To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Spreading the Bonney affliction!

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
B

bonneyman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Messages
8,773
Location
Desert SW
Actually we had similar pliers when I was in Air Force and they were handy for multiple uses. The teeth were aggressive enough to mill down the lead spot of battery’s, pull various rubber caps and metal caps. I never had a real use once I left the Air Force and never even thought of them since. But a lot of military spec vehicles had a need for them. The commercially available vehicles did not really use them.

Most of the grease caps I've seen are all dented from being removed repeatedly with a hammer. Didn't know they had a special plier for that job till I joined the GJ.
 

Mikeske

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2017
Messages
2,125
Location
Washington State
Most of the grease caps I've seen are all dented from being removed repeatedly with a hammer. Didn't know they had a special plier for that job till I joined the GJ.
Most of the grease cups would be dented up with improper reinstallation as I would use a socket or round metal tube that fit on the lip of the grease cup. Most guy just try to bang it in place and it would go on slightly crooked they just kept striking it until it reformed.
 

Mikeske

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2017
Messages
2,125
Location
Washington State
The grease cups on the deuce and half trucks I swear the engineers just copied 50 year old designs and slapped them on those. We had limited few of these trucks in the states but all over the place when I was overseas in Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. When ever I had to service the deuce and half I look over the area that I was servicing and then order up all new grease caps. More then once the maintenance supervisor come over and he would verify that the grease cups were damaged and then get the new caps.

the biggest issue was the fact that the operators were responsible to do daily, weekly and monthly checks and those caps would have to come off to check that there was adequate grease under the caps. The vehicle operators really did not care for the vehicles as a mechanic would and those caps were to the operators expendables.

Some of the later deuce and halves had a redesigned grease cup with a grease zerk milled into the top of them and it sure was a intelligent way doing it as then the vehicle operator just stick a grease gun on the zerk put a couple quick pumps on it and then onto the next one.
 

1320

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Messages
899
Location
Arizona
Finished up my set of 12pt flare nut wrenches. I like using these quite a bit. I really wish they had made a 13/16", I use that size a lot on 1/2" air brake tubing fittings.

I think some of my wrenches are from different eras, with varying sizes of "BONNEY" and a different font on the size markings.

IMG_20210726_172608_1.jpg IMG_20210726_172615_1.jpg IMG_20210726_172619.jpg IMG_20210726_172627_1.jpg IMG_20210726_172633.jpg IMG_20210726_172638_1.jpg IMG_20210726_172642_1.jpg
 

Raineman

Well-known member
Joined
May 7, 2021
Messages
865
Location
central Maryland
Cross posted from the garage sale thread. Mixed metric set of wrenches. 6,7,8,10,16,17,18,19. Really happy about finding them.
 

Attachments

  • BC58D51D-7590-4798-8BFC-BB54FAA265B7.jpeg
    BC58D51D-7590-4798-8BFC-BB54FAA265B7.jpeg
    162.8 KB · Views: 37

LesserSon

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
5,053
Location
PA USA
I really wish they had made a 13/16", I use that size a lot on 1/2" air brake tubing fittings.

Not the same animal (double open end 7.5° angle flare), but the RF57 does sport a 13/16” 12-lobe Loc-Rite opening (paired with 1-1/16”). Bottom right corner of page61 in the 1977 catalog. (I took a screenshot, but the new platform is better at blocking those.)
 

1320

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Messages
899
Location
Arizona
Not the same animal (double open end 7.5° angle flare), but the RF57 does sport a 13/16” 12-lobe Loc-Rite opening (paired with 1-1/16”). Bottom right corner of page61 in the 1977 catalog. (I took a screenshot, but the new platform is better at blocking those.)

I have the RF57 on my watchlist, but I haven't seen one come up anywhere yet.

I do have a Snap-on RX26 13/16" flare nut wrench that I use when I need 12 point.
 
OP
B

bonneyman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Messages
8,773
Location
Desert SW
Beautiful set, 1320! (y)

Yeah, I was lacking a Bonney flare in 13/16" until I got the RF57. Frequently on A/C refrigerant valves and such.
 

Mikeske

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2017
Messages
2,125
Location
Washington State
Beautiful set, 1320! (y)

Yeah, I was lacking a Bonney flare in 13/16" until I got the RF57. Frequently on A/C refrigerant valves and such.
Yeah everyone seems to be trying to find a RF57 and I am doing it to but only half hearted as in automotive that is not needed but it would ok if I don’t have it. If I spot one I will grab it if the price is right.
 

Mikeske

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2017
Messages
2,125
Location
Washington State
Latest eBay item that I got a B-102 vise grip pliers. Now to figure out who the vendor was to make these.
 

Attachments

  • tempImageSm916V.png
    tempImageSm916V.png
    3.5 MB · Views: 24
  • tempImageq1130a.png
    tempImageq1130a.png
    3.4 MB · Views: 20
  • tempImageCvhnbQ.png
    tempImageCvhnbQ.png
    1.8 MB · Views: 18
  • tempImageUeCE5G.png
    tempImageUeCE5G.png
    3.5 MB · Views: 21

onetonbb74

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2013
Messages
76
Location
Gilroy
The Bonney ratcheting wrenches I've had for a while, too bad they are not a complete set, the only Bonney tools I have. I like them.
20210730_200538.jpg
 

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,502
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
Latest eBay item that I got a B-102 vise grip pliers. Now to figure out who the vendor was to make these.
You could use those at the dinner table they're so clean! They look mint/NOS. Hard to say who made them. Unaiu has the B-100 (7" OAL), and, like yours, it also has what appears to be an H.T. Jones design quick release lever. That was patented in 1950. He licensed it to multiple OEMs. However, the first time Petersen used it on a "Vise-Grip" was 1957, and, the B-100 and B-102 "Plier Wrench" (Bonney's name for them) in the 1957 Bonney catalog do NOT have quick release levers. The first Bonney catalog I can find where the B-100 and B-102 have quick-release levers is 1963.

Ironically, the only other locking plier-wrench type hand tool I have ever seen with the dramatically swooping lever and spooned quick-release lever is a GRIP-ALL that Don (d42jeep) just posted to my Lugzsonian thread. I don't know who made the Bonneys, but whoever it was, also made the GRIP-ALL. They are identical. (Ignore the bolt in Don's - it's not original.)

Bonney Grip-All comparison.jpg
 

Mikeske

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2017
Messages
2,125
Location
Washington State
Hum interesting a little background on the B-102 locking pliers it is most likely that we will never really know who the vendor was. I just wish that the folks at Bonney and the many different owners would had preserve the records of the company. With so many companies over the years that produced locking pliers it is doubtful we will ever trace the vendor making these for Bonney
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
B

bonneyman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Messages
8,773
Location
Desert SW
Here's the pair of 6 point flares Mikeske sent me. And with the pair of Loc-Rite flares I had. I noticed on the 6 point 3/8 x 1/16 the smaller side is not offset opposite from the larger, like all the other wrenches. On that wrench both flare ends are offset to the same side. Mistake? Doesn't affect me though.

Thanks Mikey!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7912.JPG
    IMG_7912.JPG
    125.3 KB · Views: 19
  • IMG_7913.JPG
    IMG_7913.JPG
    126 KB · Views: 22

Mikeske

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2017
Messages
2,125
Location
Washington State
That is strange as the other 2 I still have the offsets are also the same. I never even noticed it
 

Attachments

  • 4F5E499E-8AE4-4446-A12A-46CDAB64BE8B.jpeg
    4F5E499E-8AE4-4446-A12A-46CDAB64BE8B.jpeg
    519 KB · Views: 16
  • F70862F7-851B-42A0-824F-6E81DF03239A.jpeg
    F70862F7-851B-42A0-824F-6E81DF03239A.jpeg
    725.2 KB · Views: 19

LesserSon

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
5,053
Location
PA USA
I thought I had seen something like that, but I don’t think I have one. I’m visiting my parents, and sure enough, my dad has one. These are branded Tru-Cut USA, with no other marks.
1CE74D8E-5AD1-4D41-A26A-824490F4B309.jpeg
 

Mikeske

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2017
Messages
2,125
Location
Washington State
Someone was third partying the heck out of that pattern for multiple customers. Only the stamps are different. Lol
Yeah I thought I seen different brands and names on that style vise grips. I actually did not care for the style because the release lever is out in the open and a hard enough tap near it and they would open the jaws when you least wanted it. I think I had used a Thoreson that were identical to the Bonney I acquired when I was in South Korea in the late 1970's

It was probably very profitable to do the third party work for the various brands as it saves on marketing and getting the product to the consumer. Just send a truck load to the various different brands
 

Old Radar

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
2,754
Location
San Antonio, TX
Curiouser and curiouser... I googled "Trucut locking pliers" and got a hit for a guy selling a pair on ebay (without a release lever) marked Tru-Cut conspicuously marked Vise-Grip, Dewitt, Nebr. with a patent stamp 2,280,005 and date Apr 14, 1942.

I don't know how to link it for posterity, but until he sells it you can see it Here.
 

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,502
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
Makes sense, I guess. They certainly had the capacity to handle contract production. It's strange they labeled it ("Vise-Grip") and addressed it ("DeWitt"), but didn't use their logo or otherwise mark it as Petersen Mfg Co, though. The most curious part for me is the 'Other Pats Pending' marking. It can't be referring to the quick release patent, which they didn't own anyway, because it doesn't have one. That hems it in between 1942 and 1957. And DATAMP, while showing several Petersen patents after 1942, said they never went into production. But we should probably stop clogging up the Bonney thread with this.

EDIT: SilverDeck, the Plomb J100 key chain guy, among other things, is a Petersen expert. He lives in Lincoln, Neb. and has an abiding interest. He may know more.
 
Last edited:
OP
B

bonneyman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Messages
8,773
Location
Desert SW
After seeing the latest picture above I realized I had a 7" locking plier with the severely bent bottom handle. No release lever, though. So, it may or may not help the conversation.
But there's and inscription on the bottom of that bent handle that says "Knu-Vise" with a model number of VM-7.
Does that help anything?

IMG_7915.JPGIMG_7916.JPGIMG_7917.JPG
 

Mikeske

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2017
Messages
2,125
Location
Washington State
I think it is interesting how many different varieties of these vise grip wrenches that were out there and how they came about. Bonney obviously was not the OEM for them but I do have one that is stamped with Bonney
 
Last edited:

Oldtuleguy

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 4, 2017
Messages
10,457
Some indestros. They all look like vise grips to me. I agree bonney did not make them.20210801_171156.jpg20210801_171150.jpg
 
Last edited:

four.cycle

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Messages
28,592
Location
Tacoma, Washington
Knu-Vise / (see Lapeer Mfg. Co.) /
Lapeer / Lapeer Mfg. Co., 3056 Davison Rd., Lapeer, MI / "Knu-Vise" pliers and clamps / patent 2350034 May 30 1944 J.A. Herrington /

Oldtuleguy: I don't know whether Indestro outsourced those locking pliers from Bonney, but I have no reason to believe Indestro made them.

Sorry for the off-the-rails drift here... maybe a dedicated thread for oddball locking pliers is in order?
 
Last edited:

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,502
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
I don't know anything about Knu-Vise locking plier-wrenches, 4.c. I have a few Lapeer pickeruppers/mechanical fingers, but I don't know much about the company.

I just did a Curator's Corner (mini deep dive) on Not-Petersen locking plier-wrenches on my Lugzsonian thread, but only the examples in my collection, which doesn't include this Grip-All/Bonney/Nu-Cut model apparently made by Petersen.

There is a generic thread for locking plier wrenches / "Vise-Grips" somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.
 

four.cycle

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Messages
28,592
Location
Tacoma, Washington
cool.
sorry for the thread drift here, but it is the nature of the beast.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest there are other brands of the "locking pliers" that haven't been mentioned yet - and that is only from my vague memories of chasing down patent numbers and manufacturers names compiling that list.
The "Knu-Vise" entry was added to the list within the last 6 months - I can tell by the way I've got the patent information entered on that line. I remember thinking the name funny at the time, wondering if the creators may have been thinking of "Gnu".
Everything I have on Lapeer/Knu-Vise is in your email inbox.
 

Private Lugnutz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
30,502
Location
The Authentic Jersey Shore
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest there are other brands of the "locking pliers" that haven't been mentioned yet
Haha. Many! Too many to count on two hands. They haven't been mentioned here, on the Bonney thread, yet, (and hopefully they won't be!), but many of them have their own thread, and I presented most of the major others on my thread as a category (other than Petersen) unto themselves. And there are others I don't have.

As for the apparently Petersen-made jobbies that started this tangent, here is a good Petersen oriented thread to revive. Or here.
 

Raineman

Well-known member
Joined
May 7, 2021
Messages
865
Location
central Maryland
I'm going to drop this one here instead of the "hot deal" thread, because I know there are more than one of you collecting a couple of the brands included in this whacky grab bag: https://www.ebay.com/itm/114891767025
(Just a wild guess, but that 3/8" drive ratchet visible in a couple of the shots looks like a 77JC Thorsen or (possibly) a 5150 Proamerica.)

edit: after enlarging the photos to satiate my curiosity:
the 3/8" breaker is JS Technology (Alpharetta, GA)(military contract supplier)
the sockets appear to be a mix of mostly JS Technology and some late production (US) Thorsen.
I was high bidder on that one. Had not seen that you had posted this until today.

Post #3213 in the garage sale thread has its contents:
 

swshawaii

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 9, 2013
Messages
66
Bought these Bonney/Chrysler MTSC metric angle wrenches because of their scarcity, price, and for occasional use. Thought I would clean them hoping it would not further damage the faux gold plating. Never used Barkeepers Friend for tool cleaning and gave it a try. Mixed with water into a thin paste and used a green Scotch-Brite pad. Completely removed the cheesy (IMO) gold coating with light scrubbing.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294301903729

s-l1600 (5).jpg
DSC08712.JPG

s-l1600 (4).jpg
DSC08715.JPG
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom