Let's Mix It Up - Show Your Combos!

[Private Lugnutz]

That is interesting, Unaiu. Sorry for the delayed reaction, I don't really check this thread as often as I should, probably because I don't really collect combination wrenches. Only when they catch my eye for some reason. Here is an example. The first thing that struck me was the deep size stamp (see Pic 2). The second thing was the asterisks (commonly associated with Vlchek, but seen on SK as well)(see Pic 3). And the third thing was the wedge head box end (see Pics 4 & 5). I don't recall seeing that before. Open end, yes. Box end, no. And lastly, no OEM markings!

 

[lardy1]

I started piecing together a set of Armstrongs.








5/8 comparison.

 

[jusridin]

Here is a Craftsman V USA stainless steel 13/16" combo. I know these sets came in velvet lined cases and aren't common, and weren't cheap new. Well someone used the snot out of this wrench lol. I bought it years ago in a lot of tools and there were no others.

By far the most expensive set I have ever bought. I got them on a local online auction for 100 bucks if I remember right. Sold them on Ebay a week later for 600. That was one sale I had sellers remorse for. Production of those was limited.

 

[r_olson_06]

By far the most expensive set I have ever bought. I got them on a local online auction for 100 bucks if I remember right. Sold them on Ebay a week later for 600. That was one sale I had sellers remorse for. Production of those was limited.

You did very well. I have not seen a single SS Craftsman wrench in the wild. I have found quite a few sockets and extensions but never any wrenches.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[jusridin]

Still wish I had them though 06

 

[Provincial]

That is interesting, Unaiu. Sorry for the delayed reaction, I don't really check this thread as often as I should, probably because I don't really collect combination wrenches. Only when they catch my eye for some reason. Here is an example. The first thing that struck me was the deep size stamp (see Pic 2). The second thing was the asterisks (commonly associated with Vlchek, but seen on SK as well)(see Pic 3). And the third thing was the wedge head box end (see Pics 4 & 5). I don't recall seeing that before. Open end, yes. Box end, no. And lastly, no OEM markings!

The shape of the box end is a Barcalo tell. It is commonly called the "scoop" pattern, and was patented. The size field is consistent with Barcalo, too. The thick walls of the box end are typical of later production for economy-level contract tools, as is the cosmetics. The thick walls may indicate lower-quality steel, or perhaps a desire to have fewer warranty claims. The lack of identification on the raised panel is not unusual, and may be due to wear. It is common for etched identification to disappear from later production wrenches.

The forged USA field and the asterisks are normal for Barcalo production in the "scoop" era. There may be one or both asterisks, with no discernible reason.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for your input, Provincial. 3bay thought Barcalo, too. I am not familiar at all with postwar Barcalo, let alone "scoop" pattern. Wartime Barcalo had raised panels, but not sunken on the flip side, and no deeply recessed size fields. And, I have never seen Barcalo with asterisk marks. When they've come up before, typically, as I said, on Vlchek, SK, or unbranded wrenches, I am not aware of anyone identifying it as a Barcalo tell before. That's interesting. Please post other examples of Barcalo "scoop" era wrenches with asterisk marks. In the meantime, I will try to do some research of my own.

 

[Provincial]

Yes, those "scoop" wrenches were introduced in the late 1950's, which is much past your area of interest. I'll try to post some examples here. There may be some in the Barcalo thread, but if I post some here they will be in context.

 

[d42jeep]

That is interesting, Unaiu. Sorry for the delayed reaction, I don't really check this thread as often as I should, probably because I don't really collect combination wrenches. Only when they catch my eye for some reason. Here is an example. The first thing that struck me was the deep size stamp (see Pic 2). The second thing was the asterisks (commonly associated with Vlchek, but seen on SK as well)(see Pic 3). And the third thing was the wedge head box end (see Pics 4 & 5). I don't recall seeing that before. Open end, yes. Box end, no. And lastly, no OEM markings!

It was likely a contract wrench made by Barcalo before 1958. I thought there was a recent discussion about the asterisks on Barcalos.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8155303&highlight=Asterisks#post8155303

Anyway the asterisks have been seen on DBE wrenches mostly without raised panels. They made plenty of contract wrenches especially Powr-Kraft.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks. I guess that didn't register with me before! "Scoop" is a good name for them.

 

[MR.X]

Thanks for your input, Provincial. 3bay thought Barcalo, too. I am not familiar at all with postwar Barcalo, let alone "scoop" pattern. Wartime Barcalo had raised panels, but not sunken on the flip side, and no deeply recessed size fields. And, I have never seen Barcalo with asterisk marks. When they've come up before, typically, as I said, on Vlchek, SK, or unbranded wrenches, I am not aware of anyone identifying it as a Barcalo tell before. That's interesting. Please post other examples of Barcalo "scoop" era wrenches with asterisk marks. In the meantime, I will try to do some research of my own.

Hey Lugz, I assume by now you've seen that the AA entry for Barcalo covers the "scooped" box and has pics with 0, 1, or 2 asterisks.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yes, but thanks for mentioning it. I hope Provincial isn't going to any trouble to find examples! The asterisk is the same asterisk as on that one SK wrench I have, but not the same as earlier Vlchek. Might still mean all coming out of the same forge, I don't know. I'm not a big Barcalo guy beyond wartime DOEs and DBEs, but I have to say I am impressed that they were still innovating that late in the 50's (with the "scooped" and wedge-head box end).

 

[Provincial]

I'll not duplicate the documentation!

 

[d42jeep]

Due to a lack of catalogs, AA is off on their dating of the rectangular raised panel wrenches which are being promoted in the 1958 catalog.
-Don

 

[consti2tion]

Picked up this damned near mint Mac Metric combo set on eBay. I think I’m in love

I’ve pieced together an SAE set as well, just not matching nor as clean but they function just fine.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found this antique at the flea market this morning. It was made in the 19th century. The Peoria Rubber & Manufacturing Company was bought out by the Rubber Goods Manufacturing Company in 1899 and immediately liquidated. The factory that Peoria Rubber & Mfg occupied in Peoria, Illinois, was used in turn by several other manufacturing concerns after that, including Glide Automobile, Pete Bicycle Company, Durvea Automobie Company, the Peoria Buggy Company, and the St Louis Motor Car Company, before eventually being the home of Premier Malt Products Company, which became part of Pabst Brewing Company in 1933.

Not the definition of a combination wrench in the classic sense, but an interesting story nonetheless. OEM was likely an old foundry or forge.

 

[Old Radar]

Let's air out this thread!

I found this Challenger 6151 roll pack today. They look practically new. The catalog excerpt is from 1961.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Like Crescent and "crescent" (meaning, adjustable) wrenches, I'm totally just guessing that the "Saltus" marking on this DOE wrench is a reference to the German mfgr (or perhaps it's a brand, I'm not a Euro collector and don't know the real story...) whose name has become colloquially synonymous with the style of combination wrenches with one open end and one hinged socket end that they were, apparently, the first to make.

 

[Lesserstore]

I found this "FORGED IN U.S.A." 13mm wrench a couple days ago. It looks similar to Stanley USA wrenches, and it is the same length as a Stanley 13mm: 6 inches. But usually on the Stanley's they will say Forged Alloy USA. Does anybody else have any ideas?

 

[StillTooManyHobbies]

That Forged in U.S.A. was made by SK and I think that style replaced the Lectrolite recessed panel as their budget line for a while. It was also in the SK 524 set even though it was not marked SK. You might compare it to an SK diamond or even a Super Krome and will find them identical except for the finish and markings.

 

[Lesserstore]

Thanks a lot.

 

[Mr.zippy]

over 40 years ago, I was newly married and didn’t have 2 Nickles to rub together. Had to replace a water pump in a wore out car to get to work. I bought this set from Gambles, (missing a couple now). I have much better stuff now, but keep it in the box just to remember past times and be thankful!

 

[d42jeep]

Nice. I’ve never run across any Gambles marked wrenches.
I tend to not post in this thread often because I run across combos so frequently but here are a few recent finds.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I wonder who made those Gambles wrenches. Strange with a different forged in code on each shank.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some Craftsman =v= code metric combos that I’ve gathered.
-Don

 

[StillTooManyHobbies]

Here's my set of mixed marking Barcalo "scoop" wrenches. More info in the Barcalo thread.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice collection!

 

[four.cycle]

KAL 3007 7* piece SAE combination wrench set

manufactured by American KAL Enterprises, Emporium, Pennsylvania

this set contains:

3212 3/8" *
3214 7/16"
3216 1/2"
3218 9/16"
3220 5/8"
3222 11/16"
3224 3/4"

* the 3212 3/8" wrench is not original to the set and is an add-on

 

[d42jeep]

This thread seems appropriate to post today’s find. Most of a set of metric ratcheting Craftsman combo wrenches plus a few other tools.
-Don

 

[misterbill]

Picked this up for two reasons... first, I've never heard of Sentry. Sentry hardware? Second, hex/V gullet. Reminds me of BlueLine or VTC.





Bill

 

[four.cycle]

@SC Fly Guy says there's a Sentry screwdriver here, but I can't see it

Sentry / Sentry Hardware Corp, 33 Public Square, Cleveland OH 44113 / pliers, hammer, level, screwdriver / successor to Worthington Hardware est. 1960 defunct Feb 1, 1991 / TM 1282910 Jun 26 1984 first use Aug 1 1982 / https://case.edu/ech/articles/g/george-worthington-co /

A July 1991 "Hardware Age" (Vol 228 Issue 7) mentions talks between Liberty Distributors Inc. and Sentry Hardware Corp. regarding a merger.

 

[misterbill]

@SC Fly Guy says there's a Sentry screwdriver here, but I can't see it

Sentry / Sentry Hardware Corp, 33 Public Square, Cleveland OH 44113 / pliers, hammer, level, screwdriver / successor to Worthington Hardware est. 1960 defunct Feb 1, 1991 / TM 1282910 Jun 26 1984 first use Aug 1 1982 / https://case.edu/ech/articles/g/george-worthington-co /

A July 1991 "Hardware Age" (Vol 228 Issue 7) mentions talks between Liberty Distributors Inc. and Sentry Hardware Corp. regarding a merger.

Thanks @four.cycle! Now the only mystery is who manufactured it for them. From the looks of it, I believe it could be either H-P (BlueLine) or Vanadium Tool Corp (VTC) from the 60s.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Absolutely NO clue. Sentry came out of what was the George Worthington Hardware Company in Cleveland, Ohio.

Worthington / Geo. Worthington Co., 802-832 St. Claire Ave. N.W., Cleveland, OH / est. 1829 / wholesale distributor / https://case.edu/ech/articles/w/worthington-george /

Worthington was huge, and they would have had purchasing power on the same lines as Shapleigh or E.C. Simmons or Belknap - they could have used any manufacturer they chose to outsource from.
The screwdrivers in that package look like Pratt-Read, but I don't profess to be a screwdriver expert.
The combination wrench with the square-cut gullet? The broaching narrows it down to about... half a dozen possibles?
That I had "pliers" and "level" already in the list (earlier this morning, before you posted your wrench) tells me I must have seen them on ebay or another site at some point, but I can't even guess.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

 

[d42jeep]

I found this dirty but complete -vv- Craftsman metric wrench set at an estate sale yesterday. I cleaned them up today.
As found.
Cleaned up.
Can anyone make a close guess of when these were sold? Lauver‘s list shows quite a range of years.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

@four.cycle
I saw you 'Wow-Faced'ed the tattoo. Not mine. But I was just as wowed when I saw it. When the Phillies clinched the NL East I was watching the lockerroom celebration with my sons. Cigars, champagne showers, beer, music, tomfoolery, etc, and one of the bullpen guys, fairly covered with tats, had that name and combo wrench on his torso. Looks in memoriam-ish to me. Somebody - grandpop maybe, had to be a mechanic.