Small Style

[alton1911]

I noticed a thread recently about Oxwall midget wrenches. I commented several times and learned quite a bit about some of the lesser known or low end tool manufacturers that were commonly produced here in the USA.
It got me thinking about some of the examples of small wrenches I have seen that were big on STYLE but small on scale.
The KAL is Japan, the rest are US made.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have enjoyed collecting small wrenches as well as small pliers and such. Here is a herbrand set from I think 1940ish....

 

[alton1911]

I have enjoyed collecting small wrenches as well as small pliers and such. Here is a herbrand set from I think 1940ish....

Very Cool. The only ones that I have found in sufficient numbers to build a set, have been the Craftsman.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They turn up usually with other tools. Here are some williams "super wrenches" that I found mixed in a 1/4" socket set

 

[Gmonkee]

Many times the wrenches and sockets came together as a kit for ignition work. Check the old catalogs to see if yours might have.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

These bluepoint wrenches came in a 9/32 midget master set

 

[MShaw]

Here's mine. My 1972 SO ignition set, a set of 1970s New Britain miniature combos and two miniature DBEs from New Britain in the same era.

 

[alton1911]

Here's mine. My 1972 SO ignition set, a set of 1970s New Britain miniature combos and two miniature DBEs from New Britain in the same era.

Wow. I dont think i have ever seen a wrench roll up for midget wrenches.
I usually see all in one pouch or just loose.

Thanks.

 

[d42jeep]

I have several Duro Chrome ignition wrench sets but here is my best one. It is a 1945 set containing the ultra rare Duro screwdriver, most of which handles disintegrated over the years.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That is in exceptional condition

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. Here is another set in a reproduction leather roll that was made in Australia. As you can see, the original roll was really trashed!
-Don

 

[alton1911]

I guess the tool rolls have not endured as well as wrenches have. Very cool.
Where did you get the reproduction roll?
Thanks,
alton1911

 

[four.cycle]

OldTuleGuy those are some nice sets you've got there!

I dont think i have ever seen a wrench roll up for midget wrenches.

I think almost every major tool manufacturer in the US at some point manufactured sets of small ignition wrenches that were in roll-up pouches.

here's a few of mine:





... and the unobtainium screwdriver:

 

[d42jeep]

I guess the tool rolls have not endured as well as wrenches have. Very cool.
Where did you get the reproduction roll?
Thanks,
alton1911

Thanks for asking. This link will provide information about the repro rolls

http://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=292425

-Don

 

[potato]

this reminds me of the show your small tools thread. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143056

 

[d42jeep]

OldTuleGuy those are some nice sets you've got there!



I think almost every major tool manufacturer in the US at some point manufactured sets of small ignition wrenches that were in roll-up pouches.

here's a few of mine:





... and the unobtainium screwdriver:

Hey, BK, what are you doing with one of my unobtainium screwdrivers?
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have a stash of the tool rolls somewhere. Here are some more little wrenches and pliers....

 

[48RON54]

I have craftsman ones I bought around 10 years ago. Sometimes that is the only tool that is going to fit in the space available. I'm not particularly happy with the quality of them, but then again once I've gotten to the midget wrench I have exhausted all other options and am sufficiently frustrated lol.

 

[four.cycle]

Hey, BK, what are you doing with one of my unobtainium screwdrivers?

Funny thing is.... those weren't even on my radar screen until somebody else here (might have been you) used the term "unobtainium" when referring to that unit.
I've had one kicking around in my tool box for over 40 years. Never use it. I prefer the little Rosco models, actually.
I've picked up several of the clear-and-white handled (later) models - two of them NOS, and that one yellow-handled unit was on Ebay at a give-away price. Obviously the seller figured it was just another screwdriver. I think I paid about $4 bucks for it.
Last month my girlfriend was helping my mom clean out some drawers in her house and they came up with this gem:



If I'm not mistaken, I believe that was the next jump up in size from the model 136.

Somewhere around here I've got a cherry set of old Walden ignition wrenches. Not a clue where they are. A set of Giller as well. Also some of the low-end stamped models in Oxwall, Dunlap, and some oddball Kastar. Can't seem to find a full set of the older forged "Meteor" ones at a decent price, though.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As you can see, the original roll was really trashed!

One man's trash is another man's treasure, as they say, and I think the original is beautiful in very good condition. Better than most of the roll-ups for most of the sets I have collected! But then again, it's all personal preference, and I prefer the authentic look, even if well-used, even ratty, to repro. But you know that.

 

[d42jeep]

As you know, my keeper sets feature original rolls. My problem is that I have accumulated way more wrenches than rolls and these rolls are very well done.
Here is a bunch of Giller ignition wrenches that otherwise would have been residing in a cardboard box or a baggie.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

As you know, my keeper sets feature original rolls.

Yup.

My problem is that I have accumulated way more wrenches than rolls

I would venture to guess that a lot of us have the same problem, Don! I have several partial sets of wrenches going (including Duro x 2, Armstrong, Cornwell, Bonney, and Williams), all in need of a rollup or a box. I am always on the lookout for original roll-ups, even if they were originally for little chisels and punches. As you said, not easy to come by. But the hunt goes on!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here are some little punches and a tiny screw starter. The screw starter is a bluepoint, there is a small p&c cape chisle, some late 40s snapon midget punches and some bluepoint midget punches maybe late 30s?

 

[Gmonkee]

I was given a Duro magneto set in the same roll. We're most of them put into the one type of roll?

Mine is also original and I had to re-sew the cover flap as it was coming off. Now a treasure in the Striksonian collection on display.

 

[potato]

 

[Private Lugnutz]

misplaced.
EDIT: Sorry, this was the correct thread after all.

I was given a Duro magneto set in the same roll. We're most of them put into the one type of roll?

As far as I know, Duro-Chrome ignition wrench sets (No. 1709, with 9 wrenches; No. 1711, with 9 wrenches plus the pliers and screwdriver) have been found in two (2) distinct types of roll-ups: leatherette, and oilcloth.

The leatherette roll-up is shown and described in catalogs (1935, 1939) as "two-tone". The “tones” are not named, but it has been alternately described as red, ruddy brown, or maroon. These have a fabric backing (to which the leatherette substance is impregnated) that is also red, ruddy brown, or maroon, but lighter in shade. These originally include a triangular cloth tag, sewn-in, with the Duro-Chrome name on it. Don posted a wonderful example of one without the name tag, and he may have one with, too.

The oilcloth roll-ups are not shown in any catalog we have access to. They are black. They usually have a white backing (to which the hard "oil" substance is impregnated), although black backings have also been seen. Some of them are substantially sewn, and some crudely (e.g., no edging), suggesting different mfgrs. I have never seen one of these with the Duro-Chrome tag. My conjecture is they were a secondary and perhaps even a replacement source, probably during WWII.

The oilcloth roll-ups can be extremely messy from age, with the oil re-melting, and the folds often stuck together like tar. I have had several. I can search for some examples later, unless Don has photos handier.

I could be wrong, but I have never seen an original black leatherette roll-up, or, conversely, an original red, ruddy brown, or maroon oilcloth roll-up.

What model numbers are on your wrenches?

Prewar: 1761 through 1769 (ostensibly, I have never personally seen any)
Early war: E61 through E69
Late war: G61 through G69
TBD: 861 through 869

 

[four.cycle]

potato, are there any other markings on that tiny bicycle wrench other than "Skasol Hemlock I-5000" ??

 

[Gmonkee]

Mine is a magneto kit with only system names on some of the wrenches, no part numbers. Typically non descript tin wrenches like found randomly in the dirt in the bottom of tool box trays. It was the deluxe set of the 193? catalog page posted in another thread.

I will have to check the backing cloth color but it's thin with a black layer stuck to it. I will edit here later.

 

[four.cycle]

you sure those are Duro? are they the screwball odd-shaped magneto wrenches from the 1920s? stamped "Splitdorf", "Eisemann", "Delco", "Remy", "Bosch", "Northeast", Connecticut", etc. ???

 

[Rick B.]

Here's my small collection of Wizard midget wrenches or what I always referred to as my "ignition wrenches" because that's what I used them on- distributors, magnetos and such.

View media item 79653

 

[Gmonkee]

Yup, those names exactly on a motley crew of odd wrenches and a spark plug gapper. It fit the catalog image and the number of pieces. All with the same patina and the roll kinda formed to each tool.

Having no other suspects for a brand it just might be Duro. But, I am interested in any other options.

 

[potato]

potato, are there any other markings on that tiny bicycle wrench other than "Skasol Hemlock I-5000" ??

just "made in usa"

 

[four.cycle]

These are some of mine:



they might be stamped with their logo:



... or they might not be stamped with the logo. the leatherette pouches were stamped with the logo, but in most cases it is extremely difficult to make it out:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-8-PC-C...GE-SPECIALTY-TOOL-AUTO-ACCESSORY/382344757283 (* see post below for images *)

Gilfillan was just one very obscure source of those early magneto wrenches out of (possibly) dozens of other companies. Most of the sets I see listed on Ebay fall into the "no name" category.

 

[four.cycle]

Set cited in post above to show "GB" logo embossed on leatherette pouch:



Again, Gilfillan was certainly not the only company making those. I've seen them with all kinds of brand names (i.e., "AC Ignition Co.") but most of those I see listed on Ebay are "no names" in tattered pouches.

Look at those old oddballs I've just posted, and then scroll up and look at Rikki Sixx's cherry little set of Wizards. Look again.

GJ member Private Lugnutz posited that the modern-day "ignition wrench" evolved from the old-style "magneto wrench", and his theory makes perfect sense.
In the 1920's you had to have 19 different wrenches to work on every magneto; every one of them required a different wrench. (Take another look at the "Remy" wrench above.)
A set of 8 open-end modern-day ignition wrenches, having 15° and 60° offset heads, accomplishes the task with half as many wrenches.

I hate to imagine what current-day automotive repair would be like if mechanics still had to own a special wrench to accomplish one task:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

GJ member Private Lugnutz posited that the modern-day "ignition wrench" evolved from the old-style "magneto wrench", and his theory makes perfect sense.

While I appreciate the props, the real credit goes to New Britain and Bonney and their c. 1940 catalogs. It was very thoughtful of them to include a table showing the correlation of every unique obsolete magneto wrench and what ignition system it was for to the wrenches in their standardized ignition wrench set, with every opening (both 15* and 60* angle) mimicking one of the old magneto openings. I just happened to notice it and put two and two together. I posted them somewhere, but as usual, I can't remember which thread!

 

[four.cycle]

as you said earlier: too many threads. too hard to find stuff using the search function.
I stumbled across that G.M. hex-drive set above this morning by accident looking for something else!

(oh wait... that was a different thread!)

gotta be a better way.

 

[davethorik]

I have late model USA made Craftsman ignition combo wrenches in metric and sae. I bought them at the same time maybe 3-4 years ago. The sae look like they are actual miniature forgings, but the metric set looks stamped. Nothing special.

I don't have quite the collections of some of you, but I always liked this Powr-Kraft set. The wrenches are forged doe, with a set of ignition pliers, in possibly one of the smallest wrench rolls I have ever seen. There is no coo anywhere.

 

[four.cycle]

^ those are nice. do they have a part number stamped on them anywhere?

 

[davethorik]

^ those are nice. do they have a part number stamped on them anywhere?

None of the tools have numbers (just POWR-KRAFT and sizes), but the pouch has 84-4709 on it.

 

[four.cycle]

^ that would be the part number for the kit.
if they had part numbers stamped on each piece you'd probably be able to tell who made them ("W" for Wright, "H" for Thorsen). I would assume they're US made, and most likely were made by a top-notch company. (Definitely not Duro/Indestro, though.)