Strange marking on Diamond adjustable

[Private Lugnutz]

I’ve collected a number of WWII-era Diamond Calk Horseshoe “Tool Steel” and “Diamalloy” adjustable crescent-type wrenches (the WWII “GMTK” had an 8” and a 12”) over the years. They are easily distinguished from Diamond Calk pre- and post-war production adjustable crescent-type wrenches by the absence of the forged-in diamond-horseshoe logo at the end of the handle and the presence of a 12-point broached box end inside the reinforced hanging hole (9/16” for the 8” wrench, 3/4” for the 12” wrench).

Except for one tiny feature, this would be a perfect example of a typical wartime wrench.

Can anyone spot the anomaly?

It's the strange forged-in code between the branding and the “MADE IN U.S.A.” marking on the one side, and the branding and the “9/16” mark on the flip side.

Here are better views:

I’ve never seen this mark before. There are no examples of a Diamond wrench with this or any similar mark on AA or the Tool Archives. And there aren’t any examples here on GJ as far as I have been able to locate (let’s face it, the search feature is not the most effective).

It looks like what can only be described as a squished “6” and an “8” over an underscore. Typically, when an underscore is used in forged-in codes, it’s meant to indicate which orientation the code should be read, especially where a “6” or a “9” is used. In this case, despite the undersized cramped look of the numeral “6” next to the “8”, I’m pretty sure this is supposed to be read as “68.”

Vintage Diamond tools are not know to have date codes, Diamond Calk Horseshoe did not exist as a corporate entity in 1968, and the new entity (Diamond Tool & Horseshoe) was not manufacturing wrenches that looked like this, so I am wondering what the code is.

I know there are a number of Diamond Calk collectors here.

Anybody have any ideas?

Anybody have a wrench with the same or similar marking?

 

[woody 73]

Not able to help my two Diamond Tool and Horseshoe co tools have different numbers ??

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That does help, woody. Frankly, I don't recall seeing one with any number before. Maybe they're just run of the mill die or forge codes.

 

[four.cycle]

I had to go out and look. I've got an old D712 (12-inch) with the horseshoe logo that has what appears to be a " 3 " forged in just to the right of the horseshoe, but it's in line with the horseshoe, not at a 90-degree angle like yours are.
I might have a 6 or 8 inch out there too... if you want me to take photos let me know.


Curiously, I just noticed that my 15-inch has a slight twist to the handle that I apparently never noticed before.

 

[WagonHo!]

Here is a couple photos of late 30's 6". Has forge#'s and odd letters stamped but no #figures on hanger end.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Not able to help my two Diamond Tool and Horseshoe co tools have different numbers ??

Woody, judging by the extra-reinforced hanging holes on your wrenches, they are 1960's vintage. This doesn't help me and my wartime wrench mystery, but I thought you might want to know that I found an old thread on the Papaw's Wrench 'Tool Talk' forum, in which a guy who worked for Diamond in the late 50's and 60's said that Diamond Tool & Horseshoe did use forged-in die codes to date their production at that time. According to him, it was a simple 1-up ascending sequence, starting with 1, that started in 1959, as soon as they used the last of their old Diamond Calk Horseshoe dies.

I might have a 6 or 8 inch out there too... if you want me to take photos let me know.

If they are from the late 30's, 40's or early 50's and they have a number forged-in, yes, please.

Curiously, I just noticed that my 15-inch has a slight twist to the handle that I apparently never noticed before.

It is possible to put a twist in one, especially if somebody had a bar through the hanging hole. I have a few with twists, even shorter than 15. Unless your 'headscratch' was meant to imply that it looks like an intentional design feature.

Here is a couple photos of late 30's 6". Has forge#'s and odd letters stamped but no #figures on hanger end.

That A number has to be factory, WagonHo. The other thing looks like a post-production stamp, and my guess would be proprietary, like a customer's logo.

 

[four.cycle]

I very seriously doubt those smaller Diamonds I have are anywhere near as old as 1960's.
The twist on that 15-incher is definitely not factory - I just can't imagine how somebody could have done that - it's a pretty stout chunk of steel. I suppose, however, that with a long enough piece of pipe on it anything would be possible.

Just odd that I never noticed it before. My powers of observation must be waning in my old age.

 

[Derek420]

Just forging or cast numbers maybe a date code if sorts nothing that unusual I have a few my self