Barcalo Buffalo

[Yadda]

Here are some Barcalo Buffalo offset adjustable wrenches in sizes 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 inches.  I assume the 14 inch is uncommon as I have never seen another one.  Note some duplicates which are somewhat different in design.

Did the two hole handle come before or after the one hole design?   Just wondering if it was cost savings (before) or design adjustment (after) or quite possibly any number of other reasons....

[d42jeep]

When Barcalo bought Hall tools, the one hole design was already in place. Here is a Hall's ad from around 1908.
-Don

[coolford]

The two hole design is of finer quality than the single hole design and holds up better to hammering.  I am guessing, but I think it is the later design.  Most offset S adjustable wrenches are of the single hole design.

[Plyerman]

I get the feeling that "holding up to hammering" was an important feature on wrenches 100 years ago. Not so much these days.

[d42jeep]

I still see plenty of tools with damage from hammering, particularly defenseless ratchets!
I got started collecting Barcalo tools from trying to put together the onboard toolset for my '42 Ford Jeep, made in Richmond, CA. Here are pictures showing the current results of that quest. Only 4 of the items shown are repros. The last two pictures are the Barcalo tools.
-Don

[d42jeep]

Collecting tools for my Jeep onboard set got me started on collecting other wartime sets. These Barcalo tools are from my Motor Vehicle Mechanic's Tool Set (MVMTS) as it would have appeared in November of 1942 when my Jeep was made.
-Don

[d42jeep]

Here are some early Barcalo DOE wrenches.
-Don

[p_toad]

looks like some of those are stacked up knee deep.       

[d42jeep]

That sometimes happens. My tool buddies seem to send me the early ones on a regular basis. Here are some of the last Barcalo marked wrenches.
-Don

[d42jeep]

 I broke a Barcalo mini-drought at the Tahoe flea on Saturday. The large DOE is a pad stamped 1" x 15/16". The smaller DOE is a Jeep and GMTK correct 731A and the starter/manifold wrench is 3/4" x 5/8". The pictures are as found and after a evaporust bath.
-Don

[lptools]

Nice!!! Those cleaned up well!! Regards, Lou

[Jimmy Joiner]

The second is what Barcalo calls Double Grip DOE wrenches.

Hi Don and all, I've really enjoyed this segment due to me finding a Barcalo on Saturday, it looks a though it's one of the double grip designs mentioned by Don. I didn't know anything about them. I quite like it's design, looks old school to me.
I have two questions, when we're these manufactured?
When did they Start/Stop stamping Buffalo? Mine doesn't have it.
Jimmy

[d42jeep]

Barcalo made quite a few wrenches for other companies so it isn't too unusual to find wrenches obviously made by Barcalo but unmarked. I found this unmarked example a couple of weeks ago. There aren't many catalogs that have been found but here are a couple of listings to give you an idea of when they were made.
-Don

[Jimmy Joiner]

Thanks Don, I see 1941 on that page. That looks like your Sweet Spot of era's too!
Thank you
Jimmy

[d42jeep]

Here are some more Double Grip DOE wrenches. From top to bottom the sizes are 7/8" x 25/32", 3/4" x 5/8", 11/16 x 19/32", 9/16" x 1/2" and 13/32" x 5/16".
-Don