J H Williams vintage hand tools

[Oldtuleguy]

Any idea how many were in full set?

 

[four.cycle]

@Oldtuleguy -
Earliest document I have showing what is referred to as a "Light Service Wrench" is a 1916 catalog page.
Note that it also refers to the tool as a "Carriage Makers Wrench" in other catalogs, the listings for which appear earlier, as well as being packaged in "sets".

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Any idea how many were in full set?

When I said "partial set" I wasn't referring to pouched sets, per se, but the whole range, which went from 3/8" to 1-1/4" in a dozen or so wrenches, which you have a dang good start on!

I have one or two of these, found orphaned, of course, not acquired one fell swoop, I am infatuated with the shank markings, and I have never seen so many in one place before! It's a beautiful matching sight.

But if you look on page 56 of the 1912 catalog (it's on IA/ITCL), I think you'll agree with me that it looks like what you have there actually is very close to a set - more explicitly, the "Carriage Maker's" Set No. 1. I think you're only missing the 675 wrench, and that 685 wrench is extraneous.

J.H. Williams & Co. Superior Drop Forgings : Fifteenth Edition : April 1912 : J.H. Williams & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

144 p., illus., 15.2 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

I will look to see which I have managed to pick up. If I have a 675 it's yours, just for the pleasure of completing any one of these sets, even if it's not mine!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Always nice to have the whole set!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

No dice. Just figures, and insult to injury, that the only two "[Light Service Wrenches]" I have managed to find in the wild would not only not be what you need to complete that No. 1 set, but they are also dupes (a 679 and a 681) that don't even add to the collective number of unique wrenches between us. Pffft.

 

[four.cycle]

ahhh! thanks! never even occurred to me to check ITCL! duh!

 

[Ultradog MN]

I'm still relatively new here and hadn't seen this thread before.
Though my main combination wrench set are Superwrenches and I have most of a full a set of 3/4 sockets, plus a bunch of strays - this is my most liked - and most used Williams wrench.
Edit:
Added a couple more photos:
It not only fits the compound nuts and carriage lock but all of the adjusting and clamping heads on the taper attachment

 

[Steven 33]

Big williams how old?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Hex drive probably 30s

 

[four.cycle]

1930 J.H. Williams catalog A373 pp 09
J.H. Williams at International Tool Catalog Library

 

[MR.X]

Williams Aluminum Pipe Wrench.

 

[leg17]

Williams “Light Service Wrench” assortment. All “as found”. Some duplicates.

685-C
683
681-A
681
679-C
679-S
679
677-B
677
675-A
675

Also a 675 with early Text Logo.


** ADDED BETTER PICTURES **

 

[Private Lugnutz]

675

Also a 675 with early Text Logo.

I'm still relatively new here and hadn't seen this thread before.

Welcome!

Though my main combination wrench set are Superwrenches and I have most of a full a set of 3/4 sockets, plus a bunch of strays - this is my most liked - and most used Williams wrench...[ ]...It not only fits the compound nuts and carriage lock but all of the adjusting and clamping heads on the taper attachment

With good reason. It's a Williams "Superior" (Improved Carbon steel) tool post wrench!



That is a neat debut for the thread. I have a few tool post wrenches - but no machines to use them on. And I've seen a few others. Similarly, in the hands of collectors. Nice to see it in use.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a 4” Superjustable to add to my 4” collection. Unfortunately it has a large previous owner mark on one side.
As found.
Cleaned up.
-Don

 

[Ultradog MN]

Welcome!

With good reason. It's a Williams "Superior" (Improved Carbon steel) tool post wrench!



That is a neat debut for the thread. I have a few tool post wrenches - but no machines to use them on. And I've seen a few others. Similarly, in the hands of collectors. Nice to see it in use.

Thank you!
Is there a date range or era on the chart you posted?
My lathe was built in May of 1942 - when the Battle of the Coral Sea was being fought.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yessir! 1943! Your wrench is also wartime. That's why I picked that catalog to excerpt.

 

[PSCo1867]

Welcome!

With good reason. It's a Williams "Superior" (Improved Carbon steel) tool post wrench!



That is a neat debut for the thread. I have a few tool post wrenches - but no machines to use them on. And I've seen a few others. Similarly, in the hands of collectors. Nice to see it in use.

Nice to see some interest in tool post wrenches, and just the spark I needed to drag my pile out. I'll have more individual photos soon. Thanks @Ultradog MN for posting.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

In a handy shop-made tote!

 

[Ultradog MN]

By the way,
Back in the 80s I dated a gal for a while by the name of Marta Williams.
She is still my favorite Williams Wench.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

No dice. Just figures, and insult to injury, that the only two "[Light Service Wrenches]" I have managed to find in the wild would not only not be what you need to complete that No. 1 set, but they are also dupes (a 679 and a 681) that don't even add to the collective number of unique wrenches between us. Pffft.

Located a somewhat rough example of the 675 to add to the set

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a Williams M-20A 1/4” drive sliding tee that cleaned up pretty well. It was an estate sale find on Saturday.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Located a somewhat rough example of the 675 to add to the set

Shhhhweeeeeet! (Especially with the A.L.A.M. marking on the shank.) But, and not to be picayune..., that is not a 675. It's a 675A. They had a whole different set for A.L.A.M. sizes.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

If you click on the link to the 1912 catalog I provided in post #1,443, it will take you to page 56 of the catalog. Your partial set (missing the 675) is Set No. 1. The A.L.A.M. set, with a 675A, is Set No. 2, shown and itemized just below it.

 

[leg17]

Located a somewhat rough example of the 675 to add to the set

Very cool. Early text markings and A.L.A.M marks.
Nice wrench.
See A.L.A.M. thread.

A.L.A.M. wrenches

A.L.A.M. Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers The A.L.A.M. was organized in 1903 in an attempt to coordinate all automobile manufacturing under one standardized umbrella, and significantly, to have some level of control under the terms of the Selden patent No.549,160 of 1895. A...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[misterbill]

As reported in the 2024 Garage Sale Thread, I picked up this early 1930s Williams lot.









I couldn't find and actual set with these exact pieces in the catalogs but the individual pieces place it in the early 1930s (this from the 1931 catalog on ITCL).



I'm thinking of cleaning everything up and making it wall art.

Bill

 

[Beerhippie]

Some old curvy wrenches

Remind me not to play cards with you! Those wrenches are too perfectly fanned.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As reported in the 2024 Garage Sale Thread, I picked up this early 1930s Williams lot.

I'm thinking of cleaning everything up and making it wall art.

I hope you mean with the homemade case. You know I loves me some Williams, but I can't take my eyes off that case! The design, the planning, the execution, and the overall effect are wonderful. I'd be tempted to put an aged, weathered, matching lid on that hinge for the socket compartment.

 

[misterbill]

I hope you mean with the homemade case. You know I loves me some Williams, but I can't take my eyes off that case! The design, the planning, the execution, and the overall effect are wonderful. I'd be tempted to put an aged, weathered, matching lid on that hinge for the socket compartment.

Of course I mean with the homemade case! That's the whole reason I got it. Somewhere up thread I have the #20 set from about the same time period. It just doesn't evoke the same reaction. That piano hinge will hold the sockets in as long as it's not getting jiggled around. I need to repair the socket "tray" as it is missing both ends. I have some 1/2" pine that I'll drag around in some dirt and grease to match it up as best I can. Maybe a light wash with some Murphy's Oil Soap or Dawn dish detergent to knock down the grime a bit and then it's onto the wall below my Williams Chome-Alloy DOE display!

If I was going to do a lid I'd try and find a piece of old shoe leather from the sole. I used to have some unused pieces I found when I was a kid but they're long gone.

I just took the ratchet apart and the teeth are in fantastic shape. The set has been definitely used but well taken care of. Hard to believe it's almost 100 years old.

Bill

 

[3baygarage]

I love that it’s all set up for display.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Remind me not to play cards with you! Those wrenches are too perfectly fanned.

This comment reminds me of a friend of mine, Jason Ladanye. He has lots of YouTube videos of card tricks and sleight of hand, and he is damn good. The funny part is that he used to work in a bank as a teller!

 

[Beerhippie]

This comment reminds me of a friend of mine, Jason Ladanye. He has lots of YouTube videos of card tricks and sleight of hand, and he is damn good. The funny part is that he used to work in a bank as a teller!

How's that bank doing?

 

[Ricky Joe]

How's that bank doing?

Fortunately his integrity is pretty high! He is also a good keyboard player and guitar player. He toured with Ernie Williams and with Shameka Copeland when he was young. He also played on a Leslie West release, which credited him with a misspelled name. I brought his attention to it, and he said that that is a good thing. Considering the quality of the songs, I agree with him.

 

[misterbill]

Here's the "set" from the other day all cleaned up and repaired and hanging in its new home..




Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That custom tool organizer is awesome

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Soooo cool, especially against the red brick. It's almost like it's hanging in MY basement!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

You could probably make one

 

[username2]

The H.O. Studley chest of socket sets. The age and patina make that super cool.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a 30s set I got awhile back off Craigslist. Looks like similar tools

 

[Steven 33]

Am I about to make a stupid purchase? Whats this set worth?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Lathe bits? Probably not a huge collector thing, but you never know.