The Tiny Tools Thread

[thefraze_1020]

I have this mystery ignition wrench, marked "No. 135" and "Made In U.S.A." The other side has no markings. The openings are 1/4" and 5/16", and since the center hole is square and not round, I will assume that it's designed for a tiny square head bolt or nut, and not for a bolt to hold it together as part of a set. Does anyone recognize this one?

 

[slowtwitch73]

I was pawing through the wrench bin at the local re store and found this cutie buried at the bottom.

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice! Is that the Williams symbol on the south end?

 

[slowtwitch73]

^^ Dunno...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

^^ Dunno...

That is without any shred of doubt a Williams "S" wrench. There are only a few mfgrs who made them with the reinforced jaws like that (Bonney being another). First generation. It has the model number from their first numbering system on it. They switched to an 800 series for these style "S" wrenches sometime before 1912, and the 1912 catalog includes both the 800 numbers (yours would be 860A) and the "old number" (235E). Should be 5/16" x 13/32" milled openings to fit 1/8" x 3/16" U.S.S. nuts and bolts. I just posted a couple 800 series wrenches in the Williams thread, in reply to @Targa68, who posted a few of his own. If you go to the Williams thread, last page, they're not more than a few posts from the end.

 

[four.cycle]

@thefraze_1020 -
re: 135 double-open-end nut and tap wrench:

my first thought was Indestro, but Indestro used different part numbers on their nut and tap wrenches.
possibly early Sherman Klove? (S-K)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I will assume that it's designed for a tiny square head bolt or nut, and not for a bolt to hold it together as part of a set. Does anyone recognize this one?

No, but I would be wary of that assumption. I have sets or partial sets where the hole is intended to serve both purposes. New Britain, for sure. Maybe Aetna. I would have to re-inventory to be more comprehensive and definitive than that. And some sets even include a re-threader in the same hole as the kit bolt. In the meantime, you might want to scroll through the "Auto-Kit" thread. That's where most of these style kit wrenches are posted.

 

[ararat]

Another little S wrench. Lakeside Forge

 

[slowtwitch73]

That is without any shred of doubt a Williams "S" wrench. There are only a few mfgrs who made them with the reinforced jaws like that (Bonney being another). First generation. It has the model number from their first numbering system on it. They switched to an 800 series for these style "S" wrenches sometime before 1912, and the 1912 catalog includes both the 800 numbers (yours would be 860A) and the "old number" (235E). Should be 5/16" x 13/32" milled openings to fit 1/8" x 3/16" U.S.S. nuts and bolts. I just posted a couple 800 series wrenches in the Williams thread, in reply to @Targa68, who posted a few of his own. If you go to the Williams thread, last page, they're not more than a few posts from the end.

Its is stamped 5/16 and 1/8 on the other side.

Thanks for the info!

 

[slowtwitch73]

More tiny tools:

 

[Fred Knox]

Over the weekend, I found these tiny tools hiding in my shop: a 4" 1/4"-drive ratchet of unknown origin (if anyone can help) and a 2 1/2" A. Plomb 6-point wrench. The ratchet works perfectly - I just don't know which manufacturer drawer/chest to store it in!

Edit: I just added a couple more photos of the ratchet, if that helps.

 

[four.cycle]

^ looks almost Oxwall-ish but the handle isn't quite right. might be a Japan-made knock-off of the Oxwall?

 

[Fred Knox]

Thanks BK. I just added a couple more photos of the ratchet from different angles, in case that helps with the identification. It certainly could be a Japanese knock-off.

 

[four.cycle]

^ that would be my best guess.

 

[wrench136]

I have this mystery ignition wrench, marked "No. 135" and "Made In U.S.A." The other side has no markings. The openings are 1/4" and 5/16", and since the center hole is square and not round, I will assume that it's designed for a tiny square head bolt or nut, and not for a bolt to hold it together as part of a set. Does anyone recognize this one?

Square hole in the center is for acetylene tanks. Used for lighting on early motorcycles.

 

[four.cycle]

^ they were also designed to be used as tap wrenches. Indestro made them, but that 135 isn't an Indestro number for a wrench and it's got the wrong font for Indestro. Doesn't look like Sherman-Klove either.

 

[kyrbz]

I know these are more of a novelty item and don't really count, but for some reason I always get this ad on instagram

 

[kyrbz]

One might think of this tiny lathe manufactured between 1946-56 as a novelty, but it was a fully functional lathe. One of my local metal suppliers (Metal by the Foot) is a collector of old signage, tools, etc... and has this one on display in the store as well as many other of his cool old collectibles. Talking to him about the lathe one time, he told me the lathes aren't that hard to find, but the accessories are and often bring more than the actual lathe.

Small Machines, Inc. - History | VintageMachinery.org

vintagemachinery.org

 

[slowtwitch73]

^^^ that's nuts.

Here's one in action:

 

[Lorydr]

My stubbies have saved the moment or more in tight spots.

 

[PSCo1867]

• Here's an assortment of smaller wrenches.
• The first two pics show wrenches between 3" & 4" long (front & back)
• The last two pics show wrenches between 4" and 5" long (front & back)
• Many of these are common and need no explanation
• A few are not so common, and have little or no ID
• Please comment on the ID of the obscure ones!

 

[Stubby1743]

I added this truly tiny tool to my collection this morning. 9x11BA, UK Govt surplus dated 1952. I'm not familiar with "MAAAN".

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm not familiar with "MAAAN".

It's an IIIIIIIISLE in the Irish Sea known for its rugged coastline and a terrific XC motorcycle race!

 

[3baygarage]

A miniature end cutter. Maybe a farrier’s hoof nipper?

 

[Outlawmws]

Nippers, but also can be used to pull. Cool tiny size!

Some cool tools being posted, I've been behind!

 

[3baygarage]

The seller called it a tack puller. Idk.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

For trimming your hamsters toenails

 

[Outlawmws]

Couple new addiitons to the tiny tools even if the vise is pushing it for tiny:

This tiny BPH and screwdriver combo tickled me when I saw it, so it came home:



and a 2" Littlestown 2" jaw No. 2 clamp on vise -I need to carefully straighten the slide a bit...:

 

[B Halverson]

Twist drills of .0064" ;

 

[Outlawmws]

Don't Sneeze!

 

[Beerhippie]

A miniature end cutter. Maybe a farrier’s hoof nipper?

Those are for trimming and pulling horseshoe nails when shoeing tea-cup Shetlands.

 

[Beerhippie]

....

 

[Outlawmws]

I thought this was the same size as another I have that is a TrueTemper NOS, but this one is even smller:

Craftsman - less than 3/4 Lb total weight, the head is maybe 8 oz?:

 

[john.k]

Magneto spanners from the 1950s still had the 1/4 square hole ...when the last Prestolite tank was surely long gone......tradition maybe.

 

[d42jeep]

These are pretty small. Not sure of the applications.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

The lower one is for the Jacobs R-755 aircraft engine. Some models had two magnetos, and some had one magneto and one distributor with a Kettering (points and condenser) DC electric ignition system.

 

[colmal]

It's funny how things tend to run together, I bought a 6mm and a 7mm combo spanner last night, no need apart from adding to my combo range. And finding this thread today while watching some sport, so I'm going to join youse and play itsy bitsy tools too.

This was the start of my tool lunacy's 3 years ago, I woke up one morning and decided I'd had enough of being pissed off whenever I came across something that had been borrowed, damaged lost and stolen and returned with no apologies or mention of the damage.

The 10LW was my best tool (and still is) over the 10 years I'd owned a Valiant wreckers, and noticed one day, 10 years after I'd closed the business my landlord had borrowed it, and somehow chipped the leading Jaws, covered it with welding splatter and never mentioned to me the damage - *****.

Traced this set down and imported it from US, did the same with everything else that jerks had done similar to and much happier now.

The 4 LW has been quite useful as well, which surprised me, sometimes a tiny itsy bitsy tool is all you can use.

 

[john.k]

small hatchets ,chisels ,and hand saws were common boys toys back in the day .........all with sharp edges so they worked just like a fullsized tool ,too.

 

[Outlawmws]

Those Nut grip vise grips are super handy, and sometimes for more than the ability to lock onto a hex nut or bolt. I've used the tips a number of times where regular VG's would not work.

Got all three also - 3 pair of the 4LW.

 

[colmal]

Those Nut grip vise grips are super handy, and sometimes for more than the ability to lock onto a hex nut or bolt. I've used the tips a number of times where regular VG's would not work.

Got all three also - 3 pair of the 4LW.

The tips are the best of any vise-grips I've used, really good for extracting broken bolts etc, and the 10LW fits larger nuts than any other type of vise-grips, absolutely brilliant on rounded off stuff and having the smooth main grip won't damage -vice handles etc as an example.