Herbrand p0rn

[Blacknwhitepit]

As requested, a few of my favorite things....

-BWP

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That's good stuff!

 

[Bull]

The bit driver and thumb wheel in the red case is my favorite!

 

[Flash21]

cool stuff, thanks for sharing

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

I got the driver from a member on this board.... NOS..

My favorite is the genuine, imitation wood-grain metal box... The colors on the inside are hideously beautiful. Completely disturbing, alarmingly retro. Unfortunately, this was made when Herbrand was rapidly sliding downhill.... Made by the Triangle Corporation; this was still made in USA, but was the beginning of the end.

Herbrand in the end was a sad story, a once great toolmaker, reduced to what would now be known as ODD-LOTs brand quality... I still love that set for what it is: a tacky, Disco dancing, Wall to wall ****-carpeted, Avacado-colored appliance using, Corinthian leather appointed memento.

-BWP

 

[caper]

The ratchet in that case looks to be the twin of a Tecomaster ratchet I picked up last week.I've got a few made in Canada Herbrand pieces kicking around,one wrench looks particularly Bonney-like.

 

[Flash21]

That 13/16" combo is a thing of beauty!

 

[philw]

I have some Canadian Herbrand sockets that I keep in a spare set and they seem to be very well made. It was a sister company to the US Herbrand but somewhere along the way must have become more independent because it stayed in business while the US version went out of business.

Does anyone have any idea when the Canadian version went out?

 

[snapmom]

this may date myself, but I remember buying that Herbrand 19pc set when I was much younger, used it for years, sort of just lost or broke pcs over the years untill it sort of disappeared. A nice set to have in your trunk.

 

[toolnut]

Great stuff!! You make me jealous!!The old stuff is the best of the best of the best!!

 

[old salvage]

My favorite is the genuine, imitation wood-grain metal box... The colors on the inside are hideously beautiful. Completely disturbing, alarmingly retro. Unfortunately, this was made when Herbrand was rapidly sliding downhill.... Made by the Triangle Corporation; this was still made in USA, but was the beginning of the end.

Herbrand in the end was a sad story, a once great toolmaker, reduced to what would now be known as ODD-LOTs brand quality... I still love that set for what it is: a tacky, Disco dancing, Wall to wall ****-carpeted, Avacado-colored appliance using, Corinthian leather appointed memento.

-BWP

I agree and
well said.

 

[MAD]

Here's one for you.

 

[caper]

I have some Canadian Herbrand sockets that I keep in a spare set and they seem to be very well made. It was a sister company to the US Herbrand but somewhere along the way must have become more independent because it stayed in business while the US version went out of business.

Does anyone have any idea when the Canadian version went out?

I remember being on the Herbrand truck in Halifax NS,Canada in the mid nineties.I had some stuff warrantied while on a trip there since we didn't have a dealer anymore.He was a great guy too,replaced a couple of extensions and screwdrivers for me off the street never having seen me before.I remember about 5yrs ago running across a pile of Herbrand in a surplus store,mostly screwdrivers,going for $2 a piece.I was short on cash at the time and only picked up some big flat heads.Wish now I had stocked up on sockets.

 

[lbgradwell]

My favorite is the genuine, imitation wood-grain metal box... The colors on the inside are hideously beautiful. Completely disturbing, alarmingly retro. Unfortunately, this was made when Herbrand was rapidly sliding downhill.... Made by the Triangle Corporation; this was still made in USA, but was the beginning of the end.

I've got the exact same set, but mine has 2 1/4" sockets and is missing the 7/32" socket.

The only tool in the set that is marked "USA" is the spinner handle, so I've always been a little suspicious of COO...

Near as I can figure, they're from ~1973 (as that is the date of the following ad):

 

[lbgradwell]

Does anyone have any idea when the Canadian version went out?

They were still in Toronto ~6 years ago...

 

[lbgradwell]

The ratchet in that case looks to be the twin of a Tecomaster ratchet I picked up last week.

Please post a picture of that Tecomaster if you can, caper; I'd be very interested in seeing one. I've never seen any Tecomaster mechanics tools.

Snap-on actually manufactured (at least some of) the Tecomaster line for Eaton's!

 

[caper]

Please post a picture of that Tecomaster if you can, caper; I'd be very interested in seeing one. I've never seen any Tecomaster mechanics tools.

Snap-on actually manufactured (at least some of) the Tecomaster line for Eaton's!

Here are some pics of it.It's in pretty rough shape,normally wouldn't buy something this rough but it's the only Tecomaster mechanics tool I've ever seen.Cost me $2 so I suppose it wasn't a big loss.Only a large dubble dubble. I was aware of the Snap on connection but I don't think this was Snappy made.Doesn't have that heavy quality that Snappy ratchets have.You can see how similar it is to BWP's Herbrand.

 

[lbgradwell]

Here are some pics of it.It's in pretty rough shape,normally wouldn't buy something this rough but it's the only Tecomaster mechanics tool I've ever seen.Cost me $2 so I suppose it wasn't a big loss.Only a large dubble dubble. I was aware of the Snap on connection but I don't think this was Snappy made.Doesn't have that heavy quality that Snappy ratchets have.You can see how similar it is to BWP's Herbrand.

No, you're quite right; doesn't look at all SO-like and bears a strong resemblance to the Herbrand ratchet.

Kind of makes sense too, given that both Eaton's and Herbrand were HQ'ed in Toronto...

 

[snapmom]

A quote out of the Snap on Tools Canadian History Book from the era of 1960s. "an opportunity was available to supply a line of Tecomaster Professional Tools to the T. Eaton Co. In an effort to protect the Dealer force a new design was developed both for the handles and the sockets. This filled a void, allowed the factory to maintain their work force and avoid servere production cutbacks. Eventualluy the economy of the country turned around and demand on Snap on tools increased. Some dealers were voicing resentment against this "second line" Eventually Eaton was told that we could not longer supply them and production was converted to Snap on Tools"

 

[lbgradwell]

I imagine, Mom, that caper's ratchet was sourced from whomever Eaton's went to after SO cut them off. Just a guess..!

 

[posaune]

They were still in Toronto ~6 years ago...

That explains a lot. A couple weeks ago I noticed an old hardware store (in Toronto) that I hadn't seen before. It was closed, but a peek in the window revealed Herbrand stuff as far as I could see. Unfortunately I never made it back to go in during business hours.

I thought it was all NOS American stuff - I had no idea about the Canadian connection.

 

[lbgradwell]

That explains a lot. A couple weeks ago I noticed an old hardware store (in Toronto) that I hadn't seen before. It was closed, but a peek in the window revealed Herbrand stuff as far as I could see. Unfortunately I never made it back to go in during business hours.

No kidding? Do you remember the name of this store or where it was located?

 

[posaune]

No kidding? Do you remember the name of this store or where it was located?

Seriously. It was one of those places that looked like there wasn't even enough room to walk through the aisles.

Iirc, it was on the north side of Queen St. West, west of Spadina. If you go, let me know if it is worth checking out when I get back to Toronto (in the spring).

 

[Tool Pants]

Here is mine.

I never heard of Herbrand until a few years ago. My friend is named Herb and he showed me some.

 

[lbgradwell]

Seriously. It was one of those places that looked like there wasn't even enough room to walk through the aisles.

Iirc, it was on the north side of Queen St. West, west of Spadina. If you go, let me know if it is worth checking out when I get back to Toronto (in the spring).

OK, I'll see if I can drive by there some time this week as I can't picture any promising stores in my head. I'll report...


Tool Pants, I love those speeder ratchets! Cool item.

 

[superautobacs]

The ratchet in that case looks to be the twin of a Tecomaster ratchet I picked up last week.I've got a few made in Canada Herbrand pieces kicking around,one wrench looks particularly Bonney-like.

I'm pretty certain there's an influence somewhere due to the fact that Bonney was also owned by The Triangle Corporation at one point in time.

I have a couple things from Herbrand Canada--a 22mm crowfoot line wrench and a single 11mm combination wrench.
The store I bought them from still has a lot of crowfoot wrenches. The fit/finish of the peices I have are nothing special or outstanding.

 

[06wt]

i have a herbrand 09009 23 piece set still in the original shrink wrap and the wood grain box, just got it today i will take pics in the morning

 

[wrenchr]

I sold BWP the old socket set and the red case driver

 

[06wt]

well hopfuly he or somone else on here wants to buy mine cuz the only reason i got it was to sell it to someone who will like it, since im not into herbrand stuff, but it was the right price and its flawless

 

[06wt]

well heres the pics, black and white i hope you like,

 

[superautobacs]

If no luck here, throw it on Ebay, and let two collectors go nuts over it!

 

[chevy302dz]

well heres the pics, black and white i hope you like,

Did anyone else notice that the ratchet looks like the the original version of the one that comes in all those 4.99 socket sets

 

[06wt]

can some one help me price it, i dont know what this era herbrand stuff goes for

 

[Hermann-the-german]

Here are some pics of it.It's in pretty rough shape,normally wouldn't buy something this rough but it's the only Tecomaster mechanics tool I've ever seen.Cost me $2 so I suppose it wasn't a big loss ....

I just came across this old thread looking for information on a set I purchased recently in Germany.

 

[lilredex]

Pictures of some Herbrand stuff I HAD a few years back, probably from the sixties. Would have taken more detailed pictures, had I known about the interest here.

 

[woody 73]

All tools on the GJ are of interest...

Old post if you want some more pictures:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277900