My small but growing DBE wrench collection

[bonneyman]

10-4, Don. I have several shorty DBE's in SAE with the *. I believe Vlchek is the maker.

 

[misterbill]

As I mentioned in the 2025 garage sale thread, I recently picked up a box of (mostly) DBEs. They were all definitely used - very thick coat of grease on most of them. Here they are cleaned up.


Starting from the top left, here's a trio of Vlchek (cadmium? - definitely not chromed) coated monsters.


Next in line is a Bonney Zenel 2830 with (what I think is) a "JO" date code.


Continuing counter-clockwise, are a mixed bunch of Plombs. One has a "DD" date code


And finally, the more "interesting" ones. A large un-marked beast (haven't measured the openings) followed by 3 different 1" x 15/16" offsets a Perfection (Western Auto?), a raised panel that looks like a Barcalo to me, and a Precision Bilt for the Spiegel catalog audience.


Oh, and I almost forgot the 6 lovely and talented Craftsman =V= stamped MDF/Easco variety.


Bill

 

[Provincial]

I found this "side offset" wrench Friday. The hex openings are 7/8 and 1". I can find no markings on it whatsoever. The shape of the ends is identical, so I believe that they were made that way.

I'm pretty sure I've seen photos of this type of wrench, but can't remember where.

 

[Stubby1743]

Duplicate post deleted.

 

[four.cycle]

@Provincial - that is an odd one. And the six-sided broach makes it all the more odd.

 

[four.cycle]

7 piece U.S.A. METRIC Offset Double-End Box Wrench Set - Marked only "MFD" and "U.S.A." - no maker's name or mark.

620809 8 mm x 9 mm Offset Double-End Box Wrench
621011 10 mm x 11 mm
621213 12 mm x 13 mm
621415 14 mm x 15 mm
621617 16mm x 17 mm
621819 18 mm x 19 mm
620022 20 mm x 22 mm

 

[four.cycle]

Crescent "Life-Time" 5-piece SAE Double-End Box Wrench Set

LTB1214 3/8" x 7/16" SAE Double-End Box Wrench
LTB1618 1/2" x 9/16"
LTB2022 5/8" x 11/16"
LTB2428 3/4" x 7/8"
LTB2628 13/16" 7/8"

* These wrenches were manufactured by Crescent right after their 1963 acquisition of Barcalo-Buffalo Mfg. Co. of Buffalo, New York, and employ the patented "scoop" design created by Walter R. Meier and Hollis R. Ross (U.S. Patent D177636) The design is exclusive to later Barcalo wrenches, and this short-lived series of Crescent "Life-Time" wrenches.

 

[Steven 33]

Some of my round style longer offset DBE wrenches

 

[BlueBomber]

Hey, gang! I found this Williams Superrench at a sale today and thought "Surely I don't have this one in my collection!"



Williams Superrench No 8041, 1-5/8" x 1-7/16"

Well, turns out I apparently do, although I can't seem to find it in the debris field that is my middle workbench. You'd think something that big would be hard to miss. Maybe a sign I need to do some tidying up...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I stopped reading after...

Hey, gang!

Long time no see!

 

[MR.X]

I just completed a long-distance trade with a Canadian GJ member who shall remain as nameless as he wants to be, and, knowing my affection for weird stuff and wartime stuff, threw in this double-whammy DBE wrench for good measure. It was quite a cool surprise.

As you can see, that end with the Joe Theismann/Alex Smith/Dak Prescott-looking offset is actually double orthogonal, bent 180*, in parallel with the edge of the shank, with the service opening (3/8" hex) facing backwards. So it must have been used to get at something sunken behind a thin obstruction, like a sheath or guard, either by reaching it over from above or underneath. It has a small through hole. Typically with these kinds of twisters, like something in an aircraft engine compartment that is hard to reach.

The other end is angled from the shank, not offset, at 45*, and it is bent in line with the flat of the shank. It also has a 3/8" hex service opening, and a through hole, with a much shallower 3/8" hex opening on the back side.

The wrench is marked with the opening sizes ("3/8"), what appears to be a part number ("5CB848") and what appears to be a logo. An "F" inside a triangle, like so: /F\.

On the flip side it's marked "USAC" (almost certainly United States Air Corp) and what may be either "AFTS" or "HFTS". Until research proves otherwise, I am going with HFTS and Helicopter Flight Training School.

Here’s that “F” in a triangle.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What's the source of the reference?

 

[MR.X]

What's the source of the reference?

online from the Benson Ford research center The Henry Ford Museum. It's not a lock, but already deduced that it was made under the Air Corps / Ford 1941 B-24 contract by Henry Ford Trade School. Since the wrench doesn't appear to be a mod of an outsourced tool like many of the HFTS tools were, it seems logical that they'd use their own stock though I have no idea what the year range was for use of the F in a triangle as most of the references to it seem to be earlier than this particular tool.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

^ Thanks, X.

 

[MR.X]

^ F triangle Ford forge mark from steering pitman arm.

 

[Outlawmws]

What car/years was the Pittman arm used on? That could give a hint at years used?

 

[MR.X]

What car/years was the Pittman arm used on? That could give a hint at years used?

so pretty sure that's from a T and yeah that puts a year range on it but doesn't necessarily. mean it doesn't go beyond that. I think that chart I pulled it off of probably falls in the T/A era too.

 

[Leviton]

I picked up this 6-point Ward's Lakeside DBE. Who made it?

For some reason, I was thinking maybe Barcalo, but I can't find anything similar in their line.





5-1/4" OAL. No markings on the back side.

 

[four.cycle]

I would be more inclined to think it's the first one here:

Lakeside / Lakeside Forge, Erie, PA / http://alloy-artifacts.org/lakeside-forge-company.html / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/lakeside-forge-co.324514/ /

Lakeside / Montgomery Ward private label /



Something about the font on your "Lakeside" wrench is just .... odd.

 

[genog]

Ran over to the High School Flea Market this morning.....
A Seller friend put this Snap On DBE aside for me

I said, Hey thanks Mark! Where's the rest of the set?
He smiled
Well....we both smiled
I'm happy with the cute little booger

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up this 6-point Ward's Lakeside DBE. Who made it?

For some reason, I was thinking maybe Barcalo, but I can't find anything similar in their line.





5-1/4" OAL. No markings on the back side.

Yeah, Barcalo would be my guess. They aren’t real common

-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Found this DBE Barcalo on Friday at an estate sale.
Cleaned up.

-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Crescent "Life-Time" 5-piece SAE Double-End Box Wrench Set

LTB1214 3/8" x 7/16" SAE Double-End Box Wrench
LTB1618 1/2" x 9/16"
LTB2022 5/8" x 11/16"
LTB2428 3/4" x 7/8"
LTB2628 13/16" 7/8"

* These wrenches were manufactured by Crescent right after their 1963 acquisition of Barcalo-Buffalo Mfg. Co. of Buffalo, New York, and employ the patented "scoop" design created by Walter R. Meier and Hollis R. Ross (U.S. Patent D177636) The design is exclusive to later Barcalo wrenches, and this short-lived series of Crescent "Life-Time" wrenches.

I love the scooped design. Distinctive look, as well as functional. Instead of a weakening bend, Barcalo achieved the 15 degree offset demanded in box wrenches by offsetting the broaching. The end beam was kept straight for strength - with the wall thickness of the box end tapered - but users still got the desired offset. I thought it was an interesting solution - it was certainly different.

 

[Leviton]

I picked up this 6-point Ward's Lakeside DBE. Who made it?

For some reason, I was thinking maybe Barcalo, but I can't find anything similar in their line.



5-1/4" OAL. No markings on the back side.

Yeah, Barcalo would be my guess. They aren’t real common

-Don

THANKS @d42jeep !! That's what I was looking for, but could not find

 

[Stubby1743]

I like this zero off set style of DBEs.

 

[Outlawmws]

I like this zero off set style of DBEs.

Flat, slight offset, and deep offset, all have their place depending on the fastener location.

Aesthetically I usually prefer the look of the deep offset. for storage the flat wins hands down.

 

[bluebolt]

I found this little Athol "High Tensile" wrench stashed in one of my boxes a few days ago. Thought at first it was from the Massachusetts company but further research showed it was H&P Athol from England. No luck finding any more info on the company. Notice the sizes are marked on the side you would use. This is for standard American nut sizes, the A/F means "Across Flats". so this fits standard 5/16 and 3/8 6 point nuts.

I came across this little Athol wrench again doing a cleanout. Googled it and came up with my own post 9 years ago LOL!

 

[Outlawmws]

I came across this little Athol wrench again doing a cleanout. Googled it and came up with my own post 9 years ago LOL!

And pics pre-posted!

 

[RTM]

I came across this little Athol wrench again doing a cleanout. Googled it and came up with my own post 9 years ago LOL!

Any tool search almost always comes back to GJ. Sometimes in ways we don’t appreciate.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

One is a PERFECTION , an old Western Auto brand.

1" x 15/16" offsets a Perfection (Western Auto?)

Never having seen one in the wild before, but remembering they show up here from time to time, I snapped a photo of this $1 table LEFT-BEHIND at the flea market this morning. A little fugly, but chances are very good it will be there next week if either of you has a hankering to build a collection. Let me know.