Spreading the Bonney affliction!

[Mikeske]

What do you call textured finish tools contemporary with Full Polish?
“Half Polish?”

I have always called the textured finish tools as the satin finished tools. I have heard them called that for years. The interesting thing is The older USA Craftsman had what I called the satin with polish on the raised panel. I absolutely hated that design even as I have a 400 piece set my father, who worked as a store manager at Sears and my older brother gave me as a birthday gift back in 1975. The smoother finish of my Bonney set felt better in the hands and the Craftsman set with the raised panel always was digging into my hands and in a few cases the Craftmans causing blisters inside my hand which the Bonney never did.

The only place I just never warmed up with the Bonney tools was the final edition of their ratchet. It was just a awkward design even if they were extremely durable. This where I actually preferred Snap-on designs from this era just a much better ratchet and I have the three most common sizes from this the late 1970's to early 1980's

Since I was a working mechanic first in vehicles and then in aircraft I just formed my opinions by using tools for over 45 years.

 

[LesserSon]

I just formed my opinions by using tools for over 45 years.

There can’t be a better way. What they look like should always be an outcome of what they feel like and what they do.

 

[Mikeske]

On rust buckets from the salt belt I was always using craftsman sockets just wail away at the bolt a shot of heat with a torch and out they come. Everything else just use the Bonney tools and 99 out of a hundred times out they come. Oh yeah you get a feel for turning wrenches

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have busted a bunch of cheap sockets that way. You can tell the difference.

 

[Mikeske]

Oh yes cheap sockets don’t bother me if they break. Expensive ones abused that way I feel bad. Oh course back then I was doing that work everyday I just take a bunch down to Sears and warranty those.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

If the history of tool design is a quest for the peak of perfection, and each redesign a stage along the way, then they are hesitant minor advances toward the Full Polish summit.

See, that's what makes collecting so much fun, and this thread in particular - with the Bonney name spanning nearly 100 years, and equal number and passion among proponents of early, middle and late - a perfect example. I think we reached the apotheosis of hand tool design in the 1940's, in terms of composition and design elegance (form, fit, and function), and that conglomeration in the 50's, 60's, and 70's soon ruined distinctions in style that eventually homogenized the industry into boring indistinguishability across manufacturers. And I much prefer natural steel in the hand and to the eye to shiny chrome. That we all get along is a testament to Bonney and our good character.

 

[bonneyman]

On rust buckets from the salt belt I was always using craftsman sockets just wail away at the bolt a shot of heat with a torch and out they come. Everything else just use the Bonney tools and 99 out of a hundred times out they come. Oh yeah you get a feel for turning wrenches

10-4 I can't count how many fasteners that were rounded and distorted and the co-worker was digging out his Vise-Grips - and I pull out a Bonney and pop it right off!

The look on their faces was priceless!

 

[Raineman]

On page 48, just posting so I can find it again. Really enjoying this thread.

I'm new, posted my introduction thread already. Found this researching my Bonney stuff.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Welcome to the Affliction!

 

[Raineman]

Thanks. I just got done taking pictures of all my Bonney. I’ll post them when my newbie restrictions are met.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I have busted a bunch of cheap sockets that way. You can tell the difference.

That is exactly how I learned quality tools. S-K, Walden, Vlchek, immediately come to mind as easily broken sockets. Craftsman, Armstrong, New Britain are harder to break, but will. Proto, Snap-On, Williams, a
Herbrand, and Bonney were difficult, the last two before the move to Orangeburg.

 

[bonneyman]

Thanks. I just got done taking pictures of all my Bonney. I’ll post them when my newbie restrictions are met.

Bonney pics we haven't seen yet? The Bonneyman eagerly awaits!

 

[Raineman]

Not sure if I have picture posting privileges yet, but let me try.

No. Not yet

 

[Raineman]

One thing I think I learned that surprised me was that Utica pliers are Bonney. Is that correct?

I am only on about page 90, so still learning.


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[Ricky Joe]

Utica, Bonney, and Herbrand were all owned by Kelsey-Hayes in the 1960s. Utica made high quality tools from the 1800s, even going so far as to make box joint pliers. So, not the same as Bonney exactly, but for a while a sister company.

 

[Raineman]

Try this again. Here is my Utica stash.


Sorry. Still trying to figure out the site and app. First time I’ve had a forum in app form.


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[Raineman]

My phone won’t let me add a photo

 

[Raineman]

Try again

 

[Raineman]

Okay. I can upload a photo from the regular website on my phone but not from the website app. So be it.




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[RTM]

Ok, here's an oddball for your review. Found it about a year ago, right before Covid went crazy. When I sorted the find out, I tossed this one aside, knowing it was a bit odd.

It's a Bonney 1725, 7/16" x 1/2", forged with a CR date, and stamped with (7/16" end) 1/4 SAE / 1/4 CAP, and the other end with 1/4 U.S.S. / 5/16 CAP.

This is different from the 5 flavors shown on the Alloy Artifacts page. What is also interesting is this one seems to have freakishly long jaws, almost double the Barcalo auto kit wrench I showed elsewhere at 0.565" down to the curve.

It is one of very few vintage Bonney wrenches I have, as AA says 1926, and most of mine are much newer, so if this completes someone's set, drop me a PM.

 

[Raineman]

The photo I posted is a Bonney lower box I got from an estate I bought that is a really strange story.

It was full of Bonney tools and other tools. It was beat up as heck and basically stripped of its original finish.

I wasn’t sure if I should leave it unrestored. I am a firm believer in original. However, this thing was all but unusable.

I took it apart because the drawer slides had so much grease on them the drawers would not even close.

I degreased everything after tearing it completely apart. Hammer and dolleyed all the drawers back to functional and stripped and painted it.

I apologize for not having “before” pics, but I really didn’t know what I had at the time. I just wanted to use the box, and I am one of those guys that had never heard of Bonney before, even though I began swinging wrenches in the mid’80’s.


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[Private Lugnutz]

One thing I think I learned that surprised me was that Utica pliers are Bonney. Is that correct?

If you meant this the other way around - i.e., Bonney pliers were Utica, as in, made by Utica for Bonney, yes, you are correct. And that was long before they were put under the same roof in Spartanburg, SC. Among other suppliers. Like many mfgrs who cut their teeth and made their reputation primarily on wrenches, Bonney did not manufacture pliers.

 

[Raineman]

I put some Home Depot handles on it and got a new lock from the big A website as well as drawer liners. The locking tabs are broken off the bottom 4 drawers, but I’m going to weld new locking tabs on them in the future.




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[Raineman]

Don’t know if I just doubled up a picture. Sorry if I did. Still trying to figure out things here


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[Raineman]

Trying again. Its probably app thing because I posted two times that didn’t show in the thread.


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[Raineman]

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[Raineman]

I think I’m done with the app


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[Raineman]

The wrench roll I posted was what interested me in the first place when I showed up for the yard sale I bought them at. It peaked my attention. I just had a feeling this was a quality set of wrenches.

I own a complete set of SnapOn flank drive SAE wrenches and I love them. When I saw this Bonney set I recognized the way the box ends were made and it got my attention fast.

After going through the garage at this place, I made a deal for the entire tool content of the garage. I’m talking about 2 entire quad cab F-150 truckloads loaded to the roofline in the bed and cab to the headliner. This was last November (2020). I’ve been sorting, selling, trading, keeping, and giving away stuff since then.

I have kept the Bonney and some other US brands and parted with most of the other items. I wish I had found this website before, but I’m in the black.

I’ve kept some really nice things to add to my boxes and set up my son, and 3 son in law’s with some quality tools.


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[Raineman]

I’ll try another picture then I’m gonna check out for the night.

 

[Mikeske]

I have a collection of the full polish Bonney myself Raineman as I bought almost a complete set of basic hand Bonney tools in 1983 just prior to leaving active duty Air Force. The red vinyl on both my SAE set and the metric set years ago wore out from daily use and I just bought wrench racks and store them where I can quickly get to the wrench needed.

 

[bonneyman]

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Nice!

 

[Raineman]

Hammers. Going to look for new handles today.


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[Raineman]

Punches and chisels with tins.


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[Raineman]

Don’t know why my pictures are sideways. Apologies.


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[Raineman]

Here are some screwdrivers. I let a few not pictured go before I knew what I had.

 

[Raineman]

Not sure if this is a Bonney box. Maybe someone can verify?

 

[Raineman]

Mikeske, nice sets. I’m still not all the way through this thread, but I really like your stories from early on. I’m up to where you were finding stuff clearing out a garage.

Bonneyman, I appreciate your input. Thanks.

 

[Mikeske]

Don’t know why my pictures are sideways. Apologies.


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The pictures are sideways because it is a issue with the forums and Apple. If you take your pictures in landscape mode which is the sides of your iPhone horizontal the pictures will load with no issues. I don't have this issue in the other forum I am a member in because it has moved away from bBulletin which has not updated in the last four years

 

[Raineman]

Here is a set of speed wrenches (that is what I’ve always called them). I had a total of 5 of them. 3 in 3/8” and 2 in 1/2”. I gave a 3/8 to my son along with an older 1/2” MAC, a set to a good friend , and the set pictured I gave to my buddy who owns the garage where my Chevelle is. I didn’t leave myself hanging, I have a Craftsman set for myself that I really like, the 3/8 is an older vintage one.

 

[Mikeske]

Mikeske, nice sets. I’m still not all the way through this thread, but I really like your stories from early on. I’m up to where you were finding stuff clearing out a garage.

Bonneyman, I appreciate your input. Thanks.

I do have a extensive set of the later full sets and for me it was mainly I wanted to find everything I could to complete my set like it was when I first bought mine in the early 1980's.

Now I have a lot of extra stuff because I find something on eBay and they would be sets but I only needed that one item but ended up buying the entire set that was for sale just so I have that one item.

Now I help where I can to other members here to complete their sets and I did a spreadsheet with all the Bonney tools and I just look at the spreadsheet and I have a extra I let the other member know via the private message on this site.