Post up your Thorsen tools!

[bonneyman]

Picked this military set up this weekend. Just missing 3 sockets.

NICE!

 

[DadsTools]

Thanks for posting the Snap-on examples. Apparently, Snap-on sold this style of wrench only in flare nut, double open end, possibly double box end and what I would call obstruction wrenches. They didn't offer combination wrenches in this style. I have also seen PowrKraft and recently a Bluegrass wrench in this style, as well. I found a few more Thorsen items at the Tahoe flea on Saturday including a couple of metric combos to add to my collection. The top 1/4" flex handle is Giller.
-Don

In comparing the two side by side, I noticed that the Thorsen V recess ends in kind of a point where the Snap-On cuts back in at the middle almost forming a v-shaped fork. So it doesn't appear to be a situation where they're the same wrench but just marked differently--they are in fact two different designs. I suspect the Snap-Ons are earlier as I recall a collector's site listing them as having been introduced in 1950. Looks to me like Thorsen made a knock-off of the Snap-On design and made the ends of the recess just different enough to avoid any legal problem.

The PowrKraft Vee are identical in every way to the Thorsen Vee except for the markings, and so it seems that Thorsen made them for Powrkraft.

 

[d42jeep]

You make a very good point. A quick check of Alloy Artifacts shows Snap-on versions of this style wrench made as early as 1953 whereas the Thorsen and Thorsen contract versions were made much more recently.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this military set over the weekend. Just missing 3 sockets, 1/2, 9/16 and 3/4.

They let anybody in here these days!

 

[d42jeep]

They let anybody in here these days!

I know just what you mean.
I had the opportunity yesterday to combine all of my recent Thorsen finds into my collection so I took pictures of the wrenches together.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Tin Medic alerted me to this nice old Thorsen box on eBay. It looked like it would be ideal to house my Thorsen collection so I picked it up.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I saw these at a garage sale yesterday and thought that they would be perfect for the new toolbox once I replaced all the other brands with original style Thorsen items.
-Don

 

[Stadger]

I don't know where these came from but they ended up in my tool box. The ratchet is a little unusual as it says "pat. pend."

 

[d42jeep]

I received two ratchets from eBay yesterday. The 3/8" drive one I hadn't seen before. It has a socket lock similar to a Craftsman ratchet. The 1/4" drive open gear ratchet I picked up to replace the incorrect Snap-on in my recent 1/4" set acquisition.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I received some nice additions to my Thorsen collection from Username yesterday. The 3/8" flex handle will be added to the 3/8" drive set in the post above and the other wrenches are ones that I was missing.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Nice Don! Always good when I can find something you can use to fill a gap. That vintage metric stuff is hard to come by! I've been trying to fill out some metric socket sets, but that's really slow going...

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks again. With your additions and the nice set and extras from Tin Medic plus my flea finds, the new box is really starting to fill up.
-Don

 

[Cope]

These wrenches appeared on CL. Marked as snapon, but looks like made by thorsen.

Made by Snap-on. DOE, DBE, obstruction and flare end wrenches used this pattern up until at least the late 1960s.

 

[d42jeep]

I was able to add my existing Thorsen items to my new box today and to check how the metric wrenches were coming along. I still have a few metrics to go.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

I was able to add my existing Thorsen items to my new box today and to check how the metric wrenches were coming along. I still have a few metrics to go.
-Don

Nice set. I'm lacking only the 16mm combo in my Thorsen set.

Metrics are hard to find in decent shape.

 

[d42jeep]

Which style of 1016 are you looking for so I can keep an eye out for one?
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Which style of 1016 are you looking for so I can keep an eye out for one?
-Don

Thanks.

Has the MFG USA stamp on it, like these.

 

[d42jeep]

Okay. I'll be on the lookout for one of those. I only found a few sockets today. The three on the left look like wartime finish to me and the one on the right is a 3/4" drive 1-1/2" socket. Probably my largest Thorsen socket.
-Don

 

[BFBOB]

Take a look back at post 183.
The VG style was made in at least 9 brands- the ones you mention plus KAL, Channellock, Action, Dayton and Westcraft. The only one I'm missing is Westcraft. I'd love to hear about any other-branded examples!!
I did manage to add one to my collection yesterday - a Thorsen 1 1/8" combo. Until I found it, I thought only Snap-On made this style in sizes over 1".

Thanks for posting the Snap-on examples. I have also seen PowrKraft and recently a Bluegrass wrench in this style, as well. I found a few more Thorsen items at the Tahoe flea on Saturday including a couple of metric combos to add to my collection.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for the reminder. It looks like the Vee style was made up to 2". Mine go up to 1-1/4" but I'm short the 7/16". I'm sure that one will show up shortly.
-Don

 

[BFBOB]

Hey, Jeep, take a look: 202077420018 fleaBay
Kinda pricey, but if you're desperate...

I thought I had a spare 7/16 VG, but no dice. Only the one Thorsen, and no other brands.

Good luck!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. I've been watching it but I'm too cheap to pull the trigger. Maybe I'll go ahead and get it since it is the only common one I'm missing in the SAE set. Other than 9mm I don't see the metric ones as often. Oh well, something to continue to search for!
-Don

 

[MR.X]

photo test

 

[Username already in use]

photo test

It's working... now show us more!

 

[d42jeep]

Oooh! Those are early logos. More pictures and info, please.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. I've been watching it but I'm too cheap to pull the trigger. Maybe I'll go ahead and get it since it is the only common one I'm missing in the SAE set. Other than 9mm I don't see the metric ones as often. Oh well, something to continue to search for!
-Don

I went ahead and picked it up. Now my Vee combos are complete from 3/8" to 1-1/4". The Metrics and DOEs are going to take a little longer.
-Don

 

[chasewilliams530]

Just bought a 77c ratchet for $5 at a pawn shop guy ask if it was a name brand I said thorsen he didn’t know what it was


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MR.X]

Oooh! Those are early logos. More pictures and info, please.
-Don

Check out the logo on the right. Thorsen sticker with an old Herbrand sticker showing thru from underneath.

 

[bonneyman]

Just bought a 77c ratchet for $5 at a pawn shop guy ask if it was a name brand I said thorsen he didn’t know what it was


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Heck, I've asked tool sellers that have been in business for years if they have any Bonney tools, and they ask me, "How is it spelled?"

 

[3baygarage]

Check out the logo on the right. Thorsen sticker with an old Herbrand sticker showing thru from underneath.

That's interesting.

It's working... now show us more!

 

[Rileysan]

Check out the logo on the right. Thorsen sticker with an old Herbrand sticker showing thru from underneath.

Welcome to the forum! I take it you like Thorsen?!? Please show us more!

Brian

 

[twertsy]

I wish I could find the trademark Mr. X posted, that's a very cool and apparently early logo. FYI for Thorsen fans, I've posted the rest of the company's history, and numerous previously not documented trademarks this morning.

http://toolarchives.com/node/307

 

[four.cycle]

The VG style was made in at least 9 brands- the ones you mention plus KAL, Channellock, Action, Dayton and Westcraft. The only one I'm missing is Westcraft. I'd love to hear about any other-branded examples!!

Bluegrass
Powr Kraft, believe it or not.

Previously in this thread a question was raised about the Penncraft sockets and whether they had been outsourced from Thorsen.
The answer is YES, unless they were outsourced from New Britain Machine.
Thorsen also was a contract supplier for Montgomery Ward's "Powr Kraft" line (as well as Wright Tool). Those are easy: Powr Kraft with "H" in the part number = Thorsen. Powr Kraft with "W" in the part number = Wright.
On the Penncraft you just have to do a visual comparison - generally a visual comparison of the ratchet will tell you who made it.

MR.X that is an outstanding example of an early Thorsen logo I am sure we would all like to see more.

I am looking for an Action 3/8" drive 3/8" shallow socket (I believe it's either a 312 or 312X) to complete a set.

 

[MR.X]

OK, so I think this is a Thorsen 'Chevy 4' 7/8 X 13/16 main bearing wrench. I put it next to a 6 point Plomb version. Thorsen made some nice tools back then.

 

[MR.X]

close-up of TT logo

 

[four.cycle]

BFBOB - (and anybody else looking for what BFBOB is referring to as the "VG" style wrench with the "V-shaped" depression on the shanks):
I was down at Lincoln Hardware today and they still have some open stock Thorsen open end wrenches in that style: 5/8" x 3/4" and 11/16" x 19/32".
They're all brand new, still hanging on pegboard hooks on display.
I didn't even bother to look at prices and I have no idea whether or not they'd want to deal with shipping, BUT if anybody is interested contact me via PM and I'll give you their phone number and you deal with them directly.

 

[bluebolt]

I went ahead and picked it up. Now my Vee combos are complete from 3/8" to 1-1/4". The Metrics and DOEs are going to take a little longer.
-Don

Got a list of the metrics and DOE's you need?

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for asking. The metric combos that I would like to find are 10mm, 11mm, 15mm and 19mm. The DOE wrenches that I have are 7/8" X 3/4", 3/4" x 5/8" and 1/2" X 7/16". I have plenty of items in various brands as trade bait!
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

In all my years of collecting mainly 40's vintage tools, this is the first 1/4-inch drive universal joint I have ever seen, in the wild or anywhere else. Pretty cool that it turns out to be a THORSEN, which I hardly ever see out here (NJ).

Marked simply and only THORSEN 1/4.

Shown with a group of other midget tools found in the same lot (all wartime) and on its own.

 

[ryan20021982]

It's a long shot but looking for a 20mm to fill the gap

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