Ring spanner ID

[vp73]

Hi I'm Vince and I like to (loosely) collect old tools. I have some old Snap On, dating back to '41, among other, like vintage onboard tools (Benz, Fiat, VW), and some old ones from my dad. I most like his old tools (some Gedore), also a Saab Bahco that I picked up for a few bucks, it was stuck and I unstuck it with wd40. I can't not buy them when I see some for a few bucks. I actually use most as they disperse in my toolbox.

I recently picked up a German ring spanner set, incomplete. I says Quality Steel - Drop Forged - Germany. The sizes are odd, 14-15, 16-17 and 18-19mm, never saw it like that on any spanner. They have no finish, so probably for factory of government use and feel "high quality", nice and smooth, so I like them. Previous owner did too, because they were all used extensively, but kept in great condition.

Anyway, I would like to know the make, does anyone know this spanner?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The guys in the "Tools from the Old World" thread will know. Go here.

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[Dave455]

Well, those sizes are actually fairly standard. In fact I can’t think of anything more standard!

It looks to me as though there may be some finish on those, but if not it wouldn’t necessarily be a government contract tool. Plain steel spanners were, and are, fairly common. You can still find them in some patterns, and go back to the 50’s and that was the only option! They’re good to use though.

Sadly, I can’t tell you the maker, but suspect someone here will be able to. Date wise, if I had to guess I’d say 70’s, but can’t say that with any authority.

I’d probably have picked them up too. If they feel decent they probably are (looks like very little wear) and I have a soft spot for ring spanner’s - they’re my ‘go to’ at home!

 

[MFolks]

Double box end wrenches,sometimes with an offset for tight places. Metric and Imperial sizes.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

He knows what it is, by type. (Ring spanner is the British term for what we call box end wrenches.) He was asking about the maker.

 

[vp73]

I'm not as experienced as most of you, so I've only seen 14-15 and 17-19 up until now. 16 being quite rare in sets as I thought. I was thinking Germany would date them pre 61 or post 91, most of my other tools of anywhere in between say W-Germany. But as I said, I'm a novice "tools for in toolbox" collector.

 

[vp73]

He knows what it is, by type. (Ring spanner is the British term for what we call box end wrenches.) He was asking about the maker.

I even use them sometimes, they make nice sounds when banged together!

 

[Gmonkee]

Marked in English for the export market and not brand marked usually means an economy set but not always bottom level junk.

Maybe 60's to early 80's vintage as a semi educated guess and they could be any of the usual supects making export stuff to survive. Which was all of them.

There was still a lot of high quality scrap steel from war waste going into the smelters making excellent wrenches in the 60's.

 

[humber2]

The short rib on the underside should be the identifier.

I wouldn't rule out an East German maker either.

 

[humber2]

My pick is Belzer.

Google vanished toolmakers Belzer