Gimmick Wrenches, Tools.

[Mikeske]

I have seen those stupid wrenches for years and never found them to do anything but be scrap

 

[MisterEd]

funny that it ended up at Stanley - usually those "wonder tool" gizmos were snapped up by Sears

Have a Stanley HEX-A-MATIC and planning to give it as a sort-of-useful tool to an old and elderly friend who'll appreciate it's questionable usefulness. Oddly, while doing a little research I found that Klein made a version, since discontinued. https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/multi-bit-nut-drivers/drive-matic-cushion-grip-nut-driver

 

[Private Lugnutz]

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... [ ] ...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.

Yessir! 9/32 and 3/16 on one end and 11/32 and 7/32 on the other! Just picked up this example at the flea this morning.



4.c will have to add the second NSN to his info in his Mfgr's Index. I'm assuming the -0831 is for the red-handled example with the standard sizes.

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 /

 

[ecotec]

I have, over the last few years, gotten rid of every gimmick tool that I could find in my garage.

I have had so many in this thread.

I did not know that people collected them.

 

[JohnDeere]

Slap one of those pin sockets on this baby and throw all your other tools away!

theI 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.

 

[ecotec]

I used to use one of those pin sockets for eye bolts.

 

[RTM]

I used to use one of those pin sockets for eye bolts.

Works well for hooks too. I bought an eyebolt driving hex bit, of course my eyebolt was too big. The alligator was right there, did a good enough job.

 

[RTM]

Just to add to the joy of finding goofy stuff, here is another Pocket Socket, apparently a bit later than 4xdog's, 'cuz' mine has the patent number on it.

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"

Mine has patent 3,187,610 (1965-06-08) molded into the handle (not in DATAMP), and halfway around, also has Canadian patent 70754 molded in, but CA70754A is an ore amalgamator. Searching the Canadian database for inventor Russman brings up 707534 (1965-04-13), another oops in the patent data world.

Interesting that it was approved in Canada before the US version (filed 1963-10-15, granted 1965-06-08) . Unfortunately I can't find any application dates on any of the Canadian.

Mine is a little cleaner than 4dog's was when he found it. Not as different as Lugz', 5 posts up. Maybe he needs the other to complete his set, and get him almost to collector.




This would have been convenient the other night, putting something back together with hex head sheet metal screws, and I had to go downstairs to grab the whole box of nut drivers, since they still aren't organized, and I can't do those little heads by glance anymore.

 

[AC-WC]

I bought my sidewinder 1) longer length handle for 3/8, 2) for turning the socket when it's too loose for the ratchet to work and too tight for me to turn with my bare fingers.

 

[genog]

We have a Mr Gimmick several blocks away in our neighborhood.
He had a sale a few months ago and I bought some gizmos from him

It was mostly for the fun and novelty of it all

Stanley Hex-a-matic
A couple of Versatools
Two of those One-Size-Fits-All nut drivers
A Ball driver which I can't find (threw it away maybe)
and a chain of wrenches exactly like the ones in post #75 (page 2) from this thread, only in SAE sizes...
I donated the chain of wrenches to the restaurant which my wife manages

For a few bucks, it was worth the Chuckles and Big Grin

 

[WisJim]

Speaking of the Stanley Hex-a-matic, here's mine made to fit the 35/135 Yankee screwdrivers. Marked "66-530", and "patent pending".

 

[RTM]

Well, this is kind of a funny story, in an awkward way. When I go to the flea market with my buddies, I carry a little bag with a few goodies in it, 2 tool price guides, magnifying glass, couple of measuring tools. So I'm packing up to go to a tool sale Saturday, actually selling for a change, and grab my bag, check the contents, and out falls this gimmicky measuring tool, haven't given it much thought, owned it for years, forget where I got it, the usual. Figure I'd take some pictures for this thread.

US785245A - Combination gage-tool. - Google Patents

The DATAMP discussion is spot on.

US Patent: 785,245 - Combination Caliper and Protractor

US patent 785,245 Combination Caliper and Protractor was issued to Eugene Wiet of Sacramento, CA. It was granted on 03/21/1905. This tool combines a vernier-style inside/outside caliper with a protractor head similar to those used on combination squares. {br}These were produce

www.datamp.org

While googling the company name for patent number, all that, I see a sale listing for one.

4 1/2 inch WIET Patent March 21, 1905 Combination Gauge by WIET-GOETHE CO, Sacramento, CA - 92437

.

www.jimbodetools.com

Holy Cow, guess I will be a little more careful with it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Last year I found a Pocket Socket with an amber handle, a military NSN marking, and a PAT PEND marking, with odd openings (3/16 x 9/32 and 7/32 x 11/32). See post #163 upthread on this page. This morning at the flea market I found the more common version with the ruby handle, the patent number (dates to 1965), and the standard 5/16 x 1/4 and 7/16 x 3/8 tubes. This one is very clean. It doesn't look like it has been used.

 

[mngundog]

Didn't see the Milwaukee "cheater", aluminum pipe wrench mentioned, but it's deserving of a spot here.

 

[four.cycle]

@Private Lugnutz -
according to this guy, the Russman "Pocket Socket" came in two different sizes.

There seems to be no end to those devices - another one of those "Can we build a better mousetrap?" kind of gizmos.
There's another kinda-sorta-similar-gizmo on ebay right now I've been watching, but I guess I'm just not curious enough to spend $18.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

according to this guy, the Russman "Pocket Socket" came in two different sizes.

I posted the second one upthread, @Arne73 and I talked about the two models, and I suggested you modify your A-Z Mfgrs Index entry with the second NSN. See post #163, this page.

 

[Beerhippie]

I think this is the most gimmicky tool in my shop:



The Slip & Slip & Slip again wrench! You adjust it to size, use the wingnut (like the guy who designed it) to lock it, and... it slips.

I'm guessing it was made for the big flare-nut things used on sink drains, but since it doesn't work on anything....

It's also the only actively rusty tool in the shop--because I don't allow it to live in the shop.

I'm afraid I also place these--and any other multi-tool--in the gimmick category:



Any pocketknife with more than four--ideally three--blades is a gimmick in my book. How often do you use an awl? The hook thingy (lacing hook?)? How often do you need to unscrew a Phillips screw with a T-handle--or have room to use it?

I also have a Leatherman Wave around here somewhere that a boss gave me years ago. I felt that I had to carry it on the jobsite so as not to hurt his feelings, but I don't much recall ever taking it out of the sheath that was constantly trying to pull my pants down.

 

[WisJim]

posted in error

 

[bonneyman]

I think this is the most gimmicky tool in my shop:



The Slip & Slip & Slip again wrench! You adjust it to size, use the wingnut (like the guy who designed it) to lock it, and... it slips.

I'm guessing it was made for the big flare-nut things used on sink drains, but since it doesn't work on anything....

Yeah, it's a drain nut wrench used in plumbing.
Here's my Covers Company example. They used to make alot of plumbing fixtures and accessories. Long since gone, but their tools keep showing up.

 

[Beerhippie]

Yeah, it's a drain nut wrench used in plumbing.
Here's my Covers Company example. They used to make alot of plumbing fixtures and accessories. Long since gone, but their tools keep showing up.

I think mine is the cheap **** knock-off of the real thing like yours.

 

[bonneyman]

I think they were used it tight areas where high torque wasn't too much of an issue, so ultra strength wasn't a major concern. To be honest I've used alot of my old plumbing tools but haven't used this one yet. Maybe obsolete/rare fitting needs it?

 

[four.cycle]

^ It's an adjustable "bung wrench". It's used to secure the bung fitting at the bottom of a sink. Like a kitchen drain. Other models are cut to fit a specific size (below).

 

[Beerhippie]

I think they were used it tight areas where high torque wasn't too much of an issue, so ultra strength wasn't a major concern. To be honest I've used alot of my old plumbing tools but haven't used this one yet. Maybe obsolete/rare fitting needs it?

That right there is part of the problem. If you have room under a counter to use one of these, you can use a pair of water-pump pliers and get the job done right.

The basin wrenches for attaching the water lines to faucets under the counter are kinda' gimmicky and a PITA to use, but do get the job done.

 

[Beerhippie]

^ It's an adjustable "bung wrench". It's used to secure the bung fitting at the bottom of a sink. Like a kitchen drain. Other models are cut to fit a specific size (below).

Difference being, your custom-fit tools actually work.

 

[RTM]

I've used mine for tightening pvc threaded fitting on a pump system, so not high pressure.

 

[bonneyman]

^ It's an adjustable "bung wrench". It's used to secure the bung fitting at the bottom of a sink. Like a kitchen drain. Other models are cut to fit a specific size (below).

I've got several tools of those two brands! You should start a Covers Company/Chicago Specialties thread and I'll post what I have.

 

[RTM]

Here is another find from Saturday's estate sale haul, a Craftsman # 941991 automatic nut driver. Like several others seen on this thread, a great big chunky head to allow 1/4 - 7/16" nuts to be grabbed automatically by pressing down, or twisting the handle in either direction.

This may even be a FOAK on GJ, a bar I'm not too proud to be going under



This lower image is an ebay "in the box" pic, not mine.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have a copy of "the original" of that widget, which was first produced by "Seaboard" and later appeared as the Stanley #61-125 "Hex-a-Matic" and then as a model #632 Klein
I was not aware that Sears was peddling them as well. I'll have to work that in.

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 and model 632 Klein see https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/2023-garage-sale-thread.508550/page-144#post-10441220 and Craftsman 941991 see https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/gimmick-wrenches-tools.428536/page-5#post-10623270 /

 

[WisJim]

A couple more Hex-a-matics are in posts 170-171, above.

 

[d42jeep]

There are several of these on eBay at the moment Including one from Roy Olsen. I forgot where this one came from. Not much info on the manufacturer and not on four.cycle’s list.
Lugz left this behind at the flea in 2018.

Witherby Dogbone wrench

progress-is-fine.blogspot.com

-Don

 

[RTM]

Saw a couple of tools (3 the same) today that might fall into this category, tho the idea did come back to life later as a different product or three.

Called Screw-Master, it’s one of the few tools that did not show up on GJ, which is Very Rare in my recent experience. The flea market vendor had no clue, and I could find nothing quickly.

Googling answers after the event, was kinda fruitless, the name “screw master” turned up nothing, even in books. Fortunately, the home street address and zip code (3010 Palmer 90065) of the inventor was on the tool, and in the patent filing.

US3484114A - Screw installing attachment for power tools - Google Patents

Basically, it was designed to mount on a power drill, covering and attaching to the keyed chuck, without removing the drill bit, giving you a way to mount a countersink, or a hex bit driver.

Unfortunately I didn’t think it would be this unique, so apparently I didn’t get an image of the whole thing. You can see the ring spring loaded part, which I imagine pops into the chuck key hole. The part that is held in my gloved hand is just a hex bit holder

 

[four.cycle]

^ Inventor Emil A. Rodin lived on Palmer Drive in Los Angeles, which is probably where "Palmer" came from, but I am finding nothing with Google. One might think it would have shown up in a "Popular Mechanics" or something, no?
for the moment:
Palmer / Palmer, Los Angeles, CA / "Screw Master" drill attachment / patent 3484114 Dec 16 1969 Emil A. Rodin / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/gimmick-wrenches-tools.428536/page-5#post-10653097 /

The "Witherby" is kind of puzzling. There are already two other "Witherby" entries in the list (the most notable being the edge tool maker in Millbury, Massachusetts), neither of which have anything to do with the "Witherby" who made that dog-bone wrench, or the Japan-made adjustable wrenches on ebay, or the 2508 pipe wrench (for which I do not see a COO) or the Japan-made forged open-end wrenches on ebay.

John H. Graham (already in the list from way back) was an importer and wholesale distributor. John H. Graham at International Tool Catalog Library

(and curiously, I have a 17.4MB *.pdf file - 1920 John H. Graham & Co. catalog, that I am not finding when I search ITCL )

 

[RTM]

^ Inventor Emil A. Rodin lived on Palmer Drive in Los Angeles, which is probably where "Palmer" came from, but I am finding nothing with Google. One might think it would have shown up in a "Popular Mechanics" or something, no?
for the moment:
Palmer / Palmer, Los Angeles, CA / "Screw Master" drill attachment / patent 3484114 Dec 16 1969 Emil A. Rodin / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/gimmick-wrenches-tools.428536/page-5#post-10653097 /

"3010 Palmer" patent - Google Search

Some version of the above search in Books ("3010 Palmer" patent) got me there. Need to update my original post to include the address of 3010 Palmer 90065 from the tool, it was in the pictures ( ). This is right across the Glendale Freeway (2) from where I went to college, 40+ years ago.

 

[garilla]

the Patented, yes thats right, the Patented RotoWrench, almost as good as a Williams 1999. Circa 1990's. I guess they patented the turning heads??? semi sometimes usable but barely. there is no offset so like a flat wrench. I was thinking if it had a flex joint like those ratchet heads in the middle then it might be a bit more useful. I smell a RotoWrench II in the works hahahhaa. I should add that the heads slide in a key slot and so they lock on slide out and slide inwards they unlock to spin. Sort of like a slip joint plier. Ever notice that the more "gimmicky" the tool is it will have a catchy name, hhahaa RotoWrench.

 

[four.cycle]

^
Proprietary / Proprietary Technologies Inc., 819 Texas Road Easton, PA 18042 (formerly Stewartsville NJ) / specialty tools "Roto Wrench" / TM25017481 Dec 10 1996 first use Feb 24 1995 / patent 5557792 Sep 24 1996 Richard C. Macor /

It looks like Mr. Macor has been a pretty prolific inventor

 

[Beerhippie]

I still can't come up with a practical use for this, but it's sure fun to fidget with!

Video starts at 50 rpm, the slowest my DP will run, and goes up to 500 rpm where I just lost the courage to take it any farther.

Turn off the volume before watching! My shop has three large pumps going and the mike on my camera did a great job of picking them up!

https://flic.kr/p/2pPECcS ]

 

[isb cornbinder]

I found this at a police run junk store. I paid $10 for the crank ratchet and $5 for the other ratchet. I have a collection of all the Craftsman ratchets with the arrow shift. It looks silly, but it works.

 

[garilla]

I've seen that right angle thing before, it is really amazing how it works, for sure something you will play with it for a good while hahaha. What is amount of torque limit you think it has ?

 

[garilla]

well cornbinder you really got a golden goose with the crank handle, they usually sell around $100 on ebay. Nice score

 

[isb cornbinder]

well cornbinder you really got a golden goose with the crank handle, they usually sell around $100 on ebay. Nice score

My friend Mister V has one also. These are the only 2 have ever seen. I was offered $50 and turned it down. I figured it might be worth more, if that is the first offer.
All I have done to it is to deep clean the ratchet and put it together with a very little dry lube.
Anyway, it is not for sale.
My son and daughter are mechanics. Both seem only moderately interested in "Old Guy Stuff". The Old Guy here is me and I am more interested.
My three siblings have to reread the operator's manual every time they go to the restroom.