Vintage Wright - Share it Here

[MR.X]

So I guess Barberton (Wright) is like right next door to Akron (Firestone).

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I seem to recall there was some interest in who made wrenches for firestone.

 

[davethorik]

So I guess Barberton (Wright) is like right next door to Akron (Firestone).

Not right next door, but 10-15 minute drive. Barberton borders Akron.

 

[Username already in use]

Found this 3/8" drive Wright U.S. swivel socket yesterday. #MU-55

 

[misterbill]

Sunday's flea was a day for quality over quantity. I passed on several wrenches, breakers, sockets, and even a Blackhawk tool chest like the one UNAIU just found. I did pick up this Wright 1/2” ratchet, though. I almost left it behind because I have several already but it is a near perfect specimen except for a small “X” owners mark and a small area of chrome loss. It's also another data point for my theory that these ratchets were only released at the end of 1945 (45+) and not earlier (-45).

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A fine specimen. I have run into some 3/8 stuff but so far no 1/2 inch from that time period.

 

[Username already in use]

A pair of old Wright DOEs. One is obviously much older than the other...

 

[misterbill]

I've been recently trying to find a 3/8" breaker bar. Was hoping to find something a little longer than the classic 8" offered by just about anybody when they were a common thing. File this one under "even a blind squirrel sometimes finds a nut". I found this lightly used Wright set today. All the pieces are dated 1977 except for the breaker, which is 1969. So, probably not original to the set. Only item that appears to be missing is a 3516 1/2" deep socket and maybe another extension. Just guessing as I have no catalog info.

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Rubber handles look to be in pretty good shape. Nice find.

 

[misterbill]

Rubber handles look to be in pretty good shape. Nice find.

Thanks, OTG!

 

[crankshaftdan II]

I've been recently trying to find a 3/8" breaker bar. Was hoping to find something a little longer than the classic 8" offered by just about anybody when they were a common thing. File this one under "even a blind squirrel sometimes finds a nut". I found this lightly used Wright set today. All the pieces are dated 1977 except for the breaker, which is 1969. So, probably not original to the set. Only item that appears to be missing is a 3516 1/2" deep socket and maybe another extension. Just guessing as I have no catalog info.

Bill

I have a box that looks like your's-however mine has different stuff. I do have some extra's if you figure out exactly what you need, however mine are all different date codes and my 3/8" breakers are both cracked handles (1976) might have a hard time finding all the same??

 

[misterbill]

... I do have some extra's if you figure out exactly what you need...

CSD2, I definitely know it's missing a 6 point 3516 deep socket. If you have one of those I'd definitely be interested.

Bill

 

[misterbill]

All cleaned up and ready to go to work! I got lucky and found a replacement 1/2" deep socket when I was moving some stuff around in the garage.

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Those cleaned up nice!

 

[davethorik]

I've seen these Wright Tootsie Roll ratchets with grey rubber instead of black before, but never owned one til now (hard to tell in photos). No. 3500 made in 1966 (F). Edit: 3/8 dr.

What's weird to me is the snap ring. It uses an internal snap ring like SK and Cornwell ratchets to hold the head together. Instead of the normal for Wright spiral-type (keychain) retaining ring.

What's up with this? An experiment? (Glad they stayed spiral-type, btw. Quickest guts swap of any ratchet ever).

I have a 3400 that is identical but uses the normal Wright spiral-type ring. And has a black rubber grip.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this wartime brake spoon this morning at the flea market.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I've seen these Wright Tootsie Roll ratchets with grey rubber instead of black before, but never owned one til now (hard to tell in photos). No. 3500 made in 1966 (F). Edit: 3/8 dr.

What's weird to me is the snap ring. It uses an internal snap ring like SK and Cornwell ratchets to hold the head together. Instead of the normal for Wright spiral-type (keychain) retaining ring.



What's up with this? An experiment? (Glad they stayed spiral-type, btw. Quickest guts swap of any ratchet ever).

I have a 3400 that is identical but uses the normal Wright spiral-type ring. And has a black rubber grip.

That is odd. First one I have seen.

 

[MR.X]

Picked up this wartime brake spoon this morning at the flea market.

Hey Lugz, so have you ever seen a 40 date code? I have the random 41 marked wrench but don't recall seeing a 40.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Now that you mention, no. And a quick search of this thread doesn't reveal any. Bill would know best. I don't find that much Wright, what I do I usually move on to him, and he has amassed a much bigger sample size than me. Off the top of my head, I'd say -43 and -45 seem to be the most prevalent.

 

[r_olson_06]

I've seen these Wright Tootsie Roll ratchets with grey rubber instead of black before, but never owned one til now (hard to tell in photos). No. 3500 made in 1966 (F). Edit: 3/8 dr.

What's weird to me is the snap ring. It uses an internal snap ring like SK and Cornwell ratchets to hold the head together. Instead of the normal for Wright spiral-type (keychain) retaining ring.

What's up with this? An experiment? (Glad they stayed spiral-type, btw. Quickest guts swap of any ratchet ever).

I have a 3400 that is identical but uses the normal Wright spiral-type ring. And has a black rubber grip.

My 3500 is the same way. I believe the 3500 had gray grips and we're Fine Tooth if I remember right.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[misterbill]

Now that you mention, no. And a quick search of this thread doesn't reveal any. Bill would know best. I don't find that much Wright, what I do I usually move on to him, and he has amassed a much bigger sample size than me. Off the top of my head, I'd say -43 and -45 seem to be the most prevalent.

So, went into the basement to peruse my sample size of 1 carry box weighing 73 pounds and I can state that I have zero Wright tools dated 1940. Earliest I have with a 2 digit date is 1941. Most frequent are 42 and 45.

Bill

 

[misterbill]

I've seen these Wright Tootsie Roll ratchets with grey rubber instead of black before, but never owned one til now (hard to tell in photos). No. 3500 made in 1966 (F). Edit: 3/8 dr.

What's weird to me is the snap ring. It uses an internal snap ring like SK and Cornwell ratchets to hold the head together. Instead of the normal for Wright spiral-type (keychain) retaining ring.

What's up with this? An experiment? (Glad they stayed spiral-type, btw. Quickest guts swap of any ratchet ever).

I have a 3400 that is identical but uses the normal Wright spiral-type ring. And has a black rubber grip.

Not sure why they were pursuing a patent (https://patents.google.com/patent/USD199149) on this, but I have a similar 4500 gray handled ratchet I received from d42jeep. There is also a similar 1960 N500 on AA.

Bill

 

[MR.X]

Now that you mention, no. And a quick search of this thread doesn't reveal any. Bill would know best. I don't find that much Wright, what I do I usually move on to him, and he has amassed a much bigger sample size than me. Off the top of my head, I'd say -43 and -45 seem to be the most prevalent.

So, went into the basement to peruse my sample size of 1 carry box weighing 73 pounds and I can state that I have zero Wright tools dated 1940. Earliest I have with a 2 digit date is 1941. Most frequent are 42 and 45.

Bill

Thanks and Thanks. Has anyone compiled what is known to date about date codes prior to 41? letters and single digits and supporting evidence?

 

[davethorik]

My 3500 is the same way. I believe the 3500 had gray grips and we're Fine Tooth if I remember right.

That makes sense. I've wondered when Wright started putting the dual pawl in them as standard. Your rat looks a lot nicer than mine!

Not sure why they were pursuing a patent (https://patents.google.com/patent/USD199149) on this, but I have a similar 4500 gray handled ratchet I received from d42jeep. There is also a similar 1960 N500 on AA.

Bill

Bill, that is a neat ratchet. I think my 3400 is the same year and also says pat pend.

I posted pics of this in the Powr Kraft thread, might as well throw it here too. I got this Wright-made Powr Kraft long 1/2 ratchet with the Tootsie roll. I actually bought it with the 3500 and a random mix of mostly Wright sockets at a yard sale.

Sadly the PK was used as a hammer, to the point the metal is curling over in spots. That's where you can see visible chrome chips on the head. It is also missing the detent. But it still ratchets.

 

[davethorik]

Curiosity got the best of me, and I took the 3500 apart. Another interesting surprise. The selector is not integrated into the guts.

Pictured: 3500 twin pawl guts on the left, more common single pawl guts on right. This single, and most modern twin Wrights have the selector attached to the guts. On the 3500, the selector spins freely but is somehow retained to the ratchet head. I can't see a snap ring inside the head, I tried tapping it lightly but I don't want to break it, so I'm just leaving it there lol. The drilled holes line up to the prongs on the selector.

The 3500 didn't work that well, skipped but the teeth are packed full of old, gummy grease. It was so crammed in the snap ring groove, the ring couldn't compress enough to get it apart. Had to hold a pick in the groove while spinning it to get enough grease out to compress the ring. I'm hoping she works nice after a bath.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

50 year old grease will do that. Will work great now.

 

[davethorik]

I've been amazed how many ratchets I thought for sure were stripped out but it was just old grease. Here's hoping!

And From that socket box with the 2 Tootsie rolls, here is the rest of the Wright stuff.

L to R
Wright 4316 ten pt socket, 1/2 dr, 1/2" (F)
Wright 4402 extension, 1/2 dr, 2" (G)
Wright 4116 twelve pt socket, 1/2 dr, 1/2" (G)

Fairmount ST620 six pt socket, 1/2 dr, 5/8"
Fairmount SD1220 twelve pt deep socket, 1/2 dr, 5/8"

Powr-Kraft 84W4789 twelve pt deep socket, 1/2 dr, 1"

Wright 3720/MU20 six pt swivel socket, 3/8 dr, 5/8" (-60)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Has anyone compiled what is known to date about date codes prior to 41? letters and single digits and supporting evidence?

No. I've never had enough examples, and, like Cornwell's system, it looks like you have to be an M.I.T. grad or a cryptographer to understand it.

Going back to the 1940 issue, AA says that's when the two-digit numbering system started, but they don't have any 1940 examples, so I don't know if that was just theoretical on their part or what but we seemed to have collectively debunked it.

I do have a theory that supports our findings. Wright's first contract with the Air Corps was October 1941. It seems much more likely to me that something like that would've prompted them to revamp their stamping dies than revamping them in 1940 for little to no reason. The war and wartime ramp-up just seems like a more impactful and cleaner more logical break from the old system.

 

[MR.X]

No. I've never had enough examples, and, like Cornwell's system, it looks like you have to be an M.I.T. grad or a cryptographer to understand it.

Going back to the 1940 issue, AA says that's when the two-digit numbering system started, but they don't have any 1940 examples, so I don't know if that was just theoretical on their part or what but we seemed to have collectively debunked it.

.

Hi, yeah, limited examples and even when I do see a new example it usually just ruins whatever half-assed ADHD limited date code theory i was working on.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hi, yeah, limited examples and even when I do see a new example it usually just ruins whatever half-assed ADHD limited date code theory i was working on.

'Zackly! Cornwell model numbers have the same effect on me! Everytime I have one set of tools nailed down to a 16ths system, the next set foils my logic!

 

[MR.X]

...F & U codes on virtually identical wrenches..,,So this is perfect, almost immediately after bemoaning the opacity of the the Wright Tool & Forge coding system I acquire this ignition wrench size set only to have it literally give me a big FU from beyond the grave. That's helpful.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's hilarious! Nice set, btw.

 

[MR.X]

Thanks! and yeah, can't complain about the condition.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Pat pending n70. Still working very smoothly.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Happy to find this wartime Wright 1/2-inch drive socket in a hard-to-find size at the flea market yesterday. Cleaned up well. Crisp markings.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some 10 pointers

 

[outofbounds]

Here's a wrench I found this morning, the earliest I've seen.

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

Are you able to assign a maker of the bottom DBE wrench underneath the old Wright OE wrench in this picture.

I know your post was from 2 years ago, but I have a similar DBE (with offsets) that might help me identify mine.

Thanks!!
Tom

 

[d42jeep]

The bottom wrench looks Williams to me.
-Don

 

[misterbill]

The bottom wrench looks Williams to me.
-Don

Don is (w)right. It's a wartime Williams wrench. See AA here 4000-Series Open-End Wrenches

 

[outofbounds]

Don is (w)right. It's a wartime Williams wrench. See AA here 4000-Series Open-End Wrenches

Actually I agree with you two. I was probably referencing the wrong wrench in my mind, but as long as I have your eyeballs, maybe you can look at this one, and lob a guess my way. Marked "Chrome Alloy Model 19727" with no makers branding on reverse like the Williams of that era.