Walden 2118 Single Offset Box Wrench

[lauver]

Gang,

Just wanted to share an unusual wrench I ran across this weekend at a sleepy little pawn shop.  This DBE wrench is unusual in several ways:

1) only one end is offset,

2) both box ends are the same size (9/16", 12Pt), and

3) the offset box end is broached deeper and is a different shape than the non offset end.

Here's a couple of pictures for your inspection:





I've never run into this wrench pattern before, but AA indicates this pattern was popular in the late 1920's thru the 1930's.  AA also indicated that several OEMs, in addition to Walden, produced this patern of wrench.

[Fins/413]

I always like those style of wrenches though I've never even held one.

[HeelSpur]

Don't believe I've ever seen one like that, it seems odd that both ends are the same size. I guess it had its purpose though.

[rusty]

APCO had that pattern also, and mossberg carried it for a short ime after the aquisition, but later dropped it. Doesn't seem to have been all that popular , perhaps the advantages of combining a box with an open end just made more sense to mechanics than an offset plus straight box....

[lauver]

APCO had that pattern also, and mossberg carried it for a short ime after the aquisition, but later dropped it. Doesn't seem to have been all that popular , perhaps the advantages of combining a box with an open end just made more sense to mechanics than an offset plus straight box....

rusty,

According to AA, Blackhawk, Blue Point, Bonney, and Williams also offered this pattern of wrenches.  Walden referred to theirs as "Boxtite" wrenches in one of their catalogs, but no trademark was found.

[RedVise]

Here is the 3/4 version, pretty stout wrench.

Brian L.

[bleonard]

I have some Blue  Points in this pattern from the 1940`s
Bob

[rusty]

So...what should we be calling this pattern? DOB ? DESOB ? HOB?

[lauver]

So...what should we be calling this pattern? DOB ? DESOB ? HOB?

rusty,

How about Single Offset DBE, or SODBE?  That's what Walden called it.

[lauver]

Here is the 3/4 version, pretty stout wrench.

Brian L.

Redvise,

I just noticed the spinner handle in your photo of the Walden wrench.  Is that a Deco 9/32" driver?  I have a thread on one I recently found.  Yours is only the second one I've seen.  Do you know anything about the Deco brand or time frame?  Were there other Deco tools?

[RedVise]

Lauver, I posted a pic in your thread in the Classic Auto and MC tools section.
UnfortunatelyI do not have any data on Deco, but check my posts in that thread as another Tool Talk member has a ratchet on his Deco spinner and I posted the link to that thread. Ratchet may give more clues...

Good Luck!

But hey these offset BDE's would look good on a pegboard...   

Brian L.

[HeelSpur]

Anyone putting a set of these together? I found a 2122 today (11/16")

[bonneyman]

I wouldn't have given a wrench like this a second look in the past, but, since having recv'd a Bonney single offset DBE, I find myself liking them more and more.

[humber2]

I have a 2120 available. PM me if interested please.

[gibsontool]

I'd love to put a set together but right now I've got too many irons in the fire.