Post up your Thorsen tools!

[d42jeep]

I found quite a few Thorsen sockets and a couple of Vee wrenches at an estate sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[honza.vosalik]

I found quite a few Thorsen sockets and a couple of Vee wrenches at an estate sale yesterday.
-Don

Looks like a complete socket set?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Giller 1/4 speeder I picked up in a toolbox of random stuff

 

[d42jeep]

Looks like a complete socket set?

Interestingly, many of the deep sockets were 3/8” drive 3/4” and a few 3/8” drive 13/16”, mostly unused. I don’t know why one person would have so many of one size. While going through and adding in my newer Thorsen finds, I took an updated shot of my slowly growing collection of Vee metric wrenches.
-Don

 

[MR.X]

Thorsen made, General Tool (G.T.) branded, double box 1930's 1/2 X 7/16 wrench. With friends.

 

[Chevota Guy]

NOT GENUINE Thorsen,and certainly not vintage, but I found these Asian produced parts drawers a few years back at Costco for $80 under the Thorsen® brand name!? I was surprised to see that name.

The drawers are actually well made with compartments that have radiused bottoms. The drawers were filled with cheap fastners, o-rings, electrical connectors most of which were junk and were tossed. I repurposed them for more useful items (to me).

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[honza.vosalik]

So this is on CL, $100 for all. I'm just going to pass, not enough space and who's supposed to be hunting those tools down, LOL LOL

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Those look like something for a serious thorsen collector! Picked up this old 5/16 thorsen socket.

 

[d42jeep]

You mean a Thorsen collector with some serious wall space, I bet. That leaves me out!
That’s an interesting socket, being unplated and with the USN stamping.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Well it is more up your alley than mine. I will send it your way.

 

[d42jeep]

Well it is more up your alley than mine. I will send it your way.

Thanks, I appreciate it. I’ve managed to gather a decent amount of unplated Thorsen. It will fit right in. The Navy markings are a plus for me. I’ll email you my Bay Area address.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

I found a couple of those v pattern combo wrenches in non Thorsen brands. A pair of Dayton and a Bluegrass.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a couple of those v pattern combo wrenches in non Thorsen brands. A pair of Dayton and a Bluegrass.

Maybe BFBOB would like the Dayton ones or are you collecting those yourself? I have some extras that I could send you.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Yeah, I thought BFBOB might want the Dayton wrenches, but it looks like he already has one. I couldn't remember which he was looking for, so I just picked them up. You know the Bluegrass wrench will be headed to Tennessee.

 

[damon18]

Let me know if anyone wants this Thorsen 2216 DBE (middle wrench) to make a set or something. Not something I need.

 

[BFBOB]

Yeah, I thought BFBOB might want the Dayton wrenches, but it looks like he already has one. I couldn't remember which he was looking for, so I just picked them up. You know the Bluegrass wrench will be headed to Tennessee.

Thanks for thinking of me, but yes, I do already have several Daytons.

Still searching for Westcraft and Synthes!!

... and the brand name count is now up to 17!

 

[d42jeep]

The unique Navy socket arrived from OTG. With those markings and the wartime looking finish, I couldn’t put it anywhere but into the Navy box.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Hey Gang
While rummaging about in toolboxes at an estate sale recently, I found some Thorsen sockets approximating a set, so tried to look up their age and set contents for completion, and noticed that between here and Alloy Artifacts, there seems to be some gaps in the history. Being nearby, I thought I'd check out the local papers archive for any useful news on their founding, etc. So far the earliest thing I am finding on Thorsen is this.

Important stuff so we can find it later: Ad from Oakland Tribune, August 1, 1934 Thorsen Tools 2502 Telegraph, Oakland Tom Bond Manager made in Oakland.

Since AA claims they were founded in 1929, I am surprised I've found nothing sooner. Going to search the founders names next.

Oh, and my sockets are the 312X - 324, 1/4" 6 pt to 3/4" 12 pt, plus spark plug 626JR, 3/8" drive, with dimple, Stylized T, MFD in USA. Just average stuff, guessing 1970's until I can find more. And an Action 1/4" set 3/16 - 3/8".

 

[d42jeep]

They hated to admit that the tools were actually made in Emeryville since it had such a bad reputation. Talk about a reversal in modern times.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Only have one older thorsen set. Shows the address as 1475 Bush street, San francisco.

 

[d42jeep]

I think that was their San Francisco retail outlet, if I’m not mistaken.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks don. Went back through the thorsen thread and read up a bit. Great info.

 

[RTM]

They hated to admit that the tools were actually made in Emeryville since it had such a bad reputation.

My Action set has an Emeryville sticker inside the lid. Pic sometime soon.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I would definitely like to see it. Action was there econo brand supposedly. Anyone know when they started that brand?

 

[d42jeep]

AA says that they were introduced in 1957. Sounds about right to me. It’s pretty hard to discern any quality difference.
-Don

 

[RTM]

Here is my Action set, with sticker inside the lid. I always look in little metal boxes when I see them, never know what you will find. Just keep them closed until after check out unless asked.

Action 1/4" Socket set, date unknown, Emeryville sticker. 77MA ratchet, 18MA breaker, 3/16 - 7/16" 6 and 8 pt sockets (MA and MSA markings). Need to find a strip of metal to rebuild the divider.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my Action set, with sticker inside the lid. I always look in little metal boxes when I see them, never know what you will find. Just keep them closed until after check out unless asked.

Action 1/4" Socket set, date unknown, Emeryville sticker. 77MA ratchet, 18MA breaker, 3/15 - 7/19" 6 and 8 pt sockets (MA and MSA markings). Need to find a strip of metal to rebuild the divider.

That’s a nice looking set. I found it amusing that even though the metal divider was included in my Action set, it was painted the same red as the Thorsen set. I added some extra Action sockets to mine to fill it out a little. I may have an extra Action extension if you’re in the East Bay sometime.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice action sets. How long did they stay in emeryville?

 

[d42jeep]

According to AA, after some ownership changes, they moved to Dallas in the late ‘70s. Except for chrome plating issues, the tools were still decent until manufacturing moved overseas. All of the Vee wrenches with their variety of brands were made in Dallas.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Great info. Haven't run across any action stuff yet but always on the lookout.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lights, camera, ACTION!

 

[r_olson_06]

Lights, camera, ACTION!

I see what you did there.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Action!

 

[Flathead Youngin']

Maybe I missed it, but what is the relationship between Action and Thorsen?

A funny side note, my grandpa loved Thorsen ratchets. Then, he got me to liking them too. When we would go to the flea market or swap meets, whoever came back with a Thorsen (or who found the most) had the most bragging rights. I remember when he found the first 1/4" Thorsen ratchet we had ever seen.....I never topped it until I found one that looked new....haha Great memories! ….after my garage fire, I started buying tools again this past summer. The first Thorsen 3/8" I found sure brought back a lot of memories.

 

[Flathead Youngin']

So this is on CL, $100 for all. I'm just going to pass, not enough space and who's supposed to be hunting those tools down, LOL LOL

That's interesting. According to those shadow boards, It looks as though they made an extended handle 1/2" ratchet.

 

[Flathead Youngin']

Has anyone disassembled a Thorsen ratchet....I doubt it, they never break! Seriously, though, I need to take one apart....more on that later...

 

[r_olson_06]

That's interesting. According to those shadow boards, It looks as though they made an extended handle 1/2" ratchet.

Yes they did. I believe a 77NR was the 15 version. I have 2 of them. Both wild found.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Maybe I missed it, but what is the relationship between Action and Thorsen?

Made by.

 

[Flathead Youngin']

Hey a quick hijack of the thread..

How do you get the Thorsen 77 series apart to service them? I'd like to replace the detent spring on the reversing lever...….I hit it pretty good with a drift punch but was afraid to go much harder. It sure looks like you'd have to heat one section to cherry red and then bend it out, make the repair then cherry again and ben it back. In doing so, I don't know if you could ever get it to look factory....

I'll post pics later...

Thanks!

 

[d42jeep]

Hey a quick hijack of the thread..

How do you get the Thorsen 77 series apart to service them? I'd like to replace the detent spring on the reversing lever...….I hit it pretty good with a drift punch but was afraid to go much harder. It sure looks like you'd have to heat one section to cherry red and then bend it out, make the repair then cherry again and ben it back. In doing so, I don't know if you could ever get it to look factory....

I'll post pics later...

Thanks!

If you just want to replace the ball and spring, the pin that holds the reversing lever is a fairly light press fit. I picked up a 1/2” drive rat at an estate sale that was totally frozen with rust so I didn’t mind experimenting on it. After shooting it with some penetrating oil, the pin drove out fairly easily with a punch. As soon as the pin comes out, however, the spring will shoot the ball out across the floor so you’ll want to keep your eye on it. After cleaning up all of the parts, reassembly is just a matter of positioning the spring, ball and lever while you tap the pin back in. That part is a little difficult because they really don’t want to stay in position but it can be done. I’ve now done a few of them and it gets easier each time.
-Don