Vintage tools

[jigs_n_fixtures]

Prior to SAE, there were many odd sized nuts and bolts. A #14-20 comes to mind. And no, it's not 1/4-20. Many of the nuts were square. This would be the age of the Ford Model T and before. I've got many antique tools as well as Model T tools in my collection. One of these days, I might get my 1925 Touring put together. Some of those tools will be necessary.

My granddad kept various widths and thicknesses of steel strap in the shop and used it to make square nuts for his farm equipment as needed. Lots easier to tap and square something up with a file, than to try to make a hex in a farm shop. He had a forge, (great grandpa was a blacksmith), and could heat treat his nuts if needed. Always fascinated me as a child.

 

[Tinhack]

I remember a while back was all in the news that there had been a slew of counterfeit grade marked fasteners on the market, Haven't heard much more about any of that recently.)

I think that was back in the 90s. I had a brand new 1993 Jeep Grand Cheroke that broke a control arm bolt coming off the freeway. I thought I was going to die but hobbled it back to the dealer. There was a recall on the very same bolts that I hadn't received yet. I think they were Chinese. Another recall I beat was the ignition coil. Got hit by that twice. Once on the road between Memphis and Jackson, Tennessee in the middle of the night. Got towed to a dealer and stayed in a Motel. The second time at Salt Fork State Park, Ohio with my boat. The boat never hit the water that weekend. I stayed in the boat until Tuesday when my Jeep was delivered by a nearby dealer. Fun camping though.

 

[BravoXray]

I like tools. I may have too many

Impossible, can't happen.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

I am admittedly a tool junky. And, yes it runs in families. I have some chisels and a Starret square, with FCT stamped in them. Frank Carr Thomas died in the Spanish American war.

 

[ultrarunner]

Prior to SAE, there were many odd sized nuts and bolts. A #14-20 comes to mind. And no, it's not 1/4-20. Many of the nuts were square. This would be the age of the Ford Model T and before. I've got many antique tools as well as Model T tools in my collection. One of these days, I might get my 1925 Touring put together. Some of those tools will be necessary.

Yep… if memory serves I have a 21/32 socket for Model A connecting rod nuts.

 

[DFB]

Interesting that I have all of these wrenches and was this many years old today when I learned any of this...

 

[Jstpssng]

Impossible, can't happen.

Isn't that like owning too many guns?

 

[RobertN]

The Plomb vs Plumb story, and resulting name changes to Proto (PROfessional TOol) are interesting.

Alloy Artifacts is a good old tool resource.

Alloy Artifacts Tool History Page

The Alloy Artifacts tool history page for hand tools of the 20th century.

alloy-artifacts.org

 

[BravoXray]

There are never too many tools, only too few toolboxes to hold them.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

Isn't that like owning too many guns?

Can't own too many of them either. Even when you have run out of space for anew gun safe. Might have to build an armory this summer, instead of a tractor shed.