V-Groove wrenches Thorsen, Snap-On&?

[BFBOB]

I just discovered these v-groove pattern wrenches (yeah, late to the dance again) and have gathered a few. Just 'cause I like their looks I want to get at least one of every brand they came in. I know they were made by Thorsen, and so far the other brands I've found are Snap-On, Action, Dayton, Blue Grass and Powr-Kraft. I've got all of these except Blue Grass, and they come up with some regularity on evilPay.

The big question, are there any other brands this pattern wore? Giller, maybe - haven't seen one, but they were closely associated with Thorsen. I've consulted Alloy Artifacts and for a change they had nothing to say I didn't already know.

I've decided to stick with SAE, DOE and combos.

Otherwise it would be too hard to resist a NOS metric combo set 8-19MM (with 16 and 18!) for $60 starting bid.

Show your pix!

 

[four.cycle]

Per GJ member (and ToolArchives.com founder) twertsy, the Snap-on and the Thorsen models did not come off the same production line, although they do appear very similar.

Thorsen made them for:

Action (Thorsen's 'price point' line)
Bluegrass (private label for Belknap Hardware & Mfg. Co., Louisville, Ky.)
Channellock
Dayton (private label for Grainger Supply, Chicago)
KAL (US)
Powr-Kraft (private label for Montgomery Ward)
Thorsen

I have never seen one stamped "Action" or "Giller", but it's possible they may exist.

There are a mess of complete, new NOS sets (both SAE and Metric), both open-end and combination, at Meridian Tool in Oklahoma City. Unfortunately they do not sell online, or over the phone, and they do not ship - they are strictly cash-and-carry out the door.
The SAE combination sets have price tags on them for $49.99.
see HERE for photos (scroll up and down a bit):
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6226790&highlight=thorsen#post6226790

You might be able to contact GJ member potato and see if you can work something out.
Last set of those SAE combinations (new NOS) sold on Ebay for $89 + shipping. The set before that went for $135 (not sure if that included shipping or not.)
Picking them up onesie-twosies off Ebay will cost anywhere from 99 cents each (like four of them I now own) up to $17.00 + shipping each.

It should be obvious which route to choose.

(* if you cannot find the #14010 5/16" combination let me know. *)

 

[Cope]

Per GJ member (and ToolArchives.com founder) twertsy, the Snap-on and the Thorsen models did not come off the same production line, although they do appear very similar.

Thorsen made them for:
Thorsen
Dayton (private label for Grainger Supply, Chicago)
Bluegrass (private label for Belknap Hardware & Mfg. Co., Louisville, Ky.)
Powr-Kraft (private label for Montgomery Ward)
KAL (US)

I have never seen one stamped "Action" or "Giller", but it's possible they may exist.

I believe Thorsen made Action tools, the old ones were identical. Action was sold by discount houses, hardware stores and auto parts stores.

 

[vettex2]

I have some V groove snap-on line wrenches.
Never seen them for regular wrenches. before

 

[Vantastic]

I have a set of those thorsen made wrenches marked channellock and they are kool!

 

[Farmall 1066]

I have seen Snap On V pattern angle head / offset style wrenches.

 

[Cope]

I have some V groove snap-on line wrenches.
Never seen them for regular wrenches. before

Made up until the 70s or 80s. I have set from 1/4"-1-1/4". Most are 1964-65 vintage, but I have some newer ones with no date code.Some of this design were flat surfaced and some had raised center panels. DOE and DBE wrenches came in this pattern.

 

[four.cycle]

I believe Thorsen made Action tools, the old ones were identical.

Correct. The "Action" brand was Thorsens "price point" line. The tools themselves appear to be identical from my observations.
Thorsen also was closely associated with Giller, although what that relationship was remains somewhat a mystery.
I have not yet seen any of this type of wrench branded "Action" or "Giller" thus far. Maybe I just haven't looked at enough wrenches.

I have a set of those thorsen made wrenches marked channellock and they are kool.

Photos please!

 

[Cope]

Correct. The "Action" brand was Thorsens "price point" line. The tools themselves appear to be identical from my observations.
Thorsen also was closely associated with Giller, although what that relationship was remains somewhat a mystery.
I have not yet seen any of this type of wrench branded "Action" or "Giller" thus far. Maybe I just haven't looked at enough wrenches.
Photos please!

I have never seen their wrenches, but in Jr. and Sr. High School I used 3/8" and 1/2" Action brand sockets exclusively. Broke one socket, 11/16" IIRC, torquing the head bolts on a flat head Ford.

 

[four.cycle]

This is the type of wrench the OP is talking about:

 

[BFBOB]

I have never seen one stamped "Action"


Take a look at the right-had picture in my original postl

(and that's MISTER smartypants to you, kid.)

 

[BFBOB]

I have a set of those thorsen made wrenches marked channellock and they are kool!

Thanks! Another brand heard from ... mm, do you have any duplicates?

 

[ryan20021982]

four.cycle there are 2 on eBay marked Channellock
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331779411720

 

[BFBOB]

four.cycle there are 2 on eBay marked Channellock
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331779411720

Shhhhhhh! Don't tell anyone! Actually, I already found them. One is even a size I don't have.

 

[ryan20021982]

Here's my collection so far all Thorsen
Metric 8mm - 19mm plus 21mm and 22mm are on their way to me
SAE 1/4" - 15/16"

 

[shanny19]

Ive seen a lot of Giller, and its all been very basic, no aesthetic touches at all. It would surprise me a lot to see these branded Giller. All of my collecting anecdotal evidence points to Giller being an "invented" company which Thorsen used to bid on Vietnam-era contracts for Uncle. (Among other invented outfits for GSA contracting: JS, invented by SK, and ProAmerica, invented by KAL) Open to being proven wrong, of course.

If anyone has a (likely nonexistent) unicorn RXM1618 in these clothes, please post it up. Better yet, mail it to me!!!

 

[BFBOB]

Another province heard from: KAL

 

[four.cycle]

I stand corrected. I guess I wasn't looking hard enough.
There are currently two 'Action' branded models on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/381897000530?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/361871514126?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

==

shanny19:
Off-topic here, but I have to ask: other than anecdotal stuff, do you have anything that documents any connection between JS Technology and S-K? The JS stuff I own more resembles Easco (or possibly even Proto) than it does S-K. My JS 1/4" drive ratchets look exactly like older Challenger.

KAL is strictly a government/GSA contractor now. They came up with the "Proamerica" brand to cater to the user market.

 

[shanny19]

shanny19:
Off-topic here, but I have to ask: other than anecdotal stuff, do you have anything that documents any connection between JS Technology and S-K? The JS stuff I own more resembles Easco (or possibly even Proto) than it does S-K. My JS 1/4" drive ratchets look exactly like older Challenger.

.

Thats interesting, four cycle, for sure. Most every piece of JS i have is not only a SK look-alike, but also bears the corresponding SK part number! Never seen Easco or Proto resemblances. Pictures later if i can..

 

[four.cycle]

Well, of course there is the possibility that JS was outsourcing from more than one supplier.
Here's one of the JS sets exactly like mine:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/C3-JS-USA-1...:g:wWsAAOSwIgNXnpSH&item=182418548809&vxp=mtr

So as not to take this thread too far off the rails, here's the most recent "JS" thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348150

 

[potato]

Here's my collection so far all Thorsen
Metric 8mm - 19mm plus 21mm and 22mm are on their way to me
SAE 1/4" - 15/16"

very nice set.