Old Walden Worcester

[Mike'smeatshop]

If you mean it's not marked "Snap-on", I assumed it wasn't marked at all. But it definitely has the features of Snap-on and MTF Tee handles with rotating grips. Why it's not marked I don't know, but it happens.

What is MTF?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Sorry. Milwaukee Tool & Forge.

 

[Debcrow]

The 5810 wrench for reaching model T Ford Rod number 4 bolts with the bends in it. I have a couple of the Walden and an almost identical one made by BOG.
Here is a picture of a normal 5810 and a straight 5810. If someone straightened it, they did a very nice job.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Saw this unfortunate rascal at swap meet today

 

[d42jeep]

Probably doesn’t skip any more.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

Walden been through a war-cester

 

[Old Radar]

That's how to turn an old ratchet into a club--or a single point mace.

 

[Fred Knox]

Same swap meet, with a little assistance from @Oldtuleguy, I found this Walden Worcester Chrome Nickel offset DBE in great condition.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I painstakingly pulled these wartime sockets out of a bucket this morning at the flea. Found one, and then a second, and then I knew I would have to put my bag down and go through the whole dang pile more deliberately. Ten or so minutes later I had a handful. That's cad you can see all but worn away.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice. They look just like a larger version of their 1/4” drive little brothers. I like the 7/8” one with the accidental knurl marks. I have a D-I socket with accidental knurl marks.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Probably doesn’t skip any more.
-Don

And it's theft-proof!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

He still wanted 20$ for it!

 

[bonneyman]

Yeah, that special welding rod wasn't cheap!

 

[3baygarage]

My new toys from the swap meet.

-Stevens Walden Worcester
#1134 20” T-handle (minus cross bar) with rotating grip.

-Walden Worcester
#564 1” hex drive 2” socket

-Plus a couple of 1/2” drive sockets I had sitting here to go with the extension.
#322 1”
#336 1-1/8”
They’re very short sockets.

 

[3baygarage]

I'm on the lookout for the "powerful cross-bar".
Thank you to Mark Stansbury for posting an old Walden catalog depicting this tool at archive.org.. I believe it was a 1932 reprint.

 

[Steven 33]

So I found a speed socket brace the other day which I know is a Walden. And the double socket wrench which is marked. But I need help from Lugz if he isn't still mad at me with this no mark T handle speed brace. It looks like the same family but without the marks, I am not sure. But if anyone needs any of these for a set, maybe we can trade?

The T is snap-on 100% in my opinion. That style was usually made with very shallow markings and unless you have one in very nice shape the markings will almost completely disappear. Put a little bit of cleaning chemicals on it the. Wipe it off and I'd bet you could see the remnants of a "snap-on Milwaukee usa" marking.

 

[Steven 33]

Nice. They look just like a larger version of their 1/4” drive little brothers. I like the 7/8” one with the accidental knurl marks. I have a D-I socket with accidental knurl marks.
-Don

Who makes these I got a good amount laying around

 

[four.cycle]

" D - I " = "Duro / Indestro"

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

The T is snap-on 100% in my opinion. That style was usually made with very shallow markings and unless you have one in very nice shape the markings will almost completely disappear. Put a little bit of cleaning chemicals on it the. Wipe it off and I'd bet you could see the remnants of a "snap-on Milwaukee usa" marking.

I believe the length was what has me suspicious. It is about 3/4 longer than the others.

 

[Steven 33]

I believe the length was what has me suspicious. It is about 3/4 longer than the others.

Funny thing is I happen to have picked up a perfect example for you recently. I'll take some pics in a few. Mine is longer than the others also

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Happy to find this 1152 "Swivel Handle" at the flea market this morning. The only remaining cadmium finish can be seen on the bulbous part of the swivel head. I've always admired the way they chamfered the hole for the cross-bar on these, which still has the detent ball seated firmly inside. The cross-bar, which is fully cad-plated, is from my miscellaneous 1/2-drive parts drawer. As you can see, it also does double-duty as an extension with a 1/2-drive female opening in the end. Or did, I should say, at one time. As you can see, someone brazed a couple splits.

 

[NoahG]

Always happy to find a Walden floating in a sea of craftsman and imports. Just something enigmatic about their old sockets. Also I definitely don’t seen many 6pt sockets of this vintage!

 

[Ricky Joe]

.

 

[Provincial]

Happy to find this 1152 "Swivel Handle" at the flea market this morning. The only remaining cadmium finish can be seen on the bulbous part of the swivel head. I've always admired the way they chamfered the hole for the cross-bar on these, which still has the detent ball seated firmly inside. The cross-bar, which is fully cad-plated, is from my miscellaneous 1/2-drive parts drawer. As you can see, it also does double-duty as an extension with a 1/2-drive female opening in the end. Or did, I should say, at one time. As you can see, someone brazed a couple splits.

The splits come from using that drive opening to insert a long extension or another "swivel handle" to increase leverage. That puts a great side-load on the opening walls.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I've broken pretty much every brand of socket, usually when I'm doing something I'm not supposed to.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Broken wrenches and split sockets seem to be common.

I know you have made this anecdotal quality assessment several times in the past, RJ. I'm not sure it scales. That's not to dismiss your observations or experience. Just to say that I'm not sure it's statistically relevant. If we had dozens of guys making dozens of similar observations, I think 'Walden is noticeably lesser or poor quality' would've emerged as a vintage collectors' axiom by now. It could be happenstance, or misuse, as OTG and Jock are alluding to.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I just shipped a few old WW sockets to Blake that upon visual inspection would belie the notion they were of "inferior quality".

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A common offender is the impact gun. The chrome sockets don't like them.

 

[four.cycle]

^ The Waldens I sent Blake weren't put onto a rattle gun. The Snap-on stuff was. Hopefully he can finagle a deal with his Snap-on driver.
Doesn't do any good to try to tell people why they shouldn't put chrome sockets on an impact - they'll do it anyway. I just hope they're wearing some sort of eye protection.

 

[bmwrd0]

I finally found a handle that fits the age of this box:

Now I just need to find the T-handle and correct brace to finish off this set:

The ratchet in the clips doesn't belong in the set, and I had forgotten it was there. Need to move it over to my other Walden box, from the WWII era.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have a similar one with a metal handle, probably user added

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I finally found a handle that fits the age of this box:

I wish I had been perceptive enough to remember you were looking for one. I have two extras and I would've thrown one of them in as one of my "extras" in completion of our most recent trade!

Now I just need to find the T-handle and correct brace to finish off this set:

I'll check my stuff.

 

[bmwrd0]

Keep the handles, Lugz. As soon as you give one away, you will need it.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Here is a nice little ratcheting wrench set I recently picked up

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Very nice. I usually only see an orphan or two in the wild.

 

[MR.X]

Digging thru the piles. Chrome Nickel 7/16 to 1 1/16 plus extras.

 

[3baygarage]

Some nice stuff guys.

I never returned to post this cross bar found a month after the long t handle. Found at different flea market in some random tools. Two knurled and rounded ends. Whatever it is, for once it’s a darn perfect fit! Couldn’t believe it when I got it home.

 

[outofbounds]

Turned up these two WW pieces that I'll presume to be 1940s. The No. 113 Extension is clearly Cadmium plate and the 102 swivel adapter is non-chrome but no evidence of the hallmark chalky white finish.

 

[MR.X]

Friggin Wistuh no. 3 box

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Friggin Wistuh no. 3 box

I have one of those. Super cool set. I thought it was the only set they made like that and an oval drive speeder and some sockets turned up on eBay a few months ago. I wish now I had bought them.