Why doesn't somebody start making BONNEY wrenches again?

[Merkava_4]

I mean like what the hell? Why not buy up the patent from whoever is still holding the patent and start making them again?

Out here in Clovis/Fresno CA, there was a company called California Trimmer that had been building reel type mowers since 1938 right close by in Fresno. Recently, within the last 2 years or so, a company from Eastman Industries bought the company along with all the patents and starting building the mowers in Portland, Maine.

You see where I'm going with this?

 

[philw]

I'm sure I read at one time that Snap-on owns the Bonney name. Wouldn't any Bonney patents be expired by now? If they don't expire then wouldn't there be a very good chance that Snap-on owns those also?
There is to much competition to try to sell wrenches and make a good profit.

 

[forceyoda]

Excuse my ignorance about bonney, but what was unique about them over everything else out now?

 

[daveblank]

I mean like what the hell? Why not buy up the patent from whoever is still holding the patent and start making them again?

Out here in Clovis/Fresno CA, there was a company called California Trimmer that had been building reel type mowers since 1938 right close by in Fresno. Recently, within the last 2 years or so, a company from Eastman Industries bought the company along with all the patents and starting building the mowers in Portland, Maine.

You see where I'm going with this?

Part of the new Economic Stimulus Plan is supposed to be easier lending to fund new & small business. Why not go to the bank, get a loan & you're in!

 

[bchee]

Excuse my ignorance about bonney, but what was unique about them over everything else out now?

yeah, which specific style are you referring to?

 

[RRmech]

Too many famous old names have been reborn as offshore trash (remember FISHER audio?).
Better to let Bonney R.I.P.

Steve

 

[Merkava_4]

yeah, which specific style are you referring to?

Their combination wrenches - long pattern and extra long pattern. What is so unique about Bonney wrenches? If you've ever held one in your hand, you'd know.

 

[Tool Pants]

Per Alloy Artifacts. Utica bought Bonney. Then Herbrand was added. Then all were called Triangle Tool Group. As a kid I could not afford Bonney stuff. My first click style torque wrench from about 30 years ago was a Utica but it came in a Utica/Bonney box.

Triangle is now owned by Cooper. I contacted Cooper a few months ago for a rebuild kit for my Utica. Cooper was not very helpful by the way.

Whatever USA production facilities used by the original 3 companies are probably a shopping center these days.

Stanley should buy the Bonney name from Cooper and slap in on a line of Chinese tools. Call it Bonney Professional.

I also say let the Bonney name R.I.P.

 

[philw]

Their combination wrenches - long pattern and extra long pattern. What is so unique about Bonney wrenches? If you've ever held one in your hand, you'd know.

Merk, have you been sniffing to much cleaning solvent when you clean those tools daily?

Bonney wrenches are nice but I don't think it's that big of a deal. I'm guessing your referring to the late 70's, early 80's?

My favorite are the rounded shank combos from the 40's before the streamlines were made.

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

Here you go Merk, buy some originals.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/vtg-...Z310136439376QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

 

[Merkava_4]

Bonney wrenches are nice but I don't think it's that big of a deal. I'm guessing your referring to the late 70's, early 80's?

No, I'm referring to the wrenches made during the 1990's on up until they quit.

 

[-B-]

Bonney was making the superior design wrenches of their era they used better steel and better pattern designs. ( long and extra longs) Bonney did this long before the other tool truck companies cough on in the late 80's. ( yes SO, Mac, and Corwell lagged behind in design)

 

[Rickster]

They're a nice sized thick beam, very comfortable. Kind of have the feel of a Herbrand.

 

[Merkava_4]

That's right; a thick beam and well rounded edges.

 

[T56 Impala]

I love the old Bonney stuff. The Streamlined PAINTED or PLAIN steel stuff. I also love the Bonaloy stuff. It has a certain "feel" to it. As soon as you pick it up it screams quality. I know they are out there, but I have never seen a damaged Bonney of that era.

One problem I have with modern wrenches is how small the beam or shaft is. I like to feel the tool in my hand. I like to be able to put pressure on it without it hurting my hand. Larger beams are good for old sore hands. Modern tools feel small and light to me. Not that its bad, they just don't have that feel to them.

Let Bonney rest in peace. I would feel sick seeing "Made in ???????" (off shore) on another American great.

 

[Merkava_4]

No sir ... I didn't mean have some Asian outfit make them; I meant and American company of some sorts; and all they'd have to make are the wrenches.

 

[Fedwrench]

Who would buy enough of them to keep the company going? How would they compete with the flank drive, opti torque, sure grip, or surface drive found on today's wrenches? I think you would be better off buying old style wrenches on ebay than trying to bring a brand back from the dead but, that's just me.

 

[Paladin]

Merk- I agree with you, whether you've been sniffing solvent or not! I have a Bonney 1-1/8" combo that I really like. The thing is HEAVY! I mean, it feels weight-wise like it's made very solid! You can feel the quality. The beam is very comfortable. Not too thick, not too thin...

 

[-B-]

Charge half the price of SO& Mac with the same warranty sell them in a national chain store or supplier.

 

[Merkava_4]

How would they compete with the flank drive, opti torque, sure grip, or surface drive found on today's wrenches?

They had a Flank Drive (type) box end already before they closed the doors I'm thinking.

 

[vssjim]

Yes they had the special box end drive system for many years before cooper indutries bought them and shut them down. All of the Bonney wrenches I bought were in the eighties before the warehouse I bought them from switched to TRW tools. Bonney used to have alot of tools made just for the Bell System as in " phone " and when the dumb dumbs downtown split them up I'm sure it really put a big dent in their sales. I don't know where it is but I remember a catalog from the eigthies and it had atleast six or eight pages of Bell System only type of tools.

 

[paramudduck]

Merk the Bonney trade mark is owned by Snap on. Got to the UPTO.gov and do a tess search on Bonney 7 trademarks come up four dead and three live and owned by Snap On.

How or when Snap on acquired the rights I have no Ideal at all.

 

[bmwpower]

Yes they had the special box end drive system for many years before cooper indutries bought them and shut them down. All of the Bonney wrenches I bought were in the eighties before the warehouse I bought them from switched to TRW tools. Bonney used to have alot of tools made just for the Bell System as in " phone " and when the dumb dumbs downtown split them up I'm sure it really put a big dent in their sales. I don't know where it is but I remember a catalog from the eigthies and it had atleast six or eight pages of Bell System only type of tools.

Damn. I just so happen to have a bunch of Bell System stuff....got to check.

 

[paramudduck]

http://www.findownersearch.com/owner/snap-on-incorporated/2000943/

The Above link lists some of the Brands Snap on is the owner of.

 

[Bolster]

I meant and American company of some sorts; and all they'd have to make are the wrenches.

"All they'd have to do..." LOL, you've never run a manufacturing business have you Merk.

The American climate is increasingly hostile to manufacturing. Imagine you were the CEO of New Bonney. After you were done worrying about worker pension plans, and OSHA regulations, and EPA regulations, and who knows how many of the other 204 governmental regulating agencies (listed at http://www.regulations.gov/) and health care for employees, and cap-and-trade for carbon footprint, and childcare for pregnant workers, and various PR programs to demonstrate your corporate conscience, and retention of an appropriately diverse workforce, and the unionization of your workforce, and whether the bank was going to recall your loan, and the lawsuit brought against you by Utica, and the whispering campaign that Snap-on started against you...

...by golly, you just might not find any time to actually make a wrench.

 

[Autoguy]

They had a Flank Drive (type) box end already before they closed the doors I'm thinking.

They have their own design and call it Loc-Rite.

I have several BONNEY wrench sets in MM and SAE and socket sets also. I can tell you the wrenches feel solid very solid compareed to SO PROTO and New Britain...etc as if they wre made from heavenly alloy steel. They are nicely countoured and comfortable to hold and look at.

I am really really sad to see the good old US tool makers close out but I hate to see them made in CHina (I am not american).

 

[Merkava_4]

I also say let the Bonney name R.I.P.

I guess I wasn't very descriptive in the first post. What I meant to ask is why doesn't some company use the Bonney design; or more specifically, the Bonney beam profile; not the brand name.

 

[Merkava_4]

For those who have never touched a Bonney wrench, the square beam is fully radius-ed ... not just the corners slightly rounded off like with a MAC or a Snap-on wrench. Some would call it a full oval cross section.

 

[autoace]

For those who have never touched a Bonney wrench, the square beam is fully radius-ed ... not just the corners slightly rounded off like with a MAC or a Snap-on wrench. Some would call it a full oval cross section.

Better than Cornwell? Do you think

 

[Merkava_4]

Better than Cornwell? Do you think

The Cornwell's comes pretty dang close; but not quite the same comfort level as a Bonney or the WCL series Matco's which are Bonney's.

 

[krusty the clown]

you mean something like this........

the beam looks very close from the pic.

 

[paramudduck]

Just in case anyone is interested Snap-on bought the rights to Bonney from Cooper in 1996 if this link works it will take you to the assignments list.

http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&sno=73108254

 

[krusty the clown]

Just in case anyone is interested Snap-on bought the rights to Bonney from Cooper in 1996 if this link works it will take you to the assignments list.

http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&sno=73108254

i believe they still use the bonney name for thier industrial line of torque adapters

 

[ears]

http://www.harryepstein.com/bonney.html

Here you go merkava buy them all.

 

[paramudduck]

Hey Krusty was that not about the time the Bonneys disappeared from the market?

I'm wondering if Cooper shut down production and sold, or, if Snap-on bought them and quit production?

 

[Tool Pants]

i believe they still use the bonney name for thier industrial line of torque adapters

You are correct.

http://www.snaponspecialproducts.com/consumables.html

Suprise to me. I thought the Bonney name went to tool heaven.

Looks Like Loc-Rite was their name. I have a few sockets and a John Deere/Bonney wrench and it has this design.

 

[krusty the clown]

Hey Krusty was that not about the time the Bonneys disappeared from the market?

I'm wondering if Cooper shut down production and sold, or, if Snap-on bought them and quit production?

i'm assuming snap on bought the rights to the bonney TM after they went out of production

 

[Merkava_4]

If you took the Bonney beam profile and put it on a Snap-on, MAC, MATCO or Cornwell wrench; that would be heaven on Earth.

 

[paramudduck]

Snap-on bought the rights to LOC-RITE, WOBBLE DRIVE EXTENSION, and BONNEY TOOLS all at the same time.

 

[old salvage]

Too many famous old names have been reborn as offshore trash (remember FISHER audio?).
Better to let Bonney R.I.P.

Steve

I wonder how good the 'new' Rockwell tools are.