Thorsen tools collection

[kxxr]

I was nosing around the internet and found a 2007 obit for Mr David Joseph Giller. It didn't have much to say about the tool business other than to state that after his service in WWII, Mr Giller landed in Dallas, Texas and "founded the Giller Tool Company, which became a successful supplier for fulfilment of government contracts". A bit more looking around lead me to the "Corporation Wiki" which offered this bit of trivia: Giller Tool Corporation filed as a Domestic For-Profit Corporation in the State of Texas on Thursday, September 25, 1952. This corporation is no longer active according to documents filed with Texas Secretary of State.
For what it is worth, I thought this a good place to make note of these tidbits ;) Not new info, just a couple of specifics for the time line.

[kxxr]

I don't find much on our local Craigslist that interests me. Usually it is way over priced or it is junk, even by my standards, which are pretty liberal I think. Anyway, I spotted these yesterday. I thought sure there must be something wrong as they had been listed for about 3 weeks. I figured they had really nasty owners marks or some other problem, but they sure looked nice in the picture that was posted.  I thought $40 was a fair price, not a steal, but it seemed reasonable to me so I didn't dicker. It looks like the 15 and 19 might have been used a time or two, but the others are in new condition. They were stuffed into an 8 piece "Thorsen II" Dallas,Texas 8 piece plastic wrench pouch with the black and green(?) art work, but I don't that is the original package. I'll post a shot of the pouch later. I went through the whole thread and didn't see any of these posted. Are they 70s vintage, Oily?
The forum gnomes made me reduce the file size to 250kb or less, so I lost a lot of detail. I’ll put it on photobucket later when I have some spare time.

[turnnut]

$3.64 each, that is a bargain for those clean wrenches. enjoy.

[Yadda]

I picked up a 1/2 inch combination wrench with the raised panel.  Per AA the raised panel with the v shaped depressions were shown in the 1991 catalog.

[amecks]

The tools I acquired recently included a Thorsen 1/2 universal (swivel) adapter.  Unfortunately cracked.  There was also a 4" extension for 1/2 drive but it was made in Taiwan.  Probably no one is interested in Thorsen if made in Taiwan?

[lptools]

Hello, Guys. Nice collections of Thorsen Tools!!! Regards, Lou

[OilyRascal]

Thank you, Lou

3 years with no activity on this thread is long enough.  I will did out some fresh NOS loot and share.

[OilyRascal]

This is set # MC-12.  It is a 12 piece metric combination wrench set with 8mm-19mm.  It represents in NOS condition the last of Thorsen's USA production.  Note the double model numbers on the wrenches as they migrated to a new model number construct.

[Yadda]

Nice!

[john k]

Those look real nice, always admired that raised panel.   3 years is too long, glad you stopped by. 

[amecks]

In the 1980-90's I worked at Ford Tractor dealers as a mechanic.  The dealers sold Thorsen tools.  When I started as a Ford mechanic my boss was very supportive of my career.  One of his suggestions was to buy better tools than the Thorsens sold at the parts counter.  Some of the guys would buy Thorsens if the tool they were using at the time broke or wore out. 
So this is not to say that Thorsen tools are not good.  Some of the above ratchets look pretty solid to me.  But to this day I do not have any Thorsen tools, mostly due to the advice of my shop manager.

[OilyRascal]

What state was the dealership in?  I reckon I would be of the same opinion if these tools were for my trade/living.  I wouldn't buy a Kobalt or Ridgid router for my work tools.....Makita has a much better duty cycle. 

In the 1980-90's I worked at Ford Tractor dealers as a mechanic.  The dealers sold Thorsen tools.  When I started as a Ford mechanic my boss was very supportive of my career.  One of his suggestions was to buy better tools than the Thorsens sold at the parts counter.  Some of the guys would buy Thorsens if the tool they were using at the time broke or wore out. 
So this is not to say that Thorsen tools are not good.  Some of the above ratchets look pretty solid to me.  But to this day I do not have any Thorsen tools, mostly due to the advice of my shop manager.

[OilyRascal]

This is set number 3809DP - a 9 piece 3/8" drive deep socket set with 3/8-13/16.  These are Thorsen branded tools produced under Wallace Murry ownership.

[amecks]

I worked at Caldwell Tractor in Fairfield NJ, then at Deveaux Ford in Syracuse NY.

[OilyRascal]

This is the Thorsen 3/4" drive drawer these days.