Unusual and very long Ford wrench?

[clovis]

I have a very long speed wrench.

This thing measures 38 5/8 inches long, tip to tip.

It is marked Ford in the script logo and 5-Z-1531-DET-   6

This wrench also has an 'M' in a diamond marking, and if I'm not mistaken, is Moore, right?

On the end of this speed wrench, is a fixed 6 sided socket with a 7/8" opening.

I think this wrench has a 5 inch swing.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND HELP!!!!!!

[keykeeper]

Mossberg. It's an old Ford auto service tool. They made sets of them. Any tools with the 'Z' in the number was a service tool.

[clovis]

Any idea if this tool had a specific purpose, or was it a general use tool??

Is this a dealership tool, by chance??

I've own several Ford tools, but I've never seen one this long. It is literally long enough to use as a cane!

[keykeeper]

Most of the z tools were available to dealers for service on the Model A's, I believe. Some were also made by Herbrand.

Somewhere on the net I found a listing of the various tools, and there purposes, but I can't locate it right now.

One of the guys will probably chime in with the info on it.

Found one list, with illustration. Don't see your tool, though.

http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/modelt5ztools.htm

[strik9]

Sounds like a factory assembly line tool.   A person could stand at one side and tighten bolts at the other side of the car, like inside the frame stuff.    Z tools are poorly documented at best and many varients exist for every job.

I have a bolt map of the T chassis and will check where a 7/8" bolt may have been used.    Any notable wear patterns on the tool that might give a clue?

[rusty]

It is shown in an archive I have, but it doesn't say what is was supposed to be used for. There is also:

5-Z-1531-DET-4  (1/2 inch)
5-Z-1531-DET-7  (9/16 inch)

Possibly similar to Mossberg 611....

Perhaps Ford decided to just issue a set of sizes instead of the few odd special braces at some point????

[clovis]

Thank you again for the replies!!!!!

There doesn't appear to be any wear on this tool from use.

I know very little about tools, but my first guess is that this is a service tool of some sort, for a special application, used mainly at dealerships. But if Ford made a set...that would make sense too.

As a side question, when did Ford stop using the Z marking? Did Ford have special markings for their military era tools...or did they even make tools then? Any chance this long speed brace was used on the B-24's or Jeeps that Ford built?

[strik9]

The Z markings appear to have gone into disuse by the end of the A production.   1931

[johnsironsanctuary]

Looking in an August 1928 Model T ford Parts book, there is a pretty complete tool list with lots of 5-Z-XXX and 5-Z-XXXX numbers. The highest number shown is 5-Z-1498 Rear wheel puller assembly(replaces 5-Z-1171). This would say that the tool is a Model A tool.

[keykeeper]

I know very little about tools, but my first guess is that this is a service tool of some sort, for a special application, used mainly at dealerships. But if Ford made a set...that would make sense too.

As a side question, when did Ford stop using the Z marking? Did Ford have special markings for their military era tools...or did they even make tools then? Any chance this long speed brace was used on the B-24's or Jeeps that Ford built?

My understanding is if it has a Z in the number, it was a service tool for mechanics, but not necessarily just dealerships. The tools could be ordered by independent garages as well.

I doubt it was for the military jeeps, as all of those tools have been documented thoroughly by military vehicle enthusiasts. One site that is chock full of info is www.g503.com There is a myriad of resources to be found there, including the military manuals that list all the tools for jeeps and other military kits.

[rusty]

You know, it's weird, the Z tools were pretty much gone by the war, and the modern tool numbering system didn't start untill sometime in the 50's...
what the heck did Ford do in between?

[clovis]

Wow...you guys are great!!!

Thank you for your continued posts and for your helpfulness!!!

I've learned a lot!!!

[strik9]

Are the ' 01A ' type numbers used much outside the N tractors of '39 to '52?   That would tie in late 30's to 50's time frame.   Or did each series or year of car have its own prefix that would have included shop tools?

[EVILDR235]

One thing i have always liked about Fords is every single part has a number making easy to ID. I work in a wrecking yard and Fords numering / letter system has made my job much easier.

EvilDr235

[BRwrench]

Yes, the Z tools are service tools, and they are fairly well documented.  In a Ford service bulletin for September of 1927 there is a listing of Fordson service tools, among them is a list of brace wrenches:  5Z-1531 -D1 through D7  (I imagine that the lone D and the DET are the same designation). There is no designation for what these wrenches are specifically for so they must just be general pourpose.

 I have a 5Z-1531 DET 4 and a 5Z-1531 DET 7 in my collection.

"Z" tools were made for use on the Model T, the Model A, Fordson tractors, and Lincolns.   (I have eight "Z" tools that were used solely on the Lincolns).

"Z" tools were made by many different manufacturers.   (I have several examples of three different manufacturers making the same "Z" tool.)

In the late 30's Manzel started making service tools for Ford with a different numbering system.