picked up a some Old odd brand wrenches

[Mark914]

local tag sale. Some old US made wrenches, some brands i had never heard of. Couldnt beat the price of 25 cents a piece.

Merit
Dunlap
Lectrolite
Kilborn Steel
Barcalo
KOWA honda wrench ?
2 other ones with no markings

Whats the story on MERIT wrenches ? Any idea on the 2 that have no manufacture markings?

 

[dj_110]

I'm pretty sure I have a Dunlap adjustable somewhere in my collection that I have had for years, given to me by my dad. It seems made pretty well too.

I did a search and found this. Both Dunlap and Merit are listed, 1/3 - 1/2 down the page. https://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/craftsman-early-tools-p4.html

 

[jakemac]

Both Merit and Dunlap were Sears "value" brands. Merit was pre-WWII and may have been contemporary with another Sears value brand, Companion. The Companion brand was dropped sometime before or during the war. After the war, Dunlap emerged as the value brand and lasted into the early 70's (I think). All of these labels were less expensive versions of the Craftsman brand. Compared to today's standards, they're a better quality tool than what's offered as a value tool now.

The same is true for the power tools that they offered under the value branding.

 

[chris142]

wasnt sk and electrolite together at one time?

 

[bonneyman]

wasnt sk and electrolite together at one time?

Yes. Late 50's. Lectrolite did wrenches for SK.

 

[Pumpman1968]

Barcalo was a decent brand.......got my son a set of Barcalo SAE combos last Christmas from the 60's. Good, solid tools. Same company also made furniture (Barco-lounger)

 

[bonneyman]

Both Merit and Dunlap were Sears "value" brands. Merit was pre-WWII and may have been contemporary with another Sears value brand, Companion. The Companion brand was dropped sometime before or during the war. After the war, Dunlap emerged as the value brand and lasted into the early 70's (I think). All of these labels were less expensive versions of the Craftsman brand. Compared to today's standards, they're a better quality tool than what's offered as a value tool now.

The same is true for the power tools that they offered under the value branding.

I have a few Dunlap pieces. Nice stuff, even for an economy line.

 

[Provincial]

Barcalo made wrenches for Montgomery Ward under the "Powr-Kraft" brand.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The Kowa wrench was part of a tool kit from some old Honda motorcycle.

 

[Mark914]

Backside of the Kilborn Steel wrench. Made in New haven, CT which is cool, where i grew up. Acoording to this, its probably early 1900, which i guessed because it has no size marking.

https://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/other-makers-p2.html

near the bottom of the page

 

[Steinmetz]

Yes. Late 50's. Lectrolite did wrenches for SK.

I have a complete set of Lectrolite combination wrenches around here (somewhere). They are in a tool roll, and have never been used. They date from the early 1960's.

Made in Defiance, Ohio, I think.

 

[Gmonkee]

A little too 'new' for what I like to collect but a really nice grouping there.

That Barcalo convex DOE is the pick of the litter, great steel in those even by today's standards. I have three of a possible 6 to 8 to make my set. Sure wish those had been made in metrics.