My small but growing DBE wrench collection

[BlueBomber]

I still have a large Ampco beryllium copper DBE that your collection is missing, next time your in my neck of the woods stop by so it can join the pegboard!

Too cool! I'll trade you for the two Proto crowsfeet you needed from the Tyngsboro sale back in August.

I knew another GJ member would be there! I was the young kid with the SK hat. It seems like you got the 2 other crows feet I needed, I found only two. I missed out on the multi purpose vise, and a really nice metal parts organizer.

 

[dngrmse]

I collect these as well, but stick mostly to deep offset. Here are my favorites. Anyone know the maker of the one with the X in the middle?

on the bottom?

 

[Bobcat753]

Too cool! I'll trade you for the two Proto crowsfeet you needed from the Tyngsboro sale back in August.

Sweet! Sounds good!

 

[Alchymist]

Here's a few quick pics of the three larger DBE's. Quite a few of the smaller, but didn't grab any pics (it's late). Top is a Williams 1-7/16 X 1-1/4, # 7039. Middle is a P&C, 15/16 X 1, and bottom is a 3/4 X 7/8 Plvmb. The Plvmb I've had for probably 45 years or more.

 

[BlueBomber]

I collect these as well, but stick mostly to deep offset. Here are my favorites. Anyone know the maker of the one with the X in the middle?

on the bottom?

More new brands - awesome! On the X wrench, is there more to that Patent number? A quick search for 97325 turns up an 1869 patent for a Ship Implement". What about a picture of the other side of the wrench?

Here's a few quick pics of the three larger DBE's. Quite a few of the smaller, but didn't grab any pics (it's late). Top is a Williams 1-7/16 X 1-1/4, # 7039. Middle is a P&C, 15/16 X 1, and bottom is a 3/4 X 7/8 Plvmb. The Plvmb I've had for probably 45 years or more.

Love that big Williams - it truly is a Superrench!

 

[dngrmse]

I just found it- It is a Bridgeport patent from 1935. There's a few under completed sales in ebay. The other side reads 5/8 USA Nickel and Molybdenum 11/16

 

[woody 73]

Yes the X in the middle is a Bridgeport funny thing because I have a contact that sells them.

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-arti...db1214_nickel_moly_wrench_f_cropped_inset.jpg

 

[bonneyman]

I just found it- It is a Bridgeport patent from 1935. There's a few under completed sales in ebay. The other side reads 5/8 USA Nickel and Molybdenum 11/16

Bridgeport seems to be the only manufacturer who used the odd nickel-molybdenum alloy.
Here's my set of "no name" DBE's that I finally narrowed down to BP because of the alloy marking (and the fatbob font).

 

[BlueBomber]

Yes the X in the middle is a Bridgeport funny thing because I have a contact that sells them.

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-arti...db1214_nickel_moly_wrench_f_cropped_inset.jpg

Like it! Want one!

 

[Alchymist]

Four of the smaller old DBEs. Top to bottom -

Lesota - not much info out there on this one, tool manufacturer in Albert Lea, Mn. circa 1940-50. 1/2 X 9/16, "Forged Vanadium". Not listed in Alloy Artifacts.

Lectrolite - 1/2 X 9/16, "Chrome Vanadium". Alloy Artifacts places it at 1940-50 era.

Proto Plvmb 7/16 X 1/2. 1948-1949. #1125-L. No steel type markings.

Vlchek - 3/8 X 7/16. Similar to ones listed in Alloy Artifacts, #21 not shown though. " Alloy Steel". Stamped WBC1214. Not really dated on Alloy Artifacts, 1940's?

 

[BlueBomber]

Lesota - not much info out there on this one, tool manufacturer in Albert Lea, Mn. circa 1940-50. 1/2 X 9/16, "Forged Vanadium". Not listed in Alloy Artifacts.

That Lesota has a very unusual offset, not as abrupt as most I've seen.

 

[sha]

Sha,

I was reading through the Alloy Artifacts website on early Craftsman tools and came across this entry:

Short Angled Box Wrenches

Craftsman box wrenches with short straight shanks and angled heads were first offered in the 1934 catalog, with three models available in sizes 3/8x7/16, 1/2x9/16, and 5/8x11/16.

Hope this helps!

Thanks, yeah- seen that and I suppose another way to find out is pouring through catalogs. I once saw a different combination of sizes than usual paired up on a V series? wrench but I didn't think anything of it at the time. Makes me wonder if there were sizes added, a tooling change and/or error in stamping.

 

[joseph.a.owens.9]

OK so I found this at work today. Could you give me any information on it?? Its 3/4 and 7/8 no numbers or any thing on it. Other then it saying John Deere

 

[Alchymist]

OK so I found this at work today. Could you give me any information on it?? Its 3/4 and 7/8 no numbers or any thing on it. Other then it saying John Deere

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-JOHN-DEERE-BOX-END-WRENCH-6-POINT-3-4-1-/361402040830

https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cases/1999/06/stanleyworkscmp.htm

 

[BlueBomber]

Today I went through another toolbox from an estate sale and found a stash of Bonney DBEs of various vintages. I snapped a family portrait and hung them on the wrench rack. That rack is already nearly full and will need another row soon.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Those are nice! Hope the wall is able to support all those DBE lol

 

[Rileysan]

I have never considered myself a collector of DBE wrenches, but they have always been my favorite style of wrench. As such, Bluebomber's post has inspired me to gather my stock and take an accounting and true to form, I came up with a wide variety of manufacturers and styles - including some that have not yet been shared in this thread until now.

For your viewing pleasure, here's the first of my DBEs starting from the top ...

Plomb
Fairmount
VLCHEK
Hinsdale (my personal favorite)
Tiger Tools
Companion
Champion Spark plug DBE (How cool is this one?!?)
Craftsman (great classic cman!)
Lectrolite
S-K
Artisan
Sears
Barcalo (x3)
Stanley
Bunney
Proto
Hinsdale x2
Lakeside
Wards Powercraft
(unidentifiable)
Plomb
Snap-on

Brian

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

That is a nice collection, those snappys look nice!

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Today's finds:
3 Bonney
Samson
Vlcheck

 

[BlueBomber]

Nice posts, Riley and Sam! Especially diggin' the obscure US brands in Riley's collection. Thanks for sharing!

 

[toolmutt]

I like using dbe wrenches when I can. I have several sets but these are my faves.

 

[CNGsaves]

Great thread and some cool DBE's !!

Favorite for me is stubby offset DBE 1/2 9/16 Craftsman that was my grandpa's.

 

[nine4gmc]

I have a small plumb DBE on the pull chain out in my shop.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Nine . . . . that must be your . . Plomb Line !!! . .

 

[BlueBomber]

I added a few more DBEs to the collection today. Pardon the pictures with other items from an estate sale.

Indestro Select DBE, 5/8" x 11/16"
Two Cross Country chrome vanadium DBEs, 15/16" x 1" & 1/2" x 9/16"



Lectrolite 7000 starter & manifold DBE wrench, 9/16" x 5/8"
Two no name deep offset DBEs, US made, 7/16" x 3/8" & 1/2" x 9/16"



Set of Dunlap "Pat-App" ratcheting box wrenches



My peg board is officially full! Time to add a second row.

 

[bonneyman]

Loving the Dunlap ratcheting box wrenches. BlueBomber. I have a set of those going, only missing the 13/16" x 7/8".

Solid tools, easy to repair if they ever screw up, good fit in the hand. And USA made!

 

[BlueBomber]

Loving the Dunlap ratcheting box wrenches. BlueBomber. I have a set of those going, only missing the 13/16" x 7/8".

Solid tools, easy to repair if they ever screw up, good fit in the hand. And USA made![emoji106]

Yours are nice and shiny, Bonneyman. So now I know I'm missing two to make a set - thanks for the info.

My largest of the set is no longer ratcheting - I assume I'll have to drill out the rivets to split the case. Your wrenches seem to have something other than rivets holding them together. Did you repair and rebuild yours and if so, what did you use for fasteners?

Regardless, can you provide another picture or two close-up of the fasteners on your Dunlaps?

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

The sickness continues!


4 Bonney
1 Williams
1 New Britain
2 vlcheck?? (One not sure about, needs some cleaning)

 

[bonneyman]

Yours are nice and shiny, Bonneyman. So now I know I'm missing two to make a set - thanks for the info.

My largest of the set is no longer ratcheting - I assume I'll have to drill out the rivets to split the case. Your wrenches seem to have something other than rivets holding them together. Did you repair and rebuild yours and if so, what did you use for fasteners?

Regardless, can you provide another picture or two close-up of the fasteners on your Dunlaps?

Yes, several of mine were gritty and tight, so - wanting to see what the guts were anyway - I drilled the rivets out and reassembled with socket head SS screws and nuts after thorough cleaning. Simple, tough mechanism - the pawls are reversible to double the lifetime, and easily fixed with DIY tools and material in anyone's garage. They are my backup set when my other set fails.
Gotta love it!

 

[bonneyman]

Dang it, Sam, you keep finding old Bonney stuff!

They were at on time based in Allentown, PA. Guess you are finding local leftover stock.

 

[BlueBomber]

Thanks, Bonneyman - fascinating!

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Dang it, Sam, you keep finding old Bonney stuff!



They were at on time based in Allentown, PA. Guess you are finding local leftover stock.

That's what I was thinking as well lol. Once I found my first couple seems like they keep poping up. I'm thinking there must of been a local dealer/distributer.

I also see a fair amount of SK and we have had a local dealer since at least the 50s

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Today's finds


Williams, blue point, metco, Dunlap, westline, craftsman, thorsen, wright, select steel, wizard.

 

[BlueBomber]

Today's finds


Williams, blue point, metco, Dunlap, westline, craftsman, thorsen, wright, select steel, wizard.

Nice work for one weekend, Sam! What's the brand and sizes of the DBE that's offset on one end but not the other?

Edit: never mind, I just reread your post - Blue Point!

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

The bluepoint is the same size 3/4" on both ends as well, I have 2 of those now the other one is 5/8" IIRC

 

[bonneyman]

Those Westline deep offset DBE look suspiciously like some Duro/Indestros I have.
And that long Dunlap has the same overall feel to it, too. Common ancestry?

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I think your right, I remember reading about westline on AA and but I can't recall the maker I think they were a western auto brand below wizard? I like the feel of them, very tempted to try and complete the set and add them to the box at work.

 

[gol4]

I have been meaning to post here for a while but don't usually have a camera when in the garage. Today i happened to have my Ipod.
Here is my SAE DBE drawer. Has Plomb and Plomb shorties. Hinsdale, Handyhex and a couple styles of electrolite and some newer maxforce-allen.
If anyone has hinsdale shorty wrenches they want to unload let me know. Also have been hunting for a handyhex 02055 7/8x13/16 as well.

 

[BlueBomber]

Very nice gol4!

 

[Outlawmws]

I have an affinity for DBE's, too.

I tend toward the shorty, deep offset variety. But almost any DBE is fair game.

Me too.