J H Williams vintage hand tools

[lzenglish]

Thanks WNYflyer, that #55 Catalog page is just what I needes!

Wayne

 

[lzenglish]

Here are some old receipts from my Grand Father from 1954 & 1957.
He worked at Williams. These must have been tools he bought for my Dad. These were in my Dad's personal collection of stuff. Lost my Dad in 1972.
Looks like employees got 50% off.
I like the single picture, a P-10 punch and a C 80 pinch bar cost $2.69 less 1/2.
Total of $1.36! How about the 1 cent tax.

Love to look at your Grand Dad's old 1950's receipts and see the costs back then! After looking at WNYflyer's Catalog page for my #55 set, I see it has been bastardized a bit. It has many combo, and box end superwrenches that were added, and some of the socket set that is missing. So, when I get it sorted out. I will have some wrenches for trade, if anyone is interested.
Thanks,
Wayne

 

[Pitalplace]

While looking for the williams wrench I need a guy called and said he had these. New in box for $15 for the pair. Made the 24 mile round trip and was very happy.

 

[lzenglish]

While looking for the williams wrench I need a guy called and said he had these. New in box for $15 for the pair. Made the 24 mile round trip and was very happy.

NICE ! How old, and what is that finish, if you know?

 

[Pitalplace]

NICE ! How old, and what is that finish, if you know?

I think it is a black oxide finish. It is used on industrial tools.

 

[lbgradwell]

NICE ! How old, and what is that finish, if you know?

The older one (at least) appears to be mid-to-late 1970s...

 

[lbgradwell]

Here is my Williams Master Mechanics set #55 that I picked up at an estate sale.

Very cool set.

 

[3baygarage]

Pumpman, that makes one bad@$$ sign.

z1kzonly, awesome that you have those receipts.

lzenglish, very nice set there. I will keep my eye out for an extra drive lug for you. I already know another guy looking for one.

 

[lzenglish]

Very cool set.

Thanks, and it's Good to hear from You again, as it's been awhile!
Wayne

 

[3baygarage]

Here's a similar era box but for 1/2". It and the contents came from an estate sale that was the best Williams collection I've ever seen in my life.

While outside still waiting to get in, a flea market dealer bought nearly the entire collection, all complete socket sets in metal boxes, etc.. I think he sold the whole shot the next weekend, hopefully all together. Couldn't pay the cash he was asking at the time.

These here were some of the scraps the first guys left, or should I say "missed", as they were hidden under a table.

 

[lzenglish]

Here's a similar era box but for 1/2". It and the contents came from an estate sale that was the best Williams collection I've ever seen in my life.

While outside still waiting to get in, a flea market dealer bought nearly the entire collection, all complete socket sets in metal boxes, etc.. I think he sold the whole shot the next weekend, hopefully all together. Couldn't pay the cash he was asking at the time.

These here were some of the scraps the first guys left, or should I say "missed", as they were hidden under a table.

Very Nice Find, that looks in Great Condition! Funny you should say your tools were hidden, as Mine were as well. I saw them under the table the first day, and waited till day 2 of the sale to drag them out and make a deal on them for half of what he was asking.

PS: I may have a bunch of the zinc finish 1/2" drive sockets still around here. Let see If I still have them in case your set is short.

Wayne

 

[3baygarage]

Thanks, the socket portion is far from complete.

 

[Jim C.]

I have only a few Williams tools. The sockets were a set of three that an old Williams catalog described as "midget electrical sockets." They're 1/4" drive, but also notice that they have 4 point openings for use on very small square fasteners. The wrenches originally came in a pouch of some sort, but unfortunately the pouch was missing when I came across the wrenches. They're about the length of standard sized ignition type wrenches, but they're a little different because of their deep offset boxes. To date, I've never used any of these little Williams tools, but couldn't pass them up simply because of their unique characteristics.

Jim C.

 

[CRTDI]

lzenglish and 3bay,

Both of your sets are super nice. Thanks for posting these...

 

[3baygarage]

lzenglish and 3bay,

Both of your sets are super nice. Thanks for posting these...

Sure, thanks. Hope to post more in the future.

Here is my little collection of Williams 1997 slotted drivers. I see one there in the OP'S post . One of my favorite Williams tools:

 

[3baygarage]

^Very nice. That is an oldie there. I saw one over the summer a bit high priced for me.

I would like to try some of that paste wax and see how things hold up.

 

[3baygarage]

What were they asking for the clamp you saw? This one cost me $6.

Jeez, I don't remember but probably antique dealer prices. You did good.

 

[toolmutt]

I don't know if these qualify as vintage yet. I inherited them from my dad.

 

[z1kzonly]

Old and vintage for sure! Look like they were very well taken care of! Hardly used at all.
1/2 - 9/16 looks like only one used. You will never break these! Remember your Dad every time you use them!
I assume your a Fire Fighter? Thanks for putting your life on the line in your Community!

 

[toolmutt]

Old and vintage for sure! Look like they were very well taken care of! Hardly used at all.
1/2 - 9/16 looks like only one used. You will never break these! Remember your Dad every time you use them!
I assume your a Fire Fighter? Thanks for putting your life on the line in your Community!

I don't know how long he had them or the extent of their use. I don't use them very often since they are shorties. I really like them though. Would like a set of them in full length. And yes, a FF for 29 years. Thanks for the thought.

 

[CRTDI]

Vintage Williams socket box with mixed set of tools.

 

[Ratchet.]

Vintage Williams socket box with mixed set of tools.

that is an absolutely beautiful set love the color and logos on the box.

I guess the ratchet was a version of a snap on one?

 

[Mopar-Scooby-Doo]

Vintage Williams socket box with mixed set of tools.

That is beautiful. I would love to find a full set like this. Thanks for sharing.

 

[gregaz]

Picked up this cool looking JH Williams Brooklyn wrench this AM. Can someone explain to me how this can be labeled 5/8 when the jaws opening is 1 1/4"?

 

[Farmer J.]

Picked up this cool looking JH Williams Brooklyn wrench this AM. Can someone explain to me how this can be labeled 5/8 when the jaws opening is 1 1/4"?

Whitworth.

 

[gregaz]

Whitworth.

Well, well ... I learned something today! Thank you, Farmer!

 

[leg17]

Picked up this cool looking JH Williams Brooklyn wrench this AM. Can someone explain to me how this can be labeled 5/8 when the jaws opening is 1 1/4"?

The opening has been modified.
It used to be 1~1/16 which is the size for heavy pattern 5/8 nut.
Wrenches in 'those days' were marked with the thread diameter instead of the across the flats dimension.
It's not Whitworth.

 

[Gmonkee]

USS standard.

 

[Jim C.]

Here’s a vintage Williams brake Eccentric wrench, model No. 1721BR. The openings are 3/16” & 5/16” x 1/4.” The 1938 Williams catalog says, “For Eccentric cam on Bendix internal brakes. Also Eccentric on rear brakes, Packard 120, 1937 - ‘38.”

 

[Farmer J.]

The opening has been modified.
It used to be 1~1/16 which is the size for heavy pattern 5/8 nut.
Wrenches in 'those days' were marked with the thread diameter instead of the across the flats dimension.
It's not Whitworth.

Your right of course.. sorry for leading you astray gregaz! When the beer wore off l looked up the sizes and it should be 27.94mm across the flats for a 5/8" whitworth.
I wasn't thinking of the American Standards as they're out of my little world..

There's a good chart of thread diameter and spanner (wrench) sizes at

https://www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/psc/spanner_jaw.html

 

[Catfishdan]

I found most of a Williams 1/4 inch drive set today in a Globemaster box for cheap. Looks like I'm just missing the extensions. Too bad someone drilled an off center hole in the ratchet handle.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice find. I like the William 1/4 stuff. I have one of the midget sets but no ratchet. The metal driver handles are awesome.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is an item I picked up on Friday that definitely fits the category. It's a Williams No 2 Bull Dog wrench.
-Don

 

[Odes]

Here a 1/2 drive set missing just 2 sockets I think most are I guess pretty good shape but no drive tools and also a small Williams box but empty does anybody know what ratchet would have come with that 1/2 set

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a postwar set showing the ratchet but yours might have had an earlier style ratchet like this.
-Don

 

[SKI1019]

This stranger followed me home yesterday. After doing a little research on here, it looks like everyone else has one or multiplies it. It's a S-57, 1/2" drive Torque wrench. This is what it looked like when I pulled it out of the tool box.
Steve
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=722980&stc=1&d=1515335555

 

[Catfishdan]

Ok Williams experts; what's the deal with Williams Vulcan tools? It was their truck brand? When were they made? I bought a set of 3/8 metrics at a garage sale. Hey seem to have the same part numbers as regular Williams stuff.

 

[Jim C.]

I recently came across this original 1927 Williams obstruction wrench brochure. I’ve been collecting these wrenches for a couple years now, so I was happy to add this to my collection.

Jim C.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ok Williams experts; what's the deal with Williams Vulcan tools? It was their truck brand? When were they made? I bought a set of 3/8 metrics at a garage sale. Hey seem to have the same part numbers as regular Williams stuff.

I found an SAE impact socket last year with the Vulcan name on it, prompting a brief discussion on the 2017 Garage Sale thread, including a few photos of other examples, including a cool red toolbox with a huge \\//ulcan badge on it. Per jakemac, the brand was loosely associated with Williams/TRW. Here is a link to the 2017 Garage Sale thread. Go to page 262, post #5230, and read down from there until the subject wears out.

What I didn't think about at the time, which seems really thick-headed as I think about it now, is that Williams used the VULCAN name on all kinds of huge heavy duty forgings in the 1930's and 1940's. Things like hoist hooks and eyebolts, also tongs, clamps, chain vises, and all kinds of toolholders and lathe dogs etc.

Also, Williams address in Buffalo?

400 Vulcan Street!

I recently came across this original 1927 Williams obstruction wrench brochure. I’ve been collecting these wrenches for a couple years now, so I was happy to add this to my collection.

That's a nice find, Jim.

 

[d42jeep]

Some time back I put together my version of a WW2 welders set, which Lugz will remember, and the small C clamps in that set were Williams Vulcan HD clamps.
-Don