Spreading the Bonney affliction!

[RTM]

Found several tools today awaiting for the trash day...
Bonney 2553 Lug Nut Wrench

Can not find much on it. Expired ad on e-bay hints that it's for Willys / Jeep, but mine are 6 point vs the expired ad (no pictures) stating 12 point

Can not see the sizes (it's a little rusty, will look in AM again). Does anybody know the sizes, the age and if it was for specific purpose (?Willys war time kit (doubt that...))

let’s see what the catalogs say


No. 2553
Bonney Rim Wrench, made of Chrome-Vanadium Steel has double-hexagon openings 5/8 inch, 3/4 inch 13/1 6 inch and 7/8 inch.

Catalog of Bonney Wrenches and Tools : Catalog No. 134 : Bonney Forge & Tool Works : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

52 p., illus., 21.3 cm, trade catalog

archive.org

Or we could believe an eBay seller.

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, RTM!!!

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Got this big ol bonney screwdriver, super happy to have, my first one in my 130+ screwdriver collection. Handle cleaned up with scotch brite then a coat of paste wax. My brother is a wizard with the belt sander and fixed up the tip for me.
Before

After

 

[LesserSon]

Picked up two Bonney items today, a 3426 tappet wrench from Jan1949 and an 8” Stillson from somewhere between 1909-1921.
When I scraped rust from the reverse side of the Stillson, “P&R” appeared. (The photo makes it look a bit like “R&R”, but I don’t think so.) EDIT - here’s another look at a different angle:
I had hoped this would help to narrow the dates, but it doesn’t. “Philadelphia & Reading” Railroad was established in 1833 to transport anthracite coal to Philadelphia. It grew through acquisition and diversification until forced to break up 1Jan1924, adopting the moniker “Reading Company,” though retaining the “Philadelphia & Reading” among other Lines, until bankruptcy in 1971 and Conrail absorbtion in 1976.
What people call “railroad wrenches” are often 3-4 feet long, so I wonder what this 8-incher was used for…maybe the coffee maker? Anyway, at 102-114 years, it embodies the old inter-related industries of Coal, Rail and Steel in eastern PA.

 

[ararat]

Hello, I got these Bonney PE-14, 16, 18, and 20 wrenchs that I can't seem to find anything about online. I found them listed in a 1956 price list, but not in any catalogs. I got them BIN with some other random Bonney wrenchs that are still soaking. Thought that this thread might be the place to post them.

 

[3baygarage]

Wow. Now those are different.

 

[ararat]

They don't appear to be modified or welded or anything. Pretty sure they were made like that. Going by the price list, these are the only sizes they made. I looked through the New Britain catalogs from the mid 50's and they didn't have anything comparable.

The other Bonneys that came with them are much older. I'll post them after I get them cleaned up.

 

[LesserSon]

I’m sure I saw a couple of those with chrome still on them. Can’t recall where - maybe eBay. I looked through likely catalog pdfs and didn’t find anything.

 

[LesserSon]

Today I paid $5 for the Union box on the left, mostly for the tote-tray. It will be get a coat of red and nestle perfectly into the Bonney box on the right, which is a few years older, but dimensionally identical.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've seen those knuckle handled SOEs before, right here on GJ, but I can't remember where. Not Bonney, I don't think. I'm going to tag @MR.X. For some reason I think he may have a few. I could be wrong.

 

[ararat]

Finally found it. It was insulated. Ad from 1956 Commercial Car Journal.

 

[ararat]

I feel like I have seen similar wrenches before that were not insulated, but I can't remember either.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Very cool.

 

[ararat]

Here's another ad from the same magazine for x-9 geared head wrench in case anyone needs it.

 

[ararat]

Here are the rest of the wrenches that arrived with the PE Set. Obviously much older. If anyone needs any of these let me know.

 

[Provincial]

Here's another ad from the same magazine for x-9 geared head wrench in case anyone needs it.

Also known as a torque multiplier.

 

[RTM]

Here is a grab from a GS last weekend. Didn't even notice the name, just grabbed it based on the beefed up jaw structure (5/16" & 11/32" thick).

Bonney 527 5/16" x 3/8" square openings, most likely for square headed set screws. There is a forged in mark that looks like WX / DG (small end, 2nd pic), but part of the W is truncated. There is a Simple Green bath in its future. I think the Black Enamel is long gone on mine

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Got this PH20 soft face hammer from the flea market yesterday for 2 bucks , does anyone know if the faces are replaceable?

 

[LesserSon]

I think there are three options:
Smooth up what’s left with a rasp/file (that’s what I’d do with that one - it seems to have some use left in it),
Make your own from similar material, like a beaten-up **** chisel handle.
Look for NOS Stanley faces (part no. 595A).
I have done all three, and would be delighted if anyone has better options.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

Are the screwed in? If they are these ones are REALLY in there.

 

[LesserSon]

Not screwed, just a tight fit. The material has to have some elasticity.
If you’re really determined to get them off, put the soft face in a vise (with a pad if you don’t want to ruin it). It doesn’t have to have a lot of pressure - just so it doesn’t slide out of the vise. Then use the handle as a lever to twist and apply upward pressure. It’s really a two-handed operation, but I’m holding my phone with the hand I’d pull upward near the head.
I think I used an 11/32” drill bit when I made some faces.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

I’ll probably use the faces it has until they crumble to nothing, then I’ll try and make up some new ones.

 

[RTM]

I’ll probably use the faces it has until they crumble to nothing, then I’ll try and make up some new ones.

Sometimes they shatter, not crumble, test somewhere while wearing safety glasses, where the mess can be cleaned up easily.

 

[1320]

I got the 3/8" Cam Lock today to complete (?) my set.



Earlier this year, I saw two 1" Cam loc wrenches on eBay, although neither were from the same set/era as these.

Maybe my 9/16" is not the same era as my others...

 

[Mikeske]

Maybe my 9/16" is not the same era as my others..

At first glance they all appear to be the same era. They had only a limited run of a few years and mainly they were made for the military and aerospace companies

 

[bonneyman]

Nice set, 1320!

I've got up to 7/8", but never used that big of one. The 1/2", 9/16" and 5/8" see regular use.

 

[1320]

At first glance they all appear to be the same era. They had only a limited run of a few years and mainly they were made for the military and aerospace companies

The 9/16" is different in how the inset recessed edges are. I think that's newer than the others, but I'm unsure.

Nice set, 1320!

I've got up to 7/8", but never used that big of one. The 1/2", 9/16" and 5/8" see regular use.

I have a few beater ones to use, but collected these ones to collect. I occasionally use the 9/16" and 5/8" on 1/4" and 3/8" air brake fittings.

 

[swshawaii]

I've seen those knuckle handled SOEs before, right here on GJ, but I can't remember where. Not Bonney, I don't think. I'm going to tag @MR.X. For some reason I think he may have a few. I could be wrong.

Spreading the Bonney affliction!

15/16 unknown number I don't know how many other DBE wrenches belong to this set or if I have the whole set already, so if anyone has any insight please let me know! Odds are that chopped wrench was probably a 2810 (15/16" x 1"), but given the 25/32" opening he had (2808B), maybe a 2810A...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[ararat]

Finally found it. It was insulated. Ad from 1956 Commercial Car Journal.

Here's two PE series wrenches fresh off the auction site with the insulated handles still intact.

 

[ararat]

I got the 3/8" Cam Lock today to complete (?) my set.



Earlier this year, I saw two 1" Cam loc wrenches on eBay, although neither were from the same set/era as these.

Maybe my 9/16" is not the same era as my others...

I have a few Cam-Lock with the "k". The 5/8" was stamped on the opposite sides as the other 2.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks @swshawaii

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I got the 3/8" Cam Lock today to complete (?) my set.

You can see your set in the 1977 catalog on the Internet Archive's International Tool Catalog Library here. It's complete.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who has ever used a CAM-LOC wrench to find out that the prior art Alfred Kavalar cited in the application for his 1951 patent (2,550,010) had nothing to do with wrenches! They were all freewheeling clutches and sprockets. Why? As an Ordnance Dept mechanic in WWII he jury-rigged a trigger mechanism into a ratcheting device with a very short arc-swing to tighten hydraulic fittings. After the war, he used his idea to design the CAM-LOC for the company who shrewdly hired him – The Kramer Fabricating Company, in St Claire Shores, just outside Detroit. T.K.F. made them and they also licensed them to others, including Snap-on, Swagelok, GM United Motor Service, and Kelsey-Hayes in the 50's.

I have all kinds of CAM-LOC's but I have never seen a Bonney CAM-LOC (no "K") wrench.

When Alfred Kavalar applied for his Loc-Rite patent in 1961, he was no longer the chief engineer for T.K.F., he was working for Kelsey-Hayes. The patent (3,125,910) was granted in 1964, the same year Utica, a division of K-H, bought Bonney. The "Loc-Rite" name was trademarked by Kelsey-Hayes in 1965, first use 1964, and placed on wrenches branded Kelsey-Hayes, Utica, and Bonney.

In 1967, Utica, Bonney and Herbrand all became Triangle.

In 1977 the 17-year utility patent expired, but probably not any trademark or copyright on the name CAM-LOC.

So they added a "K".

Or something like that, I am guessing.

 

[1320]

...

Thanks for the info.

Looks like there is a Bonney branded 1" I'll be on the look out for.

 

[dchawk81]

Kinda depresses me every time I drive by the plant to think it's just silly things like fittings being made in there these days.

 

[LesserSon]

Next time you drive by, consider that the oil, gas nuclear and hydroelectric industries couldn’t function without those silly fittings.

 

[dchawk81]

Next time you drive by, consider that the oil, gas nuclear and hydroelectric industries couldn’t function without those silly fittings.

Yawnfest.

 

[Arne73]

Such as..

Next time you drive by, consider that the oil, gas nuclear and hydroelectric industries couldn’t function without those silly fittings.

 

[Stubby1743]

Is this small (3 1/4") spanner made be the same Bonney company? I can't find anything that looks similar.

 

[ararat]

Is this small (3 1/4") spanner made be the same Bonney company? I can't find anything that looks similar.

Looks like it. It has the date code on it too. Some of their wrenches have the raised letters.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That style - simplistic forged-in branding and size markings, all on the top- and flip-sides of the shank - is very characteristic of their economy line and wartime production DBE wrenches, which is consistent with the 1943 date code. But I don't ever recall seeing a DOE wrench in this style before. On such a small wrench, with that ISN, and nothing on the major or minor jaws, it's a really sweet looking wrench.

Nice find.