Vintage Wright - Share it Here

[misterbill]

have fun with these "date codes"

If I had to hazard a guess I'd say that Wright had hired someone who was dyslexic and those should actually be stamped 52 and 53!

Bill

 

[misterbill]

This is a set I got from my dad. I’d forgotten about them until recently and turned them up while sorting some boxes in the garage. Am I reading correctly that those are 1947 dated?

You are correct, sir - 1947.

 

[3baygarage]

A new addition to the collection. One I don’t see very often, a 1/2” drive N-20.

The drive plug isn’t marked. The plug’s a bit long, nice thing is it can be centered to keep all pressure off the springs when storing.

 

[r_olson_06]

A new addition to the collection. One I don’t see very often, a 1/2” drive N-20.

The drive plug isn’t marked. The plug’s a bit long, nice thing is it can be centered to keep all pressure off the springs when storing.

Nice ratchet was looking at that one. Never seen one before but the head design reminds me of the old Plomb LAs.
How many ratchets you up to?

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3055, 3060, 3061, 3062, 3070

 

[3baygarage]

My thoughts too, kind of similar to a Plomb. I don’t have any older female Plomb btw. Still holding out for a deal.

I’m not sure on the ratchet count. Never actually took a count, and the collection is split up in a few places. Sad excuse, I know. I should at least photo what’s here and post in that ratchet thread.

 

[MR.X]

Great find!

 

[3baygarage]

Thanks, it’s a well kept example. What do you guys say, 1930’s? I don’t see a date mark.

 

[Username already in use]

I picked up this unusual Wright combo last weekend. Un-plated and marked *2, a date code perhaps?

 

[davethorik]

Found this pretty crude, and older looking Wright socket today. Pardon my crappy pix. It is marked WRIGHT 21/32 N. 1/2 drive, 12 point. No detents.

 

[misterbill]

Picked this up today at the bottom of a box of screwdrivers. First one of these I've seen. A plain steel MS-40 3/8" drive screwdriver socket. No year date code on it.

Bill

 

[misterbill]

Getting old ***** sometimes! Needed a magnifying glass to see the "G" (1967) date code.

Bill

 

[RedVise]

Came across this N 370 the other week in fairly good shape.

Brian

 

[misterbill]

Thanks for posting, Brian. With the lack of catalogs it's the only way to create a visual representation/chronology.

Bill

 

[CRTDI]

A couple of different Wright sets.





My first and only Frankenstein ratchet....












I'm thinking that this little Bluegrass ratchet was Wright sourced.


Even has the same model number.....LOL.

 

[misterbill]

Yup, definitely a time machine. Thanks for posting the beautiful sets.

Bill

 

[davethorik]

I found this Wright 10" adjustable wrench at the flea a while back. I have never seen one like it before. It looks contract produced, does anyone have a guess who made it?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

A few of have talked a few different times about the tear drop hanging hole. They appear on some Barcalo adjustable crescent type wrenches, but they also appear on Lawson adjustable pipe wrenches. Inconclusive.

 

[davethorik]

Yes, I saw the barcalo comments. I thought it may be a Pexto, but there are too many differences.

 

[davethorik]

I put all my Wright ratchets together for a group shot. Don't shoot me, it's a mix of old and new. I'd like to add some older ones but I never see them, love to get my hands on one of the starwheel selector round heads, even a pear head.

Front to rear:

Fairmount B51 (no date code but pre '84, single pawl)
2400 (date code L)
3400 (date code 61, marked pat pend for Tootsie Roll grip patent, original single pawl, rebuilt with twin pawl kit)
3425 (just bought this new yesterday, date code H1G)
3426 (date code 03K)
3428 (date code K, single pawl, looks unused)
4425 (date code 97E)

I have a suspicion the the 2400 and 3428 were either in a kit together, or bought new at or around same time. I got them both looking unused at same estate sale, and have sequential date codes.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Somewhere I've got a DOE made by Bonney, CV era, labeled "Wright".

I suppose anything is possible, but my bet on that would be Bonney made for Wright Aeronautical. I have several DOE wrenches, DBE wrenches, flare nut wrenches, crows feet, and other special tools made by Bonney for Wright Aeronautical. They usually have an 8xxxxx part number.

 

[davethorik]

If I've already posted this, my apologies. This is the oldest Wright branded ratchet I own. With a modern twin pawl rebuild kit and a few drops of Shell Rotella oil, instant day and night transformation to one of the smoothest and lowest backdrag of all my Wright ratchets, and strong in the running for spot in top 5 smoothest ratchets I own, of any kind vintage or modern.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice. Hard to get one working just right sometimes.

 

[misterbill]

Picked up this 1943 dated offset screwdriver on eBay. OAL is 7-3/4" with one (inline) blade measuring 3/4" and the other (transverse - perhaps ground down) measuring 7/8"

Bill

 

[davethorik]

Wow, don't think I've seen one of those before. Nice snag.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Neat find, Bill.

 

[davethorik]

Another one off the list!

Wright 3429 3/8 offset ratchet. Looks hardly used.
"D" date code = 1964

 

[paulm12]

forgot I had these sockets. anyone need?

 

[CRTDI]

Another one off the list!

Wright 3429 3/8 offset ratchet. Looks hardly used.
"D" date code = 1964

I wasn't aware that the "Tootsie Roll" ratchet came in different flavors....

Very nice collection...

 

[davethorik]

I wasn't aware that the "Tootsie Roll" ratchet came in different flavors....

Very nice collection...

Thank you sir!!

 

[d42jeep]

I found this socket this morning. I guess it’s from 1941. I put it in the misterbill pile.
-Don

 

[misterbill]

I found this socket this morning. I guess it’s from 1941. I put it in the misterbill pile.
-Don

Wright makes a very good brand for illustrating wartime alloy restrictions. Here's the super clean 1941 pre-war socket from Don juxtaposed with one just one year later.

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Picked up another 3/8 wright set, this one all -45 except for ratchet, which shows no date code. Amazingly still has crossbar.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice. I have never seen Wright with shellac or dried BLO before.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes that is curious. Also has a crinkle paint finish. Other set same color but has smooth paint. Dates range -45 to +46.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I am cross-linking this Wright thread to a Wright-made SPEEDMASTER Zephyrweight set I found yesterday, posted here. If anyone has seen a Wright N-60 with a rounded button slide selector, please let me know. For now, I am assuming it was done explicitly for this set.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

If anyone has seen a Wright N-60 with a rounded button slide selector, please let me know. For now, I am assuming it was done explicitly for this set.

Correction. Our proprietor has directed me to post #76 by 3baygarage displaying an N-52 with a wide button sliding selector, just like the ratchet in the MW Speedmaster set, linked here. I now believe the N-52 is what they used for the Zephyrweight sets they made for MW, and it seems to confirm that the set is very late 1930's to 1941. The patent (2,201,705) for that ratchet was applied for in 1938 and granted May 29, 1940. Thanks, Bill! Thanks, 3bay.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a 3/4” drive wartime socket destined for misterbill’s ever expanding Wright collection.
-Don

 

[misterbill]

Here is a 3/4” drive wartime socket destined for misterbill’s ever expanding Wright collection.
-Don

 

[Tylermorris]

Wright 3/8 drive universal sockets

 

[mr natural]

appears to be a 1960 n400 1/2" drive.. never saw the handle like that.. single pawl.. found it in my dad's workshop, rusted froze.. cleaned up inside and it's awesome