Where's the Hinsdale thread? Show em!

[Project 2501]

One of, if not THE best looking wrenches I've ever seen. It's a toss up between this and the plomb pebble wrenches.

 

[bmwrd0]

I did some horse trading the other day with a gentleman named LessorSon, and to sweeten the deal (or to get rid of **** he was tired of looking at) he casually asked if there was anything I was kinda looking for, to which I replied "Hinsdale" and, lo and behold, he sent me this:


And most of this was inside:

I had the speeder and breaker bar already, but what he sent looks to be a 1938 29R box filled with older sockets from the six point era.

Quite happy with this, and I kinda like the green paint. Seems of the period. Ish. Thanks LS!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Any hinsdale is always nice!

 

[Fred Knox]

I am up to three Hinsdale No. 12 B-R socket sets in their original metal boxes (still missing a few sockets). The interesting thing is that one of them is in a much narrower tapered box than the other two. Has anyone seen this before? I do not believe the smaller one (2” at widest point) even accommodates all the items that are targeted for the wider ones (3 ½” at widest point). BTW, the wider ones have a ½” wide extension bar, while the narrower one uses a 7/16” wide extension bar. The sockets in the narrow box all look Hinsdale (knurling pattern), but without any markings. Any thoughts/ideas? Thanks.

 

[Username already in use]

Found yesterday. Is anyone missing/in need of this 9/32” drive flex head?

 

[bmwrd0]

I am always interested in Hinsdale, and in 9/32.

 

[Provincial]

Recently, I found a Hinsdale SP-1 spark plug wrench. I haven't seen another on the internet.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Neat find. We need a name for that. I vote for "Accordion" style. Concertina would be more accurate, but not too many people know the difference.

 

[Provincial]

It kind of reminds me of the ridges on the spark plug insulators. I wonder if that was the reason for them?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Could be for grabbing it

 

[Mintgrun]

I brought this BE-30 5/8" combination wrench home yesterday. I recognized the shape of the shank, in spite of the lettering being filled in with paint. I started with paint stripper, before putting it into the electrolysis bucket and was pleased to find USN numbers stamped into it. (TP 124)







I have another 5/8" wrench here somewhere, but seem to have misplaced it. I may even have two more and do recall leaving another 5/8" combo in the store not long ago, thinking "I already have that size." Maybe I need to collect 5/8"ers specifically, since that's the only size I seem to find.

Tom

 

[bryanrj]

Came across this 9/32" drive Hinsdale 17M box with a rather good start towards a full set. This set matches the 1938 catalog image, and was prior to ratchets in the set. So I am looking for the pliers, three of the wrenches and the 5/16" and 3/8" sockets. I don't know what I will do about the screwdriver, but that was all that was left of it in the box. Haven't seen a picture of a complete one, so I am not sure how Hinsdale marked the screwdriver, but I would expect it was in the plastic handle if at all. If I can find a very close handle I may use it with the original screwdriver metal if a complete one is not found. Any leads on finding the missing pieces will be appreciated...
And sorry I could not get the catalog page to load properly, it always came up sideways...

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is what's in mine. Looks like I'm missing one wrench

 

[Ricky Joe]

I am up to three Hinsdale No. 12 B-R socket sets in their original metal boxes (still missing a few sockets). The interesting thing is that one of them is in a much narrower tapered box than the other two. Has anyone seen this before? I do not believe the smaller one (2” at widest point) even accommodates all the items that are targeted for the wider ones (3 ½” at widest point). BTW, the wider ones have a ½” wide extension bar, while the narrower one uses a 7/16” wide extension bar. The sockets in the narrow box all look Hinsdale (knurling pattern), but without any markings. Any thoughts/ideas? Thanks.

I have an old Indestro box that is tapered like yours.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Have a couple 12br sets, seem to hold alot of stuff

 

[bryanrj]

Here is what's in mine. Looks like I'm missing one wrench

Could you add a close up of the screwdriver (or just PM me a photo) if it has "Hinsdale" marked on it somewhere so I can be on the lookout for one. And if I find an extra wrench, I will let you know, I need three myself.

 

[Fred Knox]

I have an old Indestro box that is tapered like yours.

Please share a couple of photos (and maybe the dimensions). I would love to see how similar the Indestro box is to the two different Hinsdale No. 12 B-R socket set boxes above.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a hinsdale, chromium vanadium (indestro) dasco (hinsdale?) and an sk. The dasco hinsdale and sk boxes are dimensionally identical.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Thank you, Oldtuleguy! I was recently in an accident and havve a broken back, so can’t get to my tools to take pictures. Mine looks the same as yours.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

No problem i had them handy! Hope you are feeling better soon rj.

 

[bmwrd0]

Get well soon! My wife broke her back 25 years ago, everything seems to be ok still.

 

[TheRealZeus]

Hins-Dale 3/8” driver extension. 12” length.

 

[bmwrd0]

The eBay gods smiled on me (for once) and I was able to pick up these gems:

Pictured are a set of ignition/radio wrenches:

And a 3/8"s socket set:


The only thing missing is a chrome 9/16" 12point. So, if anyone has one to spare...

 

[four.cycle]

1937 Crerar Adams & Co. catalog Hinsdale ad pp 241


1937 Crerar Adams & Co. catalog Hinsdale ad pp 242

1937 Crerar Adams & Co. catalog Hinsdale ad pp 243

 

[Ricky Joe]

My Hinsdale wrenches.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a set apparently sold by sears

 

[Username already in use]

Here's a set apparently sold by sears

Interesting. Do you have a catalog listing that you can share?

That set looks familiar!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

No just the sears roebuck decal on th lid

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That set looks familiar!

Yours is slightly different, UNAIU, and may be older. Not sure. Or just the in-house version of the same set. OTG's is identical to mine, posted initially upthread here, and in several ensuing posts, in terms of branding. And then again upthread, when I replaced the missing handle, here and here. Reminder that Ed (@Oregon rock crusher) has a similar box (with no center latch), here, and Beemer has a smaller one in the same class, here.

Interesting. Do you have a catalog listing that you can share?

I discuss some of these variations, with cat references, here. That's not to say I have it all figured it out. Just for some data points.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup we have several examples of these. Seems to have been some minor variations such as branding and latches.

 

[bmwrd0]

I have one of that size and label also:


I haven't had a chance to do anything with it, as my shop is in such disarray at the moment, but it was fairly complete and I only added a brace to it, and still need the speeder. Funny, it was sitting for sale on the far side of a Craftsman collector from me, but I couldn't let it just sit there...

 

[four.cycle]

this might also offer some clue.
(there is also a 1927 MW catalog available for d/l at ITCL)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like similar stuff at wards

 

[PlantItDeep]

I have two early make Hinsdale ratchets that I have been meaning to share for a few years for those curious. These are family tools - very possibly bought new. The sockets and drive plugs are long since misplaced (though very likely some of the sockets are still floating around in use in various toolboxes - photos here look familiar).

Both are neat, but one of them is quite interesting and looks almost unique - if anyone can provide any information I would appreciate it.
Both still work fine, springs in heads function correctly

They are well rusted and used, sorry that this makes some of the details hard to see.

The top ratchet is a standard early patent version - the same as the one shown here on alloy artifacts (http://alloy-artifacts.org/hinsdale-hindsight.html#hinsdale-12dr-ratchet-early)
The bottom ratchet is very similar but with a few minor differences - it appears to be earlier. It has the same logo and general stamp design as the top ratchet (but slightly different font), however no patent date ("Made in U.S.A. Pat Pend.). I assume that would date it to 21 or early 22 manf.
Overall length is 9.1", very slightly smaller than the top ratchet at 9.2". Oddly the difference is all at the drive end (the handle length and width are identical). The head on the earlier model is very slightly narrower and shorter, and more "square" where the metal casing is bent(hard to show this in a photo unfortunately)
The early handle does also have a taper cut into it near the connection to the head. I assume that was cut for cost reasons? I cannot find any other photos of a similar handle. This is not a modification, the entire handle is narrower where it goes in the head.
The drive head gear is also some sort of brass type alloy (it was repaired at some point with a piece of square pipe - but the outer gear is clearly brass from all angles).

Two ratchets side by side - brass head visible on left/bottom version with home-made repair in middle


Grooved neck (early model):


Early version logo and marking: "Made in USA Pat Pend."



The later one has a raised "M" mark on the back of handle. I assume a manufacturing mark as it is raised, not stamped or engraved as an owner mark would have been. Faintly visible here

 

[AE2]

I picked up this tappet wrench set today. I tried to find info about it but I can’t. It looks newer than any Hinsdale I’ve seen before and does not say Made in USA anywhere.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's a funky hinsdale set

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It looks newer than any Hinsdale I’ve seen before...

This is just pure speculation, but honestly my first thought was someone took vintage 30's wrenches and had them re-plated. They literally look like they were dipped in molten chromium. (I'm assuming the golden hue is coming from the light or something off camera.) Hinsdale went out of business in the late 40's.

...and does not say Made in USA anywhere.

None of my vintage Hinsdale wrenches with that branding, box, engineers or tappet, have any COO marking.

 

[AE2]

These things shine like they are brand new. I wanted a set of tappet wrenches to adjust valves in my CJ5 with the hurricane engine and they will do that job. There are two of each wrench and I only needed the 1/2. The price wasn’t bad and they seem like good quality.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I wanted a set of tappet wrenches to adjust valves in my CJ5 with the hurricane engine and they will do that job. There are two of each wrench and I only needed the 1/2.

I've never adjusted the valves on a CJ5. The Hurricane was an inline 6, correct? I am guessing the locknut has a slot on top for a screwdriver or something so you only need one wrench. On side valves, like a Willys MB Go Devil L-134, you needed one wrench to hold the lock nut and a second wrench to adjust the lifter. Same with flat heads. Typically that's why they came in pairs.

Sweet set. Is the pouch marked?

 

[AE2]

The pouch is not marked.

Hurricane is in-line 4. Four valves on the side like the go devil with 2 1/2 inch nuts to adjust and four valves under the top valve cover with 1 nut and slotted screwdriver. I think intake valves are on the top and exhaust in the side but I don’t remember for sure.