J H Williams vintage hand tools

[humber2]

Hey Lugz! Thanks for the additional information. Yes, 75* not 85*. Also, the pamphlet below lists the wrenches that are in the set.

Jim C.

Here’s my incomplete set of Whitworth Williams Obstruction Wrenches.

I’m confident that sometime W2023 will be added and who knows what there is above W2029, perhaps this continued to 3/4”

It is interesting that the full sequencing increments were made which doubles the number of wrenches to create a full set but why then did the numbering used have the last digit increasing by 2 each step?

 

[Provincial]

The Whitworth sizes used increase in 1/16" increments. Standard Williams numbering increased sizes by 1/32" increments, most of which were never used.

W2023 should be 3/16W x 1/4W?

 

[d42jeep]

Here are two Williams Superrench flare nut wrenches found at yesterday’s estate sale
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

These 1521 pliers were so brown when I fownd them that I couldn't read the logo, but the bare steel cleaned up nicely with a wire toothbrush and some Lava hand soap.





There's a pair of 1520 pliers on AA and they sAy they're listed in the '47 catalog, so I looked them up and sure enough, there they are.

Williams Superrenches, Supersockets : Catalog A 50 : 1947 Edition : J. H. Williams & Co. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

56 p., illus., 17.6 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

"Seven adjustment notches provide a range from zero to two inches. Diamond embossed handles provide firm hand grip even if greasy."

​

 

[LowOiL]

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 Williams 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

Old post bump (and Steve has not logged in for a few years), but thanks for sharing. It looks just like mine. Just a big hunk of history and memories for me.

I need to figure how to break it down to do some cleaning on it.

 

[Mintgrun]

I left this dirty old rusty puller on the shelf twice, before finally buying it on my last visit. I was surprised to see it still there and it looked like a nice one, so I brought it home. It's a Williams GP-246. I don't get any hits when searching for examples online and didn't see one in the catalogs I thumbed through on the IA site; so maybe it was a short-lived offering.


I took it apart for cleaning and straightened the twisted links with a big hammer/vise/prosthetics brace-bending-tool and tapped down the little dings around the edges. It was fun to finally use the Wilde axle thread chaser. Based on the elongated link holes, it's done some hard pulling.





Tom

 

[HOF]

I left this dirty old rusty puller on the shelf twice, before finally buying it on my last visit. I was surprised to see it still there and it looked like a nice one, so I brought it home. It's a Williams GP-246. I don't get any hits when searching for examples online and didn't see one in the catalogs I thumbed through on the IA site; so maybe it was a short-lived offering.


I took it apart for cleaning and straightened the twisted links with a big hammer/vise/prosthetics brace-bending-tool and tapped down the little dings around the edges. It was fun to finally use the Wilde axle thread chaser. Based on the elongated link holes, it's done some hard pulling.





Tom

From a 1970 Catalog.

 

[HOF]

Does anyone know if this needs an extension to attach sockets or a Plug? The Plug ST-150 pictured doesn't feel like it will go in without forcing it. Thanks.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Are both detent balls on the little drive coupler still okay? Can you press them down with the flat side of a screwdriver blade?
It should just slip into the square opening on the ratchet with a "click" when the detent ball seats into the ratchet. It will require a bit of pressure to get it in or remove it - you wouldn't want it to just slip out while in use.

 

[HOF]

^ Are both detent balls on the little drive coupler still okay? Can you press them down with the flat side of a screwdriver blade?
It should just slip into the square opening on the ratchet with a "click" when the detent ball seats into the ratchet. It will require a bit of pressure to get it in or remove it - you wouldn't want it to just slip out while in use.

Thanks for your guidance. I checked my BT-50 ratchet and it has a BT-150 plug (no "A"). Made sense that the ST-50F would work with an ST-150 plug. I pushed it in and it works fine! They didn't come as a set, so I was apprehensive about forcing the plug into place.

 

[Mintgrun]

These boxes popped up on FB marketplace over in Kent. Williams stacks don't seem to show up very often, so I figured I'd share the photos. Seems like a good deal for ninety dollars, even though one wheel needs to be repaired. Looks like an easy fix and I'll bet that paint would shine right up!

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[dangerRuss]

Found while nosing through my late step father's tools: 5 NOS Williams DBE 9/32 and 1/4. In a neat little reinforced box.

 

[tpm2]

S30 breaker bar

I haven't given up looking for one of these, but I did pick up a Blackhawk 110X as a placeholder.

 

[pcrov]

Gave my large C-clamp a glow-up:



J.H. WILLIAMS & CO.
DROP-FORGED IN U.S.A.

WILLIAMS NO. 412
*********** CLAMP

(Rustoleum Metallic Spray Paint, Cobalt Blue)

 

[Kaline74]

My vintage JH Willams tools consist of a set of Superratchets. All work like new.

 

[bonneyman]

Snagged a pair of obstruction wrenches this morning! Model numbers I already had, but they were such nice condition I took them anyway.
Been a long time since I've uncovered any. Checking back in the thread I find the last new to me wrench was in 2019. 6 years.

 

[d42jeep]

This combination wrench came in the mail yesterday. It will be headed for my Navy cantilever box.
-Don

 

[Steven 33]

I haven't given up looking for one of these, but I did pick up a Blackhawk 110X as a placeholder.

Ill keep a lookout for ya! Unfortunately mine is already spoken for

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Hey guys.

Just picked up this Williams 1/2" drive set from the marketplace, convenient as he lived in the next town over, today.

Everything is simply stamped with a "S" and then the diamond W. The ratchet has S, the sockets have S-1 for a 1" socket, S-7/16... the box is unbranded but looks GI issued and appropriate for the sockets and the speed brace.

I looked through the ITCL but it simply lists ST and model # or S and model #. All my sockets are 12 points.

Thinking this is a wartime issue set from WWII timeframe. I haven't searched through the 40 pages of thread here yet. The more I'm studying this box I'm convinced this is a military issued set. All the parts fit nicely and appears Im only missing the s-3/4 socket.

 

[tpm2]

I have not found anything about these in official print. I've read that they were 1) an economy line 2) wartime. I am looking forward to expert commentary here!

 

[Beerhippie]

Mighty proud of yer crank there, @Tom "Python" Aycock !

 

[misterbill]

@Tom "Python" Aycock search for "Volume" in this thread (e.g., this link).

Bill

 

[Old Radar]

Mighty proud of yer crank there, @Tom "Python" Aycock !

Yep. Almost busted a cardinal rule on the Garage Sale thread--"Highlight your trophy, not your package..."

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Yep. Almost busted a cardinal rule on the Garage Sale thread--"Highlight your trophy, not your package..."

At least I was out in public and not shooting the pic from the lazy boy, that would have been disturbing potentially. And y'all clean that dirty out, I'm showing tools not toys!

 

[wrenchguy]

It's been well over a year asking for help. $100 reward still offered for a correct logo No.1 Williams Engineers wrench that fills out this retail board. thx.

Thanks twertsy, without this post back in the day i'd never know what wrenches went on this board. see here, https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...intage-hand-tools.274782/page-12#post-7824992

 

[gleman]

@Tom "Python" Aycock

Can you get a pic your sockets?

I came across a similar set sans box and rachet.







The '42 catalog has the sockets marked ST-* but mine are marked S-5/8 etc.

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

@Tom "Python" Aycock

Can you get a pic your sockets?

I came across a similar set sans box and rachet.







The '42 catalog has the sockets marked ST-* but mine are marked S-5/8 etc.

Forgot to attach the socket pics.

 

[gleman]

Forgot to attach the socket pics.

Thanks!

 

[d42jeep]

I expect to see these logos on wartime Williams tools.
-Don

 

[gleman]

I expect to see these logos on wartime Williams tools.
-Don

Don, what vintage do you think these sockets are? I have no idea.

 

[d42jeep]

Nothing definitive but my guess is post-WWII (the sockets are the "single-groove" style) but before ~1948 (introduction of the "double-groove" style). OTG might be on to something with his mention of the "Volume" tool line as I don't see the "Williams" name on any of the pieces.

misterbill has much more experience with Williams tools than I do and I suspect that his timeline is pretty right on.
-Don

 

[Fred Knox]

With a little push from @four.cycle 1 1/2 years ago, I finally pulled together a complete 1940s era Williams Electrical Set No. 1285P. Great looking decals IMO.

 

[d42jeep]

I found these 1/4” drive sockets at a Tahoe yard sale yesterday. The four point sockets seemed kind of unusual. Maybe part of a refrigeration set?
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

I found these 1/4” drive sockets at a Tahoe yard sale yesterday. The four point sockets seemed kind of unusual. Maybe part of a refrigeration set?
-Don

Perhaps. Some of the old King valves - and alot of newer factory shut-off valves - had square ends where a 4 (or 8) point socket would be useful.
I used them for plumbing situations. Many times I needed water to clean an outdoor coil, and the available spigots were missing the handles. (Turned out businesses were tired of homeless people using their water, so removed all the handles to reduce scavaging). So I carried spare handles and square sockets to be able to get water. They came in handy.

 

[bmwrd0]

I used to have a Williams master 1/4" set, and instead of 8-point sockets, the smallest ones were 4-point like those. I think they just used an older style.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The four point sockets seemed kind of unusual.

From my notes and spreadsheets, Williams was making 4- and 8-point midget sockets (9/32-drive at that time) as early as 1937, but they were not putting them in any of the various sized sets yet. In 1942 most sets still just had 6- and 12-pointers but they added a set with two (2) 8-pointers - 5/16" and 3/8". By 1952 they had a set with three (3) 4-pointers and the two (2) 8-pointers, and a huge 45-piece set had the same complement. As always, that's about as far as my interests go, but I would assume it continued throughout the 50's and into the 60's.

 

[misterbill]

It's rare (for me) to find Williams tools that don't look like they were "rode hard and put away wet". So, when I see something that is this clean I have a tendency to snap it up. Got this one off of eBay recently. First 3/8" I've seen of this vintage that has any paint left on it. Reminds me of the ratchet in the 1/2" set hanging next to my fireplace.




Bill

 

[Private Lugnutz]

^ Nice, Bill.

I found a 681A "Light Service Wrench" wrench at the flea this morning,




It will join the two I already have (679 and 681), shown upthread here, just as soon as I can remember where I put them! It looks like I pulled them out of my Williams box to take that photo, in the process of checking to see if I had one to help OTG complete a 'Carriage Makers' set.

 

[leg17]

^ Nice, Bill.

I found a 681A "Light Service Wrench" wrench at the flea this morning, ...

Brooklyn logo?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Brooklyn logo?

Oval Brooklyn, not earliest (Text).