Thorsen tools collection

[kxxr]

Half inch drive Torque Wrench. A beauty. The handle on this one does not rock side to side like most of the plastic handled ones. Does anyone know why the handles are made to rock side to side?

[OilyRascal]

T-100 - I agree, they are beauty's.  I believe the one I have is of the same vintage.

[OilyRascal]

3/4 to 1/2 adapter. Thorsen 98D

The adapter is of the same vintage and style as the 3/4" drive set I've started.  It would make for a nice reunion of family should you decide you'd like to part with it.

[bgarrett]

I have some Thorsen wrenches I have treasured for 40 years and a Thorsen Tool Board. I will post a picture of the board later

[OilyRascal]

Thorsen 42J break-over addition:





A 1/2" drive 5/8" 12point swivel socket - Model 420

[OilyRascal]

Thorsen 10" adjustable; model AW-10.  Marked "AW-10 THORSEN" / "FORGED ALLOY STEEL USA".

[kxxr]

Derek, have you been able to determine the likely vintage of the Oakland marked tools? I added a couple more Speed Hed wrenches. As luck would have it, none are of the size you have already I don't think. The two newest additions are in very nice condition, near mint I'd say. Also added a dbe of a size not yet pictured. Here they are.

[johnsironsanctuary]

Back a ways in the thread, the question was asked as to why the handles are on rocker on a torque wrench. The answer is that the wrench is calibrated in foot pounds and the rocker point establishes the length of the wrench as long as you stay in the middle of the rocker.

[rusty]

Sort of....

If you put your thumb on the handle when pulling, you can introduce a rotational torque on the handle itself between your thumb and fingers. The wrench can not compensate for that, and it will introduce an error (in theory), so by floating the handle on a single pivot point, you have no rotational forces on the wrench except those at the thing you are measuring.

From a practical point of view, the whole thing is silly, you can't really introduce more than one or two foot pounds that way unless you have hands like a gorilla...

[johnsironsanctuary]

See Avatar above.

[OilyRascal]

Derek, have you been able to determine the likely vintage of the Oakland marked tools? I added a couple more Speed Hed wrenches. As luck would have it, none are of the size you have already I don't think. The two newest additions are in very nice condition, near mint I'd say. Also added a dbe of a size not yet pictured. Here they are.

Kit, I have not been able to date them, and these Speed Hed wrenches are the only Thorsen tools I've seen insofar that have that Oakland marking.

I would have considered these Speed Hed wrenches uncommon, yet you are surfacing them in droves.  Either I'm mistaken about their rarity factor or you're one lucky person - or both :)

[OilyRascal]

I did find an article in a 1952 Popular Mechanics magazine regarding "ratcheting wrenches".  The magazine (in an index) notes the maker as Thorsen Tools, 532 Horton St., Emeryville CA

[OilyRascal]

I did find an article in a 1952 Popular Mechanics magazine regarding "ratcheting wrenches".  The magazine (in an index) notes the maker as Thorsen Tools, 532 Horton St., Emeryville CA

I should have noted, as it is important to remember, the factory and offices/sales were at different locations at that time.   So it would not strike me odd to see the advert. listing the address as Emeryville, whereas the wrench is marked Oakland.  I think it is fair to say the Speed Hed's start was 1952 given the "now available" statement in the advert.

[Branson]

I should have noted, as it is important to remember, the factory and offices/sales were at different locations at that time.   So it would not strike me odd to see the advert. listing the address as Emeryville, whereas the wrench is marked Oakland. 

It's hard to tell where Emeryville stops and Oakland starts.  Horton is very close to the San Francisco Bay, and the area is filled with industrial buildings converted to lofts, stores, and upscale restaurants.  The Oakland address could be very close to the Horton Street address.

[OilyRascal]

It's hard to tell where Emeryville stops and Oakland starts.  Horton is very close to the San Francisco Bay, and the area is filled with industrial buildings converted to lofts, stores, and upscale restaurants.  The Oakland address could be very close to the Horton Street address.

Thanks for calling that out.  I can see now where there is not a clean line in the city references.

A 1938-1939 catalog notes the following addresses:
General Sales Office - 1475 Bush Street, San Fran
Oakland Warehouse and Store - 392 24th Street, Holliday
Manufactoring Plant - 5321 Horton Street, Emeryville
Los Angeles Sales (Thorsen Tool Co. of Souther Calif.) - 1352 South Flower Street, Los Angeles



The 1958 brochure that Lauver brought to the table notes the address as: 5325 Horton Street, Oakland.

Below is a map putting it all in a little better perspective relative to each other: