J H Williams vintage hand tools

[LNKMK8]

I came across this nice No. 50-A 3/4" Drive Set a couple weeks ago. Sadly the case has been repainted and is damaged on one end. The tools are in excellent condition although missing 1 socket from the original set. The owner was a plumber by trade which may explain the occasional need for a large socket.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Unfortunate about the spraybomb, but awesome set!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's an odd wrench a guy brought me today. Has I think an international harvester part number? Or is that a 1?

 

[wrenchguy]

I don't believe so. Later I-H would always have a "R" in the part number. Wright made all their later wrenches like that. Unless its overseas/foreign IH.
keeping it Williams.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

That is an awesome set

I came across this nice No. 50-A 3/4" Drive Set a couple weeks ago. Sadly the case has been repainted and is damaged on one end. The tools are in excellent condition although missing 1 socket from the original set. The owner was a plumber by trade which may explain the occasional need for a large socket.

 

[misterbill]

That pipe chain rack looks medieval!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Did some googling, turns out it's a wiha, whatever that is. The big w threw me!

 

[Ricky Joe]

.

 

[Farmer J.]

Here's an odd wrench a guy brought me today. Has I think an international harvester part number? Or is that a 1?

There was some like this on here before, but inconclusive who made them. I've never yet seen a Wiha marking in that style, so still looking.

Vintage Made in USA Wiha Wrenches?

I spotted some wrenches on Ebay that are being sold as 'Wiha, made in Germany' https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wiha-No-H-1163-combination-wrench-12-point-vintage-4410-8/192879646287?hash=item2ce885d64f:g:oFgAAMXQ83xSFRXM...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[wrenchguy]

I can duplicate your 993, can’t find an A, if I’ve still got it.

I got several 993's, specifically need 993A and 994. thx.

 

[leg17]

This has come up in the past.

 

[3baygarage]

Here's an odd wrench a guy brought me today. Has I think an international harvester part number? Or is that a 1?

I believe it’s 1” and 15/16”.

I’m not laughing because I almost bought the exact same Williams wrench in open end format today. At first glance I said International Harvester? Seller had a pair with that logo.

 

[misterbill]

And now for something completely different... I picked up this AL-100 "Wrench Set for Hollow-Screws" because I already had most of the items in the set. I'm missing the BM-130 3/8" -> 9/32" adapter; the 3/8" drive AB-608; and the 9/32" drive AM-607, AM-606, AM-605, and AM-604 pieces. Hopefully someone has some orphans that they are willing to part with.

From the 1942 catalog:









Bill

 

[leg17]

And now for something completely different... I picked up this AL-100 "Wrench Set for Hollow-Screws" because I already had most of the items in the set. I'm missing the BM-130 3/8" -> 9/32" adapter; the 3/8" drive AB-608; and the 9/32" drive AM-607, AM-606, AM-605, and AM-604 pieces. Hopefully someone has some orphans that they are willing to part with.

From the 1942 catalog:

Could you post a picture of the sockets? They made a few different series over the years.
Thanks.

 

[misterbill]

Here are the two flavors that I have. The one on the right is probably pre-1947 logo-wise.



Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Sweet

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Very cool, Bill.

 

[misterbill]

One of the things that frustrates me is that the vast majority of the things I collect are relegated to a dark basement after a brief moment in the sun when they are first acquired, cleaned and posted on GJ . Inspired by @woodland_hank and his Williams Display thread, I took the opportunity to put some of the wood scraps I've been hoarding for eons to use and made this little display. I've always liked the wrenches from the Williams Chrome-Alloy period and now I can eyeball them every day!





Bill

 

[Old Radar]

Nice job, Bill!

 

[leg17]

I have these. Close but no cigar.
The logo does not have the diamond W.
And, the four small ones are 1/4 instead of 9/32.
Sorry.

 

[bmwrd0]

And now for something completely different... I picked up this AL-100 "Wrench Set for Hollow-Screws" because I already had most of the items in the set. I'm missing the BM-130 3/8" -> 9/32" adapter; the 3/8" drive AB-608; and the 9/32" drive AM-607, AM-606, AM-605, and AM-604 pieces. Hopefully someone has some orphans that they are willing to part with.

From the 1942 catalog:









Bill

Ooh, very jealous. I have been looking for a set like that for years.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Inspired by @woodland_hank and his Williams Display thread, I took the opportunity to put some of the wood scraps I've been hoarding for eons to use and made this little display. I've always liked the wrenches from the Williams Chrome-Alloy period and now I can eyeball them every day!

That looks fantastic, Bill.

 

[misterbill]

As mentioned in the 2024 Garage Sale Thread (13th Annual) thread, I picked up this No. 2 chain pipe vise. I have a question... does anyone know how these were finished from the factory? Plain steel? Oiled? Japanned? Enameled?











Thanks for lookin',

Bill

 

[d42jeep]

Just a guess but my little Vulcan clamps had some dark finish on them. That would look nice with the polished edges.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

not seeing any mention of color so far... .... until I get to 1939 and it notes "standard finish with orange panel in jaws" ...
the 1927 Automobile Trade Journal advertisement is the earliest document I have that shows color.
not sure if ITCL is going to be any help

this might be a question better addressed to Carl Weathers or one of the experts in the 'VISE' thread

that particular orange, if I am not mistaken, would be "Cadmium Orange Deep" on the Grumbacher water color chart.

edit:
I just thought of something:
Every now and then you'll find a "Vulcan" chain wrench listed on ebay. You suppose Williams used the same color on those maybe? (Purely wild speculation.)

YMMV

 

[wrenchguy]

I'll share I have 2 nos vulcan chain wrenches, the smallest they made new in the box with plain steel handle and orange/red head. The other is the largest (7' long) they made showing a lot shelf wear, bare steel handle with few specks orange in the recessed area of the head. I'll add that I think the whole head might been painted then the head was milled leaving the recessed area untouched. Looks like the milled border was left raw. I believe any surface milled would be left raw on any of the williams tools.

 

[wrenchguy]

This image is from my 1914 catalog. I would argue the recessed area of the casting is painted.

 

[misterbill]

Thanks for the feedback folks. I also found this in the 1960 Williams catalog - "Standard Industrial gray finish with orange panel." I guess it comes down to when the vise was manufactured and what Williams was pushing for their brand at the time. Anybody have a rattle can equivalent for "Cadmium Orange Deep"?



Edit: I did a little google-ating and came up with this image of a Vulcan No. 12 which seems to match the description above.



I also found this image of a Vulcan No. 1 which may be more in line with the No. 2 that I have.



These two pages from the 1942 catalog seem to indicate the the 11 & 12 could be had chrome plated but the default was shot blasted with an orange panel.






Bill

 

[four.cycle]

^ I do not... every can of orange spray paint I've ever bought was most "Chevy orange" - slightly lighter chroma value than the orange Williams used.

 

[misterbill]

^ I do not... every can of orange spray paint I've ever bought was most "Chevy orange" - slightly lighter chroma value than the orange Williams used.

It's a running joke with my artist daughter that I can only see the colors that come in the eight-count box of Crayola - but I do know "Chevy Orange"!

 

[d42jeep]

It's a running joke with my artist daughter that I can only see the colors that come in the eight-count box of Crayola - but I do know "Chevy Orange"!

And a talented and generous artist she is. Here is some of her work we had framed that is on the wall of my Granddaughter’s bedroom.
-Don

 

[misterbill]

Had a little time today to carefully sand through the extra paint on the vise and I discovered that it was painted as described in the 1960 catalog - a light industrial gray over everything and orange in the two small panels. Now to decide what to do with it.









Bill

 

[wrenchguy]

Using your great photos I've determined its too nasty for you to continue to any futher with that project!! Please box it up and send to me. I'm into nastiness. thx.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this Williams tool yesterday that I hadn’t seen before. It’s a 3/8” drive flex handle to ratchet adapter. Works okay but could use some lubrication.
-Don

 

[Old Radar]

I found this J.H. Williams S-50 the other day at an estate sale. The locked-in plug-connector was difficult to move due to dried grease buildup and the gear didn't turn smoothly and I assumed the dried grease was also to blame.
Then I opened it up.
To be sure, there was plenty of dried grease, but the gear reminded me of the drive wheel for the treads on a tank.
Six of the 16 teeth have pawl-width gaps in them, leaving only a small sharp triangle at either end of the tooth.
I would have thought that the pawl would glide freely over these teeth but it does the opposite and catches on each one.

Does anyone have a source for a repair kit or will I be forced to wait for a donor to cross my path?

Secondly, is there a way to release the plug from the gear without resorting to hacksawing?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Maybe soak it for a few days in penetrating oil

 

[3baygarage]

Does the plug have a groove down the side? Some of them were captive plug.

 

[misterbill]

I was deliberating up-thread on what to do with my recently acquired chain pipe vise. At first I was just going to clean it up and oil/wax it but then I decided on another approach. I had been watching one of those YouTube channels where they over-restore old tools to a point where they never would have existed as delivered from the factory. I didn't want that but I thought I could do just a little better than simple preservation. It all depended on finding an appropriate shade of orange. After some research I settled on "Omaha Orange" from Seymour's line of industrial spray bomb selection. The casting is too pitted to get a nice smooth plain steel finish on the face but I did the best I could. Here's the final result.








Bill

 

[PSCo1867]

I was deliberating up-thread on what to do with my recently acquired chain pipe vise. At first I was just going to clean it up and oil/wax it but then I decided on another approach. I had been watching one of those YouTube channels where they over-restore old tools to a point where they never would have existed as delivered from the factory. I didn't want that but I thought I could do just a little better than simple preservation. It all depended on finding an appropriate shade of orange. After some research I settled on "Omaha Orange" from Seymour's line of industrial spray bomb selection. The casting is too pitted to get a nice smooth plain steel finish on the face but I did the best I could. Here's the final result.








Bill

Misterbill.....just a fantastic job on that Vulcan #2 pipe vise.

 

[misterbill]

Misterbill.....just a fantastic job on that Vulcan #2 pipe vise.

Thank you!