Author Topic: BIG Box wrench  (Read 2466 times)

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Offline johnsironsanctuary

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BIG Box wrench
« 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.

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Offline Branson

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Re: BIG Box wrench
« Reply #1 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.

Offline johnsironsanctuary

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Re: BIG Box wrench
« Reply #2 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.
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Offline Branson

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Re: BIG Box wrench
« Reply #3 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.

Offline johnsironsanctuary

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Re: BIG Box wrench
« Reply #4 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.
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Offline rusty

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Re: BIG Box wrench
« Reply #5 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
Just a weathered light rust/WD40 mix patina.

Offline johnsironsanctuary

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Re: BIG Box wrench
« Reply #6 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.
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Offline Papaw

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Re: BIG Box wrench
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2012, 06:28:06 PM »
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Offline johnsironsanctuary

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Re: BIG Box wrench
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2012, 07:18:38 PM »
Thanks Papaw, the site looks interesting.
JIS
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