forgotten named older tools

[stage20]

i love the old wizard stuff. i grew up in western auto looking at tools while dad bought parts to fix things up. it was their premiere line, never had money for the stuff. i have a drawer full of sockets and ratchets and extensions that i will have for keepsake. anytime i find a piece, i buy it even if its rusted out. their ratchets are awesome and the shape of their extensions are really stylish.

ive recently run across tools by blue-line. most ive seen were very rusty, but i did buy one 6pt combination wrench. i dont know any info on the name.

also picked up a set of "k mart auto" labeled sockets and ratchet in a case. all 1/4 inch. std and metric. looks like craftsman and older usa husky print on the sockets but they are marked japan..... not sure where they fall in the mix.

 

[lbgradwell]

Challenger was sort of 2nd-tier, where Blackhawk is now, and Fleet (A Pennens brand, also owned by Proto) was more like 3rd tier, where the Stanley-branded hand tools are now (although Fleet was a lot better than the Stanley stuff IMO).

That's interesting; I've never heard that Fleet was positioned below Challenger. What makes you believe this to be the case?
You may very well be correct but I always assumed they were regional brands or distributed via different channels.
Do you remember both brands being sold simultaneously at different price points at the same retailer?


Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

[chevy302dz]

I believe Fairmont became Martin and is still around today

 

[KF5LCH]

I have a couple of each, love the old Wright & JH Williams tools. I rate them right up there with my old Plomb tools. They're pure USA beef.

I also have quite a few old Bonney wrenches & sockets. Love em.

I have a couple of M Klein & Sons- Chicago USA wrenches (re badged Bonney) that are my go to wrenches for anything 1/2" & 9/16".

 

[bonneyman]

Somebody mentioned Dunlap - they made nice quality tools for Sears as the "budget" line to Craftsman.
And I like Harrold screwdrivers. Grab them when ever I find them.
Blue Bird made a whole line of car battery service tools. I like those as well.

 

[jakemac]

Somebody mentioned Dunlap - they made nice quality tools for Sears as the "budget" line to Craftsman.
And I like Harrold screwdrivers. Grab them when ever I find them.
Blue Bird made a whole line of car battery service tools. I like those as well.

Dunlap wasn't a tool company. It was a label owned by Sears, the same as Craftsman. The tools were made by others and relabeled with the Dunlap brand. But I agree, compared to today's budget brands (and some top shelf brands), Dunlap were good quality tools for the homeowner/light professional.

 

[WNYflyer]

I have a nice set of 1/2 drive sockets marked "Chrome-X-Quality". According to Alloy Artifacts they were an Western Auto brand made by Duro/Indestro most likely.

Have a "Wilpen" wrench from my grandfather's old tools. Have no idea about them other that it is most certainly old.

 

[rshadd]

H. Boker

 

[rshadd]

Simonds Cuttings Tools

 

[rshadd]

Young Bros. Stamp Works, Inc.

 

[-->]

Standard. Made in Spain. I have a 15" adjustable by them I got at a flea market for 5 bucks.

 

[shanny19]

As prevalent as KAL was in the 80's, at least in my neighborhood, it's hard to believe how little mention they get around here.

 

[Thumper]

Somebody mentioned Blue Line....I have a set of combo wrenches I got from a small town hardware store 40 years ago..(damn..forgot all about those..LOL )

 

[stage20]

I have a nice set of 1/2 drive sockets marked "Chrome-X-Quality". According to Alloy Artifacts they were an Western Auto brand made by Duro/Indestro most likely.

Have a "Wilpen" wrench from my grandfather's old tools. Have no idea about them other that it is most certainly old.

That ws their top line before wizard. I even hve a few sockets marked western. Not sure where they fall in line withh the western brands

 

[bonneyman]

Dunlap wasn't a tool company. It was a label owned by Sears, the same as Craftsman. The tools were made by others and relabeled with the Dunlap brand. But I agree, compared to today's budget brands (and some top shelf brands), Dunlap were good quality tools for the homeowner/light professional.

Hmmm. I didn't know that.
Just found this link:

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=269

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

My Dunlap screw drivers...

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Industronic Boker.. I suspect my Uncle Pat purchased these while in College at Purdue as a BSEE student in the middle/late 1950's or shortly thereafter...

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

W. S. Co. WW II, reminds me of the Dirty Dozen movie..

 

[stage20]

H. Boker

were those also branded ucita or did ucita make them for boker? they have some kind of connection?

 

[stage20]

My Dunlap screw drivers...

looks like they could have been made by fuller?

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Kelsey Hayes Tool Division, AKA Utica Drop Forge and Tool. KH purchased Utica in the mid 1950s and added Herbrand Automotive Tool and Bonney Forge and Tool Works. In 1967 they sold that divison to Triangle that eventually was purchased by Cooper..

https://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/utica-tool.html#history

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

were those also branded ucita or did ucita make them for boker? they have some kind of connection?

I believe this may be the Boker of record and the tools we've posted tonight...

https://www.boker.de/us/history.html

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

looks like they could have been made by fuller?

Not sure.. I do remember these in my Uncle Pat's collection, and over the course of him sharing and / or borrowing to my dad, his tool box as well. I've grab them up when I find them at flea markets, auctions, etc.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Millers Falls. My dad had a 1/2 chisel that was his "sacred" one that if you chipped it.. you'd be cutting a switch....

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Dunlap wasn't a tool company. It was a label owned by Sears, the same as Craftsman. The tools were made by others and relabeled with the Dunlap brand. But I agree, compared to today's budget brands (and some top shelf brands), Dunlap were good quality tools for the homeowner/light professional.

The Dunlap tools appear to have been Made in USA, although they don't say it. Maybe not (Japan?) for some. The current Sears el cheapo Asian tools Companion and Evolve, pale in comparison quality wise..

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

The Bonney name was bought by Snap On in the late 1990's.

the dates are confusing on the site.....
http://www.trademarkia.com/bonney-71031399.html

Really wonder what SO plans to do with the name... I still think their Streamline wrenches look nicer that Plomb's Pebble's.

 

[bonneyman]

Here's some of my Dunlap stuff. 1/4" chrome plated drill from my FIL. A set of ratcheting box wrenches. And a small vise.

I think I have an egg beater drill of theirs around somewhere.

 

[bonneyman]

The Bonney dies and pull broaches were acquired by Granco Industries at some point after Bonney went under. Talked to one of the owners personally, he said their intention was to re-introduce Bonney tools over time. They actually started to, but, ran into financial trouble - and the Bonney tooling was sold for scrap.

Here is one wrench to validate my information.
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/BonneyMiscWr/24439.html

 

[Steinmetz]

No one bothered to mention that wonderful '60's projection of value at low cost: Globemaster.

 

[shockwave]

I have a few easco tools that are great quality and I believe was older manufacturer of craftsman

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

I have a few easco tools that are great quality and I believe was older manufacturer of craftsman

Something like that, Easco in the 80's was sorta like the Gearwrench of today... nearly identical since they were made side by side, but I think Gearwrench's popularity far surpasses Easco's at it's time.

 

[jakemac]

Danaher/Easco/Apex - same company, different configurations through the years.

 

[rusty65]

Here is a NOS master mechanic deep 9/16

Here is the mustang ratchet set

Here are some ray sockets 1/2 drive sizes: 17/32 23/32 11/16 7/16

And finally matador made in Germany

Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

 

[stage20]

I ran into a breaker bar today. Left a bruise. it was a vi chrome? Usa stamped on it. Appeared to be quality but too high of price for me to bite.

 

[3baygarage]

ROSCO. Anybody list that brand yet?

Screwdrivers and nut drivers.

 

[kxxr]

A set of Thorsen pebble finish metric combination wrenches purchased ~1972 are still my "go to" wrenches. Sad to see the Thorsen name being whored out on chinese ****.

I don't think I have seen this style Thorsen. Any chance of a picture? Would like to check them out. Thanks.

 

[928'er]

I don't think I have seen this style Thorsen. Any chance of a picture? Would like to check them out. Thanks.

Satin finish is probably a more accurate descriptor.

 

[bonneyman]

Satin finish is probably a more accurate descriptor.

Middle period Thorsen's (~1950 to ~1970) with MFD USA logo. Nice tools.

The same wrenches carried the ACTION name (part number had an added A on the end), and they made both long and short combos - yet strangely, the same size had the same numbers whether they were long or short.

 

[stage20]

i have some of the later date action. im not sure if thorson still made them in the late 70's or 80's. i have a 3/4 i really like the feel of. this thing is built like a tank. very thick beam. boxed end is not good for tight spots.

 

[928'er]

Middle period Thorsen's (~1950 to ~1970) with MFD USA logo. Nice tools.

Bought them in '72 after I got out of the AF.

I've got a complete set - 8 mm to 19 mm, I think - just happened to have these three most frequently used sizes in my tool bag.