Show Your Vlchek Tools

[Leviton]

I was lucky enough to find a non-standard Vlchek. It was made for Caterpillar and the Cat number is 9F22. It's a fuel injection wrench. It is part of a tool kit for a D-8 Cat. I don't know much about NSN's but I believe this is for NSN 2910005369701 that was assigned in 1963.

The wrench has the same opening on each end, but the openings are oriented 90 degrees apart. Each leg is about 4.5 inches long. I think it is a plain steel finish, however, it might have been painted black at one time. There are some black remnants - not positive if the remnants are paint.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was elated to walk up on this partial Vlchek toolset (the one on the left) at the flea market this morning.



It was on a table amidst a mess of old tools all cleared out of a dilapidated garage. All of it was being let go like dollar table tools by one of my favorite house liquidator guys, who was not even paying attention. (Same guy I bought the 1890's jewelers' bench with the little Parker vise on it from several years ago.) Most of the tools were inside the pouch, but not all of them. I had to go fishing for the rest. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure they are original to the pouch and vice versa, or if the other partial toolset to the right (Pierce Arrow) belongs in that pouch. More on that in the Pierce Arrow thread.

 

[four.cycle]

stab in the dark - looks like the "Sterling" is the only one with 12 pockets/tools in the set.
I checked ITCL - earliest *.pdf for Vlcheck is 1934 - look at pages 37-38... might be the "Taxi" set?

(I have a mess of Vlchek stuff ... I should send this off to Mark.)

that is one hell of a find if it is what I think it is.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm not too worried about identifying it precisely, if it even is a Vlchek pouch/set. I had planned to go through the catalogs at my leisure tomorrow morning with an eye on the size of the tools and the size of the pockets with a couple fresh cups of coffee in me.

I do have plenty of contemporary Vlchek tools to load it up!

 

[four.cycle]

^ I wouldn't have gone into the folder and start digging but for ITCL only having one really early catalog. The shape of your pouch doesn't really match those catalog images, but we've already discussed that aspect. Either way - still a pretty fabulous find there.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I wouldn't have gone into the folder and start digging but for ITCL only having one really early catalog.

No worries. The kits they assembled in pouches (love all the names!) can be found in old ads via Google Books. And yes, the 1934 catalog still has the major kits. But I appreciate the effort.

The shape of your pouch doesn't really match those catalog images, but we've already discussed that aspect.

I think the shape matches the Sterling and Taxi kits. The flap in the images is rolled up tightly at the top. You can even see the ******** the left in the Taxi kit pouch. Moreover, the Taxi kit had twelve (12) tools in 12 pockets. Having said all that, the size (width) and order of the pockets don't match. Even if I were to assemble all the right tools to put inside it, the appearance would not match the ads or 1934 catalog, ruining the whole visual effect. I'm starting to think the old codger just happened to have put a number of Vlchek toolkit tools in the pouch. The tools are toolkit tools. It's funny how Vlchek called the wrenches "unfinished." They are completely unmarked. No sizes. No nothing.

 

[four.cycle]

. No sizes. No nothing.

Ooooo that's weird. But they still have the Vlcheck "shield" mark?

(I lost track of this thread somehow. And I'm not at all surprised your kit doesn't really match any of the images I found... I went through the folder twice, thinking "I must have missed something," but still couldn't find an apples-to-apples match.)

 

[z28lsc]

I finally found one of these nice ratchets and it's a 3/8 drive.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice find those are scarce

 

[z28lsc]

Nice find those are scarce

Thanks. I found it on craigslist and the guy didn't want to ship but I offered more than asking price and he accepted. I also got a Hinsdale 3/8 from him.

 

[Provincial]

I got some more Vlchek tools recently.


WBH-series Double Box End wrenches:
4044 1-1/4 x 1-3/8
4043 1-1/4 x 1-5/16
3436 1-1/16 x 1-1/8
3032 (2) 15/16 x 1"
2428 3/4 x 7/8
W1820 DOE 9/16 x 5/8
W1618 DOE 1/2 x 9/16
93 Tappet Chrome Molybdenum 5/8 x 11/16
92 Tappet Chrome Molybdenum 1/2 x 9/16

 

[Snaparxon]

Picked up these today. Appear to be Fleet or Challenger style wrenches marked Vlchek.

 

[Littlebuddy]

A question for you Vlcheck officianados .
Is there a list that shows the different types either by length or screw type please ?
Im trying to ascertain if the screwdrivers shown in the USAAF TO for the tool kit apprentice are /were Vlcheck .
Many many thanks in advance
LB

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is there a list that shows the different types either by length or screw type please ?

If you mean a list of screwdrivers that Vlchek produced before, during and after WWII, absolutely. Go to Internet Archive / International Tool Catalogs Library. There are early and late 1940s catalogs to consult. But I can tell you that they made them and you want to look for examples with black or blonde wooden handles and the Flying V logo on the ferrule. Several on this thread if you want to see examples, including here. Just search on screwdrivers to see more.

Im trying to ascertain if the screwdrivers shown in the USAAF TO for the tool kit apprentice are /were Vlcheck .

I have the same TO (and related TOs, i.e., Crew chief) and they don't identify suppliers. Having said that, Vlchek would be a very reasonable choice for the No. 2 and No. 3 cross-recess screwdrivers, because they are a verified supplier of those particular screwdrivers for Dodge WC onboard toolkits.

EDIT: There are some other good choices. I have a wartime USAAF tool care manual (TM 1-425) that shows tools identifiable by their characteristics. I'll see if I can find it, but I am pretty sure it's online, too. Yes, it is, linked here.

 

[Littlebuddy]

If you mean a list of screwdrivers that Vlchek produced before, during and after WWII, absolutely. Go to Internet Archive / International Tool Catalogs Library. There are early and late 1940s catalogs to consult. But I can tell you that they made them and you want to look for examples with black or blonde wooden handles and the Flying V logo on the ferrule. Several on this thread if you want to see examples, including here. Just search on screwdrivers to see more.

I have the same TO (and related TOs, i.e., Crew chief) and they don't identify suppliers. Having said that, Vlchek would be a very reasonable choice for the No. 2 and No. 3 cross-recess screwdrivers, because they are a verified supplier of those particular screwdrivers for Dodge WC onboard toolkits.

EDIT: There are some other good choices. I have a wartime USAAF tool care manual (TM 1-425) that shows tools identifiable by their characteristics. I'll see if I can find it, but I am pretty sure it's online, too. Yes, it is, linked here.

Thankyou very much for that info !
That has helped alot !!
Now to find the ones I want for sale!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thankyou very much for that info !
That has helped alot !!

You're welcome. Here is a post with a prewar partial toolkit I found at the flea market a few weeks ago with a regular (flat tip) screwdriver.

Now to find the ones I want for sale!

I might could help. I'll look through my stuff and PM you.

 

[Littlebuddy]

You're welcome. Here is a post with a prewar partial toolkit I found at the flea market a few weeks ago with a regular (flat tip) screwdriver.

I might could help. I'll look through my stuff and PM you.

Thankyou very very much

 

[d42jeep]

A variety of Vlchek wrenches recently received from four.cycle.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found this combo at a recent estate sale. Looks to me like it was made after Vlchek was sold to the Plombpire.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Very clean example, Don.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this little 11/32” x 5/16” panel bar Vlchek DOE wrench at a yard sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[Steven 33]

Is this worth putting together?If I have all the tools

 

[59Sled]

Restored this Vlchek hammer a while back.
I picked it up because I was intrigued on how small the handle was for how big the hammer head was.

After some research, I found out Vlchek made auto tool kits.
And a short handled hammer was part of those kits.

Sorry for the bad pics. Had to pull them off of my Facebook post.

 

[four.cycle]

After some research, I found out Vlchek made auto tool kits.

Yes, they offered all kinds of options. Kits for Ford cars. Kits for Chevrolet cars. on and on...

Reading the contents lists on some of these is quite interesting. Early automobiles were repaired with hammers, chisels, and cotter pin removal tools.