Spreading the Bonney affliction!

[Mikeske]

Sad that Elvis and Bonney have so much in common.. The CDs can be reproduced again and again.. Hats off to the Folks that can get their hands on the Bonney tools for a reasonable price.

I had a 90% complete set of the basic mechanics set that included the SAE and Metric sizes in the later full polish design. I bought them over 30 years ago and used them until this year when I retired.

I am now in the process of rebuilding and replacing the damaged, broken and the missing 10%. I never thought about it much until I decided that I needed a new toolbox as my Bonney toolbox was totally worn out and thats when I discovered this site as I was doing research on a good toolbox. I ended up buying a US General Pro 44" toolbox set with top box, roller cabinet, locker and side box.

I have so many tools that I bought over the years that the Bonney's were put in the old Waterloo manufactured toolbox that I originally bought over 30 years ago. I then decided that I would also replace this box also and bought another 44" US General Pro roller cabinet and I took the metal Bonney logo off and mounted it on the new box.

I am happy that I had a good starting point but I still grab my Bonney tools when I am doing projects or when I am working on the cars, truck or tractors and I will continue as long as I have them.

When I originally bought the Bonney's they were the low bid for a basic setup for me leaving active duty Air Force and I used them as a A&P aircraft mechanic. Little did I know I use them my entire career. They are great tools and after all these years I am happy they outlasted my career.

 

[bonneyman]

Sad that Elvis and Bonney have so much in common.. The CDs can be reproduced again and again.. Hats off to the Folks that can get their hands on the Bonney tools for a reasonable price.

I'll admit it's getting harder, as the word gets out and more people are hunting for Bonney. But you never know what you might find or where you will find it.
I suggest you write a list of the Bonney tools you want and their part numbers, and keep that list with you. Whenever you see a yard sale, thrift store, ebay, or estate auction, pull out your list. Keep looking, persevere, stay focused. There's Bonney's to be found out there.

 

[Mikeske]

I also have to say that I have found bonney tools in surprising places and even the older ones I snap them up immediately. Just last week I found a old spark plug wrench from the 1930’s for $2.59 snapped up that baby. It was a antique store. So they are out there.

 

[bonneyman]

I bought an old fashioned timing light off a forum member, and when I opened the package I found a Utica Cam-Loc wrench included as a bonus.

Totally unexpected and unnecessary, but very much appreciated!

 

[Mikeske]

I bought an old fashioned timing light off a forum member, and when I opened the package I found a Utica Cam-Loc wrench included as a bonus.

Totally unexpected and unnecessary, but very much appreciated!

That’s so cool. Just add to the collection. My cam-loc wrench is a cheap one that works half way and then the thing quits. Don’t care I never use them anymore. I have a Lester tool that removes stubborn screws. I have used the Lester a lot working on tractors.

 

[okie18]

My first three bonney/kelsey hayes hauls off of ebay. I don't want to hang them on the montezuma pegs with the other wrenches. They hardly even have any scratches or marks on them. So the search is on for a worthy roll up pouch.

 

[Mikeske]

Found my old Bonney hacksaw number 2823 today digging around in the back of my garage. I was looking for something else and found it.

 

[bonneyman]

My first three bonney/kelsey hayes hauls off of ebay. I don't want to hang them on the montezuma pegs with the other wrenches. They hardly even have any scratches or marks on them. So the search is on for a worthy roll up pouch.

Dang, those ARE nice!

Much better than the Kelsey-Hayes' I had.

 

[Mikeske]

Latest find were a ebay delivery and I went out and found this Bon-E-Con socket at a tool reseller local to me. I also found a Gray made in Canada

 

[LesserSon]

Slight miscalculation today. Ran across a Bonney CH14 nutdriver, and didn’t buy it, because I already have the virtually identical XceLite HS14. When I got home I checked, and poo! It’s not nearly as nice, and has the handle-stink. Also found a C12 cape chisel for $1, but again, didn’t buy it, because it was ground down pretty far, including the width being narrowed toward the point, kind of defeating the purpose of the original design. And - dare I admit it? - a 1/2dr double-square socket. I didn’t buy that because I set it down while looking at something else and completely forgot about it until driving home.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Slight miscalculation today. Ran across a Bonney CH14 nutdriver, and didn’t buy it, because I already have the virtually identical XceLite HS14. When I got home I checked, and poo! It’s not nearly as nice, and has the handle-stink. Also found a C12 cape chisel for $1, but again, didn’t buy it, because it was ground down pretty far, including the width being narrowed toward the point, kind of defeating the purpose of the original design. And - dare I admit it? - a 1/2dr double-square socket. I didn’t buy that because I set it down while looking at something else and completely forgot about it until driving home.

I was not aware that Xcelite made those style drivers for Bonney....now I need to find some!

 

[LesserSon]

AA site finally selling some Bonney:
https://www.ebay.com/i/192321892093
These CV single offset DBEs look to be 1929, except for the 2818 (9/16) - the only one I need.

 

[okie18]

Dang, those ARE nice!

Much better than the Kelsey-Hayes' I had.

Yep. I used the 3/4 the other day. Wondered if I should wrap it in tape first haha

 

[LesserSon]

I was not aware that Xcelite made those style drivers for Bonney....now I need to find some!

Apparently, XceLite made them for Proto, too. https://www.ebay.com/i/391898025484
The blue 3/8 is the Proto.

 

[LesserSon]

Notlob - that roll of 1924/1925 tappet wrenches is nice. It looks like the pair of 403s is date-stamped CQ, while the pair of 402s is stamped GQ? The transition from having the forged-in B-shield & “Made in USA” on the shank and not having it on the shank (“Made in USA” stamped under the embedded-shield “Bonney” on the face) is supposed to take place around EQ, and (if I’m seeing the codes right) your wrenches support that observation.

 

[Mikeske]

Here is something that is now rare! A hacksaw blade branded Bonney. Found the blade digging through more stuff today. I actually had more of them when I bought the kit back in 1983 but I have apparently used the rest.

 

[dutchgray]

Well these are my recent Bonney wrench purchases.
View media item 75362Still plenty more to find, really looking for an industrial finish short 8mm as that would complete that set.

 

[LesserSon]

And another set!
https://www.ebay.com/i/192328093890
I think the 2816 is a Zenel, not CV. The two largest are interesting in the way the offset is a tighter radius than the standard sizes.

 

[Mikeske]

Well todays haul is a Bonney diagonal cutter off eBay. Also from EBay 3 new wrenches a 1", 1 1/16th" and 1 1/8th" wrench and from a a pawn shop a Mac 9/16ths" wrench. I not certain the Mac was made by Bonney as the sides are cut at a 90 degree inside of the rounded sides that the Bonney has.

 

[Catfishdan]

I found an odd Bonney wrench today. Anyone know anything about it? The handle has the Mack truck script on it. From a tool kit?





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[3baygarage]

Nice wrench. I don't know the history behind it but Williams also put out wrenches for Mack.

 

[Catfishdan]

Nice wrench. I don't know the history behind it but Williams also put out wrenches for Mack.

Thanks. All I can find on the Internet is that both companies were based in Allentown Pennsylvania. Hmm...

 

[notlob]

$10 estate sale find.

 

[Mikeske]

$10 estate sale find.

Identical to my set of SAE. l paid a lot more for mine in 1983. . BTW you just got a You **** award for that. NICE. MY vinyl roll thing self destructed about 5 years ago.

 

[dutchgray]

Thats a great find that set, they look like they have barely been used.

 

[Mikeske]

One other thing is not to store the tools in the vinyl during the winter if you get high humidity and it is in a unheated garage. I pull my flaring wrenches and tubing wrenches out of the vinyl during the winter months and set them on a old towel to absorb the moisture. The vinyl will trap moisture against the wrench and start the process of rusting the wrenches. Lightly oiled and on a towel is what I have done for years and I have no rust.

 

[bonneyman]

$10 estate sale find.

Ten bucks!!!! I know I've been telling folks "keep looking, the deals are out there", but, my goodness!

I paid 80-90 dollars for my set back in 1981. Still have 'em. That set will outlive you - will it to one of your kids.

 

[zktk01]

I wish I could find an estate sale like that. The only estate sale I probably will partake in a deal like that is when it's my estate being sold for next to nothing, of course I will be rolling in the grave.

 

[LesserSon]

Notlob, that is a fantastic deal! That’s less than a dollar a piece, compared to eBay, where they might sell for ten times that.
I was pleased today to acquire these rusty treasures for $6: a CV T9 3/8dr speeder, three carbon steel DOEs of various age, an old Bonaloy 1163 combo, and a Zenel 3033A doe, which shortened my list of Zenel DOEs to just five remaining. Not at all sure what “Dev dept” stamped all over it might be. Any thoughts?

 

[Username already in use]

Well... I thought I did alright to bring home a handful of Bonney this weekend... but after seeing notlob's awesomeness... I can see it pales in comparison.

 

[zktk01]

AA site finally selling some Bonney:
https://www.ebay.com/i/192321892093
These CV single offset DBEs look to be 1929, except for the 2818 (9/16) - the only one I need.

Hard to win an auction over there professional auction sniper there

I've only managed to win one auction.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found an odd Bonney wrench today. Anyone know anything about it? The handle has the Mack truck script on it. From a tool kit?

Holy ****! Put a quart bottle of Horlacher's "Perfect Ale" in the photo with that wrench and you'd hit the Nostalgia Trifecta!

Where do you live, Dan?! Trust me when I say that no industry in the Allentown, PA area was more revered than Bonney and Mack when I was a boy growing up in that area, except maybe Bethlehem Steel, of course. Seeing the two names on a wrench is awesome. That is a keeper! Bonney was bought out and moved to Orangeburg, SC in 1964. Mack also moved a lot of its manufacturing operations south, keeping its HQ in A-town until 2010. (By the way, Horlacher's was the last of about a half dozen legendary breweries that had been making German style beer in that area since the 1840's, closing its doors in 1978.)

What are the sizes (hard to read)? Did you look for a date code? It will be two letters side by side, probably on the shank, near one of the heads. And is there an Industry Standard Number (ISN) on the face of the jaw opposite the BONNEY brand name? If so, what is it?

It's not older than 1941, I can tell you that. It looks to be a carbon steel wrench to me, with a black enameled shank, and, at one time, polished faces. I am guessing 1940's. It could be wartime, Mack built 6- and 7-1/2 ton prime movers for the Army.

 

[Catfishdan]

Holy ****! Put a quart bottle of Horlacher's "Perfect Ale" in the photo with that wrench and you'd hit the Nostalgia Trifecta!

Where do you live, Dan?! Trust me when I say that no industry in the Allentown, PA area was more revered than Bonney and Mack when I was a boy growing up in that area, except maybe Bethlehem Steel, of course. Seeing the two names on a wrench is awesome. That is a keeper! Bonney was bought out and moved to Orangeburg, SC in 1964. Mack also moved a lot of its manufacturing operations south, keeping its HQ in A-town until 2010. (By the way, Horlacher's was the last of about a half dozen legendary breweries that had been making German style beer in that area since the 1840's, closing its doors in 1978.)

What are the sizes (hard to read)? Did you look for a date code? It will be two letters side by side, probably on the shank, near one of the heads. And is there an Industry Standard Number (ISN) on the face of the jaw opposite the BONNEY brand name? If so, what is it?

It's not older than 1941, I can tell you that. It looks to be a carbon steel wrench to me, with a black enameled shank, and, at one time, polished faces. I am guessing 1940's. It could be wartime, Mack built 6- and 7-1/2 ton prime movers for the Army.

Wow! You really know your stuff! It's a 1/2 and 7/16 inch wrench. The date code looks like an "lT" and it's also marked "75J". I live way out in California so I have no idea how it made it all the way over here. Oh yea... Check your PM's.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's a 1/2 and 7/16 inch wrench. The date code looks like an "lT" and it's also marked "75J". I live way out in California so I have no idea how it made it all the way over here.

That date code is 1942. That is consistent with the 'BONNEY' name (and no {B} shield) on the face and the painted finish. And, that model number and size combination isn't listed in any 1930's or 1940's catalogs with their standard 22-1/2* 'S' wrenches. Only a 75, 75A, 75B, and 75C. That's also consistent with it being made special for Mack. Most likely for one of their prime mover truck kits. Your instincts were good, Dan!

 

[3baygarage]

Found this Bonney 9/32" drive set No. ES (which stands for Extra Small)

There was a 1/4 Craftsman BE ratchet, a few sockets, and cross bar in the box with it. I wasn't sure which set the cross bar went to. Turns out it's not Bonney, as the set had no flex handle. Probably Cman.

Anyway, there are three sockets missing from the Bonney. If anyone has some stray 9/32 drive Bonney, hit me up. I wouldn't mind completing this little set. They also made two spinner handles sold separate.

Thanks to Tool Archives' (Twertsy ) great catalog collection (been researching there and enjoying the site a lot lately), this info is available. AA also refers to the 9/32 line and when it ended.

Based on my digging, I think 9/32 ran from 1933-1938 by the catalogs.

Now here is the best part. The price rose drastically over those years for set No. ES.. I haven't checked the price of other items.

1933 - $3.30
1934 - $3.30
1937 - $7.50 !
1938 - $8.15 !

1939- It appears this is when Bonney's 1/4 drive came out, also referred to as Extra Small.


Sure, some cleaning would bring out the brown wrinkle paint nicely, but the grease has preserved it quite well all these years.

View media item 75923
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View media item 75928

 

[3baygarage]

I was planning on posting these before I picked up that set.

A couple related ratchets. Dayton 3/8, Bon e Con 1/4 ZV-702K.

Both have the triangle stamp.

View media item 75929
1/2" 4093 ratchet, and an emblem from a tool board. Thought that was pretty cool.

View media item 75930

 

[twertsy]

I was planning on posting these before I picked up that set.

A couple related ratchets. Dayton 3/8, Bon e Con 1/4 ZV-702K.

Both have the triangle stamp.

View media item 75929
1/2" 4093 ratchet, and an emblem from a tool board. Thought that was pretty cool.

View media item 75930

That emblem is awesome!

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[3baygarage]

Thanks. I'm glad someone in the past thought to save it, if not the whole board. I would assume it's from a 1920's wrench board.

 

[twertsy]

Thanks. I'm glad someone in the past thought to save it, if not the whole board. I would assume it's from a 1920's wrench board.

I'd say 20s or 30s for sure. Great piece.

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[Mikeske]

eBay delivered today theses 2 items. A 1118F 9/16ths open end-socket wrench and a RF-100B Bonney-Utica Flare kit.