Show off your DOE's!

[Farmer J.]

That's a sweet ride, Tom. And since you prefaced your King **** set as bike maintenance, we're right on topic! Maybe Farmer J. or one of the other Brits will be along shortly to explain the symbols.

Sorry Tom, I have no idea what the secret symbols are on your King **** wrenches! I suspect they are something to do with the castings/forgings when making them, maybe they had several moulds or put symbols on there for particular dates of manufacture. Or maybe it's to prevent witchcraft.
I had a look through my 'old spanner box' to see if i could find any more with marks on but only found one King ****, so as this is the thread to post DOE's here it is:

 

[outofbounds]

Curious which company actually forged this wrench....Williams? or Hudson Forge?

 

[d42jeep]

Williams. Here is a picture of a set of Williams Superior carbon steel wartime wrenches (not mine).
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found my third Crompton & Knowles loomworks wrench, a No 3, this morning at the flea market. When I get better organized and can actually locate the other two (a No. 1 shown in post #664 on page 34 and a No. 2 shown in post #863 on page 44), I will take a group shot.

 

[LesserSon]

I had posted these on the garage sale thread, but I think I forgot to try here. I do not recognize the logo on two of the S-wrenches. I wish the larger one hadn’t been so eroded. Maybe “S \ M.Co.” with a tiny wrench under the second horizontally-dividing line. Anyone?
I had an opportunity to buy another Champion S-wrench today - a 500 - but I got distracted and for some reason never got back to it.
I don’t usually pick up Fairmount wrenches, but this one had such an interesting shape, I just had to. What’s it for, do you think?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Southington. I've posted a few.

 

[LesserSon]

Thanks Lugz! What’s weird to me is, I looked through the “S-“ manufacturers on Alloy Artifacts, both the A-Z list and the “Other Manufacturers,” and totally missed it, until you spelled it out for me. I’m not kidding about needing new glasses. (Edit- and thanks to leg17 for IDing it back in Aug2018. I had forgotten that exchange; too focused on my own wrenches at the time!)
They do have a short blurb, a link to a 1922 ad in Google Books, and one example. From the ad logo, I’m not as positive of my identification of the small graphic at the bottom of the circle. Could be two tools or a small dicotyledon (The mill is located just north of the Plantsville neighborhood, and Southington was an agricultural community until manufacturing expanded in the early 20th century).
Only other trace I see is a page about the mill, which doesn’t provide much info.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found one of those "For-A-Ford" trademark stamped steel wrenches today at the flea market. I know I've seen one here on GJ before, but I can't find it (Google-fu failing me with that name, which turns up everything Ford...), and I don't remember who made these. Mossberg?

 

[LesserSon]

Lugz, there was a post by 62 Bird in the Classifieds in 2008, but the photobucket links are broken. He didn’t identify the manufacturer. TESS isn’t helping me.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's nagging at me, because I know I've seen one before, with discussion, but I can't remember where.

 

[NoahG]

Picked up this absolutely MINT Fairmount today. I’ve never found one this fresh.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Private Lugnutz]

About a month ago (see post #889 uppage) I found a "For-A-Ford" Trademark pressed steel wrench (1/2" NUTS x 7/16" NUTS) at the flea market. Today I found two more, and as luck would have it, two different size combinations (5/8" NUTS x 9/16" NUTS, and 3/4" NUTS x 11/16" NUTS). I didn't even know they came in a set! So now I will always have my eyes peeled. I still have not had any luck identifying the OEM.

 

[leg17]

About a month ago (see post #889 uppage) I found a "For-A-Ford" Trademark pressed steel wrench (1/2" NUTS x 7/16" NUTS) at the flea market. Today I found two more, and as luck would have it, two different size combinations (5/8" NUTS x 9/16" NUTS, and 3/4" NUTS x 11/16" NUTS). I didn't even know they came in a set! So now I will always have my eyes peeled. I still have not had any luck identifying the OEM.

Cool.
The Ford market seems to be inexhaustible.
Always something to be on the lookout for.

 

[Jim C.]

As some of you know, I’ve been rehabbing a 1955 MG. Most of the fasteners on the car are Whitworth sized. Early on in the project, on more than one occasion, I encountered a small sized fastener that was somewhere between 8mm and 11/32”. My smallest Whitworth wrench was too big, and nothing metric or SAE fit either. I eventually discovered that the British also used a fastener size they termed “British Association” or “BA.” The BA sizes range from 0BA (largest) to at least 10BA (smallest) as far as I know. Once I figured out what I needed, I tracked down a set of BA sockets and DOE wrenches (see photos below). As they relate to my MG, I found myself frequently using the 2BA wrench and socket. The 2BA is equal to .324.

Jim C.

 

[Bob/Ohio]

Here are a few of mine from the drawer,
TOP, DOWN,

Blue Point Supreme LTA2428
Forged Barcalo in USA
Cornwall
Williams USA
Blue Points Chicago
TruFit
Herbrands Van Chrome 1725-B
528 Williams USA
Globemaster
Forged in USA V 52
Blue Grass TBC 1214

 

[misterbill]

Does this look familiar to anyone? The size stampings are the only markings on the wrench. I would have left it behind other than it had a v-gullet. Cornwell? Wright? Thoughts?

Bill

 

[fullthrottle24]

Here are my grandfather’s DOES, these are all Fairmount.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice. Coveted, too. They could be wartime, or just after. Willys used Fairmount as a supplier for several of the onboard toolkit tools for the MA and MB jeeps, including the DOE wrenches. We call the type pictured 2nd and 3rd from the right "sharps" due to the extremely pointed jaws. Post photos of the flip side, including the marking, and I would be able to date them for you.

 

[fullthrottle24]

Here is the reverse side, 22, 723, 25,27-c,731,733,33c
Most have logo with Made in USA

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's the logo I suspected. Wartime and immediate postwar. KW and later were marked on the shank. The 723, 25, and 27-C are jeep wrench set sizes; those and the 33-C are GMTK wrench set sizes. They're your grandfather's tools, and probably keepsakes. If not, just as a word of advice and warning, that 723 alone is worth some decent cash. Five years ago, $100 to $125 or so. Less than that now, but no less than $50 or so.

 

[Tostal]

As some of you know, I’ve been rehabbing a 1955 MG. Most of the fasteners on the car are Whitworth sized. Early on in the project, on more than one occasion, I encountered a small sized fastener that was somewhere between 8mm and 11/32”. My smallest Whitworth wrench was too big, and nothing metric or SAE fit either. I eventually discovered that the British also used a fastener size they termed “British Association” or “BA.” The BA sizes range from 0BA (largest) to at least 10BA (smallest) as far as I know. Once I figured out what I needed, I tracked down a set of BA sockets and DOE wrenches (see photos below). As they relate to my MG, I found myself frequently using the 2BA wrench and socket. The 2BA is equal to .324.

Jim C.

Yes, BA often causes some head-scratching the 1st time you encounter them.
Usually found on electrical equipment e.g. distributor, 2 & 3 bobbin dynamo regulators, switches, gauges, S.U. fuel pumps etc. Anytime you see small screws/nuts, especially if they're brass, on old British cars/motorcycles, they'll likely be BA sizes. Thread angle is 47.5 degrees. Nut-drivers used to be available down to maybe 6?BA or so, I found these often easier to use, especially when trying to start such small nuts.

BA was also used up to fairly recently on non-car British electrical goods, electrical plugs, wall sockets (receptacles?), so replacement fasteners are probably still easily available in the U.K.

T~

 

[LesserSon]

Pre-emptive apology: I feel like I’ve asked and been answered, here or on some other thread. I’m going through previously-neglected DOEs, and these came to hand. One is a standard 731A, but is only marked (Q/O/0)1191 DB 46. The other two are mirrored twins: 36944.
Recognize these numbers?
Edit - Q1191DB46 is Dodge Brothers kit wrench?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

June must be Weyersberg Select Steel (Germany) month. Last June (post #794, page 40) I found a single wrench with 9/16" x 1/2" openings at the flea market. The bugle logo is what attracted me. The research (see that post) was enlightening and fun. Today I found a near-complete Weyersberg Select Steel wrench set in a nifty pinch holder.

It includes the following wrenches:
25/32 x 7/8
5/8 x 3/4
19/32 x 11/16
1/2 x 9/16

Unfortunately, the one I found last year is a duplicate of the smallest wrench of the four (4) inside the holder.

No idea what the missing sizes are, but they're smaller. If I had to guess based on the pattern (notice no duplicate ends!), maybe 3/8 x 7/16 and 13/32 x 5/16.

 

[BlueBomber]

Barn-fresh pair of No 41 Indestro Chicago DOEs, 1-7/16" x 1-5/8", 3.75 lbs each

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[Private Lugnutz]

I just took this Kraeuter, picked up at the flea market on Friday morning, out of the Metal Rescue tub. It did not age nearly as well as the "S" wrench cousin it is pictured with, which I reported back on page 31, post #609.

I'll need to find one more to make it a collection, per my own rule of thumb, but now that I have two of them I took a closer look at the characteristics.

The regular DOE has an extremely thin shank. Other than that, they appear to have been made in the same era. Guessing late 20's or early 30's.

Old school markings with the milled opening sizes and the nut and bolt sizes in Hex cap and USS standards that the openings fit. The model numbers (B2832, C2428) are the openings on both ends in 32/nds - 28/32" (or 7/8") x 32/32" (or 1"), and 24/32" (or 3/4") x 28/32" (or 7/8").

Guessing that the B and C prefixes signify the standard and "S" wrenches.

 

[JR 42]

I really like the forged K's in diamonds and the logo font... and the quotation marks! The smaller one looks a lot like a check nut wrench.

 

[Outlawmws]

Those are cool Lugz! I've never seen Krauter wrenches, only pliers and newer sockets made by someone else for them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Imagine a time when this much aesthetic design thought went into something as practical as a wrench. And yes, JR, almost certainly a check nut wrench. Just like the longer descendants used for tappet adjustments.

 

[leg17]

.....
Guessing that the B and C prefixes signify the standard and "S" wrenches./QUOTE]

Standard wrenches have A prefix.
B is for 'S' wrench and C for check nut wrench.
AA has a tappet wrench with prefix O.
I have never seen another.

 

[Mintgrun]

I picked up this little set of Vlchek wrenches in a Kraueter holder.






These Vlchek wrenches are not as refined as the others I have. You can see the difference in how they treated the edges of the tools.



I was happy to find the largest one of these that same day.



That clip holder on the German wrenches sure is cool!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That clip holder on the German wrenches sure is cool!

I wish I had a few more of them! They're very simple but effective, and I have several partial or near complete sets going wrapped up in rubber bands.

 

[Username already in use]

I have several partial or near complete sets going wrapped up in rubber bands.

I've been using cable ties... At least a rubber band is reusable.

 

[Mintgrun]

I use rubber bands too. I like to cut them out of bicycle inner tubes using a paper cutter, but scissors work fine too.

It is funny just how much variety there is between tubes in terms of size/thickness/elasticity/etc..

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've been using cable ties... At least a rubber band is reusable.

I 've tried cable ties and zip strips. The problem with DOE (and DBE) wrenches is the shanks aren't uniform and don't cooperate, so they work loose in both of those, in my experience, and then start falling out with handling.

 

[Outlawmws]

The inner tubes for rubber bands is a good idea. Std Office supply bands just rot away within a year...

 

[Shelbylex]

One more wrench: Billings for Davis and Furber Machine Company 80S

This one goes together with wrench of Private Lugnuts 78S pictured here :
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7524671&postcount=665

 

[r_olson_06]

I just took this Kraeuter, picked up at the flea market on Friday morning, out of the Metal Rescue tub. It did not age nearly as well as the "S" wrench cousin it is pictured with, which I reported back on page 31, post #609.

I'll need to find one more to make it a collection, per my own rule of thumb, but now that I have two of them I took a closer look at the characteristics.

The regular DOE has an extremely thin shank. Other than that, they appear to have been made in the same era. Guessing late 20's or early 30's.

Old school markings with the milled opening sizes and the nut and bolt sizes in Hex cap and USS standards that the openings fit. The model numbers (B2832, C2428) are the openings on both ends in 32/nds - 28/32" (or 7/8") x 32/32" (or 1"), and 24/32" (or 3/4") x 28/32" (or 7/8").

Guessing that the B and C prefixes signify the standard and "S" wrenches.

You want to start a collection? 3/4" X 13/16" S Shaped.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You want to start a collection? 3/4" X 13/16" S Shaped.

I guess I have to now! Put it in the trade pile.

 

[LesserSon]

I found a 1028-S 'chrome vanadium steel' wrench (Duro/Indestro) at the flea last weekend. Looks to be wartime production as well.[/IMG]

Early perhaps. They were making those in the late 1930's and one could reasonably assume right up to alloy restrictions (1941-2), when they presumably started on the (X) and G- series.

I plucked these two 1028S DOEs from obscurity yesterday. Arcturus with FSN and Duro/Indestro with an all-over (including gullets) OD paint job that has mostly worn off.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice finds, LS.