Sorry to hear about your one missing wrench.
I have a set of the later Bonney DBE's short and deep offset in Loc-Rite. They are great in certain tight situations.
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Spreading the Bonney affliction!
- Thread starter bonneyman
- Start date
Sorry to hear about your one missing wrench.
I have a set of the later Bonney DBE's short and deep offset in Loc-Rite. They are great in certain tight situations.
3baygarage
Well-known member
An exciting Bonney find at the flea market.
1/2" drive flip spark plug socket with 5/8" 12 point on one end and 13/16" 6 point on the other end. There's a rubber insert in the center. I kept digging and found the 3/8" to 1/2" adapter with a hex for wrench turning. They must go together based on the part numbers.
I've never seen either piece before, nor have I ever seen a flip spark plug socket.
Socket is # T2026
Adapter is # T2026-1
1/2" drive flip spark plug socket with 5/8" 12 point on one end and 13/16" 6 point on the other end. There's a rubber insert in the center. I kept digging and found the 3/8" to 1/2" adapter with a hex for wrench turning. They must go together based on the part numbers.
I've never seen either piece before, nor have I ever seen a flip spark plug socket.
Socket is # T2026
Adapter is # T2026-1
Attachments
Never saw anything like that before in Bonney. Cool!
twertsy
Well-known member
Doing some research and as a result, I located an original copy of a Bonney Vise & Tool 1886 catalog. 76 pages. I'm in the process of obtaining a scan! It may take a while though.
rickhigginshtbr
Well-known member
1886??!?!?!?!!!! Wow, yes please!!!
Superb! Those look 1st rate! Nice set! We're waiting for those socket photos….
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
My first Bonney wrenches!! Considering completing a set of the 12 point wrenches, not sure what era they are from or how hard it would be to complete the set.
My first Bonney wrenches!! Considering completing a set of the 12 point wrenches, not sure what era they are from or how hard it would be to complete the set.
Nice!
IIRC, those are what's called the Streamline style of wrenches. 1950's
Lots of guys collect those. Not easy to find in good condition.
Your first Bonney wrenches....they won't be your last!
rickhigginshtbr
Well-known member
StillTooManyHobbies
Well-known member
Just noticed this thread. I used long pattern Bonney's when I worked at WVU in the early 80's and remember liking them. I found a 9/16 long pattern that was very rusty, cleaned it up a little, and bought the 2 piece long pattern satin finish set from Epstein's that included the 1/2 and 5/8. I really like the feel of them and the extra length.
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Just got these today at the flea market 
cdsloop
Well-known member
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Many reasons, but off the top of my head. They were an early innovator of off corner engagement for their sockets. Their wrenches have a very solid comfortable feel to them, much nicer then some of their competitors.
Not saying they are any better then snap on of the era, but close or equal.
Not saying they are any better then snap on of the era, but close or equal.
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Bonney used very good steel in their tools, always seeming to be pushing the envelope as regarding new alloys.
Loc-Rite broaching was patented in 1964 - two years ahead of Snap-On's Flank Drive. Rounded, 12-lobed profile designed for more tangential application of torque and less rounding of fasteners. It was an evolution (if you will) to forged steel from a movable pin design patented about 10 years earlier.
Here's some close-ups that show the broaching, and a Cam-Loc ratcheting flare wrench design that started it all.
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Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
More Bonney goodness, no complete sets yet, but working on some
Wakefield
Well-known member
At first the wave shape was only obvious on the 12 point but I think the 6 point which looked to the eye to have sharp angles like most tools actually had a very small chamfer radius in the corners but so small that you have to look at it with a magnifying glass to see it.
Here's an odd "breaker bar" that I received some time ago. It really doesn't look strong enough for high torque 3/8" jobs, but I'm sure it does just fine. I would choose to use it with a reducing adapter so 1/4" drive sockets could be attached for restricted areas. that head is small and thin!
Date code says 1932.
Would love to get the matching 1/2" drive version (model #4081).
Date code says 1932.
Would love to get the matching 1/2" drive version (model #4081).
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Beerman
Well-known member
Bonney, because it is a defunct brand, and had AMAZING quality for the money, is highly regarded.
They made Matco wrenches for a while right before they went out of business. Check out a Matco wrench of that era compared to a Bonney wrench. IMPOSSIBLE to tell them apart, other than the name stamped into the wrench.
Beerman
They made Matco wrenches for a while right before they went out of business. Check out a Matco wrench of that era compared to a Bonney wrench. IMPOSSIBLE to tell them apart, other than the name stamped into the wrench.
Beerman
bob15
Well-known member
Actually it is quite easy to tell a Bonney and Matco wrench apart.....look at the box end. The Matco wrenches do not have the lobular box end that the Deere (1970-80's Bonney-made) or Bonney wrenches have.
Sorry for the huge picture sizes......not sure how to shrink E-bay pictures (where I "borrowed" them from)
Bonney made Matco
Bonney lobular box end
Bonney made Deere
I think so, too!
Some Matco's lacked the Loc-Rite broaching on the box, some had it. Never was able to determine when the years were on this. (John Deere wrenches also were Bonney made for awhile. Don't know the time frame on that, either).
Here's a Matco 15mm angle wrench compared to a Bonney I already had. Very close. The slight variations I chock up to Bonney using older, worn dies for their contract work, while saving the new crisp tooling for their branded stuff. No evidence to support this, just a supposition.
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bob15
Well-known member
Still doubt Bonney would put their Loc-Rite on Matco wrenches. Why would they want to? Matco was direct competition to Bonney, so why give the competition what was then, a superior designed box end? Making wrenches is one thing, giving away the patented design to a competitor, doubt it very much. Furthermore, the box end on a Matco is no different the the older Bon-E-Con wrenches (yes they also had the V-open end), so the tooling was already there.
Selling Loc-Rite tools to Deere isn't hurting business because Deere wouldn't be considered competition. Same as Snap On selling through Cat. I have Deere snowmobile catalogs from the early 80's and late 70's and they all show Bonney Loc-Rite tools.
If someone could come up with a Matco wrench with Loc-rite box ends, then I would believe it. But after years of searching, I still only see a chromed Bon-E-Con wrench labeled Matco, and not true Bonney-branded type tools.
Selling Loc-Rite tools to Deere isn't hurting business because Deere wouldn't be considered competition. Same as Snap On selling through Cat. I have Deere snowmobile catalogs from the early 80's and late 70's and they all show Bonney Loc-Rite tools.
If someone could come up with a Matco wrench with Loc-rite box ends, then I would believe it. But after years of searching, I still only see a chromed Bon-E-Con wrench labeled Matco, and not true Bonney-branded type tools.
3baygarage
Well-known member
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Utica was part of a tool conglomerate for a time along with Bonney and Herbrand. So sometimes you'll find Utica tools that are indistinguishable from Bonney's, and may have Loc-Rite written on them.
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rickhigginshtbr
Well-known member
wow!
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
First Bonney line wrench, I may have over paid, $2, but I wanted it. Now I suppose I need the rest of the set lol
A little Bon E Con set.
A very Herbrandish looking ratchet...
A bit of a rough factory finish, but it's got a butter smooth action.
A comparison pic with an early model Herbrand ratchet. The Herbrand has a vertical
movement shift selector where as the Bon E Con has a horizontal movement shift selector.
A very Herbrandish looking ratchet...
A bit of a rough factory finish, but it's got a butter smooth action.
A comparison pic with an early model Herbrand ratchet. The Herbrand has a vertical
movement shift selector where as the Bon E Con has a horizontal movement shift selector.
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Very nice! My first thought on the ratchet was that it looked like a Proto, but that was just a WAG.
Dave455
Well-known member
What a great thread!
Bonney fans may be surprised to learn that these tools made it a lot further than the U.S.
My Grandfather, in the 20's and 30's was a HUGE fan of American made tools, despite living in London! Together with Blackhawk and Williams sockets and accessories, he collected a huge selection of wrenches by firms such as Billings, Armstrong and of course Bonney!
Many of the Bonney wrenches have more wear than the rest, but that's not due to any inferior quality, but rather that they were his favourite tools, and saw more use!
Even now, in 2015, I can pick up one of those old Bonney wrenches and they have a 'feel' and 'balance' that is hard to explain! I can only liken it to picking up good fountain pen or spraying with a really good spray gun, they look like the others, but feel different!
I think we have to assume, that the guys making those tools back then really did know what they were doing!
Bonney fans may be surprised to learn that these tools made it a lot further than the U.S.
My Grandfather, in the 20's and 30's was a HUGE fan of American made tools, despite living in London! Together with Blackhawk and Williams sockets and accessories, he collected a huge selection of wrenches by firms such as Billings, Armstrong and of course Bonney!
Many of the Bonney wrenches have more wear than the rest, but that's not due to any inferior quality, but rather that they were his favourite tools, and saw more use!
Even now, in 2015, I can pick up one of those old Bonney wrenches and they have a 'feel' and 'balance' that is hard to explain! I can only liken it to picking up good fountain pen or spraying with a really good spray gun, they look like the others, but feel different!
I think we have to assume, that the guys making those tools back then really did know what they were doing!
Here's a Herbrand ratchet I once had that is very close to your Bonney rat, CRT.
Bonney merged with Herbrand in the late 50's, and remained so until they acquisition by Triangle Tools in 1967. So, that should help date your kit.
Bonney merged with Herbrand in the late 50's, and remained so until they acquisition by Triangle Tools in 1967. So, that should help date your kit.
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Another pair of treasures from the Bonney vault.
A 1" combo wrench, chrome is a little pitted and has an owners mark scratched out. But the working surfaces on both ends are really nice. Cost: $3
And a CV speed handle in 1/2" drive that somebody gifted to me.
A 1" combo wrench, chrome is a little pitted and has an owners mark scratched out. But the working surfaces on both ends are really nice. Cost: $3
And a CV speed handle in 1/2" drive that somebody gifted to me.
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twertsy
Well-known member
The man who started it all. Cool!
Username already in use
Well-known member
I've got a handful of wartime Bonney pieces.
Here's an ignition wrench set. I'm missing the #E18 if anyone can help me out, I would sure appreciate it!
Here's an ignition wrench set. I'm missing the #E18 if anyone can help me out, I would sure appreciate it!