Tool Talk

What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: johnsironsanctuary on February 09, 2012, 05:30:52 PM

Title: BIG Box wrench
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on February 09, 2012, 05:30:52 PM

I bought this at an auction a few years back. Just cleaned it up yesterday. Both ends are 1/5/16 in. It is 29 inches long. The only markings are; 1 5/16 and N-4491-A. I assume that it is an OE wrench that shipped in a tool kit. Hoping someone recognizes the number sequence.
(http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb373/johnsironsanctuary/N-4491-A.jpg)
(http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb373/johnsironsanctuary/N-4491-Ab.jpg)

Title: Re: BIG Box wrench
Post by: Branson on February 09, 2012, 06:27:10 PM

Looks like it has a couple of marks from a rounding hammer.  Might have been modified by a blacksmith.

Title: Re: BIG Box wrench
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on February 09, 2012, 10:31:10 PM

It sure looks like a top drawer forging. The heads are very uniform and nicely broached. After I cleaned off the rust on the wire wheel, I gave it a light coat of oil. For some reason, it did a beautiful job of bluing itself. A few toolbox nuks may show in the photo, but this is not smith forged. I am going to try that oil on my shiny Billings.

Title: Re: BIG Box wrench
Post by: Branson on February 10, 2012, 09:47:24 AM

Not thinking smith forged,  thinking smith bent.  Cause that dent in the middle looks like a hammer mark.

Title: Re: BIG Box wrench
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on February 10, 2012, 10:26:22 AM

Very close examination shows no hammer marks and no witness from a brake die. What you see in the photo is at the very enter of the wrench, where 1 5/16 is stamped, one character at a time, is a very slight grinding depression. I think the piece was welded from 2 halves, but very well done. The grinding is so good, I didn't see it at first, but it is ground all the way around and it is the only area where the forge flash is ground off. If this was a low volume job or a WWII rush job, I can see making a forge die that made half. The part number was stamped in with a one piece tool, not one character at a time.

Title: Re: BIG Box wrench
Post by: rusty on February 10, 2012, 05:39:04 PM

A search got me a partial match on that number being a SnapOn part number for an Alco locomotive tool, possibly for the exaust manifold nuts....
(Circa 1966)

The box shouls be Box-ocket design

Title: Re: BIG Box wrench
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on February 10, 2012, 06:21:55 PM

Thanks Rusty. That is where I thought it would wind up. An Alco locomotive exhaust manifold would have big nuts.

Can you explain box-ocket?  I don't speak Snap-On.

Title: Re: BIG Box wrench
Post by: Papaw on February 10, 2012, 06:28:06 PM

These?- http://www.collectingsnapon.com/wrenches/Heavy%20Duty%20Boxockets.html (http://www.collectingsnapon.com/wrenches/Heavy%20Duty%20Boxockets.html)

Title: Re: BIG Box wrench
Post by: johnsironsanctuary on February 10, 2012, 07:18:38 PM

Thanks Papaw, the site looks interesting.
JIS