Gimmick Wrenches, Tools.

[Bighead38]

I never got the Robogrip thing. Most of my friends love 'em - not me. Leatherman's, too.

Must be an Irish thing.

I’m American-Irish and love my Leatherman lol.

 

[Mallen]

If you have a weakness for nutdrivers you can’t leave one of these one size fits all models behind but I promise that I’ll never use it.
-Don

Is there really that much demand for "one size fits all" tools? I guess there are a few that are considered standard. Pipe wrenches. Adjustable wrenches. But it seems a lot of the worst tools are supposed to replace half the tool box. Like that universal nut driver. The pin socket. Those stupid universal wrenches from the 80s. There actually IS a use for those. I used to keep one around when I was younger and often didn't own the right tool. Sometimes I just didn't have the right size socket or wrench and so e of those times it work and get my car back on the road without having to buy the right tool. Now, I just have the right tools.

Got into a heated debate not too long ago on "gimmick" tools. Don't call anything a gimmick if someone thinks it's a legitimate tool! Them's fightin' words!

It seems that a lot depends on what your particular opinion on what "gimmick" means. I think it's often construed as some clever contraption or trick that has little practical value, and so the term "gimmick" generally has a negative connotation. However, coming from a salesman's background, I see it from the broader definition of an attention-getting novel or unconventional device or method designed to promote and sell a product or service (which also happens to be one of the legitimate standard dictionary meanings for the term). To me, that's not necessarily a negative thing.

Take fishing reels for example. There was the conventional casting reel, the basic design which goes back a long ways. Then came the 'gimmick' of the spinning reel that used a rotating head to wind line. Later came the closed-face spincast reel first marketed by the Zero Hour Bomb Company (or Zebco). These were unquestionably gimmicks in their day that were manufactured and sold with the specific intent of generating sales from their novelty, but ultimately proved to be of practical use. Lots of other reel gimmicks have come and gone because the design simply proved impractical or unprofitable, or solved a problem that too few consumers cared about spending money for that particular solution. Even today, casting reels are often called "conventional" reels as opposed to the unconventional 'gimmicky' spinning and spincasting reels (Alvey reels get honorable mention).

The tool industry has seen lots of gimmicks, and like fishing lures, the field seems to invite and encourage them. Interchangeable sockets was a gimmick. Adjustable wrenches were a gimmick. Channellocks were a gimmick. Combination wrenches were once a gimmick. Even the ratchet was a gimmick. Just because the market eventually judges a novel device to be such a practical innovation as to become mainstream does not negate its gimmicky origins. There are many more tool gimmicks that have gone away that were either impractical or had too small a following to make them commercially viable. Mechanics laugh at those one-size-fits-all sockets with the spring-loaded pins inside, but I had a job once where I had to run out a bunch of eye screws of varying sizes--best hand tool socket ever made for that job!!! It would be stupid to start an argument about it with those who think it's junk just because I happen to find that contraption useful at times. If it had a widely recognized usefulness, all the tool companies would be making them. But regardless to whether a novel tool proves to be successful or not, its origin was still a gimmick.

That's what that y shaped bit in your "101 piece" super super has everything set is for.

 

[Mallen]

I was taught that all adjustable wrenches are gimmicky wrenches

Pipe wrenches and Stilson wrenches are adjustables that I wouldnt call gimicky. There's really no better tool for turning a round object.

On the other hand, while the classic adjustable wrench is probably too common to call gimmicky, if such a thing never existed, I don't think I'd miss it. I have some, but I don't use them that often. In fact I avoid it. Usually I use the out of lazyness when I can't find the right size wrench and I find that first.

VIce grips look gimicky but are actually (as we all know) quite usefulI. However, think they are misused, probably die to marketing. They are really a cross between pliers and a clamp rather that pliers and a wrench as they are often presented. They are great for holding things and grabbing things like you would with a pair of pliers but then you can lock them down. But I cringe when people try to take off a damaged nut with vise grips. Chances are if it strips with a wrench, your only going to shave off the corners even more with a pair of vise grips. And generally if I can fit the vise grips on it I can fit the Stillsons wrench on it. And those DO work. But there are tons of tasks, like clamping tasks such as holding metal to be welded, that vise grips excell at.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I bought this several years ago thinking it was a very cool idea. The handle rotates to turn the head, and it operates as a regular fine tooth ratchet. One of the few Chinese tools I own. I have never used it, but can see how it could be handy in the right situation. Bonus feature is the quick release.

 

[Russtred]

I bought this several years ago thinking it was a very cool idea. The handle rotates to turn the head, and it operates as a regular fine tooth ratchet. One of the few Chinese tools I own. I have never used it, but can see how it could be handy in the right situation. Bonus feature is the quick release.

I have one of these and I love it for removing oil drain plugs. It doesn't get a lot of use, but there have been a few times it has come in real handy where nothing else would work.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here are two US made ratchets - separated by 60 years, and a couple thousand miles - that demonstrate the same concept (turning fasteners in close quarters, when there is no space to swing a handle) and use the same mechanism (beveled gears).



The "ONLI-1" (1,385,214/1920, and 1,420,635/1921), the brainchild of August Klopper, was made by the King Tool Company in Asbury Park, NJ. It is 7/16-inch hex drive. It was marketed for hard to reach spots. That button at the top of the head retracts the drive plug, disengaging the gears, so you can use it like an L-handle if you have room to swing it. It came in an embossed metal case with several sockets and an extension. You can read more about it in a GJ thread on the subject here.

"Hudgins" (4,311,072/1982) refers to the last name of the inventor, from Cedar Crest, NM. There is an older version (4,086,829/1978) that actually had a little crank at the **** end of the hollow handle actuating a shaft inside, just like the Onli-1. The example I have is an improvement, because the entire handle rotates, actuating the gears inside. But as you can see, the head is a little large, certainly larger than RJ's Chinesium Husky-branded version. Like the Husky, you can also use it like a regular ratchet. The Hudgins is US, though, not easy to find, and kind of nifty considering the era it was made. It is 3/8-inch square drive. You can read more in a GJ thread on the subject here.

Like some of the other tools on this thread (Williams original dogbone, for example), I don't consider either one to be classically gimmicky, a term that does commonly have a negative connotation, often implying superficial trickery with little to no intrinsic value, with the main objective being sales, and almost exclusively for sales' sake.

I don't think either inventor was motivated by gimmickry.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Here are two US made ratchets - separated by 60 years, and a couple thousand miles - that demonstrate the same concept (turning fasteners in close quarters, when there is no space to swing a handle) and use the same mechanism (beveled gears).



The "ONLI-1" (1,385,214/1920, and 1,420,635/1921), the brainchild of August Klopper, was made by the King Tool Company in Asbury Park, NJ. It is 7/16-inch hex drive. It was marketed for hard to reach spots. That button at the top of the head retracts the drive plug, disengaging the gears, so you can use it like an L-handle if you have room to swing it. It came in an embossed metal case with several sockets and an extension. You can read more about it in a GJ thread on the subject here.

"Hudgins" (4,311,072/1982) refers to the last name of the inventor, from Cedar Crest, NM. There is an older version (4,086,829/1978) that actually had a little crank at the **** end of the hollow handle actuating a shaft inside, just like the Onli-1. The example I have is an improvement, because the entire handle rotates, actuating the gears inside. But as you can see, the head is a little large, certainly larger than RJ's Chinesium Husky-branded version. Like the Husky, you can also use it like a regular ratchet. The Hudgins is US, though, not easy to find, and kind of nifty considering the era it was made. It is 3/8-inch square drive. You can read more in a GJ thread on the subject here.

Like some of the other tools on this thread (Williams original dogbone, for example), I don't consider either one to be classically gimmicky, a term that does commonly have a negative connotation, often implying superficial trickery with little to no intrinsic value, with the main objective being sales, and almost exclusively for sales' sake.

I don't think either inventor was motivated by gimmickry.

I agree about the motivation. Probably true of most of what made it here. The Husky can be ratcheted by turning the handle either direction. Is the Hudson’s the same? In other words, you can rock back and forth and still progress in the same direction.

 

[DAustin]

I have a set of 5 Snap-on Fractional-Metric box end wrenches. (S-605)
3/8 x 10mm, 7/16 x 12mm, 1/2 x 13mm, 9/19 x 15mm, and 5/8 x 17mm.
I'm not sure if you could call them a gimmick, but they were sure handy when working on cars of the 80s when everyone started really changing over from SAE to Metric. I would have bought a set of open ends if they would have made them. Don't need them as much anymore as just about everything is all metric.

 

[MarkH]

My interpretation of a gimmicky tool. Usually what was sold at Sears at Christmas and never seen any other time of the year. I had to train the wife to ignore them. I will buy the tools look at the shirts or jackets.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The Husky can be ratcheted by turning the handle either direction. Is the Hudson’s the same? In other words, you can rock back and forth and still progress in the same direction.

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking, sorry.

It has a gear and a switch to change directions, actuating a spring-loaded batman pawl inside, just like a routine ratchet. And it will work like any routine ratchet, by pulling the handle/drive stud against a fastener right (on) or left (off), and ratcheting into a new bite on the backswing in the other direction.

It also has a set of beveled offset gears above the drive plug. Rotating the handle (turning it in its own axis) actuates those gears, turning the drive stud right (on) or left (off), but only in the direction the pawl is switched for.

EDIT: If you click on the link in my previous post, there are several patent diagrams and I also took it apart to fix and lube it, so you can see the internals.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking, sorry.

It has a gear and a switch to change directions, actuating a spring-loaded batman pawl inside, just like a routine ratchet. And it will work like any routine ratchet, by swinging the handle/drive stud against a fastener right (on) or left (off), and ratcheting into a new bite on the backswing in the other direction. It also has a set of beveled offset gears. Those actuate the main gear by rotating the handle (turning it in its own axis), but only in the direction the pawl is switched for.

If you click on the link in my previous post, there are several patent diagrams and I also took it apart to fix and lube it, so you can see the internals.

I understand. The Husky will tighten or loosen, depending on choice, whichever way you rotate the handle, so you can oscillate back and forth with the handle and the ratchet will move the fastener in one direction. It moves the fastener when you rotate left and when you rotate right. Not sure how it works, but I thought it was cool.

 

[MrPink]

I actually just threw my craftsman robo-grips away.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Not sure how it works, but I thought it was cool.

Sounds really cool. The mechanism almost sounds like the adjustable socket made by Bonney that 3bay and I have. You can turn it in either direction and the walls of the socket will close, then open, close, then open, continuously. No matter which direction you turn. It will only stop when it acquires resistance (such as the fastener).

 

[Mallen]

I just bought two sets of tool boxes full of tools for 100 bucks. Bear woth me here. There's a point to the whole story. One is a POPULAR Mechanics box, that was surprisingly heavy duty. It's 28 wide " 18 deep with a nice top box. The second box is a cheap Craftsman with the bottom, mod and tup boxes. I thought it was going to be like the cheap Craftsman boxes,but it's really solid. Either of those alone ,empty are worth the price I paid. But it gets better. In loaded two tool bags from them weighing about 200lb each. That contains about 2/3 of the sockets and wrenches and pliers, but there are still probably another 500 or 600 or more pound to go through.

I just finished sorting them and I found it was about half cheap import stuff. A lot of it was harbor freight, but some of it was done really cheap stuff , probably back from the 80s or 90s dollar discount tables.

The other half was about half old American made Craftsman and the other half was a mix of old proto, barco, powerkraft, fleet, sk and a few bits of Blackhawk thrown in.

But thats not all. This last single tool makes the whole thing worth it even if we're to end up recycling everything else for scrap metal. Behold, the pièce de résistance.


A "Mulpa-Wrench". I'm not sure if I will try to put it up on eBay, or go with Sotheby's. But it looks like I'll be retiring. It's honestly tempting to just keep it. With this, why even HAVE other tools...





Honestly, I wonder if someone put that together like that, but it fits and the detent bearing and spring work as if it were made that way. Which in itself suggests maybe some previous owner screwed around with it. The fact that the socket end has size markings on it might make some wonder if it's original, but considering where these things come from, can you really say that they didn't just slap so.e ratchet heads on them and not bother to change the markings? No matter where it came from, it's the most rediculous tool I've ever seen.

 

[Mallen]

OMG. I just found the website for this thing. Yea they really make this. http://www.automaster-tw.com/productsDia.php?pn=5151

What I especially like is how the large end on the first one is good for 9-22mm, but on the one where the small end is replaced with the ratchet, the exact same end, is good for 9mm upto ANYTHING.

 

[driftpin]

I cleaned out a storage unit, ("anything in-there is yours, if you want it!") and found this, a double ended combo wrench. I haven't done much with it, I did use it on a wheel lug nut just to see if it was capable of some torque, it was. It appears well-made. Due-left of the head is a plastic case set of Channel-Lock nut drivers, one handle, multiple SAE shafts/sockets.

 

[81CJ-7]

Anybody recognize this palm-grip wheel ratchet?

I believe that that is a Thorsen puck wrench, just an earlier version.

 

[4xdog]

The common themes among most gimmick tools are (Type 1) one tool fits all sizes and (Type 2) multiple functions on one tool. There aren't that many times where what must have been enthusiastic inventors pulled it off.

Here's a Type 1 gimmick from my father's old tools, as I clean out his workbench thirty years after he passed. Given how little this has been used I'll bet my brother or I gave it to him as a gift, probably in the early 1970s. This Stanley Hex-a-Matic adjustable nut driver is pretty well made, and works reasonably well. It's still not as convenient as carrying a driver handle and a few sockets or the dedicated nut drivers.

 

[4xdog]

Here's another Type 1 gimmick (fits-more-than-one-size) tool that while kind of gimmicky is also surprisingly useful. This Pocket Socket four-in-one nut driver came to me a few years ago when my nonogenarian neighbor passed and his family gave me a few boxes of tools from his garage. It probably dates from the 1960s. The sliding tube has two sizes, the fixed tube another two. So it's a four-in-one nut driver, with a single moving part, non-removable. It's kind of beat up, but it's sturdily made. This one lives in my house painting/stripping tray and gets used once in a while.

The sizes on the Pocket Socket are 1/4", 5/16". 3/8", and 7/16".

 

[four.cycle]

RE: 4xDog's "Pocket Socket":

Pocket Socket / Pocket Socket Inc., Allen Park, MI 48101-2914 / patent 3187610 Jun 8 1965 Charles O. Russman / NSN 5120-00-868-0831 / Russman "Pocket Socket" Telescopic Multiple Wrench / https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=84783.0 /

Not sure if I have one of those around here or not.

Your Stanley 61-125 "Hex-a-Matic" adjustable nut driver solves a mystery for me here. I was unable to find any information on the inventor of that gizmo until I saw the patent number stamped on your "Stanley" unit.

Seaboard / Seaboard Tools, Cherry Hills, NJ / adjustable nut driver / patent 3339439 Sep 5 1967 Leonard Van Dalen & Horace C. Disston, Jr. / (appears later as Stanley 61-125 "Hex-a-Matic" see https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/gimmick-wrenches-tools.428536/page-3#post-9305139) /

I am assuming that Van Dalen and Disston sold it to Stanley, which is probably why I was unable to find any information on them and didn’t figure this one out until I saw the Stanley unit posted above. I will wait until I hear back from Stan on this one before I post anything in a separate thread.



Thanks to the others who have contributed items to this thread, several of which offered clues to mysteries I've been working on for a few years.

 

[RTM]

Hmm, I have a Jerrold Seaboard, was gonna post it in defense of the gimmick chain, but you beat me too it. Mine is patent pending also. My quick search of DATAMP drew nothing, so it was set aside for more work later. Guess you saved me that one, thanks. Another one to add to my DATAMP list.

 

[Mallen]

If it's pressed in an arbor press would probably be the way to go. But yes,give them a call.

 

[four.cycle]

RTM:
The "Jerrold" unit was made BY Seaform for Jerrold. I looked that one up. Can't remember what "Jerrold" does, but it's not making tools.

(I've already sent the info to datamp)

 

[RTM]

RTM:
The "Jerrold" unit was made BY Seaform for Jerrold. I looked that one up. Can't remember what "Jerrold" does, but it's not making tools

.
Yes, wasn't clear about that, was i? Jerrold was Cable TV stuff in the early days

 

[Moldyjim]

The version of the Skil wrench for sale today is pretty but of the poorest quality. The weak point in the design is the slide for size selection. They break easily from what I've heard from those who have tried out the wrench. I have zero hands on experience with the tool so take my 3rd party review with this in mind.

The sweet spot for the gimmick tool era was the late 90s when Craftsman tried to sell you every sort of nutty tool that Bob Vila could pitch. Robogrip, while being nifty for certain tasks, is what most people will recognize from that awkward time.

Actually the robogrip pliers work great for me. I use them all the time for nuts.
Seriously they are perfect for cracking nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts etc. The auto adjust is just right for cracking the shell without destroying the nut meat.

 

[DAustin]

Robogrip pliers are the Rodney Dangerfield of tools

 

[Moldyjim]

Nice one! A 'speed wrench screwdriver'..
Does the handle actually rotate freely? Or is it just fixed like a normal screwdriver handle?
Can't imagine it would stay in the screw slot for long before it slips out and gouges in to whatever.

Pre battery powered tools many electricians used these for putting in outlets etc. They are actually pretty handy. I have, but not tried to use, a slotted screwdriver, the Phillips point ones work well though.

 

[four.cycle]

Yes, want clear about that, was i? Jerrold was Cable TV stuff in the early days

yes. Jerrold was in the cable TV business, not tools. so yours presumably was made as a promotional item for Jerrold, presumably made by Seaform.
funny that it ended up at Stanley - usually those "wonder tool" gizmos were snapped up by Sears for their annual Christmas "what kind of ****** useless tool can we sell this year" special, like the caveman "Adjust-a-box".

 

[Moldyjim]

Wait, no one has mentioned the most gimmicky tools yet.
Behold the Black and Decker electric adjustable wrench!

Along with it's companion tool, the powered tape measure it was new and improved!

I actually have two I picked up at GSs. One I took apart just to see what was going on. I left the useless **** off and now it's a super lightweight adjustable wrench if I ever need to cut weight out of a kit.

The other one is part of my special collection.

OOPS!
Okay, I must have scrolled past post #25.

 

[Moldyjim]

The common themes among most gimmick tools are (Type 1) one tool fits all sizes and (Type 2) multiple functions on one tool. There aren't that many times where what must have been enthusiastic inventors pulled it off.

Here's a Type 1 gimmick from my father's old tools, as I clean out his workbench thirty years after he passed. Given how little this has been used I'll bet my brother or I gave it to him as a gift, probably in the early 1970s. This Stanley Hex-a-Matic adjustable nut driver is pretty well made, and works reasonably well. It's still not as convenient as carrying a driver handle and a few sockets or the dedicated nut drivers.

I got one just like that a week or so ago. Obviously not used much. But interesting nonetheless.

 

[Moldyjim]

Oooo, I like those Crescent folding T handles, Otg. Those are legit in my book. Same principle as the high hex nut shanks that Smith, Tobrin, Ryan and others put on heavy duty screwdrivers for grabbing and turning with a wrench. But built in. Not easy to find, either. I have never seen one in the wild in about 10 years of flea prowling. Congrats.

I have a couple that I recently picked up, two that size and one larger one. And one standard one I've had for years.

On two of them you can see that the end was used as a hammer sometime back in the day. Crescent advertised them as a combo screwdriver and lightweight hammer.

I need to research and see if they ever made a Philip's head or not.

 

[Moldyjim]

Well, in the spirit of full disclosure, I did buy a Leatherman once. And gave it to my wife..... so she could have some small tools at work.

I have carried and used a number of the pocket multitools, Leatherman, SOG, Gerber etc.

They have saved me miles of walking and climbing up and down ladders to grab a real tool.

I keep one of the cheaper ones in the truck and a better one in my wife's car trunk just in case.

I used to carry a Leatherman Wave all the time. Then the Surge came out and stole my heart.

But alas, as I got older the weight of them, and a cell phone, as well as my *** shrinking makes it hard to keep my pants from falling down.

I also spend more time at work sitting in front of a computer screen instead of running around the shop fixing things.

I still take a Surge and auxiliary bits along when I travel. And I also keep one in my emergency bag just in case I need a tool and don't have any available.

I don't fly anymore if I can avoid it, hell, I don't even travel unless work or my wife makes me.

Can you tell I'm stuck at home today and bored?
This is the third or fourth reply to just this thread I've made today...

 

[DAustin]

I have carried and used a number of the pocket multitools, Leatherman, SOG, Gerber etc.

They have saved me miles of walking and climbing up and down ladders to grab a real tool.

I keep one of the cheaper ones in the truck and a better one in my wife's car trunk just in case.

I used to carry a Leatherman Wave all the time. Then the Surge came out and stole my heart.

But alas, as I got older the weight of them, and a cell phone, as well as my *** shrinking makes it hard to keep my pants from falling down.

I also spend more time at work sitting in front of a computer screen instead of running around the shop fixing things.

I still take a Surge and auxiliary bits along when I travel. And I also keep one in my emergency bag just in case I need a tool and don't have any available.

I don't fly anymore if I can avoid it, hell, I don't even travel unless work or my wife makes me.

Can you tell I'm stuck at home today and bored?
This is the third or fourth reply to just this thread I've made today...

You should try the Super Tool 300, it's like hooking a boat anchor on your belt.

 

[Moldyjim]

Anyone have a set of the open end/box end wrenches made a while back where they twisted the shank 90 degrees to give a flat surface for comfort?

I thought at the time it might be a good adaptation, but it never took off?

TWIST COMBINATION WRENCH (TCR) - Buffalo Tools'

TWIST COMBINATION WRENCH (TCR) - a Buffalo Tools product in our Hand Tools category

buffalo-tools.com

 

[Moldyjim]

You should try the Super Tool 300, it's like hooking a boat anchor on your belt.

I have one of those too, but never really enjoyed it because of the handle design. And you are right, its stout.

The Wave and Surge have much more comfortable grips, plus the blade access is better for me.

 

[Mallen]

, as well as my *** shrinking makes it hard to keep my pants from falling down.

How did you manage that. Mine just keeps growing. With a sturdy belt I ought to be able to hold up the entire contends of my roll around.

 

[Moldyjim]

How did you manage that. Mine just keeps growing. With a sturdy belt I ought to be able to hold up the entire contends of my roll around.

I've always been skinny, just getting worse the older I get. Too much nervous energy and constant fidgeting will do that.

 

[Arne73]

Here's another Type 1 gimmick (fits-more-than-one-size) tool that while kind of gimmicky is also surprisingly useful. This Pocket Socket four-in-one nut driver came to me a few years ago when my nonogenarian neighbor passed and his family gave me a few boxes of tools from his garage. It probably dates from the 1960s. The sliding tube has two sizes, the fixed tube another two. So it's a four-in-one nut driver, with a single moving part, non-removable. It's kind of beat up, but it's sturdily made. This one lives in my house painting/stripping tray and gets used once in a while.

The sizes on the Pocket Socket are 1/4", 5/16". 3/8", and 7/16".

The pocket socket was the tool all of us junior electricians coveted at my first Coast Guard unit in the early 80s. It was a super handy tool for our tasks. It seems to me that the NSN was a dead-end when we tried to order them. It seems to me there was an amber handled example as well but with the "in between" sizes not on the red handled ones.

 

[DAustin]

I've always been skinny, just getting worse the older I get. Too much nervous energy and constant fidgeting will do that.

Let me introduce you to my old friend Pizza, he'll fix you right up

 

[joseywales]

I actually just threw my craftsman robo-grips away.

Yeah. I have two sizes of the Matco brand I bought decades ago as a young mechanic.