Snap on Wedge grip wrench

[Blt2Lst]

I recently acquired this vintage snap on wedge grip wrench 1/2" -7/16".
From the marking, it appears to be of 1953 vintage and looks to have lived a very rough life with all of the chrome wore off.
Just curious if anyone has used such a wrench in the past and on what?
Not sure if it has as much use today as it might have been back in 53 working on cars of that era but snap on though it was innovative at the time or perhaps it was just a gimmick.
I just find it cool and plan on adding it to the old tool collection.

 

[garfunkle24]

Never heard of them but found it very interesting. Thanks for posting.

 

[neophyte]

There are thick designs fir open end wrenches that are standard, and which were standard back when those Snap-On wrenches were made.
A 1953 or thereabouts date, would put production within a decade of WWII ending, so there may have been a large amount of unplated industrial wrenches available as surplus at the time, with the thick open end design.
All a potential wrench purchaser would need would be access to a large brnch grinder or sander, and some cheap surplus wrenches, to basically get the same design at a lower cost.
No clue if that is why the design disappeared, but it would not surprise me.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I would buy a metric set of those if made today. Looks perfect for brake bleeders, tube nuts, etc.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Blackhawk made something similar in that same time frame. Must have been some kind of market that I’m not aware of.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

I got a Blackhawk set from my favorite flea market dealer last year and they have really come in handy. For what it’s worth here is the Alloy Artifacts section on a possible Snap On/Blackhawk connection for these wrenches:

“It's interesting to note that the Wedg-Head wrenches were also sold by Snap-On during the early to mid 1950s. The available examples appear to have been made for Snap-On by Blackhawk, as the finish is the micro-satin chrome used by Blackhawk at that time, and the Snap-On logo looks a little different as well.

Three models were available -- the same three made by Blackhawk -- with models and sizes S-1416W (7/16x1/2), S-1820W (9/16x5/8), and S-2428W (3/4x7/8).”

Found on this page: http://alloy-artifacts.org/blackhawk-innovation-p6.html

 

[mustangarage]

I got a Blackhawk set from my favorite flea market dealer last year and they have really come in handy. For what it’s worth here is the Alloy Artifacts section on a possible Snap On/Blackhawk connection for these wrenches:

“It's interesting to note that the Wedg-Head wrenches were also sold by Snap-On during the early to mid 1950s. The available examples appear to have been made for Snap-On by Blackhawk, as the finish is the micro-satin chrome used by Blackhawk at that time, and the Snap-On logo looks a little different as well.

Three models were available -- the same three made by Blackhawk -- with models and sizes S-1416W (7/16x1/2), S-1820W (9/16x5/8), and S-2428W (3/4x7/8).”

Found on this page: http://alloy-artifacts.org/blackhawk-innovation-p6.html

You said you picked up the 3 piece Blackhawk wedge head wrenches. Did you get them with the pouch ? I’ve been looking to complete my Blackhawk set need 7/16 1/2. Or if I run into a complete set with the pouch would be great. And I already have the snapon set.