Hand tools with the "Ford" script

[Empty Pockets]

At a recent auction, I recently bought several wrenches bearing the "Ford" script. They were in a couple of box lots with some better stuff.

While I realize these are about as common as dirt, I'm curious whether they were originally painted or unfinished.

I don't ever expect to use them, but think that several might make an interesting display.

Thanks in advance

 

[koondog]

I have gotten several of those myself; most in the same manner too. Everyone I have and have seen has been black. Sorry I can't tell you how they are supposed to be. I have mine on a shelf with some other wrenches that have car company names on them.

 

[Rileysan]

I have a couple of early Ford wrenches, and a pair of pliers as well. I believe them to be from a Ford Model A tool kit. The kits I looked up are all painted black - which goes well with Ford's paint choices back in the day!

Brian

 

[Provincial]

They were painted with a black paint. The word "Japanned" is how Ford described it. That is a pretty specific term, and you can look it up on the internet. The Ford finish was not like the furniture finish described by the term, and was a more utilitarian finish. I suspect the sales people had more to do with adopting that term than the engineering department!

 

[LesserSon]

From what I've read, japanning was a durable, relatively inexpensive finish that was used on tons of wood and metal when an opaque black result was okay. Iron hand planes and cabinet hardware is where I've seen it most. I have two Ford logo tools that have lost any finish that was on them, but it seems like a very thrifty, cost-controlling finish whereas plating would have been expensive. I have found it difficult to dissolve with houshold supplies, but fairly easy to scrape when I wanted to remove it from the handles to an old carpenter's chest and some early bar clamp parts. I had tried to touch it up with black spray paint, but I didn't like the crusty result. If I had the project to do over, I would leave it alone or just dab some flat black acrylic onto the bare spots.

 

[ndnchf]

I've got one as a handle on my 5 drawer cart that sits right in front of my model T.

 

[Rileysan]

I've got one as a handle on my 5 drawer cart that sits right in front of my model T.

Great use of that wrench! I'll have to dream something up for mine ...

Brian

 

[abachman]

The tools that you describe are most probably from Model T or Model A Fords. They came in a tool kit that came with each car. As about 17 million Model T's were made and 5 million Model A's, they are fairly common. Wrenches, generally two sizes have a value of a few dollars, say $5.00 tops. The adjustable wrenches are worth slightly more, up to ten dollars. Pliers are perhaps in the ten dollar range as well. All of these were black in color when new.

 

[LesserSon]

Could these tools also have been bundled with Ford agricultural equipment, like tractors? That would make them even more common, and possibly explain why so many are found in such corroded state, having been exposed to the elements.

 

[abachman]

I am familiar with some Ford Tractor wrenches and they say 'Fordson' on them, not just Ford.

 

[Jazz1]

I have a Ford wrench that does not seem to rust although it has no colour, too bad they never used this japanning technique on vehicles.

 

[bmw57isetta]

Actually they did use the Japaning technique. Model A Fords, for one, had many small parts finished like that. The most notable is the body of the Zenith carburetor. If you get into the "fine point" restoration guidelines jointly published by the Model A Ford Club Of America (MAFCA) and Model A Restorers Club (MARC) you'll see the specific finishes judges will be looking for in a an authentic factory resto. Many other small parts were cadmium plated.