Wilde Tool & Forge Co., Hiawatha, Kansas

[d42jeep]

I added the new pliers to most of my other Wilde tools today.
-Don

 

[MR.X]

I added the new pliers to most of my other Wilde tools today.
-Don

Have you posted that ratchet before?

 

[d42jeep]

Have you posted that ratchet before?

I posted it in Todd’s ratchet thread in October 2017.

The Ratchet Collection Thread

Another fairly rare, unbranded SK 4070 I snagged this weekend. Very nice. I had one of those as well. It lives with another member now, but I saved a pic. :beer:

www.garagejournal.com

-Don

 

[Farmer J.]

I added the new pliers to most of my other Wilde tools today.
-Don

Here's mine, with toothed jaws. Those long slip joint pliers with the clip around the pivot are by far the best I have ever had.

 

[mgmlvks]

OH - I love it when hobbies overlap! I have a general interest in (of course) tools, and also tool/industrial companies in the Kansas City (both Missouri and Kansas) generally where I now live, and a more than passing interest in mil-surp firearms. It all came together with my recent unexpected "affordable" WT (Wilde Tool) bayonet purchase! Short version for a long story - I am having a display made showcasing the bayonet, two of the four Wilde Tool pliers I have and a few other mil-surp items

Lots of high res pics at link

Wilde Tool Display

Explore this photo album by Mike Leavenworth on Flickr!

flic.kr

I'll post a few pics, and ask the following question -

- Does anyone have a good quality image of the "Wilde KCMO" logo I can use as a design for the back of the box?




I absolutely ENJOY using these pliers! Really OLD logo too






Battery Pliers Logo



General Layout of the Display Box

 

[d42jeep]

Wilde No. 189 3/8” Combination Wrench

I found a 3/8 combo at an Oakland garage sale this morning.
-Don

 

[mgmlvks]

Here is the final product. Pretty happy. WT Bayonet from 1942 with correct scabbard, web-belt and two pair of pliers!

 

[mgmlvks]

I seem to have acquired two pair of the bent nose pliers. I believe the one with the WILDE-KCMO logo is very early. It also does not have the rope knurled handles, and different finishing grinds.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here is the final product.

Nice display.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some old wrenches

 

[Farmer J.]

Some old wrenches

Those look like they could be quite nice to use, similar to the angle of the box end of a modern combination wrench. Without the ferocious huge offset on most DBE's which allows clearance that is not always required.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup I like the offset on them

 

[d42jeep]

I found this little Wilde cold chisel at a Berkeley estate sale this afternoon.
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

I found these today and was surprised to see that the dated price tag said they'd been on the shelf for ten days at $2. Seems crazy that nobody wanted them. Maybe it's because they were kind of brown. I gave them a five minute swim in the E-bucket, followed buy a light wire brush bath in the sink. I'm happy they stayed fairly dark.





The texture on the jaws is interesting. I have others with lines, but none like these. It says USN ID TR3 on this side, but it doesn't show up in this photo.



I like the deep stamping.

 

[MR.X]

Picked up this "3/8" socket set" the other day and a Wilde brass hammer.

 

[3baygarage]

Way too much suckage for the Wilde thread.

 

[Leviton]

Here is a double box end with distinctive size panels that I found.
This wrench is plated (it's peeling on the sides of the box ends) and is 5.8 inches long.

Trying to figure out an approximate date. The only International Tool Catalog Library WILDE catalogs are 1958 and newer. Anyone know of a source for older catalogs? This wrench looks to be older than 1958 - maybe from the 40's?

 

[man-a-fre]

Just bought 2 Wilde center punches at Menards for like 4 bucks apiece plus 11% rebate can't beat it made in USA.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

An old wilde socket set with a trace of a decal

 

[3baygarage]

Nice set. That's the second breaker I've ever seen.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup they are a bit obscure as far as socket sets.

 

[piehammer]

This is a bit of an odd bird, but here we go... Wilde branded 1/4" ratchet made by Easco hand fitted to a Craftsman handle made by Pratt-Read.

 

[SteelPatina]

My Wilde Bench 5” Pliers.
EDIT: As Mintgrun mentions below, It's probably "Wilde Wrench" which makes much more sense.

 

[Mintgrun]

My Wilde Bench 5” Pliers.

Do you suppose that could read Wilde Wrench? As in, they used the big W for both words?

Very cool pliers either way.

 

[genog]

Found a couple minor pieces that are nothing special
I'm surprised I have anything Wilde

 

[genog]

It's been over a month since the last post in this thread....

Since then, I found this Wilde ratcheting wrench
It was only a dollar, so I bought it

And I only bought it so that I can post in this thread

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Wilde ratchet

 

[mgmlvks]

Well - my small collection of Wilde Tools continues to grow. Found a pair of clearly "Made by Wilde" 6" Battery Pliers, but these were marked "Dutch Tool Co". Not a lot of info on Dutch Tool Co - most of it is actually here on GJ with occasional examples appearing on "eekPay"! It has been suggested this was a generic brand created by Wilde for sales to other suppliers - which makes more sense than anything else. I originally thought the name might be an homage to the Froeschl Family ancestry - but appears most of their ancestors are from Bavaria/Munich (https://www.ancientfaces.com/surname/froeschl-family-history/595804)

Anyway - a few pics comparing the "Dutch Tool Co" with a later version of the Wilde Tool Co example. There are some visible differences - particularly in the shape of the jaws, especially beefing up the lower jaw. More at higher resolution at https://www.flickr.com/gp/46064258@N08/Ym558V6353

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I'm a big fan of Wilde, they are local to me...20mi away actually.

Most of my drum brake tools are Wilde, I'll have to get some pics. I've been on the hunt for a serviceable bayonet for quite awhile.

 

[mgmlvks]

Against all expectations, found a good example of the 8" Wilde Wrench Pliers with KCMO logo and "Pat. Pend."

 

[four.cycle]

@mgmlvks -

Several years ago I sent an inquiry to Lucas Froeschl regarding "Dutch", but he had no information on the name at all.
It does look remarkably like it was made by Wilde - I've just never been able to find any definitive evidence of such.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found my second pair of 'ilde rench' (sharing a big W) marked ignition pliers this morning, reporting the first pair here, just last year, and these will end up in the same place - as stand-ins for pliers from other brands in other branded ignition sets.

 

[mgmlvks]

From "The Internet" this pair of Wilde 2020 pliers wandered in. Modified by PO to suit his (her?) needs. That is now 4x No. 2020 Pliers here at the homestead!

 

[MR.X]

Pretty nice Wilde Ford brake wrench.

 

[d42jeep]

I found these Wilde dykes at an estate sale this morning.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

They look much better after their time in the evaporust.
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

I found this axle thread chaser yesterday. At first glance I thought it was a flaring tool. It shined up nicely with a soft wire brush and a little Lava hand soap.













Tom

 

[mgmlvks]

I found this axle thread chaser yesterday. At first glance I thought it was a flaring tool. It shined up nicely with a soft wire brush and a little Lava hand soap.



Tom

OH - that is NICE! And pre-1954 (before move to Kansas) marked "WILDEKCMOUSA" !
Mike

 

[Mintgrun]

Thank you, Mike. That's a nice date/change to know. Tom

 

[Debcrow]

I found another No. 189 combination wrench.
Looking through this thread, this seems to be the most common wrench found. Anybody got a reason why? (possible auto supplied tool kit/ etc.?)
The other thing I have noticed is there seems to be some variation in the spacing of the lettering and fractional size stamped on the back side of these.
Here is mine.