Post up your Thorsen tools!

[d42jeep]

When I saw this set on eBay, I was unable to leave it due to the paper label “Red Box Special” in a box that clearly wasn’t and had never been red.
When it arrived, I could tell that the label was original to the box as the finish of the box was pristine above the label. I’m planning to duplicate the label for use in an otherwise originally identical set that I have with a red box but this label has to remain with the set, demonstrating Thorsen’s quality control back in the day.
Added a few tools.
I plan to put the duplicated label into this set and have the contents of the set match the label.


-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I have been looking for a conventional Thorsen 17mm combination wrench for quite a while. I had been using a Action 17 mm combo as a placeholder. This one arrived in the mail today from an eBay seller.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I went through today and added my recent metric Thorsen wrenches. While I had the metric wrenches out I took some pictures.
-Don
Conventional combos
Shorty combos
Vee combos
Vee DOE wrenches

 

[d42jeep]

I took a picture of my fractional Vee combination wrenches when I had them out recently and was bothered that the 9/16” was stamped on the opposite side of all the others. Since they are fairly readily available, I picked one up on eBay that matches the rest. It arrived yesterday.
-Don

 

[OilyRascal]

I have to wonder if it's just a vinyl roll-up pouch somebody stuffed a Thorsen set into.


Thorsen SAE combination wrench set - vinyl pouch has no markings anywhere.

Another "DoAll" set with Thorsen tools. This time a socket set clearly labeled with Thorsen part numbers. I find it hard to believe now that the wrench roll (previously shown) was just stuffed with a Thorsen set.

 

[OilyRascal]

I bought this spinner on eBay because the only related spinner with a blue handle that I'd seen was marked Giller. I should have checked the pictures more carefully because I didn't notice Giller stamped in the handle until it arrived. Looks like they must have grabbed the shaft out of the wrong bin during fabrication.
-Don

I don't think Thorsen will ever be known for their quality control practices, particularly with packaging. Nice find none the less.

 

[four.cycle]

DoALL / DoALL Tool Co., Des Plaines, IL 60016 / https://www.doallsaws.com/ known specimens are Thorsen manufactured / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/post-up-your-thorsen-tools.328024/page-33#post-9837218 / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/post-up-your-thorsen-tools.328024/page-26#post-9287679 /

looks like a bit of outsourcing was done.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I think Don has a dual-marked spinner handle as well. Not sure.

 

[d42jeep]

The spinner was perfect for my mixed Giller/Thorsen/Action set.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

four.cycle alerted me to this Thorsen brake spoon on eBay. I was able to make a best offer which the seller accepted.
My wife spotted these Thorsen screwdrivers at an estate sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ OH! you did grab it!
I kind of had a feeling that was something of an oddity. I think that's the first one I've seen.

 

[d42jeep]

I ordered a lot of random S-K tools on eBay and they came in this excellent Thorsen box. I’ll fill it up and add it to the red box sets. It might be nice enough to line with cork to protect the paint
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Cut out the cork liner and started adding some tools from my spares.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

My wife spotted these Thorsen screwdrivers at an estate sale yesterday.
-Don

Don, I think I have two of this style of Thorsen in a 1/4" driver handle. I can dig around if you're interested and see if I can find one.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, I actually have a few of those too. I appreciate the offer, though.


-Don

 

[d42jeep]

These large Thorsen DOE wrenches arrived in the mail (barely) and received a cleanup.
Found these painty Action screwdrivers on Monday.
They look a little better now
-Don

 

[MR.X]

Those DOE's look like Vlchek.

 

[Old Radar]

These large Thorsen DOE wrenches arrived in the mail (barely)...

Heavy, pointy hunks of metal aren't the easiest things for the USPO to deal with if they're shipped loose in an envelope. I don't know if that's what happened in this case, but ebay shippers are oft times too lazy/hasty/careless to properly wrap and protect your purchase. They rationalize by thinking "Hey, it's a solid piece of metal--what could go wrong?"

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have received more than one package from an ebay seller that arrived in similar condition.
Unfortunately, not all ebay sellers used to work in shipping and receiving in a warehouse peddling tailpipes and mufflers and such and are not aware of the gauntlet of men and machinery that packages go through on their journey.
Hopefully all of the pieces were in the package.
I had a seller ship me a 3/8" drive socket set that was missing the original steel box. He simply dropped all the contents - sockets, ratchet, and drive tools - into a large flat rate box and put a shipping label on it. The box had TWO large holes in it when I got it. Miraculously all the pieces were still inside. NO clue how that happened - perhaps divine intervention?

 

[d42jeep]

Those DOE's look like Vlchek.

There was one of that design in the Emeryville marked DOE roll. If they were Vlchek made it would likely have been after Vlchek became part of the Plombpire.

^ I have received more than one package from an ebay seller that arrived in similar condition.
Unfortunately, not all ebay sellers used to work in shipping and receiving in a warehouse peddling tailpipes and mufflers and such and are not aware of the gauntlet of men and machinery that packages go through on their journey.
Hopefully all of the pieces were in the package.
I had a seller ship me a 3/8" drive socket set that was missing the original steel box. He simply dropped all the contents - sockets, ratchet, and drive tools - into a large flat rate box and put a shipping label on it. The box had TWO large holes in it when I got it. Miraculously all the pieces were still inside. NO clue how that happened - perhaps divine intervention?

Fortunately the wrenches were all there. When I use the cardboard envelopes to ship I tape over the entire surface of the envelope. Haven’t had any problems when I do that.
-Don

 

[MR.X]

There was one of that design in the Emeryville marked DOE roll. If they were Vlchek made it would likely have been after Vlchek became part of the Plombpire.

Fortunately the wrenches were all there. When I use the cardboard envelopes to ship I tape over the entire surface of the envelope. Haven’t had any problems when I do that.
-Don

Wasn't the Pendleton acquisition in like 59?

 

[bmwrd0]

Heavy, pointy hunks of metal aren't the easiest things for the USPO to deal with if they're shipped loose in an envelope. I don't know if that's what happened in this case, but ebay shippers are oft times too lazy/hasty/careless to properly wrap and protect your purchase. They rationalize by thinking "Hey, it's a solid piece of metal--what could go wrong?"

On the flip side of that, I have been approached by buyers many times to ship as cheaply as possible, and get semi-belligerent reply's when I say I only ship via USPS express which is why I charge as much as I do for shipping.

 

[Old Radar]

^^^ Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

 

[d42jeep]

Wasn't the Pendleton acquisition in like 59?

It was. Actually, Alloy Artifacts suggests that Vlchek may have supplied the Speed-Hed wrenches. It seems odd that Thorsen wouldn’t make their own wrenches but it seems like there was a ton of contract work going on back then. When I look at Thorsen wrenches in general, I categorize them as flat or rounded which may suggest an alternate supplier, especially when it comes to DOE wrenches which have plenty of variations in style.
-Don

 

[Old Radar]

...peddling tailpipes and mufflers and such and are not aware of the gauntlet of men and machinery that packages go through on their journey.

Interesting that you cite this example--I bought a cat-back system a few years ago and the 5-foot box it arrived in was torn to sh!t.

 

[four.cycle]

^ The exhaust warehouse I worked in was a 100,000 square foot building down near 1st and Lander. I landed an account on O'ahu and was sending him stuff via UPS almost weekly.
One learns to get quite creative packaging exhaust components which include rear resonators, welded-on hanger brackets, and "over the rear axle" sections of pipe. UPS drivers were reluctant to pick up anything with sharp edges, so all of those pokey-prongie things had to be wrapped with corrugated cardboard and taped up. Fortunately the account paid the freight and the margin on the stuff was enough to warrant the extra time required for packing and shipping.
That was a fairly short stint - in between Honda dealership and engine remanufacturer.
Don's comment above gives me cause to wonder who really made MY Thorsen wrenches.

 

[MR.X]

It was. Actually, Alloy Artifacts suggests that Vlchek may have supplied the Speed-Hed wrenches. It seems odd that Thorsen wouldn’t make their own wrenches but it seems like there was a ton of contract work going on back then. When I look at Thorsen wrenches in general, I categorize them as flat or rounded which may suggest an alternate supplier, especially when it comes to DOE wrenches which have plenty of variations in style.
-Don

A while back I put a link on this thread to a 1949 article that had quite a bit about Thorsen making Speed Hed wrenches, apparently in- house. (at least initially) Thou I can see why Alloy would think they were Vlchek. I don't really follow Thorsen post war so I have no clue how long they were marketing Speed-Heds. Do you think they went past 59? Have you seen variations in Speed-Hed construction?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Those DOE's look like Vlchek.

If they were Vlchek made it would likely have been after Vlchek became part of the Plombpire.

Wasn't the Pendleton acquisition in like 59?

It was.

This entire exchange has me confused, guys. Irrespective of the question of their OEM (Thorsen, or Vlchek for Thorsen), about which I am indifferent, I feel like I'm missing something. Hypothetically, if they were made by Vlchek, why would that likely be after the acquisition by PTII? I guess what I am wondering is what is there about a post-'59 PTII-owned Vlchek that makes them more conducive for Thorsen sub work than a pre-'59 independent Vlchek?

Alloy Artifacts suggests that Vlchek may have supplied the Speed-Hed wrenches.

Maybe later, but not initially. MR X. posted an article a couple years ago showing Speed-Hed's being made at the Emeryville plant in 1949. How long were Speed-Hed's sold?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

HA! Sorry, X. That was a coincidental x-post. I was typing while you were posting.

 

[d42jeep]

I spent a little time today and completed my new red box set with almost all period correct pieces, at least it’s close enough for me.
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

Someone must have used this poor box as a hammer.



That didn't keep me from bringing it home though. I enjoy hammering boxes back to shape. This one is on the thicker side, so it took a bit of beating to get it back into 'usable' condition. I found the three largest Thorsen sockets today too, which were a nice addition to my meager collection. A few of them are Giller filler pieces.



It was as filthy as it was crooked, so I scraped the inside with a plastic chisel and called it good enough for now. Scrubbing the outside and underside of the lid wore me out. I'm glad there was a tiny bit of the decal left, or I wouldn't have known it was a Thorsen box. It measures 18" long, by 3-3/8" wide, by 2" tall. I'm guessing it held a 1/2" socket set.



I'd been meaning to post this little (TT) socket, so I'll share that now too. I shoulda coulda taken better photos, but these'll do. It's a six-point #308 3/8 x 1/4", with what looks like cadmium plating, shown in as-found condition, with original dirt.

 

[d42jeep]

I hadn’t seen a Thorsen box with the divider in the upper row but I think I spotted one in this ‘56 catalog image.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

3/8" spinner handle. No part number.

 

[MR.X]

50's advertising from an ebay listing LOL. "Screw your nuts off faster!" Speed Hed.

 

[mritchie77]

50's advertising from an ebay listing LOL. "Screw your nuts off faster!" Speed Hed.

I just bought it. Too cool. Had to. I’ll turn it into a metal sign in my garage

 

[d42jeep]

Do you have any of the wrenches to go with it? Next time I get the Thorsen stuff out I may still have a couple of spares that I didn’t send to Lugz.
-Don

 

[mritchie77]

Do you have any of the wrenches to go with it? Next time I get the Thorsen stuff out I may still have a couple of spares that I didn’t send to Lugz.
-Don

Don, I don't have any...currently. My first thought was to find a complete set with a pouch...but as I thought more about my idea with the metal sign (like the Plomb ones I had made) I'm thinking about making a tool-board with the ad on top and hangars for the 7 sizes of wrenches.

 

[d42jeep]

We found a rusty Thorsen center punch at a Berkeley estate sale today. I’m sure it will look better after its evaporust bath tonight. At least it was only half rusty.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Looks better today. Ready to go into the Thorsen box.
-Don

 

[mritchie77]

The ad came in. Scanned at 1200dpi but there is some compression loss due to being saved as a JPEG (GJ doesn't support TIFF files). Gonna see if I can get a graphic designer friend to color it like a period piece before I move forward with having it printed on tin for a display.

@d42jeep, from the ads I've seen there were 7 sizes of Speed-Hed wrenches. If you put all of them side to side with the closed ends at the same height (like they were hanging on a board), with like a half inch between them how wide would they be from one outside to the other outside measurement? I'm trying to gauge how big I would need to make the sign to have it be the same width as the lined up wrenches. Hopefully this description made sense.