Show off your DOE's!

[Private Lugnutz]

I am not actively collecting a set, but I have several. Just enough to flirt with the idea of maybe putting a set together one day, but I think they're all Vlchek branded. If you're in a hurry, go ahead and eBay them. Otherwise, I'll try to see if I can sort what I have to see if I need them. My entire operation is in a bit of disarray right now.

 

[Nubtastik]

Here are a few waiting to be stamped and heat treated.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[LesserSon]

I’m not surprised to hear that, since you only returned to the States recently! I’m in no hurry. Just trying to “get organized” and overcome a little of the “horizontal disease” before winter collapses my workspace and storagespace into one.

 

[LesserSon]

That eerie sense of synchronicity one sometimes experiences in this hobby was tingling this morning when I picked up this Kraeuter...

I posted two straight Kraeuters back in #430, but I don’t recall posting this S-shape one, because I haven’t really cleaned it. Maybe in 2017?
I see them more often than buy them, I guess they’re a little Grandpa Munster gothic for my taste. I like the Kraeuter pliers a LOT more.

 

[leg17]

I posted two straight Kraeuters back in #430, but I don’t recall posting this S-shape one, because I haven’t really cleaned it. ..... I guess they’re a little Grandpa Munster gothic for my taste.

Is this marked B2022 and free of owners marks?

 

[LesserSon]

Is this marked B2022 and free of owners marks?

Sorry to disappoint. It is free of owners marks, but it is pretty badly pitted in places, and it is not a B2022 - it is a B2426.

 

[Snaparxon]

MAC metric set

 

[leg17]

Sorry to disappoint. It is free of owners marks, but it is pretty badly pitted in places, and it is not a B2022 - it is a B2426.

Thanks for the extra effort.
Tom

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, Lugz. I don’t collect Vlchek, either, though I have some.
Edit - duh, I have a #93, too. But this one is nonspecific “alloy steel” and has a coating of some sort.

i found a 92 that matches your 93 at a garage sale yesterday. Lugz, holler if you want it and I’ll set it aside for you.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Okay. I haven't gotten to them yet, but your example illustrates how hard it is to put together a matching set. There are so many variants. Branded 'VLCHEK' on a jaw face; unbranded but marked 'Chrome Molybdenum' (in all caps but with the "C" and M" taller than the other letters - a Vlchek tell) on the shank, like LesserSon's; unbranded but marked ALLOY STEEL on the shank, like yours above. There might be others. I've been throwing them in a pile and I don't really know what I have. I know UNIAU has some too. The only thing they have in common is the form (same dies), model numbers, and forge numbers.

 

[Username already in use]

Looks like the #92 tappet was the most popular size. Either that, or it's the one that didn't get much use...
I've got one and it happens to be the #92 tappet as well. Marked Made in USA on the wrench face and ChromeMolybdenum on the shank. Mine has some kind of phosphate finish on it.

 

[LesserSon]

I saw a #90 today that had no alloy marking at all.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I dug out my pile of tappet wrenches this evening and I was surprised to see that I actually have a Vlchek 90, 90-A, 92, 93, and 94. In fact, the only wrench I missing for a "complete" Vlchek set is a 96. Complete in quotes because the big 'but' in play here goes to my note to LesserSon above about variants.

Only two of the wrenches I have (the 90 and 94) are matching in style. They are the type with no Vlchek brand, 'MADE IN U.S.A.' stamped on the largest face, and the all caps 'CHROME MOLYBDENUM' (with the taller "C" and "M") stamped on the shank.

The 93 wrench has 'VLCHEK' and the all caps 'CHROME MOLYBDENUM' (with the taller "C" and "M") stamped on the face, with nothing on the shank.

The 92 wrench has the 'VLCHEK' brand and 'MADE IN U.S.A.' on the face, with 'ALLOY STEEL' on the shank.

The 90A wrench has 'MADE IN U.S.A.' on the largest face, with a 'CHROME MOLYBDENUM' marking forged into the shank with ALL the letters having the same height. Ironically, this is the style that is shown in the 1936 and 1941 Vlchek catalogs.

Pic 6 is an excerpt from the 1941 catalog. Note that forged-in marking on the shank in the figure matches my 90A wrench. Note also that the size marking is a "292" (instead of a "92"). That is the same image from the 1936 catalog when the model numbers were 290 through 296 (rather than 90 through 96).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I also have this tappet wrench stamped 'VLCHEK 1A1442' on the shank. That is a Caterpillar tractor number, and sure enough, it's stamped 'SB CAT' on the flip side. This style has one of the heads on a slight angle.

 

[LesserSon]

OMG, is this a “first” for this thread?
A Winchester hex cap DOE? Standard would be 729, Billings would be 1120. This says 1222.
I don’t see Winchester on the AA site.

 

[paulm12]

Harvester? anyone want?
.

 

[d42jeep]

Catfish Dan sent a contribution to the Barcalo shrine. It’s interesting that each wrench, while being the same style, is marked slightly differently.
-Don

 

[LesserSon]

Flea finds today included some Bonney, and a non-Bonney S-doe. The Bonneys are both 504s, but the very similar guy is a 104.
Sorry about the sockets and the pile wrench.
Edit: Dang! I didn’t realize the nonBonney wasn’t in the photo. I’ll ameliorate the error tomorrow.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

First off, let me correct an inadvertent oversight, by thanking leg17 for identifying a "501" S wrench I found back in August as a Southington Manufacturing Company. I was not familiar with the logo. That wrench can be seen in this post here, and if you scroll down one from there, you can see leg17's positive ID.

Yesterday I found another Southington S wrench, a "504" this time, and of course thanks to leg17 I recognized it right away this time. See Pics 1, 2, & 3.

Without even trying I have a nice little 2-pc Southington S wrench collection going, which I would've liked to photo together, but I can't find where I put the other one at the moment!

 

[davethorik]

A couple I got today.

-old Cornwell, marked 9/? (Guessing 9/16) and 1/2. Actual opening sizes are .8" and .89"

-Stanley USA no. 86-821 in 10×11mm

 

[Outlawmws]

This one may be unique to the thread?

A Crompton and Knowles (Loom MFG back in the day).

1/4 X 11/32, also marked 11A.


I'm assuming made for them and for some adjustment specific to the looms.

 

[LesserSon]

a "504" this time

That looks to have “503” on it

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm assuming made for them and for some adjustment specific to the looms.

Billings was a huge supplier of textile wrenches and wrenches to the textile industry. Secondarily, Armstrong and Williams. That is actually not a classic textile wrench (the straight shank DOE's had 22.5* angle heads, and the "S" wrenches had an "open book" shaped throat), it appears to be just a small engineers wrench, but clearly made for Crompton & Knowles. I don't recognize it by the features alone and the "11A" isn't doing anything for me, either. All of Billings' carbon steel wrenches started with an "11" but they were an "11XX" four-digit number series.

That looks to have “503” on it

Yup. Typo. Thanks.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This one may be unique to the thread?

Not any more!

This one, found on Thursday and soaking since then (was in poor condition, a little more presentable now), is very unusual and instantly becomes one of the coolest in my antique collection. It's only a couple inches long. Those parabolic heads, set at classic loom wrench 22-1/2* angles, and oversized for the shank, and the narrow slot openings, reminiscent of the openings in eccentric brake wrenches, make it interesting to look at.

The roots of Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, which by WWII, was the largest textile machinery maker in the world, goes back to two fiercely competitive loom makers in mid-1800’s Worcester, Mass., who finally decided to merge. They had plants all over, including Philly, which is where I suspect this wrench came from.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Staying with loom wrenches, also picked up this DAVIS & FURBER at my Thursday flea market.

No idea what the 78S corresponds to, but it’s not an ISN.

Davis and Furber Machine Company built all kinds of machines for the textile industry, including spoolers, dressing warps for jackspools, sample cards, warp compressors, large pattern pipe and cylinder dressers, spool racks, dresser creels, beamers, sliding block reels, etc. Its original buildings, still standing, have been converted into mixed use properties now called East and West Mill, in North Andover, Mass., which the developer describes as “over 500,000 square feet of renovated brick and beam space with a vibrant community of small businesses, corporate offices, and loft-style apartments surrounding a sizable mill pond.”

Link here

Anybody from Massachusetts ever been there? This was a nice save. I wonder if they were progressive enough to save any of the equipment – or tools, even – and integrate it into the renovation somehow. A lobby. Entrance ways. Courtyard. That would've been cool.

None of the many excellent histories of the company available on-line mention another plant, but it’s interesting that the only other examples of wrenches I can find on the GJ were found at a flea market in South Jersey by GJ’er apache3057, his thread linked here.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lastly, a funny one...

This Billings & Spencer 1109, or what is left of it, takes the cake for shop mods. This one was also found, in a machinists’ box with all kinds of tooling and toolholders, at my Thursday flea market.

I like the way the guy who “made” it left the a decent size nub on the other end for holding. The working end was highly polished after grinding. ‘If you’re going to mutilate a perfectly good DOE wrench into a SOE with a sleeker profile for better fastener access, do it right,’ was obviously this guy’s unspoken motto.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I hate to leave five posts in a row, but I'll just add this last quick note: I am reading a new novel by Leif Enger (author of Peace Like a River) called Virgil Wander. I just started. On page 7, the main character, who has recovered from a car crash (into Lake Superior), and has just been taken home from a couple day hospital stay, is catching up on things by reading the most recent issue of a local newspaper, which is where the GJ Vintage Forum comes in...

"There was coverage of last week's city council meeting, a fluff piece on a local retiree whose antique wrench collection filled two boxcars, and...."

HAHA!

 

[Outlawmws]

There are probably a few guys that could about pull that off!

Nice finds Lugz!

McKaig-Hatch DOEs: Apparently that made wrenches for OEM car mfgs to put in cars from the 30's to 50's?

 

[WWShop]

I don't own any but after seeing this thread, I want!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked this up at the flea market yesterday. I wish there had been more of them in the lot!

LAURAVIA. VANADIUM. MADE IN FRANCE. (Lucky) No. 13. Obviously made for export to the UK or US. Probably 1930's, I am guessing, based on the sleekness and the use of vanadium. Love the oddness of the inch mark (") after the imperial whole number followed by the fraction!

Say what you will about the French, they know design. That half moon back cut on the jaw face probably serves no functional purpose, but it saves a little bit of steel, and man does it look effin' cool! The only other mark on the wrench is a "7". Probably a forge number.

There is a sum total of one (1) other Lauravia DOE wrench on GJ, posted in the 'Old World' thread in 2010! HAHA. The only other Lauravia tool here was a 1/4" socket, also posted in 2010.

With a little bit of research, I discovered that it was the founder's last name, and it was bought out by SAM tools of France in 1971.

 

[Provincial]

The other day I had a half hour to kill waiting for a lunch date, so I walked across the street to Goodwill (which never has any good tools), to pass the time. I found this 1-1/8" Proto DOE angle wrench, which was covered with hardened grease and a few spots of Bondo. I rubbed the markings enough to make out the Proto, so I bought it. It wasn't until I got it home and cleaned it up in the solvent tank that I could read the "Los Angeles" marking!

Industrial black finish.

 

[RagTopTA]

AS posted in the GS thread, I cleaned up some rusty DOEs today. Found some of interest.

Top to bottom:

S wrench with raised edges, only marking is 61 or 19

S wrench with Arrow looking ends, marked with an E in a circle and Z338C on the back it looks like

S wrench Kraeuter

S wrench DE Diamond Edge makers mark

Billings DOE

Bonney pretty pitted.

 

[four.cycle]

the Lauravia definitely has the "cool" thing going there with the half-moon cutout.

 

[leg17]

The Circle E is EBERHARD.
Found in at least 4 sizes: 7338A thru 7338D.
Also did some contract work for Delco.

EDIT:
My bad. Scratch that Delco connection. (Brain fart)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

S wrench DE Diamond Edge makers mark

I wonder if that logo is an early grind-off?

"Diamond-Edge" ("Diamond-Edge is a Quality Pledge") was a Shapleigh (of St Louis) brand, originally for their cutlery (over 500 kinds of knives) from way back. Shapleigh was a competitor to E.C. Simmons (Keen Kutter) until they bought them out in 1940. These were two huge hardware stores with in-house manufacturing lines in the way of Belknap (Blue Grass) that later expanded beyond knives to other tools that they had made for them under contract. I had never heard of Norvell, though, so I looked it up. Apparently, the company was known as Shapleigh Hardware from 1843 to 1901, Norvell-Shapleigh Hardware from 1902-1917, and then back to Shapleigh in 1918. I am guessing the Norvell thing was a brief partnership with someone named Norvell.

The upshot of all this is twofold:
(1) That worn-off area on the logo said Shapleigh, and
(2) You wrench was made between 1901 and 1917.

 

[RagTopTA]

Thanks guys! Thats some great info! you guys are great at research! I want an entire set of the E wrenches!! too cool of a design.

 

[woodland_hank]

I apparently have an affinity for DOE wrenches...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've said this before on your individual threads, but you do a nice job with those boards, Hank, and as a concept, they are a great alternative to original tool boards, and even allow for something beyond the original tool board with the historical accents (such as the Barcalo patent) you add.

That Hinsdale set is not easy to collect. I have a few. LesserSon also has a few as I recall.

 

[Farmer J.]

I apparently have an affinity for DOE wrenches...

Those boards look great Hank, thanks for posting them all together.
I'm still collecting my T Williams 'Superslim' wrenches,and some other makes, as inspired to do something similar after seeing your boards.
I'm planning to have some advertising or copied catalogue pages with mine, like you have done with the Barcalo patent.

 

[four.cycle]

Those boards are fabulous!

RagTopTA and Private Lugnutz:

Front cover from 1910 Norvell-Shapleigh Hardware Co. catalog.

(* Lugnutz: the reason you didn't get any "Norvell" catalog pages is because all of those I have are for wood planes other than these three - the front cover of their 1910 catalog, a page showing "Crescent Tool Co." hammers (who knew?) and another showing the Richards "Wizard" wrench and the "Baxter's Adjustable". Note the "S-shaped" adjustable at center is stamped "Shapleigh". Still have not figured out who made the "Little Giant" brace sockets or the carriage wrenches at bottom. I'll forward these to you.
I read some stuff about Shapleigh way back but my memory is fuzzy, but I believe you've got the date range correct: RagTop has a seriously old wrench there. *)