Tool Talk

Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Topic started by: Wrenchmensch on November 30, 2012, 11:44:42 AM

Title: Star and Durant automobiles advertising wrench
Post by: Wrenchmensch on November 30, 2012, 11:44:42 AM

Vulcan advertising wrenches were sold with customer's products and location stamped on them. As evidence of the speed with which the past is receding away from us, consider this wrench.  The Star and the Durant cars haven't been made for 80 years or more. Both cars were made by the Durant Motors Corporation.  The Star was made in Elizabeth, NJ between 1922 and 1928.  The Durant was made in Flint, MI, Lansing, MI, and Elizabeth, NJ between 1921 and 1932. 

Mauch Chunk (which means bear mountain in the Lenape language) also no longer exists! The town changed its name to Jim Thorpe, PA in the early 1950's. Time flies.

Title: Re: Star and Durant automobiles advertising wrench
Post by: Papaw on November 30, 2012, 12:22:03 PM

I like those old advertising wrenches.

Title: Re: Star and Durant automobiles advertising wrench
Post by: john k on November 30, 2012, 02:07:45 PM

There is even more history here.   The Durant, Star, and Flint automobiles were built by William C. Durant,  after he lost control of General Motors,   which he created.   The Star was a low priced car built to compete with the Model T Ford.   The Durant was  more upscale, to compete against the Buick.   He made another stock bid to take over GM again,  soon lost out, and later in life he ran a bowling alley.  Interesting piece of history should one want to dig a bit. 

Title: Re: Star and Durant automobiles advertising wrench
Post by: anglesmith on November 30, 2012, 04:01:09 PM

Thank you for that Mauch chunk diversion! The history of the switch back railroad is particularly fascinating! Started as coal railroad, ended up as a tourist attraction 2 second only to Niagara falls in visitor numbers (closed in 1933).
Graeme

Title: Re: Star and Durant automobiles advertising wrench
Post by: Lostmind on November 30, 2012, 04:41:45 PM

I had that same wrench , advertising a Ford dealership.

Title: Re: Star and Durant automobiles advertising wrench
Post by: 1930 on November 30, 2012, 06:29:02 PM

I would like to have that wrench if it is for sale and we can agree on a price

Title: Re: Star and Durant automobiles advertising wrench
Post by: Bus on November 30, 2012, 09:53:02 PM

That's neat with the Star and Durant dealer advertising. I have several with different advertising.  The tool was patented on May 08, 1923. The patent is on DATAMP at:

http://www.datamp.org/patents/advance.php?id=48261&set=16 (http://www.datamp.org/patents/advance.php?id=48261&set=16)

(http://www.datamp.org/images/48261-1.jpg)

Title: Re: Star and Durant automobiles advertising wrench
Post by: Ietech on December 02, 2012, 09:48:32 PM

Quote from: john k on November 30, 2012, 02:07:45 PM

There is even more history here.   The Durant, Star, and Flint automobiles were built by William C. Durant,  after he lost control of General Motors,   which he created.   The Star was a low priced car built to compete with the Model T Ford.   The Durant was  more upscale, to compete against the Buick.   He made another stock bid to take over GM again,  soon lost out, and later in life he ran a bowling alley.  Interesting piece of history should one want to dig a bit.

Thanks I really enjoyed the history you gave us on W. Durant he apparently was a great innovator but just couldn't compete with the mega money monsters, and there were no gov't bailouts then --
Rich

Title: Re: Star and Durant automobiles advertising wrench
Post by: 1930 on December 03, 2012, 04:12:27 AM

Quote from: Ietech on December 02, 2012, 09:48:32 PM

Quote from: john k on November 30, 2012, 02:07:45 PM

There is even more history here.   The Durant, Star, and Flint automobiles were built by William C. Durant,  after he lost control of General Motors,   which he created.   The Star was a low priced car built to compete with the Model T Ford.   The Durant was  more upscale, to compete against the Buick.   He made another stock bid to take over GM again,  soon lost out, and later in life he ran a bowling alley.  Interesting piece of history should one want to dig a bit.

Thanks I really enjoyed the history you gave us on W. Durant he apparently was a great innovator but just couldn't compete with the mega money monsters, and there were no gov't bailouts then --
Rich

Actually he was one of the biggest mega money monsters who could not control his finances