Vintage Blue-Point 10” Wrench

[HackettB]

Only Snap-On/Blue-Point “crescent” wrench (of those 3 or 4 given to me for my 16th birthday many years ago) that I have left is the 10” wrench.

I noticed it has a “K” next to the opening at end. I have not been able to get info on what this represents other than like a coke that might indicate it’s date of manufacture.

Any info here?

HB

 

[Lesserstore]

Diamond made wrenches for Snap On if I remember correctly at some point, but I think somebody else made them for the Blue Point line. I think it was Proto because it looks similar to JP Danielson wrenches. It can't be Crescent because by that time they changed the depressed panels to go all the way to the adjustment screw.

 

[HackettB]

Thank you for your help. any idea when CRESCENT changed to the depressed panels (channels) to go all the way to the adjustment screw? Turns out (after a few purchases) I have CRESCENTS with longer channel plus (I assume) the older wrench versions that stop well short of the adjustment screw.

I have to go look at JP DANIELSON wrenches now. Are they considered good quality?

 

[Lesserstore]

Crescent started doing that in 1967 according to Alloy Artifacts.
Edit: a 1961 Crescent catalog shows the black oxide finished carbon steel wrenches having it, but the alloy steel wrenches do not. So by 1967 they all were.

J.P. Danielson was purchased by Plomb (later Proto) in 1947, and made them for all of the Proto brands: Challenger, P&C, Fleet, Penens, and of course Proto. They also made them for others as well such as Tru Test (True Value), and Stanley.

 

[HackettB]

Crescent started doing that in 1967 according to Alloy Artifacts.
Edit: a 1961 Crescent catalog shows the black oxide finished carbon steel wrenches having it, but the alloy steel wrenches do not. So by 1967 they all were.

J.P. Danielson was purchased by Plomb (later Proto) in 1947, and made them for all of the Proto brands: Challenger, P&C, Fleet, Penens, and of course Proto. They also made them for others as well such as Tru Test (True Value), and Stanley.

Thanks again. I’m really getting to enjoy the new hobby of researching the history of tools I grew up with using with my Dad and younger brothers.

 

[Crabman]

HackettB

Welcome to GJ and Merry Christmas!

Bruce

 

[HackettB]

Thank you. Back at you.

 

[FMB4]

Ya, welcome aboard HB.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Those old Blue-Points are *awesome*. I've a few hand-me-downs that had seen 30+ years of dealership use and are still tighter than some brand new Western Forge wrenches.

-Ryan

 

[HackettB]

Wish I still had my original Blue-Points (4,6,8 and the 12”).

 

[desertdog256]

I have exactly one Blue Point adjustable wrench and it has the same K on it.



The wrench belonged to my grandfather and he gave it to me in about 1989. It was not even close to being new then. He was a farmer that lived in a small, rural town. Can’t imagine where he got it—the town hardware store most likely. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for it.

 

[HackettB]

I have exactly one Blue Point adjustable wrench and it has the same K on it.



The wrench belonged to my grandfather and he gave it to me in about 1989. It was not even close to being new then. He was a farmer that lived in a small, rural town. Can’t imagine where he got it—the town hardware store most likely. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for it.

My wrench

I have exactly one Blue Point adjustable wrench and it has the same K on it.



The wrench belonged to my grandfather and he gave it to me in about 1989. It was not even close to being new then. He was a farmer that lived in a small, rural town. Can’t imagine where he got it—the town hardware store most likely. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for it.

Yep, a keeper for sure. Mine is 1974, bought right off the Snap-On truck. *** Our grandfather handed down his 24” DIAMOND Crescent-Style wrench to my Dad, then it came to my brother. He wants to chrome-plate it..,

My brother and I ended up with many of our Dad’s PROTO, Bonney, Snap-On and Channellock tools, many of which have “MCB” scribed on them. These are being split and passed down to our kids.

My sons will not forget the MCB importance, nor the value of understanding how to use a CRESCENT wrench (or Diamond, JP Danielson, JH Williams). I took liberty and collected a few of each for them, and told them a little history about the companies, some of which are now gone.

I hope someday someone will bring production of Crescent-style wrenches back to the USA.

At least Channellock, Estwing, and (some) Klein tools are.

 

[desertdog256]

I have bought a bunch of rusty crescent wrenches at garage sales, flea markets, etc. and cleaned them up. I only buy USA made vintage ones unless I see something interesting from Japan, Korea, or whatever. I enjoy working on them.

I don’t know how many I have, but it’s in the dozens and that Blue Point is the only one I have with the K on it. No idea if it’s a date code, or a mold number, or what.