d42jeep
Well-known member
I found a 9mm Combo on Friday at an estate sale. The surface rust came right off.
-Don
-Don
Post up your Thorsen tools!
- Thread starter bonneyman
- Start date
Here they are Troy. Kind of a mystery, they are a little different. I've had this set at least 15 years, it came out of a garage in NE Portland. You can tell the patina is exactly the same across the board so they have been together a very long time.
TT-GT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr
TT-GT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr
What to make of these diagonal cutters from a garage sale?
They have "GT" inside a slightly elongated hex outline. They are 7.45" overall length.
Are they part of the Thorsen / General Tool background, or an import?
My inclination is imported, but the hex outline adds a bit of doubt based on the sockets above.
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Tom "Python" Aycock
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Hey, I bought those!Hi y'all. My first post! I received a bunch of tools from my father-in-law and I'm just trying to learn about the Thorsens that are mixed in (thanks for the abundance of info!). I look forward to participating in this thread as I unpack the history in his (and his father's) tools. Side note: I saw this FB Marketplace post for some really cool Thorsen display boards if anyone is interested? If these are really common, I apologize.
mapolus
Member
That's awesome! How do they look? I was really interested, but our household goods shipment had already left...so glad they went to you!
Tom "Python" Aycock
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I posted pics on page 43 of this thread. They're Sweet! Filling the slots is already in process but it's gonna take awhile.
mapolus
Member
Oh sorry, I guess I missed your post...those look fantastic! Congrats on the pickup. Really happy to see they went to a good home. And nope, sorry, I won't be any help filling those boards. But more importantly, I'm intrigued by the "Prohibited Reptiles" box that they are sitting on???? One has images of Jurassic Park running through one's mind
Tom "Python" Aycock
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Hence my user name. I'm a python removal agent down in the Florida Everglades, we transport captured invasive reptiles alive in locked boxes until euthanized, thus have to have them marked appropriately (the boxes are empty currently).Oh sorry, I guess I missed your post...those look fantastic! Congrats on the pickup. Really happy to see they went to a good home. And nope, sorry, I won't be any help filling those boards. But more importantly, I'm intrigued by the "Prohibited Reptiles" box that they are sitting on???? One has images of Jurassic Park running through one's mind
mapolus
Member
Oh wow. Thank you for what you do. We just moved from Florida to Whidbey Island, so I’m tracking the impact that the pythons are having on the ecosystem there. I’m so thankful to be somewhere without venomous and constrictor snakes!
d42jeep
Well-known member
Thanks. I copied and edited the label and will probably add it to this set. 
-Don
-Don
four.cycle
Well-known member
who is collecting ACTION and needs an 80M spinner handle?
(late production / yellow-purple handle)
(late production / yellow-purple handle)
mapolus
Member
I came here to post this, you guys are fast! Did you buy these? They show pending now...
Mintgrun
Well-known member
No, I don't typically buy mail-order tools. I didn't even notice the asking price. I just recognized the Red Box SPECIAL label and thought of Don.
four.cycle
Well-known member
ctuai
Well-known member
Working through the unprocessed pile and came across this pair. The ratchet is crisp and the flex-head detents are solid.
Picked this up at a yard sale, 1438RBS Thorsen socket set, appears to be missing a 1/4 spinner and an extension. Not much I could find on the web, but there is a pic in this thread for a RBS1438 set advertisement. Thorsen 3/8"-9/16" and 3/4" combo wrenches. Also included in the box was the Super Indestro breaker bar and sockets and a must be rare Challenger P-10 1/4" dr ratchet that I can find no info or pics in a quick web search.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ That's an old Penens/Challenger "racetrack" ratchet. Nice unit when you clean it out and lube it. Be sure to put the "dogs" back in the correct way. (see below)
Photos of the label that was inside the lid below:
Photos of the label that was inside the lid below:
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I picked up a Thorsen 5" extension last week that belongs with the set I got today.
It is a nice ratchet, very smooth action.
If anyone collects Indestro Super tools the set in my above pic is available for trade for Thorsen tools
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d42jeep
Well-known member
Here is my version of that Red Box Special.Picked this up at a yard sale, 1438RBS Thorsen socket set, appears to be missing a 1/4 spinner and an extension. Not much I could find on the web, but there is a pic in this thread for a RBS1438 set advertisement. Thorsen 3/8"-9/16" and 3/4" combo wrenches. Also included in the box was the Super Indestro breaker bar and sockets and a must be rare Challenger P-10 1/4" dr ratchet that I can find no info or pics in a quick web search.
Here is a set that matches the insert. The box color accidentally slipped past Thorsen quality control.
-Don
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I believe the blue box set is missing the 1/4"female-3/8" male adapterHere is my version of that Red Box Special.
Here is a set that matches the insert. The box color accidentally slipped past Thorsen quality control.
-Don
d42jeep
Well-known member
I must have missed that. I must have one somewhere.
Edit. I have a couple in red box sets. Probably need a few more
-Don
Edit. I have a couple in red box sets. Probably need a few more
-Don
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My father passed away earlier this year and I’ve just started going through his tools. I found what was basically the only wrench set he had the entire time I was growing up. He taught me a lot while growing up and using these very wrenches . He even loaned them to me when I got my first mechanics helper job at 15 until I got to buy my own . I’m grateful to have them now. 
GemState10ER
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GemState10ER
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Having issues loading photos for some reason…
d42jeep
Well-known member
Here is how a 1212 set would have appeared in 1956. Your set has had the long flex handle replaced with a long ratchet. 
-Don
-Don
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GemState10ER
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Thank you! It was just missing the 7/16 and 3/4. Surprisingly I went to my local pawn and found what I believe is a 7/16” from same era, and a little newer 3/4”. Now I just need to find the breaker bar! The ratchet works perfectly. I guess they really are the Ak-47 of ratchets!Here is how a 1212 set would have appeared in 1956. Your set has had the long flex handle replaced with a long ratchet.
The V-groove wrenches seem pretty cool to me. I think partly because they are kinda like the Snap-On, and because those are not as iconic to Snap-On, and because they’re kinda raised panel but not at all like every raised panel.
My dad is downsizing, and passed along some of my great grandfathers tools. These few 1/2” sockets are Thorsen. I know I was there when the now missing 13/16” cracked, I assume the other two that had Craftsman in the tray were likewise. They do look like they’ve given some service - this is after a bath in solvent, and the camera may be a bit sympathetic.
My dad is downsizing, and passed along some of my great grandfathers tools. These few 1/2” sockets are Thorsen. I know I was there when the now missing 13/16” cracked, I assume the other two that had Craftsman in the tray were likewise. They do look like they’ve given some service - this is after a bath in solvent, and the camera may be a bit sympathetic.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
They are.
The 77NR was an "extra long" version of their standard model 77
NOT very many of them around.
They command respectable money on ebay.
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d42jeep
Well-known member
Here is a nice 1/4” drive ratchet sent to me in a care package from GJ member TheRealZeus.
These were included in a partial S-K 3/8” drive set from an eBay seller.
-Don
These were included in a partial S-K 3/8” drive set from an eBay seller.
-Don
mapolus
Member
My condolences for your father passing and I'm glad you could have such a fine collection of wrenches to remember him by...My father passed away earlier this year and I’ve just started going through his tools. I found what was basically the only wrench set he had the entire time I was growing up. He taught me a lot while growing up and using these very wrenches . He even loaned them to me when I got my first mechanics helper job at 15 until I got to buy my own . I’m grateful to have them now.
Tom "Python" Aycock
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Nice! What's that set #? Can't make it out in the pic...
d42jeep
Well-known member
I can’t make it out either. Probably RBS 12?? maybe 1215.
-Don
-Don
Set of Giller/Thorsen 3/8" - 1" combination wrenches with mfd usa stamp. Remarkably similar to the old flat beam Proto's when laid side by side. They have a nice "feel" and weight to them. Not as rusty as the pic makes them look
Set of Giller/Thorsen 3/8" - 1" combination wrenches with mfd usa stamp. Remarkably similar to the old flat beam Proto's when laid side by side. They have a nice "feel" and weight to them. Not as rusty as the pic makes them look
That's what old house sellers say! lol
Nice set!
four.cycle
Well-known member
I just looked... mine are marked like that as well. Both sets of the offset DBEs. (Cant find the photo of the other set!)
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Provincial
Well-known member
I found these in an estate this week. Two circle TT 1/2 dr. 12-point deep sockets in 7/8 and 29/32, plus a late 7/16 standard 12-point. The most interesting one is the "double Saltus" flex-socket bar. Also a circle TT, with 5/8 and 3/4 12-point socket ends.
3baygarage
Well-known member
Great piece!
I had to go look at the catalogs. 1933 cat., archive.org.
Two versions for Ford
Less love for Chevy? Less description, no sizes given.
I had to go look at the catalogs. 1933 cat., archive.org.
Two versions for Ford
Less love for Chevy? Less description, no sizes given.
Provincial
Well-known member
From the Thorsen Catalog 3334 on Internet Archive:
It looks like the deep sockets are No. 628 for the 7/8 and 629 for the 29/32. The 629 is called out for Buick spark plugs.
Thorsen called the wrench a "No. 10215 Chevrolet 6 link joint con rod and main bearing socket flex wrench". They do not call out the opening sizes, but the Ford version is called a "10115 Special link joint socket handle" and has 21/32 hex for the rod nuts and 9/16 square for the main bolts.
Edit: 3bay beat me to it!
It looks like the deep sockets are No. 628 for the 7/8 and 629 for the 29/32. The 629 is called out for Buick spark plugs.
Thorsen called the wrench a "No. 10215 Chevrolet 6 link joint con rod and main bearing socket flex wrench". They do not call out the opening sizes, but the Ford version is called a "10115 Special link joint socket handle" and has 21/32 hex for the rod nuts and 9/16 square for the main bolts.
Edit: 3bay beat me to it!
d42jeep
Well-known member
The label is now in this set.I can’t make it out either. Probably RBS 12?? maybe 1215.
-Don
-Don