Show off your DOE's!

[LesserSon]

Picked this guy up today at the flea. I think it says DASCO 4-727.
I see regular DOEs with one or both faces ground narrower for some job or other, but this one is forged that way.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like a wedgehead wrench

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Dasco....as in Damascus steel?

 

[Outlawmws]

I doubt it - Dasco usually sells punches and chisels in my experience - still in business too! US made but sort of soft, I had some bent pin punches, and while they list NO warranty, they did send me replacements?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It is indeed the same DASCO as Damascus Steel Products Corp of Rockford, Illinois, the one and only. They go back much earlier than most people think. 1922 to be exact. That "C.S." size marking signifies the head of the "Cap Screw" that it fits. Mintgrun has a wedge head just like it from the same early markings era. And Otg and I each have DASCO socket sets. Not sure about the end wrenches, but I am pretty sure the socket sets were made by Hinsdale. See the DASCO thread in the Sticky Index and I have a link to Mintgrun's wrench thread in one of my posts in the same thread.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That must be an early wedgehead. Very curious about the maker.

 

[Outlawmws]

Ah, I wasn't aware you meant a company name; with just "Damascus steel" I was thinking he material...

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Ahh I see what you mean. I don't know if dasco actually made any wrenches, but the forementioned socket set was a hinsdale looking product.

 

[Mintgrun]

Mintgrun has a wedge head just like it from the same early markings era.

You're memory amazes me, Lugz.

It's fun to see another one. Mine's just like it but one size smaller. I guess another difference is that all of the markings are on the same side of my wrench and the other side is blank. This inspired me to dig it out and snap a few fresh photos.





Mine only has C,S, markings on one end though. The other says 1/4 NUT. The weird thing is, I just measured it and both ends are .508". Yet, it doesn't look like the openings have been modified.





Tom

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You're memory amazes me, Lugz.

I never forget an interesting wrench!

Mine only has C,S, markings on one end though. The other says 1/4 NUT. The weird thing is, I just measured it and both ends are .508". Yet, it doesn't look like the openings have been modified.

Yours is a bit of an oddball.

As I explained the first time you posted it, "NUT" refers to U.S.S. nut. U.S.S. nuts and bolts were slightly bigger than their A.L.A.M., Am. Std, S.A.E., and Hex Cap counterparts. A nut made to U.S.S. standards with a 1/4" thread diameter and the head of a bolt made to Hex Cap Screw standards with a 5/16" thread diameter both had the same across-the-flats diameter: 1/2". Based on the size markings on your wrench, both ends should have the same nominal milled opening, and based on your measurement, they do.

The marking on the shank is (3-25), which looks like a model number with the "ISN" built in, isn't correct, though. A "25" ISN wrench is 1/2" 19/32". I didn't notice that the first time you posted it and did not comment on that before.

LesserSon's is a 4-727 and if its nominal milled openings (should be 9/16" x 5/8") match the size markings (3/8" C.S. x 7/16" C.S.) that is the right "ISN".

These are called "double beveled" wrenches and they are in the 1925 catalog on IA/ITCL.

One last comment. I never use a micrometer or digital calipers on old wrenches, because they are actually too precise for the manufacturing process and standards and the readings will drive you crazy. Seriously.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's an excerpt. Your 3-25 wrench is the DASCO No. 333 wrench in this 1922 catalog and LS's 4-727 is the DASCO No. 342. The "Std. Nuts" column is U.S.S. It looks like maybe later they tried to adopt to the Williams model numbering emerging as the standard. And again, messed yours up. Or thought they could just pick the closest. I don't think there even is an ISN for a DOE wrench with the same milled openings!

 

[Mintgrun]

Thank you for explaining that again. I hear what you're saying about using calipers to measure wrenches, but it's not going to stop me! I did round off the measurements on this wrench, to keep from seeming too crazy. One side measures .508" and the other .510". I figured they were simply " 1/2 inch + a little clearance." DOE wrenches with the same size, but different offset angles make sense, but this one seems redundant; unless someone really was that obsessive with size/fitment. (which I tend to doubt)

Tom

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah definitely odd, but clearly factory intent.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Two new pick ups from the pawn shop yesterday. I always grab the wrenches with car brands on them. So that adds Fiat to my collection I have Toyota and Mercedes already. Then the other one I just thought was cool and it was with the Fiat wrench so I figured why not I’ll pick it up.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Buffum Tool Co

 

[Ricky Joe]

Two new pick ups from the pawn shop yesterday. I always grab the wrenches with car brands on them. So that adds Fiat to my collection I have Toyota and Mercedes already. Then the other one I just thought was cool and it was with the Fiat wrench so I figured why not I’ll pick it up.

Come see me and I’ll add Peugeot and Pierce-Arrow to your collection! I assume you already have Ford!

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Come see me and I’ll add Peugeot and Pierce-Arrow to your collection! I assume you already have Ford!

Thanks. I haven’t forgotten about coming I’ve just been so busy. I’ll try to make it over this weekend.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up this oddball at the flea this morning. It has very squat, almost squared off jaws, but the weird logo and the dual metric and imperial sizing in those recessed panels is what first caught my eye. Not only do I not know what mfgr used that logo, I'm not even sure what that logo is supposed to be. Is that a stag head and a rack of antlers? A pawprint? If I didn't think it was German, I'd say it almost looks like a baseball mitt! I'll probably have to double down in the 'Old World' thread if there's any chance of identifying it.

 

[Outlawmws]

It wuz Aliens!

 

[Username already in use]

@Private Lugnutz maybe a stag?
Germans seemed to like using deer on things.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah that was my first guess. (Are you agreeing with me? Or did I catch you pulling an Evelyn Wood again?)

 

[Username already in use]

Probably a bit of both...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Well it's good to know that's what you're seeing, too.

 

[four.cycle]

I think UNAIU's take is probably correct on the "stag" part, but it could be Czech or Danish or Swedish too - "stag" motifs are certainly not exclusive to German-made stuff.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was the first one who mentioned a stag and antlers, and I was also the first person who mentioned Germany. I say that not because I am concerned about credit, but attribution, protecting UNAIU from responsibility of error in the process.

To address your points, yes, stags and the motifs in culture are found all over Europe and Scandinavia, but I wasn't guessing the wrench was German because of the stag. I was guessing it was German because whenever I see wrenches made for export to English markets with dual metric and imperial sizing, they seem to be German, which seemed to have the will and mfgring capacity for it more than other countries in the era this wrench was probably made. That could all be wrong, too. Just explaining my rationale. The stag fits that, as well, but it was secondary.

 

[four.cycle]

oooo that part of the equation hadn't occurred to me, but leave it to me to be oblivious to the obvious....

That is the third (or fourth?) mystery tool logo we've seen here in the last month. Maybe we should have a "can you ID this logo?" thread?

 

[LesserSon]

I agree with Outlaw. Alien, or perhaps rooster.
Actually, there IS a Red Rooster tool company, and their logo has a passing resemblance, but they specialize in agricultural pruning tools.

 

[LesserSon]

Or this Rami-Yokota brand

 

[d42jeep]

No need for a Rorschach test on this ignition wrench but is it Caterpillar?
-Don

 

[RyanE]

I recently acquired a few more DOE's in a random tool bin purchase so I thought I would dig out the rest and post then up.


From the top:
Gray 7/8×25/32;
Controlled Steel 7/8×25/32;
Gray "Dreadnought" 13/16×5/8;
Barcalo (?) "Geometric Panel" 3/4×5/8; Hardened & Tempered "Japan" (unknown) 3/4×5/8;
Penens Corp Chicago USA 3/4×5/8; Controlled Steel 11/16x19/32;
Canada Forge Welland Ont 11/16×19/32; Gray "Dreadnought" 1/2×7/16;
Gray "1723" 7/16×3/8.

It is very interesting to note that the Controlled Steel, Penens Corp and Canada Forge all look to be the same manufacturer, with similar pattern and the same style of letter-digit-digit batch ID. Anyone have any insight on this?

Also - does anyone have any idea on how to determine manufacturer date of the Gray wrenches? The topmost one seems to be quite old and of similar pattern to the Billings and other manufacturers of the 1920's and 1930's. Similarly for the Gray "Dreadnought" series.



Moving on, from the top, we have a user modified Vlcheck IA1442 tappet wrench;
Snap On (Canada) 1/2×9/16 tappet wrench;
Blue Point Supreme (Canada) 1/2×7/16;
SK-Wayne 9/16×1/2;
Gray Maple Leaf 19mmx18mm;
Gray Maple Leaf 17mmx15mm;
Proto Los Angeles 3/4×5/8;
and a Proto Los Angeles 7/16×3/8.



And finally, we have a group of 4 Gray Ignition wrenches and a teensy tiny Indestro 7mmx6mm! The Indestro was in a "free" bin at a yard sale, along with some crappy IKEA tools and broken screwdrivers. Score!

I've also got the ubiquitous Craftsman -V- full sets of SAE and Metric DOE (will dig those up and grab some pics) as well as several partial sets of Westward, Jet and Crewline. It seems that the DOE import wrenches are quite frequently found at yard/estate sales in my area.

 

[four.cycle]

^ the Indestro 40607 was not included in most the metric open-end wrench sets that Indestro offered, and is usually the most difficult one to find in that series. (No doubt its diminutive size was a major contributing factor to their being almost non-existent.)

"Controlled Steel" was a moniker used by J.P. Danielson, Jamestown, NY / "Bet'r-Grip" "Auto Kit" / http://alloy-artifacts.org/danielson-jp-company.html / http://alloy-artifacts.org/danielson-jp-company.html#history / http://toolarchives.com/node/115 /

I know nothing about the others.

 

[RyanE]

Thanks 4cycle!

I figured the Indestro was a rare one! Even more so here in Western Canada. I'm not sure what retailer would have carried them here when they were new.

 

[four.cycle]

us.

we were the only account Indestro had in the PNW.

there were some Duro-Chrome accounts scattered about south of here, but we were the sole distributor of Indestro up here.

the factory representative, Guy Wheaton, lived in Walnut Creek, California, and only drove up here maybe once a year.

 

[99TDR]

I have some old Craftsman I got for as a young budding wrench turner. And some probably came from my dad, as he got his combo's. I've got odd balls from who knows where that came with what ever. I have more stamped steel ones that came with like chain saws and stuff , and bicycle tool kits. I keep them in a POS draw, so as needed they come out and get modified for some sensor or hard to fit in spot. The 15mm is ground down thinner, but not too thin, to get onto the hex head of disk brake pin and between it's flange and the ear of the caliper. Need to hold the pin from turning as breaking loose the retaining bolt.. and torqueing it during reassembly.
I've got some more who knows where.

 

[four.cycle]

^ those are some nice old CM open-ends there. I am assuming they are the =V= production code (on the other side) -

welcome to the site!

 

[LesserSon]

That Bridgeport Pyramid looks a little off-spec on the 18mm end, LOL!

 

[four.cycle]

^ Bridgeport's "metric" sizing is hilarious. I own a set of their "Hy-Bar" models.

 

[Tostal]

I picked up this oddball at the flea this morning. It has very squat, almost squared off jaws, but the weird logo and the dual metric and imperial sizing in those recessed panels is what first caught my eye. Not only do I not know what mfgr used that logo, I'm not even sure what that logo is supposed to be. Is that a stag head and a rack of antlers? A pawprint? If I didn't think it was German, I'd say it almost looks like a baseball mitt! I'll probably have to double down in the 'Old World' thread if there's any chance of identifying it.

Could it be Skoda? (a Czechoslovakian car manufacturer, now part of the VW group). The stamping in the wrench seems to be the mirror image of the Skoda logo i.e. the arrow is pointing to the left away from the feathers.



The Skoda logo consists of a winged arrow pointing to the right with either 3 or 5 feathers in a circle. The arrow represents speed, the wings = progress and freedom, the eye = precision and the circle = unity, completeness, world and harmony. The story goes that Emil Skoda (the founder of Skoda), while on travel in the U.S. was so taken with a Native American's feathered headdress, that he used elements of it as inspiration in creating his logo.

~Tostal.

 

[99TDR]

^ those are some nice old CM open-ends there. I am assuming they are the =V= production code (on the other side) -

welcome to the site!

Thank you! I'd have to look and take a pix of the dark side of 'em. Try and remember the next time I'm out there.
The CM are about 40 years old if not older.

That Bridgeport Pyramid looks a little off-spec on the 18mm end, LOL!

Yea, that's the only reason I keep 'em, butcher 'em as needed to fit odd ball trouble makers. The 15mm CM is ground down thinner than OEM, but not as thin as a thin wrench sets, still need meat to hold onto the brake pin and "brake'r "loose.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is an unusual DOE I found at an estate sale yesterday.
-Don