar with an FSN on it!
d42jeep
Well-known member
Lugz,
That rare crossbar ended up traded to a collector in Tennessee. I was pretty disappointed that Tin never found another. Here are a few more FSN marked items.
-Don
That rare crossbar ended up traded to a collector in Tennessee. I was pretty disappointed that Tin never found another. Here are a few more FSN marked items.
-Don
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