Vintage Blue Point, Blue Points Chicago and Blue-Point tools thread

[Shelbylex]

Blue Point tool company was formed in 1923 in Chicago. Snap On initially relied on the outside contractors to provide additional tools to expand the line of tools required by customers. Forged Steel Products of Newport, PA and Milwaukee Tool and Forge of Milwakee, WI were some of the first companies who produced the tools. The tools were initially maker as Blue Point and Plue Points Chicago prior to standardization to Blue Point

We have threads about all tool manufaturers including Snap On. I would like to start a new thread dedicated to Blue Point as I think the tools deserve more attention than we are giving them.

Please share your BLUE POINT TOOLS!

 

[wrenchguy]

i only got a couple, i'll post photos in this post when i can. These were my dads, sadly i came to have them 18 months ago.



I'd like to replace the broke 1. I could trade from these a mix of mine and dad.


he didn't have much blue point.




theres a few more but with like 8-9 user toolboxes around here i don't group them.

 

[snapmom]

I have some. Where would you like to start?

 

[Shelbylex]

Do you want to start with wrenches, Snapmom? May be early to later ones? I wonder when they added metrics - I think Blue Point were among the first several US companies to add itс

 

[snapmom]

Metric is first shown in the 38 cat.

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you - when in comparison Snap On started doing it?
SnapMom and Wrenchguy, please post some pictures - lets have this thread going. I suspect it's not the most popular brand, but I think we could all learn a lot and enjoy the tools!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The 1938 catalog snapmom is referring to is the Snap-on catalog. At that time, Blue-Point was no longer a company or any other kind of distinct business entity. It was a brand. It was founded in 1923 by the founders of the Snap-on Wrench Company and its selling and distribution arm, Motor Tool Specialty Company. When Blue-Point Tool Company and Snap-on Wrench Company were merged in 1930 to become Snap-on Tools, Incorporated, Blue-Point became a brand of Snap-on. They had already been under the same roof for 4 years at that point. The Racine plant, where Boxockets were made, was closed in 1926 and all Blue-Point operations were moved to Milwaukee.

EDIT: Oh, and in case you didn't realize it, collectors have been posting Blue-Point tools of all ages and marking varieties in the Snap-on thread. They are just as popular as Snap-on tools. And they are inextricable, in my opinion.

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, Lugz. Did not realize that - will have to look through Snap On thread!
I guess I tried to invent another wheel. : )

 

[twertsy]

I used to have quite a few, but I think Snapmom has them all now.

 

[snapmom]

The main types of Tappets.
Top: name and model on head. no T in the model number. cats. 25-26
Second: name and model on head has T in model number 25-26
Third: name on body stamped. model number on head 27-29
Fourth: name raised, has inset. model number on head 30-31
fifth: name raised, changed to Blue Point. has arrows. model number on head. 31-33
sixth: name raised no arrows model number on head. no made in USA. 34-36

Sometimes you will see variations in types.. like name on head and body.
But these are the main types of tappets. The cat dates are about right, but could be wrong. I did this by looking at the different model numbers in each cat. they do change, then comparing the odd models that were only made for a year or so.

 

[woody 73]

I get very sad thinking about this day so many years ago, the man that sold me the following set died a short time later. He had the most keen eye for vintage tools that I have ever seen and he was a very nice man.

The story in question for you today:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=265280

 

[snapmom]

Early tappet set. no T in model number, these are quite hard to find, I need several to complete the set. These are in the 25-26 Blue Points tool cat.

 

[snapmom]

The tappet set with Blue Points name and model number in head. has T in model number, shows up in the Snap on 26 cat. Only missing the T1213 in this set.

 

[snapmom]

Blue Points Tappet, name stamped on body. 27-29, I need the T2123 and T2021 to finish. this is probably the most common Blue Points wrenches.

 

[snapmom]

Blue Points Tappets, has name raised with inset. 1931. I need the T1917 to finish. I think the T3032 and T3230 were never made with the inset, but is listed in the 31 cat. no one as seen them.

 

[snapmom]

The Blue Point with arrows set. these are hard to find. would be about 31-33. I need the T2117, T1416, T1614 and the bag.

 

[MR.X]

Thank you, Lugz. Did not realize that - will have to look through Snap On thread!
I guess I tried to invent another wheel. : )

Not really, some people might like not having to hopscotch around a Snap-On thread to find Blue Point related stuff or feel like any Blue Point posts they make will be swallowed up by the sheer magnitude of content there.
No idea if this thread will take off or not but I'm diggin it so far.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I guess I tried to invent another wheel. : )

I wasn't thread marming you. Two wheels might be better than one! With your comments about it not getting attention or not being popular, it just seemed like you weren't aware that's where they were being posted, whether early and a subsidiary inside the Snap-on fam, or later and a brand. No worries.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The Blue Point with arrows set. these are hard to find. would be about 31-33. I need the T2117, T1416, T1614 and the bag.

I have an 1820, but it looks like you have that covered. Here are a few I have laying around.

 

[snapmom]

Blue Points right angle wrench set. probably late 20s. name stamped on body

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Very nice. Pouch is in amazing shape. Some pat pending wp wrenches, 28 and 29 date codes

 

[snapmom]

Blue Points and Blue point brake adjusting wrenches. late 20s to early 30s

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some ignition wrenches

 

[Shelbylex]

This is absolutely fantastic! Thank you for sharing all your Blue Point and Blue Points here!

SnapMom and Oldetuleguy - you both have amazing collections! Please have them coming! Wrenchguy and Woody 73- appreciate your contributions!

Let's have more tools coming!!!

After looking at all these treasures I remembered seeing a random blue point wrench in one of my neighbours boxes full of random wrenches - will have to find an excuse to visit him one of the days and see what else is there and may be trade it if he wants something from my tools!

 

[MR.X]

OK, so here's a couple pics I put on the DBE thread a couple weeks ago. They're all USN NAF wrenches. You can see the Blue Point at top with it's odd size combination. At the bottom is a USN-NAF wrench with a cheap looking "Par-V"? stamp. Besides the obvious issue of it being a PAR-"V" ( not Par-X) and a wrench ( not screwdriver) does anyone know anything about it?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

My hunch would be added id punch of some sort. The other stampings on the wrench look different.

 

[snapmom]

Blue Points open end wrenches. Name on head. 25-26, no bag. missing the 2024. Sometimes the logo is on the head and body.

 

[snapmom]

Blue Points open end wrenches. Name stamped on body. probably 27-29. there are several different logo stampings on these. this is a complete set, no bag.

 

[snapmom]

Blue Points open end. Raised logo inside inset. 30-31 Four types. logo inset with model number stamped on front head. logo inset with model number stamped on back head. logo inset with model number inset on back body with size stamped on back head. logo inset with model number inset on back body with size inset on back body. I just use two types, model number on front, and model number on back.

 

[snapmom]

Blue Points open end. Inset with model number on front. These are hard to find. I need several to finish.

 

[snapmom]

Blue Points open end. Inset with model number on back. Hard to find. I need several to finish.

 

[snapmom]

Just a note: As collectors we try to preserve history. An to figure out history. You will find pieces that just do not fit what we thought as right, I have several pieces that I just say, what the heck! This is one of them.

 

[Shelbylex]

Snapmom, you need to start a museum!!!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have one old engineer style bluepoint wrench

 

[j p smith]

Not as old as some of the Blue Point pictured in this thread. Here is the start of my XD Wrench set. Hoping to enlarge the set if I can find some more wrenches.

Looking for additional XD's if anyone has extras to sell.
Thanks

 

[snapmom]

Looking for additional XD's if anyone has extras to s


What era do you need?

 

[j p smith]

snapmom, thanks. Not to concerned with era, I need to look but I think what I have is 50's/60's. If you have some extras I can pm you or post here what sizes I have. I like the shiny chrome ones, not the dull coated ones

 

[j p smith]

Here is a better picture of the ones I have

 

[d42jeep]

Here is one from 1940 and another from 1941.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is an incomplete punch and chisel set from 1950 that’s seen plenty of use.
-Don