A long term puzzling question for me about DOE wenches

[skipskip]

I have many DOE wrenches that say "drop forged" and "Made in USA" but no number or size anywhere.

I understand that sometimes tools are made under contract and the makers or sellers name may  need to be a secret.

But WHY cant they put the size or at least the industry number on it?

I can see this scenario:

Master mechanic to Helper:

Billie,  go get me that  wrench

 Billie:Which one boss?

MM:You know,  the one that says Drop Forged made in USA

Billie: Oh...ok

MM: Not THAT one,  the other one...

[able_walker]

First thought is maybe they came out of tool kits for vehicles or equipment and at the time it was obvious where they were used and for what bolts but then they got split up over the years of course...just a thought of course 

[john k]

Like today, generic or no name products could be sold cheaper.   Have heard where the no name iron wrenches, DOE,  were sold out of a barrel, weren't really sets.  I have Billings,  J Williams, and some others that have full names, and run in a number sequence.  But not generally marked as to size. 

[strik9]

There was a time when the average car owner only needed four wrenches.   The mechanic in town had all the other sizes and stuff for bigger repairs.   

   Thus marking them was less critical, if one wore out or was lost the general store had a barrel of replacement tools.
     The venerable No. 27 size wrench made famous in the T era lives on in the current cars with 15 and18 mm.    Same size bolt heads still in use despite all the changes.   
      Ever wonder why ten No. 27 to one not worn out No.24 ?

   It took studying the Ford T in depth to understand all the user serviceable stuff used those sizes.  Smaller stuff was the No.  23 wrench in the kit.   Those are generally not worn out.