Tool Talk
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: 1930 on August 06, 2011, 03:38:06 PM
-
Any idea of manufacturer of this wrench, originally chrome plated drop forged on one side and made in USA on the other. 1/2 9/16
I believe this was an original tool-kit item Chrysler products if that helps. I know there was one specific supplier that supposedely provided tool-kit wrenches for Chrysler products but the information I have always been given put that company much too early with Chrysler so I have ignored the info. I am at a point now though with the late model cars that I need to start paying attention and weeding thru the bogus info so any info at all would be appreciated
-
I see a lot of those around. I think they look like Fairmount Cleveland wrenches. That company was know to do a fair amount of auto kit production :)
-
Yes, thats it Fairmount Cleve. Has anyone done anything detailing the aspects of their involvement with Chrysler Corp. ?
-
My vote is for Vlcheck issued from I believe 29-41 Chevrolet and different sizes but same style issued with Packard's 38-41.
Everyone seems to say that Fairmount made auto tool kit tools under Fairmount Cleve, but in ally my research and all the wrenches I have seen the only one marked fairmount cleve was a Studebaker hubcap wrench.
Thanks,
Kirk
-
Based on the non-oval - non-circular head shape (the pointy tips) I would say, not Billings, not fairmount, not moore, and not williams. However, while vlchek did use that rather odd head shape, so did a few others...
PS: After peeking at AA's collection, the fact that the wrench has made in usa, but no die mark bothers me less, as there are several Vlchek wrench like that , clearly marked with a logo.
Stray note, in 1930 at least, chrome doesn't seem to be an available finish for Vlchek however 'white nickel' was...(But wrenches finished in nickel , for regular tools were supposed to be marked with sizes...) Seems odd to have a finish on a toolkit wrench tho....
-
1930, the level of detail and depth of research you are doing is waaay past the light duty poking around that I do, so I can't really answer your question. The Jeep guys at
http://jeepdraw.com/G503_TOOLS-GENERAL_MECHANICS_KIT.html
have a ton of tool documentation and pictures though. They have some great pictures of the Fairmount, Vlchek and a number of other candidates to match your picture. If you haven't looked around there, you might give it a try . You never know where you'll find the picture that helps you out. They do have some info about things other than Jeep, but it's definitely a Jeep site.
Another place you may already know of to look around is http://www.chryslerclub.org/index.html
and finally, this one: http://www.allpar.com/fix/index.html
kr.
-
Thanks for all the replys, I cant comment any further now as I have no time but in the parts book for 1936 they went out of their way to specify chrome finish so that may be a clue. Will look into this further tomm. Thanks again
-
AA had this to say in part concerning Vlchek wrenches............Some contract production may have been intentionally unmarked at the request of the customer, in order not to reveal Vlchek as the actual producer. The high efficiency of the Vlchek factory gave them a much lower cost structure than many competitors, and in some cases erstwhile competitors gave up production in favor of purchasing goods from Vlchek and branding them as their own. .........But they showed no examples of these wrenches and Chevrolet Tool-kit wrenches appear to have the random casting numbers on the wrenches that my wrench does not have.
Checked out the jeep site and did not see anything, is there a specific site that has a picture that anyone is aware of that identifies the wrench I have shown as a Vlcheck with a corresponding picture ?
-
Here's a Vlchek that looks exactly like a Fairmount Cleveland but you can clearly see the Vlchek stamp on it.
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn48/kxxr/tools/1vlcheklikefairmount.jpg)
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn48/kxxr/tools/2vlchek729-1.jpg)
-
Quote........you can clearly see the Vlchek stamp on it.........I do not see it, I do however see the S-250 on the one end and see something stamped on the other.
-
I guess it's only clear if you already know what it says. It kind of fuzzed out when I made it a reasonable size for uploading.
How 'bout now?
(http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn48/kxxr/tools/vlchekclear.jpg)
-
Yes, that is the end I could not read, thanks
-
Guys, guys........
This wrench was made by the largest wrench manufacturer in the U.S.A., the Drop Forged Company. I have see thousands of these wrenches, so I know.
-
Guys, guys........
This wrench was made by the largest wrench manufacturer in the U.S.A., the Drop Forged Company. I have see thousands of these wrenches, so I know.
There ya go! That was one big company. ;-)