My small but growing DBE wrench collection

[DuroChrome]

What a collection!! I received this guy for Christmas. I posted it in another ID thread but this is where DBE belong!

 

[d42jeep]

Many thanks to Rileysan and BlueBomber for helping me add these hard to find Barcalo raised panel short offset DBE wrenches to my WW2 tool sets. Now I just need to find the 1/2" x 9/16" ones.
-Don

 

[BlueBomber]

d42jeep traded me three wrenches for that stubby wartime Craftsman, more than I expected. I'll keep a lookout for the 9/16" x 1/2" size.

Here are my new additions:



Two Lectrolite stubbies, 3/8" x 7/16" & 1/2" x 9/16" They may be from two different production runs - note that the box end angles are in opposite directions.

I really like the asymmetric Belzer Polygon Mod No. 1. It is 1/2" on both ends, but deep offset on one side and straight on the other. Here are a few more close ups.

 

[bonneyman]

Nice acquisitions, Blue! That Belzer single offset DBE is a beaut. Bonney made DBE's like that, never knew till I stumbled upon one at a pawn shop. They are becoming quite the collectible.

One heck of an offset on the one end, though.

 

[BlueBomber]

One more addition today, thanks to a tool swap with Bobcat753. For two Proto crowsfeet, I got this:



An Ampco non-sparking 1-1/16" x 7/8" DBE, model W3220. She's lovely - I told him I thought I came out ahead on the trade. The size combo is a bit odd: I wonder what it's spec'd for...?

Thanks, BC!

Now I just need to shift 35 wrenches one peg right on my board to add an "A" brand to the first peg. That's a good problem to have. [emoji1]

 

[bonneyman]

One more addition today, thanks to a tool swap with Bobcat753. For two Proto crowsfeet, I got this:



An Ampco non-sparking 1-1/16" x 7/8" DBE, model W3220. She's lovely - I told him I thought I came out ahead on the trade. The size combo is a bit odd: I wonder what it's spec'd for...?

Thanks, BC!

Now I just need to shift 35 wrenches one peg right on my board to add an "A" brand to the first peg. That's a good problem to have. [emoji1]

IIRC, those non-sparking AMPCO's contained beryllium. Somebody with more knowledge can correct me on this, but - if has beryllium in it - you do not want to wire-brush it. Beryllium dust is very toxic.

 

[Bobcat753]

"... Now I just need to shift 35 wrenches to the right..." LOL now that's funny!

And yes it contains beryllium. Don't go and make it shiney!

 

[BlueBomber]

IIRC, those non-sparking AMPCO's contained beryllium. Somebody with more knowledge can correct me on this, but - if has beryllium in it - you do not want to wire-brush it. Beryllium dust is very toxic.

And yes it contains beryllium. Don't go and make it shiney!

Yep, you both are right - a real "Poison Ivy" beauty. She'll hang on the wall as shown - no brushing, polishing or clean up. Not that she needs much.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

BB,

That Belzer is a real beauty!

 

[BlueBomber]

BB,

That Belzer is a real beauty!

Thanks, Sam. It looks a lot like that Bluepoint you found a few months ago.

Today's finds

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

 

[Rileysan]

Many thanks to Rileysan and BlueBomber for helping me add these hard to find Barcalo raised panel short offset DBE wrenches to my WW2 tool sets. Now I just need to find the 1/2" x 9/16" ones.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

BlueBomber your "Select Steel" wrench at the bottom of that photo is most likely an Indestro. the "Select Steel" moniker and the "dart' shaped ends on the panels are the tell-tale signs.
see photos at AlloyArtifacts.com and photos
HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5266460#post5266460
and HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5231705#post5231705

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

BB,
I was just thinking that the Belzer was similar to the early Bluepoint BOXocket wrenchs

Well now I'm one step closer to completing a set of these, just picked up the 1" x 15/16" last week


Must resist the urge to cheat and pick up the remaining wrenches new, since they are still in production

Edit: just realized the picture is not the best, they are SK raised panel

 

[BlueBomber]

BB,
I was just thinking that the Belzer was similar to the early Bluepoint BOXocket wrenchs

Well now I'm one step closer to completing a set of these, just picked up the 1" x 15/16" last week


Must resist the urge to cheat and pick up the remaining wrenches new, since they are still in production

Edit: just realized the picture is not the best, they are SK raised panel

The only two S-K DBEs I have are both S-K Tools 1/2" x 9/16". In fact, they are the only two dupes in my collection. It's funny that you have two as well.

Good luck finishing the set!

 

[BlueBomber]

BlueBomber your "Select Steel" wrench at the bottom of that photo is most likely an Indestro. the "Select Steel" moniker and the "dart' shaped ends on the panels are the tell-tale signs.
see photos at AlloyArtifacts.com and photos
HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5266460#post5266460
and HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5231705#post5231705

Thanks, four.cycle. The wrenches pictured are actually Sam's, but I have several as well. I had found the AlloyArtifacts references and reached the same conclusions. My two "no-names" sit on my rack next to the Indestros.

 

[four.cycle]

^ both Indestro, I believe.
"forged select steel'' and/or "select steel" - "dart" shape at ends of panels on shanks.
long one looks like 9XX series, short one maybe 93X series?

 

[four.cycle]

I see Williams Billings Armstrong VLchek here.
NOT a clue on any of this stuff. If any of you guys can help ID any of it I would appreciate your feedback.
Thanks!

assorted wrenches 010616 by four.cycle, on Flickr

box it all came in:

steel tool box approx. 12" x 8" x 5½" 01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

(*the copy of the Philadelphia Inquirer lining the bottom of the box was dated 1951.)

 

[Rileysan]

I wanna give a shout-out to d42jeep for finding this P&C DBE for me. Great find!

Brian

 

[straightcut]

My grandfather had a set of DBE Indestro short offset wrenches that I enjoyed using as a kid that my uncle (his son) now has. I bought a few off of eBay, but am looking for two more that might be easy for you guys.

The wrenches I'm looking for are:
-Indestro Select DBE short, offset wrench 5/8" & 11/16"
and
-Indestro Select DBE short, flat (not offset) wrench 3/8" & 7/16"

I'd prefer used, working tools, but not having significant rust or damage from abuse. Sorry, I don't really have tools to trade.

 

[bonneyman]

Thanks, four.cycle. The wrenches pictured are actually Sam's, but I have several as well. I had found the AlloyArtifacts references and reached the same conclusions. My two "no-names" sit on my rack next to the Indestros.

Those shorty deep offset Indestro's are really handy!

 

[BlueBomber]

I see Williams Billings Armstrong VLchek here.
NOT a clue on any of this stuff. If any of you guys can help ID any of it I would appreciate your feedback.
Thanks!

assorted wrenches 010616 by four.cycle, on Flickr

box it all came in:

steel tool box approx. 12" x 8" x 5½" 01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

(*the copy of the Philadelphia Inquirer lining the bottom of the box was dated 1951.)

Nice selection of pre-war wrenches. If you can make out any maker's marks on the wrenches, there are several good websites out there that can help you find the knowledge you seek.

 

[four.cycle]

straightcut:
re: Indestro double-end (slightly) offset box wrenches (short series)

#931 3/8" x 7/16 'short' double-end offset box wrench
$4 + $3 shipping "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/INDESTRO-93...958260?hash=item1ea4dce2b4:g:EuAAAOSw4HVWCbFH

or you can have TWO of them for $12 + $2.50 shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ind...:g:jCIAAOSwsFpWTPIe&item=121818461061&vxp=mtr

THIS Ebay seller is sniffing the wrong brand of glue.
wants $18 + $6 shipping for a #931 and a #933 (5/8" x 11/16")
(and they're not even very good specimens)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Indestro-pa...134545?hash=item2ee7d72e11:g:RIkAAOSw~bFWMwz0

==

here's a #932 - 1/2" x 9/16" short double-end offset box wrench:
$4 + $3 shipping "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/INDESTRO-93...:g:ZeEAAOSwwE5WacsR&item=131673031017&vxp=mtr

and something resembling a #933 - 5/8" x 11/16"
$5 + $2.52 shipping "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/INDESTRO-12...771804?hash=item3d0c80c95c:g:dH4AAOSwHQ9WbiFo

==

I have noticed there seems to be no shortage of the short 900-series double-end box wrenches on Ebay. Those would be the "Select" series (dart shaped panels on shank, "select steel" on shank.)
More difficult to find are the 700-series "Super" - nicer finish, but not polished. On the right hand side is a #741 3/8" x 7/16" short double-end offset:

indestro_double-end_offset_box_wrenches by four.cycle, on Flickr

The #931 and #932 are very similar to the #741 except finish and the way they're marked.
Inexplicably, I cannot find the 900-series wrenches in the 1972 Catalog No. 55 OR the 1959 Catalog No. 22, nor are they on the 1959 price list, which is puzzling to me because I recurrently see them listed on Ebay, so there must have been a hell of a lot of them out there at some point in time.

 

[four.cycle]

another "Select" vs. "Super" comparison shot. 700-series "Super" and 900-series "Select":

Indestro Select and Indestro Super Double End Offset Box Wrench Comparison 730 731 911 912 01 by four.cycle, on Flickr

Indestro Select and Indestro Super Double End Offset Box Wrench Comparison 730 731 911 912 02 by four.cycle, on Flickr

 

[straightcut]

four.cycle, thanks for the pictures and links! I wasn't aware of the Super Indestro series, so I enjoyed seeing and learning about those.

Because I'm looking for a set similar to what my grandfather had, I'm looking for the short, Select line. The two wrenches I'm looking for are: flat 3/8 & 7/16 and an offset 5/8 & 11/16.

After looking through eBay, your eyes can easily get strained and you mistake what you were looking for!

Please PM me if you have one or both of these wrenches that you'd be willing to sell with your asking price.

 

[four.cycle]

^

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201501996511?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121863031098?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[straightcut]

^

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201501996511?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121863031098?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Don't taunt me that way! Lol, I wasn't looking for a backup set, rather just to fill a couple gaps in the set I have!

 

[four.cycle]

the single is on there... it's $10 incl. shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/INDESTRO-12...4zOkBHuL6aZrgHZ-Tzw&item=321974702643&vxp=mtr

wait... $5 + $2.52 shipping here (not quite as shiny):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/INDESTRO-12...771804?hash=item3d0c80c95c:g:dH4AAOSwHQ9WbiFo

here's a 3/8" x 7/16" but the guy is nuts on the pricing:
$12 + $6 shipping OBO
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Indestro-st...448260?hash=item2ca6969844:g:JZUAAOSwGotWiEv~

^ same seller has a set of three of those but (like all the stuff he has listed) his prices are outrageously high, even for Ebay.

that 4-piece set I cited above is a screamin' deal for Ebay. you'd be paying about $6 per wrench - less than what they originally sold for retail in the 70s and 80s.

 

[BlueBomber]

that 4-piece set I cited above is a screamin' deal for Ebay. you'd be paying about $6 per wrench - less than what they originally sold for retail in the 70s and 80s.

four.cycle: where they really that much 40 years ago for a set of four wrenches? That's getting into Snap-on territory for ridiculous prices!

 

[four.cycle]

even in the "Select" line, Indestro wasn't cheap. it was a high-end line.
a pair of side-cutters (linesman pliers) retailed for about $10 in the mid-1970s.
the #492 1/2" male to 3/8" female drive adapter was about $8.
the big slide-hammer axle puller was about $90.
not cheap stuff. never was.

was NOT as high as Proto or S-K, which were our two most common competitors here locally (at auto parts stores.) we weren't in competition with the Snap-on man because we catered strictly to the DIY market - we weren't interested in the "garage-wholesale" trade - it was a pain in the ***.

so... yeah... those Ebay prices on THAT set above are actually a great deal.
if he wants just that ONE wrench, though, I found one listed today even lower:

5/8" x 11/16" double-end box wrench (short series)
$4 + $3 shipping
looks like it's got a tiny engraving on it, but it's damn clean.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131559789129?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
ends today 01/14 18:54 PST

 

[BlueBomber]

I had no idea. Thanks - this is what I love about GarageJournal: you learn interesting things from the collective minds of tool and garage enthusiasts everywhere.

 

[four.cycle]

Indestro "Select"
6 pieces
5 ea offset double-end offset box wrenches SAE
1 ea open-end wrench SAE
$13 incl. shipping "buy now"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201504262919?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[bonneyman]

four.cycle, thanks for the pictures and links! I wasn't aware of the Super Indestro series, so I enjoyed seeing and learning about those.

Because I'm looking for a set similar to what my grandfather had, I'm looking for the short, Select line. The two wrenches I'm looking for are: flat 3/8 & 7/16 and an offset 5/8 & 11/16.

After looking through eBay, your eyes can easily get strained and you mistake what you were looking for!

Please PM me if you have one or both of these wrenches that you'd be willing to sell with your asking price.

I found this one today. PM me if you want it.
Doesn't say Select, just Forged USA on the reverse.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, I FINALLY got around to part of my DBE's; Still missing from these pics are more Craftsman, some really old SO/Bluepoint, and all the Plvmb/Proto/PC etc. that were not handy to pull out -These were in my daily use wrench drawer and one carry box that I put most of the odd DBE's into.

I think my favs generally for the DBE's (leaving aside the ones not in the pics) are the small Indestro, True Fit, and the "X" Bridgeport.

The ones that are the most useful in need are the deep offset or bent obstruction, as the reg offset or flat are duplicitive of the combos I am usually using.

An overall shot:

From the top: 1 Williams, 1 wilde 3 Wards (one is Riverside), 4 Vlchek, 3 Tru-Fit, 2 Thorsen and 3 SO;

1 SK, 2 New Britain, 2 King ****, 10 Indestro - I have 5 more DBE indestos comming from Eprey as the link above from four.cycle led me to more of the (very rare) 6 pt DBE's the only 6 pt I have are the 2 Indestro's you see here and 1 Cornwell...;

1 Herbrand, 1 Gray, 1 Geodore, 1 (2) Fairmont, 2 Cresent, 7 Long C Craftsman;

More of the 7 Long C Craftsman and Craftsman - I have more in my "Craftsman" carry box ...;

1 Cornwell, 2 "X" Bridgeport, 2 Bonney, 1 BlackHawk, 5 Billings, 1 Barcalo & 1 Armstrong.

for the obstruction DBE's; 1 K-D, 1 Barcalo the other Fairmont and 3 no name tow are marked differently, but appear to be from the same forge.

I think I have more bent offset manifold wrenches, but where they are living right now...

 

[bonneyman]

Loving the Bridgeports and the single offset DBE Bonney. Those are not easy to find.
I know one guy over at Tool Talk who has the complete set of those single offsets. Bet they hang perfectly one on top of another on a pegboard.

 

[four.cycle]

Outlaw - that is quite the collection there!

more just listed:

not "DBE" by definition, but one of you may be interested:

Duro-Chrome / Indestro 6-piece SAE obstruction wrench set
3/8" - 3/4"
older "Chrome Vanadium" series
need some love
$20 + $6 shipping now. 0 bids now. ends Sunday 01/24
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331754617411?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

=

there was a double-end box wrench set listed today, but it's mixed stuff and I can't tell from the photos exactly what's there other than Indesto Select and Tru-Fit:
5 piece 12-pt SAE set w/holder - mixed
$10 + $8 shipping now. 0 bids now. ends Sunday 01/23
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Clean-lot-o...906271?hash=item1c5fa7a3df:g:pdgAAOSw5dNWlav3

 

[BlueBomber]

OK, I FINALLY got around to part of my DBE's; Still missing from these pics are more Craftsman, some really old SO/Bluepoint, and all the Plvmb/Proto/PC etc. that were not handy to pull out -These were in my daily use wrench drawer and one carry box that I put most of the odd DBE's into.

I think my favs generally for the DBE's (leaving aside the ones not in the pics) are the small Indestro, True Fit, and the "X" Bridgeport.

Thanks for posting, Outlaw. A really nice partial family portrait. I too dig the Indestros and am still looking for an "X" Bridgeport.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

2 closer to a full set of New Britain long deep offset. Received the two smaller wrenches in the mail today. I had been watching them on eBay for a while and finally bid on them last weekend.

 

[bonneyman]

2 closer to a full set of New Britain long deep offset. Received the two smaller wrenches in the mail today. I had been watching them on eBay for a while and finally bid on them last weekend.

Nice NB's, Sam.

 

[Outlawmws]

I added these from the Eprey buy metined earlier, with my eyes on the 3 that were 6 pt.

I also picked up a couple of bigger ones today: Top is SK the lower one is Vlchek

And I want this DBE Box one now:

because I got the Combo version of it today:

And its Ad:

 

[toolmutt]

And I want this DBE Box one now:

Now that would be cool to have! From what year is the catalog?