Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Sheet metal box measures 10.5" long x 12.5" wide x 2-3/4" deep.
Here's what I can read on the schematic pasted under the lid:
Compartment #1 (wood block socket holder/caddy):
First row:
“R-2819 -- Wrench Sockets - 12 point openings with 1/2" square drive”
There are nine (9) holes but only three (3) of them are marked.
Left to right, it’s:
Unmarked (if these are in typical order, then this would be 1-1/16”), unmarked (1”), unmarked (15/16”), 7/8”, unmarked (13/16”), 3/4”, unmarked (?), 11/16", unmarked (I would think 5/8” but that’s in the next row down).
Next row (10 socket holes) from left to right:
7/16", 7/16”, 1/2", illegible, illegible (probably 3/4”)(“8-POINT OPENING”), 9/16", 9/16”, 19/32", illegible, 5/8".
Socket holes are 1" deep with another ~1/2" clearance before you hit the lid (ie ~ 1-1/2" max socket height).
Compartment #2 (Extensions and handles for the sockets I am guessing):
1 x R-2459 Extension 6", 1/2" square drive
2 x R-2820 ???? "...square drive"
2 x R-????
1 x R-2???
1 x R-2???
Compartment #3 (looks like adjustable wrenches, probably 6”, 8”, and 12”):
1 x R-1542 Wrench, Adjustable...???
1 x R-2512 Wrench, Adjustable, 8"
1 x R-2??? Wrench, Adjustable ?"
Compartment #4 (wrenches, looks like a mix of open end, box end, and some kind of L or T handle):
1 x R-2593 Wrench, Flat Open ..."?/8" x 1-1/16"
1 x R-1255 Wrench, Flat Open End "?/32 - 1-1/16"
1 x R-2796 Wrench, Box Double Open End(?) 7/16" x 1/2"
2 x R-2813 Wrench, Offset Socket, 1/2" Hex
Bottom right corner of schematic reads: CHART (ISSUE 1) R2923 DET. 1?
My comments:
"DET." may be detachment.
Can’t figure out the duplicate sizes (7/16, 9/16) in the sockets. If it’s a 12-point and an 8-point of the same size, which is not uncommon, it would indicate that, as it does for the 3/4”. It can’t be regular and deep, because the lid wouldn’t close if they were deep. And regular and deep sockets are usually kept grouped together in sets that include both.
The use of the word "flat" in the open end wrenches description is strange/interesting. I've never seen that before. Are they referring to the shank?
The wooden socket caddy itself (versus a diagonal tray to hold sockets of descending sizes) is also very strange/interesting. I am looking for a pic of an Armstrong 1" sq dr set (probably from an armored toolkit) I had once - it may have had a holder/caddy something like this, though I think it was metallic.
The R-numbers, the paste-on contents schematic/label, the title on the chart/label, and the OD crinkle finish all smack of military/government or possibly Bell System (or something like that) to me. The leather-covered swivel handle smacks of 1940's to me.
Anybody recognize anything? Box? Model number scheme, the tools arrangement, etc?
All thoughts welcome, from definitive to SWAGs.