Vulcan tools

[dnschmidt]

There was and has never been a better ratchet than the B-52. An absolute classic. It was to the best of my memory the first truly fine toothed ratchet available and it took more abuse than any pear head ever made. BULLETPROOF!

 

[WNYflyer]

There was and has never been a better ratchet than the B-52. An absolute classic. It was to the best of my memory the first truly fine toothed ratchet available and it took more abuse than any pear head ever made. BULLETPROOF!

Around my area if you go to garage sale or estate sale that advertises hand tools quite often you will find an S-52 more than any other model ratchet even the B-52. I guy could certainly get carried away hoovering them up around here.

 

[mritchie77]

Picked up this almost complete socket set this weekend at an estate sale. I think it’s missing an extension. Williams box, Williams B52 ratchet, but all the sockets are double marked Williams and Vulcan. Anyone have the missing extension?? LOL

Now that I've decided to keep this, can anyone determine what the two slots that are empty might hold? I'm thinking it's supposed to be a universal swivel and a 3" extension?

Looking to see if y'all might concur and I'll start scouring eBay for period Williams pieces.

 

[dnschmidt]

More likely than a swivel would be a spark plug socket. Don't forget back then 13/16" was the standard plug size not 5/8" and 14 mm which are the current standards. 3" extension is very likely the second slot.

 

[PowderKeg]

One of two Vulcan ratchets I've got (so far), the other is an M-56 1/4" that been soaking to clean up before reassembly. Vulcan's are easy to slip past thinking they're Williams (which I have several) without checking the brand. Always keep an extra eye out for them, but not much joy.

 

[benjeepman]

did i hear my name?





i ran against a vulcan truck when i was a dealer. i have a 1962 catalog if there is anything in particular you want to look up.

Did they have roll cabinets like the kra 398?

 

[four.cycle]

More likely than a swivel would be a spark plug socket. Don't forget back then 13/16" was the standard plug size not 5/8" and 14 mm which are the current standards. 3" extension is very likely the second slot.

^ exactly.

NINE sockets in that kit?

 

[Donald Colquhoun]

Been on the forum a couple of months now and don't recall seeing any mention of vulcan tools. In the mid 70's I worked in a gas station and the vulcan truck stopped by every week. I also got some vulcan wrenches in a box I bought and the quality looks great. Just wanted to get some opinions. I assume vulcan was a national player but perhaps they were regional and thus not well known.

Got smart and did a search on this forum on vulcan and not a lot came up so I'm wondering how many of you guys have vulcan tools and if you see much available in your favorite flea markets. Also realized my tool boxes are vulcan (bottom, middle, top). Here are some pics of may overloaded and filthy vulcan boxes. This will change soon, you guys have shown me the error of my ways.

I have many Vulcan/JH Williams hand tools. The Vulcan logo on your roller cabinet is exactly like the one I have on a few of my chests and roller cabinet. Vulcan tools was the automotive division of JH Williams Tools, later purchased by TRW corp., then Snap On and still owned by Snap On, but not the same tools design. I also have a Vulcan catalog #178 with a price list catalog PS-78 dated April 3, 1978. This is when TRW owned the company. The catalog was the same for years going back to the early 1960.s. Their address was 2300 Kenmore Avenue Buffalo, NY 14207. The 2300 Kenmore Avenue was actually Old Kenmore Ave. And actually in the Town of Tonawanda with a Buffalo zip code. I hope this helps.

 

[Donald Colquhoun]

I have many Vulcan/JH Williams hand tools. The Vulcan logo on your roller cabinet is exactly like the one I have on a few of my chests and roller cabinet. Vulcan tools was the automotive division of JH Williams Tools, later purchased by TRW corp., then Snap On and still owned by Snap On, but not the same tools design. I also have a Vulcan catalog #178 with a price list catalog PS-78 dated April 3, 1978. This is when TRW owned the company. The catalog was the same for years going back to the early 1960.s. Their address was 2300 Kenmore Avenue Buffalo, NY 14207. The 2300 Kenmore Avenue was actually Old Kenmore Ave. And actually in the Town of Tonawanda with a Buffalo zip code. I hope this helps.

PS: B-52,B-54,B-59, S-52,S-53, best ratches

 

[fatfillup]

Holy thread bump about 17 years

Welcome Donald to rhe forum and thanks for the info. I knew there was a Williams connection, didn't realize it was a division.

I still have a soft spot for Vulcan to some degree though they all get aorice tag put on them. I have trouble putting a rag on PowrKraft tools though