Post up your Thorsen tools!

[d42jeep]

That decal is near-mint. Nice find!

Brian

I went through the Thorsen collection yesterday and moved some tools around to fill that new box. Here are several of the green boxes with tools in them.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a sweet collection you have going there, Don. I have never seen a Thorsen box out here on the right coast, and I can count the Thorsen pieces I have found on one hand.

 

[d42jeep]

That's a sweet collection you have going there, Don. I have never seen a Thorsen box out here on the right coast, and I can count the Thorsen pieces I have found on one hand.

Lugz,
That may be true but you are finding the Action twin brothers.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

A tool collector friend sent me these Giller ignition wrenches and pliers. I put them in a leather ignition wrench roll.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ classy!

where did you find that roll-up?

 

[d42jeep]

B.K.,
A gentleman in Australia had them made. Here is a link to the G503 site that provides more information.

http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=292425&sid=eb65a678b7b6fad0dfb79feab18c59b5

-Don

 

[four.cycle]

thanks!

 

[o2pilot]

Has anyone seen an actual Thorsen II “V-groove” 21mm, 22mm, 24mm combination wrenches with part numbers 1021, 1022, 1024. According to a Thorsen II catalog the 21mm and 22mm also came in a 14 pc set. Anyone know if there were original Thorsen versions? I have all the other Thorsen II metric sizes including the smallest 1007 7mm.

Also were any of the “V-groove” 21mm 22mm and 24mm made in the other brands, Dayton, Action, Powr-Kraft,KAL, ChannelLock, Bluegrass, etc. ?

 

[four.cycle]

Not a clue.
I believe there were some new NOS metric "v-groove" Thorsen wrench sets at Meridian Tool - not sure what he has left there.
http://www.meridiantool.com
I think he sells stuff through his Facebook page (not sure how that works.)

 

[SuperCat]

Here's a Thorsen Montgomery Wards PowrKraft 22mm combo wrench on the bottom of both pictures:
(Notice the PowrKraft version is stamped on the opposite sides compared to the Thorsen brand wrench)

 

[d42jeep]

My largest metric one so far is 18mm. I think I'm up to eight metric wrenches now. I'll check my PowrKraft box but I don't believe that I have any really large metric V wrenches. Here are my metric and other V Thorsen.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a 10mm in PowrKraft. It looks like my largest in PowrKraft is a 19mm.
-Don

 

[SuperCat]

I had to do a little digging, so here is the Thorsen 21mm combo wrench on the bottom:

 

[o2pilot]

so it looks like the 21mm and 22mm do exist at least. been looking for these awhile and had never seen them.... Thanks for the replies so far.

 

[Grossjon]

Not a clue.
I believe there were some new NOS metric "v-groove" Thorsen wrench sets at Meridian Tool - not sure what he has left there.
http://www.meridiantool.com
I think he sells stuff through his Facebook page (not sure how that works.)

Lots in stock at Meridian Tool in OKC. You can Facebook message them (me) or call the store or visit in person. I will probably be the only one to ship for them, as the folks that work in the store are old school.

 

[notlob]

I see a lot of Thorsen tools at the local fleas, but almost never run across early tools with the TT logo. The box ends on the DBE wrench appear to be welded on, instead of forged. The 1/4" drive breaker bar is also somewhat primitive.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I've never seen that logo before. Somewhere on this site is a "logo" thread that Woody73 started a while back.
I've seen "TTC" (Thorsen Tool Company) logo on the late-production stuff, but never the "TT" like your early example there.
Might be something that twertsy would like for his site for ID purposes.

Begs the question as to whether or not they applied for and were issued a trademark for that.

BK

 

[twertsy]

I probably have 20 or so thorsen TMs but haven't seen that one.

http://toolarchives.com/node/307

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I probably have 20 or so thorsen TMs but haven't seen that one.

It's on the cover, inside cover, and page 1 of the Thorsen catalog we have dated as c. 1930, accompanied by "TRADE MARK". I remember a half-hearted attempt to (EDIT: more definitively) date that catalog by the address, the phonetic phone numbers, and, by analysis, some of the contents, before giving up.

notlob:

You may want to check out that catalog if you haven't already.

- There are no 1/4-inch drive tools in that catalog (only 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, and 3/4)
- There is no No. 25-F feeler gage in that catalog (only gages with classic 9 leaves in different lengths with model numbers in a 5XXX series)
- There is a No. 1020 DBE wrench (in a 10XX series of DBEs) looking similar to yours

That catalog is very crudely made, with most too figures being drawings rather than photos. The only tools I can see actually bearing the (TT) logo are tappet wrenches, hand drawn.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

It , or a variant that is a little more like a T in a C appears on at least some private label tools Thorsen supplied to California Tool Co aka CALIF TOOL. this production confirmed by new owners family at least prior to buyout just before WWII.

 

[notlob]

AA mentions the "TT in a circle" logo here:

http://alloy-artifacts.org/thorsen-manufacturing.html#trademarks

 

[Private Lugnutz]

AA mentions the "TT in a circle" logo here

And they note that no record of its registration as a trademark with the USPTO was found. The catalog they say it first appears in is undated in their library. It could be (and very likely is) the catalog as the catalog in our TA library. No way to know for sure, unfortunately, because AA doesn't have an open library. Taking the same approach I tried before I gave up, it looks like AA is estimating 1931 as the date based on a reference to "Techniheat" in the catalog, which AA dates to 1931.

EDIT: Also, ICYMI, I edited my first post and I may have been editing as you were typing.

 

[twertsy]

And they note that no record of its registration as a trademark with the USPTO was found. The catalog they say it first appears in is undated in their library. It could be (and very likely is) the catalog as the catalog in our TA library. No way to know for sure, unfortunately, because AA doesn't have an open library. Taking the same approach I tried before I gave up, it looks like AA is estimating 1931 as the date based on a reference to "Techniheat" in the catalog, which AA dates to 1931.

EDIT: Also, ICYMI, I edited my first post and I may have been editing as you were typing.

It also may not have been registered under "tools" or "wrenches." if not, I'll find it when I go through this pass of TMs.

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

 

[d42jeep]

It's on the cover, inside cover, and page 1 of the Thorsen catalog we have dated as c. 1930, accompanied by "TRADE MARK". I remember a half-hearted attempt to (EDIT: more definitively) date that catalog by the address, the phonetic phone numbers, and, by analysis, some of the contents, before giving up.

notlob:

You may want to check out that catalog if you haven't already.

- There are no 1/4-inch drive tools in that catalog (only 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, and 3/4)
- There is no No. 25-F feeler gage in that catalog (only gages with classic 9 leaves in different lengths with model numbers in a 5XXX series)
- There is a No. 1020 DBE wrench (in a 10XX series of DBEs) looking similar to yours

That catalog is very crudely made, with most too figures being drawings rather than photos. The only tools I can see actually bearing the (TT) logo are tappet wrenches, hand drawn.

Since the newest Ford specialty tools it lists are specific to a Ford Model A ('28 - '31), the catalog was almost certainly printed within those years.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Since the newest Ford specialty tools it lists are specific to a Ford Model A ('28 - '31), the catalog was almost certainly printed within those years.

That's a good catch, Don.

 

[notlob]

some vintage TT's

 

[notlob]

I went through the Thorsen collection yesterday and moved some tools around to fill that new box. Here are several of the green boxes with tools in them.
-Don

Don -

I think you are ready to set up your own Thorsen "Department 19" display.

 

[shanny19]

^^ Who do you think the targeted "big chain" competition was? Western Auto? Sears? NAPA?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

some vintage TT's

Those are the logos and the catalog I was referring to in post #339...

It's on the cover, inside cover, and page 1 of the Thorsen catalog we have dated as c. 1930, accompanied by "TRADE MARK".

...and again in post #342.

 

[3baygarage]

Here’s an odd one.

1/2” drive 3/16 socket.

#506X. Cadmium plating.

 

[twertsy]

some vintage TT's

Where did those pics come from? Your catalogs Notlob?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Looks like they're from the catalog I have been referring to for several posts now, the one we have dated as "1930?" in the Tool Archives library.

 

[d42jeep]

^^ Who do you think the targeted "big chain" competition was? Western Auto? Sears? NAPA?

When I was growing up in the East Bay of the SF Bay Area (Thorsen’s home base), I bought my Thorsen tools at the local El Cerrito Grand Auto store, now O’Reilly auto parts. The main competition in this area was the Sears store in Oakland and the Wards store in Richmond. Thorsen was an affordable option for a car crazy kid with an extremely low budget that couldn’t afford those expensive Craftsman tools!
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here’s an odd one.

1/2” drive 3/16 socket.

#506X. Cadmium plating.

Indeed. A service opening typically found in the midget (1/4-inch drive) range. Hence the bulky base to accommodate the 1/2-inch drive. The cadmium could be a 1930's economy line finish (it was used prior to WWII, despite it being thought of as an exclusively WWII finish), but most likely wartime. A good question is whether Thorsen made 1/4-inch drive tools in wartime. I just went through my records and don't see any, but Don might know. EDIT: If the answer is no, then they had no other choice but to machine a 1/2-inch drive socket that far down for a 3/16" service opening. If the answer is yes, my next thought would be some kind of special socket for a special fastener that would torque-challenge a midget size tool.

 

[d42jeep]

Lugz,
I could double check but it seems to me like all my 1/4” drive stuff is chrome. My wartime looking sockets all seem to be in the larger drive sizes.
-Don

 

[shanny19]

When I was growing up in the East Bay of the SF Bay Area (Thorsen’s home base), I bought my Thorsen tools at the local El Cerrito Grand Auto store, now O’Reilly auto parts. The main competition in this area was the Sears store in Oakland and the Wards store in Richmond. Thorsen was an affordable option for a car crazy kid with an extremely low budget that couldn’t afford those expensive Craftsman tools!
-Don

Wondered about the Thorsen/Cman relative price point, thanks.
My dad has a boatload of early 60's Thorsen bought at local parts stores.
The other options for him in small town PNW were New Britain from NAPA ($$$) Proto from local welding store ($$$$), and of all things, Barcalo ($) on mail order from the Fingerhut catalog, of which he has a fair amount also.

 

[3baygarage]

Indeed. A service opening typically found in the midget (1/4-inch drive) range. Hence the bulky base to accommodate the 1/2-inch drive. The cadmium could be a 1930's economy line finish (it was used prior to WWII, despite it being thought of as an exclusively WWII finish), but most likely wartime. A good question is whether Thorsen made 1/4-inch drive tools in wartime. I just went through my records and don't see any, but Don might know. If the answer is no, my next thought would be some kind of special socket for a special fastener that would challenge a midget size tool.

Lugz,
I could double check but it seems to me like all my 1/4” drive stuff is chrome. My wartime looking sockets all seem to be in the larger drive sizes.
-Don

Thanks for the input guys. I would almost bet it was special application, though it does follow the “500” series numbering system for 1/2” drive sockets in that 30’s catalog. Maybe the X meant special.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz,
I could double check but it seems to me like all my 1/4” drive stuff is chrome. My wartime looking sockets all seem to be in the larger drive sizes.

Thanks, Don. 3bay's socket poses an interesting question then. As evidenced by the c. 1928-1931 catalog, Thorsen wasn't making midget drive size tools at that time. If they still weren't making them in the mid 40's (i.e., wartime), would they really machine down the larger drive sizes to get to the smaller fastener openings?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I replied to Don before seeing your post, 3bay. Sorry.

Thanks for the input guys. I would almost bet it was special application, though it does follow the “500” series numbering system for 1/2” drive sockets in that 30’s catalog. Maybe the X meant special.

But did you see that there weren't any 1/4-inch drive tools in that catalog? I agree it's definitely special. And I agree that's probably what the X signifies. But do you think it's 'special' explicitly because it's so unusual for that small of a service opening? And do you think they did it to accommodate customers who needed to turn standard smaller fasteners? Or a special fastener with torque requirements that would challenge the integrity of a midget socket?

 

[3baygarage]

I replied to Don before seeing your post, 3bay. Sorry.


But did you see that there weren't any 1/4-inch drive tools in that catalog? I agree it's definitely special. And I agree that's probably what the X signifies. But do you think it's 'special' explicitly because it's so unusual for that small of a service opening? And do you think they did it to accommodate customers who needed to turn standard smaller fasteners? Or a special fastener with torque requirements that would challenge the integrity of a midget socket?

Yep, no 1/4 drive. Hard to speculate. Maybe they expanded the 1/2” drive to smaller sizes. I was thinking maybe one specific vehicle application. If so, we’d probably also see it made in Snap On or other brands.

I think we were both referring to the catalog at the archives. On page 4 of this thread, a 1/4 hex drive set appears in another cat.