The Tiny Tools Thread

[Slackmaster G]

Tiny craftsman wrench

 

[Slackmaster G]

Tiny craftsman wrench

 

[ararat]

Tiny tool set. Unmarked except for the New Britain screw starter.

 

[d42jeep]

Are the tiny recesses, blank, B, & C different thicknesses? Quality looks like a bike wrench, wonder if the circle recesses are something like a plug gapper, vs a make shift screwdriver. Some very special purpose tool for something tiny.

Blank, B & C are different thicknesses with blank being the thinnest.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Unmarked except for the New Britain screw starter.

I've never seen that screw starter before. Older script logo. Nice find in and of itself that probably doesn't belong in that ignition kit. How many blades in the gapper and how are they marked?

 

[ararat]

I've never seen that screw starter before. Older script logo. Nice find in and of itself that probably doesn't belong in that ignition kit. How many blades in the gapper and how are they marked?

Only marking are the numbers on the blades. 8 blades marked 32, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10. I left the screw starter in because it has obviously been in the pouch for a long time. It's shape has been molded into the little pocket. My guess is that the rest of the tools are a little bit older than the screw starter.

This tool set looks like it got a lot of use.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I left the screw starter in because it has obviously been in the pouch for a long time. Its shape has been molded into the little pocket.

I would do the same exact thing. I didn't mean to suggest that it should not be kept in there. I have no doubt the former PO was using them all together for related jobs. I was just recognizing that it probably wasn't original to the pouch and the other tools as a set.

My guess is that the rest of the tools are a little bit older than the screw starter.

I agree. Maybe more than a little. It smacks of 1930's to me. Those kinds of ignition wrenches, odd shapes, each opening peculiar to a certain electrical system (e.g., Bosch, Eisemann, Remy, etc) were being phased out and replaced by standardized miniature DOE wrenches with a range of angled openings (15 x 60, 15 x 75) that covered all systems by the 40's. And leatherette pouches were phased out by the late 40's and early 50's.

The earliest I can find aluminum screw starters is the 1953 NB catalog. They came in 2-1/2" (SS-2), 5 (SS-5), and 9 (SS-9) inch lengths. See page 73.

I have a thing for vintage ignition sets, probably have about a dozen of them in pouches and several more that need pouches.

That's a very nice find.

 

[ararat]

The screw starter from mid 1950's catalog. I haven't found a similar tool kit yet looking through catalogs.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

We x-posted. Yeah, that's the same ref I found.

 

[ararat]

Haha. Thanks for the info on the set. I was thinking late 30's, but wasn't sure. I will look in some more catalogs to see if I can find anything similar.

 

[four.cycle]

The aluminum screw starter was most likely built using the Pearson patent (2150184) - I seem to recall making this connection between New Britain and the Pearson patent took some digging:

Aircraft / Aircraft Specialties Inc., Lapeer, MI / originally of Philadelphia, PA, moved to Lapeer, MI 1938 by Otto Shaw, acquired by Shaw Enterprises/SE Tools 1995 / see SE Tools / patent 2124757 Jul 26 1938 William Vaughan & 2150184 Mar 14 1939 George F. Pearson & 3288184 Nov 29 1966 & 3510902 May 12 1970 & 3582123 Jun 1 1971 Smith Kyser / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/smith-kyser-pat-3-582-123.439205/ /

New Britain / New Britain Machine, 16 Chestnut St., New Britain, CT / est. 1887 acquired by Litton 1972 closed 1990 / patent 1386708 Aug 9 1921 John C. Hurley & 1438900 Dec 12 1922 & 1538621 May 19 1925 Henry H. Chase & 2150184 Mar 14 1939 George F. Pearson & 2554990 May 29 1951 & 2981389 Apr 25 1961 & 3078973 Feb 26 1963 Luther E. Kilness / http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p2.html#nb-mfg / http://alloy-artifacts.org/newbritain-nonebetter.html / http://alloy-artifacts.org/newbritain-nonebetter.html#history / http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=584 / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/the-vintage-new-britain-and-associated-thread.277603/ /

The magneto wrenches are something of a puzzle - the one with the two hexagonal punch-outs, which I believe was for the Eisemann magneto - appears to be somewhat thicker than the others, causing me to wonder if perhaps what you have was cobbled together from different sets. I don't see very many "sets" from that era that (a) contain all the pieces or (b) have all original pieces in them.

 

[ararat]

The aluminum screw starter was most likely built using the Pearson patent (2150184) - I seem to recall making this connection between New Britain and the Pearson patent took some digging:

Aircraft / Aircraft Specialties Inc., Lapeer, MI / originally of Philadelphia, PA, moved to Lapeer, MI 1938 by Otto Shaw, acquired by Shaw Enterprises/SE Tools 1995 / see SE Tools / patent 2124757 Jul 26 1938 William Vaughan & 2150184 Mar 14 1939 George F. Pearson & 3288184 Nov 29 1966 & 3510902 May 12 1970 & 3582123 Jun 1 1971 Smith Kyser / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/smith-kyser-pat-3-582-123.439205/ /

New Britain / New Britain Machine, 16 Chestnut St., New Britain, CT / est. 1887 acquired by Litton 1972 closed 1990 / patent 1386708 Aug 9 1921 John C. Hurley & 1438900 Dec 12 1922 & 1538621 May 19 1925 Henry H. Chase & 2150184 Mar 14 1939 George F. Pearson & 2554990 May 29 1951 & 2981389 Apr 25 1961 & 3078973 Feb 26 1963 Luther E. Kilness / http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p2.html#nb-mfg / http://alloy-artifacts.org/newbritain-nonebetter.html / http://alloy-artifacts.org/newbritain-nonebetter.html#history / http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=584 / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/the-vintage-new-britain-and-associated-thread.277603/ /

The magneto wrenches are something of a puzzle - the one with the two hexagonal punch-outs, which I believe was for the Eisemann magneto - appears to be somewhat thicker than the others, causing me to wonder if perhaps what you have was cobbled together from different sets. I don't see very many "sets" from that era that (a) contain all the pieces or (b) have all original pieces in them.

They are all pretty close on thickness if you put them side by side. The finish appears to be the same. The one you are talking about is a little bit bowed where the holes are making it look thicker. The offset wrench is also bowed where it was punched. I think they are probably from the same set but can't say for sure. That would be amazing if they stayed as a set that long.

From looking in a bunch of catalogs, I see similar wrenches like the one with the punch outs from the 20's and early 30's. I have another screw starter somewhere that is NB I'll try to find.

 

[ararat]

SS-5 beside the SS-2

 

[four.cycle]

From looking in a bunch of catalogs, I see similar wrenches like the one with the punch outs from the 20's and early 30's.

As Private Lugnutz noted above, the first "magneto wrenches" were all designed to fit a particular brand of magneto. A full "comprehensive" magneto wrench set would contain many different pieces.
Only later did they figure out they could cover the entire market with only a few open-end wrenches with gullets opening at different angles.
If you're trying to determine what brand that kit is - that's needle-in-a-haystack stuff, because almost every big hardware wholesaler during that era offered at least one or two "generic", "no name" magneto wrench sets in their catalogs, many of which I have yet to be able to identify or pin to any "brand".

 

[four.cycle]

found these yesterday in the very bottom of a very large box....

 

[Private Lugnutz]

A full "comprehensive" magneto wrench set would contain many different pieces.

True, and those XL sets are really cool. (Bonney stubbornly sold them alongside their more modern ignition sets for years into the late 40's at least!) But I kinda like the shirt pocket sets like @ararat 's with only 5 pieces. My hunch is they were marketed like mfgrs later aimed selective wrench sets at a certain brand of car.

As long as we're on the topic, some pics of my madness - sets and piles of orphans by brand, which is outgrowing its re-purposed NB drills cabinet home.

"You say mag-NEEToes, I say mag-NEToes..."

 

[ararat]

True, and those XL sets are really cool. (Bonney stubbornly sold them alongside their more modern ignition sets for years into the late 40's at least!) But I kinda like the shirt pocket sets like @ararat 's with only 5 pieces. My hunch is they were marketed like mfgrs later aimed selective wrench sets at a certain brand of car.

As long as we're on the topic, some pics of my madness - sets and piles of orphans by brand, which is outgrowing its re-purposed NB drills cabinet home.

"You say mag-NEEToes, I say mag-NEToes..."

Nice collection. I might have a similar set of to the orange and black NB set in the picture, mine is blue.

 

[ararat]

The smallest of the set

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I might have a similar set of to the orange and black NB set in the picture, mine is blue.

Cool. Probably earlier or later.

 

[MShaw]

Seeing this"Aircraft / Aircraft Specialties Inc., Lapeer, MI / originally of Philadelphia, PA, moved to Lapeer, MI 1938 by Otto Shaw" I wonder if the wrench below is related. No patent or place of manufacture on it.

 

[four.cycle]

@MShaw - I would doubt there's any connection there. Lapeer wasn't doing forging - just small machinery in a garage. (I communicated with the current owner via email over the course of several days regarding my 2820 Indestro 1/4" drive "flex driver".)

The only other "Shaw" I've ever seen is this little magneto wrench, which combined with yours now makes the "who" question a bit more puzzling, because forging a wrench and stamping one out are two entirely different operations, but in both cases we have "SHAW" in block letters inside a racetrack, so......


Shaw ignition magneto wrench (photo: ebay 115332946530 01)

@Private Lugnutz -

I had no idea you were so into those things!
Magnetoes? SRSLY?

What is that widget at bottom center in your second image there than looks like a refillable folding point file?

(Third image in that set looks like it might be one of those "Elite" sets... I have not figured out WHO on that one, but I think it may well have been C.E. Niehoff - it seems to appear in catalogs side-by-side with other Niehoff sets (see above.) Pure conjecture and speculation, of course.)

 

[MShaw]

Interesting. "the plot thickens"

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The only other "Shaw" I've ever seen is this little magneto wrench,

Interesting. "the plot thickens"

You can say that again. By about 3/8"!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I had no idea you were so into those things!

The problem is not the sets or the partial sets or even the piles of orphans waiting to become sets, like the Bonney (top left) or Duro (bottom left) or even the Craftsman -V- (middle left) full set which I should probably move along instead of waiting to run into a suitable pouch, then move along. The problem is what the heck I am going to do with one (1) OTC wrench, two (2) FILSON, four (4) WALDEN but two pair of different styles, four (4) Herbrand but in three different styles, etc etc. I should probably stop bringing them home.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What is that widget at bottom center in your second image there than looks like a refillable folding point file?

Aha! Good eye. That is indeed an interesting unbranded tungsten points file, dubbed a "RUB STONE", which is the marking that turned out to be the golden google key. You'll be pleased to know it's a very early Kastar product, from when they were still in Brooklyn! See more here, and while you're at it, you should probably read the whole thread, which was posted in late 2019 during one of your long hiatuses, and features, among other things, @3baygarage 's clever comparison of the Bosch Fritz the Flyer logo to **** Dastardly. (We do have some fun here!)

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

found these yesterday in the very bottom of a very large box....

Come on. What you got there? cool.

 

[d42jeep]

@MShaw - I would doubt there's any connection there. Lapeer wasn't doing forging - just small machinery in a garage. (I communicated with the current owner via email over the course of several days regarding my 2820 Indestro 1/4" drive "flex driver".)

The only other "Shaw" I've ever seen is this little magneto wrench, which combined with yours now makes the "who" question a bit more puzzling, because forging a wrench and stamping one out are two entirely different operations, but in both cases we have "SHAW" in block letters inside a racetrack, so......


Shaw ignition magneto wrench (photo: ebay 115332946530 01)

@Private Lugnutz -

I had no idea you were so into those things!
Magnetoes? SRSLY?

What is that widget at bottom center in your second image there than looks like a refillable folding point file?

(Third image in that set looks like it might be one of those "Elite" sets... I have not figured out WHO on that one, but I think it may well have been C.E. Niehoff - it seems to appear in catalogs side-by-side with other Niehoff sets (see above.) Pure conjecture and speculation, of course.)

Did somebody say Shaw?
-Don

 

[ararat]

Tiny woodworking tool. A router with two blades. Possibly a pattern maker's tool. It's not marked. Red color makes me think of Tyzack tools.

 

[Outlawmws]

That's a neat one!

 

[Stubby1743]

I've owned these two for a long time and can't remember where they came from. They could have come from a UK military source but do not have UK military markings. On the larger spanner the end openings are 5.5 & 6.5mm. On the other one the slots are both the same width at a hair over 1.5mm.

The makers mark is, as can be seen, a c and T in a circle with additional horizontal lines top and bottom. Not a mark that I think I have ever seen before.

Anybody got any ideas as to the maker and purpose? I suspect that they were originally supplied with some piece of equipment.

 

[ararat]

The Bonney Baby Vixen. Not super tiny, but it's pretty cool and it has Baby in the name.

 

[ararat]

Jorgensen 5/0 and Cincinnati Tool Company no 50 Super Jr clamp.

 

[Outlawmws]

Those 5/0 J clamps are cool little guys! Are they the smallest Jorgensen made? I have 3

 

[ZRX61]

 

[ararat]

Those 5/0 J clamps are cool little guys! Are they the smallest Jorgensen made? I have 3

Those are the smallest I've seen. I have 2. I have some marked 3/0 but they are bigger.

 

[Moldyjim]

I think this might "squeak" into the tiny tools category.

I saw this Craftsman 1/4" ratchet handle at the flea market yesterday. It looked rather different than most of mine. Its definitely smaller than the normal one on the right. (It looks much smaller in person.)
I paid $3, it's a sharp top A, geometric logo with US and Canadian patent # with a -1967 stamp. Oiler port on the end and Forged in USA -V- stamping.

I liked it enough to pay the exorbitant $3 price to the vendor.

If there is a better thread for this please let me know.
Thanks

 

[Outlawmws]

If its squeaking, oil it!

That does look a mite smaller head that average.

I also managed yo add a tiny tool last Sat: A Kell-Strom T-27300-A DBE Both ends are 3/16ths (the nut for a 2-56 screw)

Kell-Strom is an Aerospace tool Mfg. -still in business!

 

[kyrbz]

Koken Z series sockets on a Wera 1/4" drive bit ratchet

 

[SquirrelsTools]

Oh wow, oh man. I didn't know this thread existed. Tiny (functional) tools and hardware are a mild obsession of mine...

Little backstory, I have inordinately large hands. Not a brag, just why I'm obsessed. Small tools are near impossible for me to use haha. My grandfather used to poke fun at me for it "You should be glad trucks stopped using carburators!" It's a fond memory. Also why I don't really work on small electronics, and why my best friend is a small engine repair guy.

I'll be back. I'm actually building a tiny hand tool box. Here's this for now.

To give you an idea on scale, that is a 1/64th long reach twist drill bit haha. The mill to the left of the drill bit is a .25mm head Kyocera.

This is just what was nearby. I have a problem.

 

[Outlawmws]

You will fit right in here ST!

KY, Nice Koken sockets and Wera!