Looking for info on Four Wrenches

[wield1]

Hi All. I'm looking for info on these four wrenches, all double open ended, three super early, and one just old. (I think) The three smaller ones are offset, (bent) and have no makers name. Any info appreciated.

 

[d42jeep]

If you check the stickie at the top of the vintage tool discussion, you will find this link to a Billings thread.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=390065
Alloy Artifacts also has a Billings section.
http://alloy-artifacts.org/billings-spencer-company.html
That should get you started on your Billings DOE.
Whenever I see extremely early metric sizes marked on a wrench, I always check the Bridgeport thread, also in the stickie.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=400970

-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Don's intuition on the flip side marked metrics being early (1930's) Bridgeport is correct. The offsets are factory branded as Hy-Bar. Within the first 4 or 5 posts on the Bridgeport thread you will find a post with links to an earlier discussion on the DOE wrench thread about early Bridgeport metric markings and a post showing a wonderful complete Hy-Bar wrench set in clip owned by GJ member User name already in use.

 

[Ricky Joe]

That 7/16” bend looks like a common user modification in the 1930s to access the small oil line in the head that goes from the head casting to the rocker shaft in early straight eight Buick engines.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Might've been the inspiration. Or any number of common obstructions. The page for the Hy-Bar line in the 1940 catalog (available at Tools Archive), including a funny little illustration showing the offset producing 2" of lift, avoiding little knuckle-busting devils, does not mention any specific application.

 

[wield1]

Thank you. I’ll check those threads. The offset wrenches just feel, well, OLD. Looks like the Billings-Spencer is 1915- 1926. The three smaller offset DOE wrenches look similar to the Hy Bar, but not exact. Perhaps super early, as the “patent applied for” markings would attest. Still unknown origin.

 

[Username already in use]

Don and Lugz have it right. The seemingly bent 'pat. apld. for' wrenches are Bridgeport. While not branded HY BAR, they could have been made for and sold as a house brand or contract production.

My Bridgeport/HY BAR set is also marked PAT.APLD.FOR Metric on one side and freedom units on the reverse.

The ISN numbers on your wrenches (#723, etc.) would make your wrenches newer than my set. Lugz could probably give you a better idea of when the ISN numbering system was more widely accepted throughout the industry, but I think it was late 30s.

Here are probably too many pics of my set.