Tool Talk

Farm and Implement Wrenches and Tools => Farm Implement Wrenches and Tools => Topic started by: moparthug on June 18, 2018, 04:00:14 PM

Title: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: moparthug on June 18, 2018, 04:00:14 PM
This big wrench just followed me home from my local scrap metal yard, now that I have it cleaned up and oiled I'd like to know what it was originally used for. I'm guessing a 2-1/2 inch nut is going to be for a tractor or some farm implement. It's 18 inches long and 4-1/2 pounds. The marking on the handle of 39IN didn't turn up anything on a basic Google search, except for a bunch of 39 inch long things like shovel handles and such. No other markings on it. It has a good bend to the handle that looks original, and no signs of it being hit with a hammer or abused.

Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: jimwrench on June 19, 2018, 09:52:10 AM
 Don't recognize the wrench but thanks for saving it from the scrap. There is a limited supply of old wrenchs as they are no longer being produced.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: Spartan-C on June 19, 2018, 09:54:54 AM
Looks like one of the metric wrenches which are packed in a tool box that are shipped out with many of the Asian built machine tools.  Even some of the European built machine tools come with tool sets.  Definitely been abuse! Don't see it being over 40 years old.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: Spartan-C on June 19, 2018, 09:59:09 AM
2-1/2" is about 63mm.  39 doesn't come even close in mm measurement.  I've seen wrenches marked with numbers that indicated to be used with certain nuts or whatever in a parts lists to a machine assembly, too.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: rustcollector on June 19, 2018, 03:37:25 PM
Looks like one of the metric wrenches which are packed in a tool box that are shipped out with many of the Asian built machine tools.  Even some of the European built machine tools come with tool sets.  Definitely been abuse! Don't see it being over 40 years old.
You really think that wrench was made in 1978 or later?
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: Uncle Buck on June 19, 2018, 04:29:23 PM
That wrench looks a lot older than 1978 to me.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: Spartan-C on June 19, 2018, 04:54:04 PM
Could be. 

Like I said, I've many of them with that pattern come with new machine tools over the past 40 years.  Just saying.  Forging looks too good for something from years past to me.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: moparthug on June 19, 2018, 05:52:48 PM
It's tough to go by a few pictures, but this just feels old. The casting marks, the weight, the color, even the way it was rusted up (sadly I have no before pics) just say pre War to me. It sure looks like a first cousin to some other IH and John Deere wrenches I have, just more stout. If someone tells me it's a 1920's railroad tool I wouldn't argue that, it seems overbuilt with this thick I-beam design.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: rustcollector on June 19, 2018, 06:24:49 PM
That wrench looks a lot older than 1978 to me.

Exactly. Pretty sure if one was to ever find the correct ID for it, it would be well before the 1950's. Drop forge and pressed steel were the norm after that, and in some cases even before that time. Cast wrenches were pretty much a thing of the past, not completely but close to it.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: rustcollector on June 19, 2018, 06:27:07 PM
BTW, that is one super cool wrench to me. Would love to add one to my collection.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: bill300d on June 19, 2018, 08:03:41 PM
That wrench looks a lot older than 1978 to me.

Exactly. Pretty sure if one was to ever find the correct ID for it, it would be well before the 1950's. Drop forge and pressed steel were the norm after that, and in some cases even before that time. Cast wrenches were pretty much a thing of the past, not completely but close to it.

I agree.

I think that Spartan may be thinking of SOE wrenches that meet DIN standards.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: Spartan-C on June 19, 2018, 10:11:53 PM

I agree.

I think that Spartan may be thinking of SOE wrenches that meet DIN standards.

I didn't think about that. Got a lot to learn here. Better keep my mouth shut next time! :embarrassed:
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: Uncle Buck on June 20, 2018, 08:29:21 AM

I agree.

I think that Spartan may be thinking of SOE wrenches that meet DIN standards.

I didn't think about that. Got a lot to learn here. Better keep my mouth shut next time! :embarrassed:

No, please don't keep your mouth shut. Batting around opinions is how answers are reached! Many times I offer incorrect opinions and think nothing of the fact that my opinion turned out incorrect. Sometimes a guy is right, and sometimes wrong, but everyone's opinion in these discussions is always important!
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: p_toad on June 20, 2018, 10:25:52 AM
Quote

No, please don't keep your mouth shut. Batting around opinions is how answers are reached! Many times I offer incorrect opinions and think nothing of the fact that my opinion turned out incorrect. Sometimes a guy is right, and sometimes wrong, but everyone's opinion in these discussions is always important!

What he said.   You never know when you may have just that one piece of information that sets off a brain cell somewhere else and someone pops up with something new for all of us.   :smiley:
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: bill300d on June 20, 2018, 11:42:17 AM

I agree.

I think that Spartan may be thinking of SOE wrenches that meet DIN standards.

I didn't think about that. Got a lot to learn here. Better keep my mouth shut next time! :embarrassed:

No, please don't keep your mouth shut. Batting around opinions is how answers are reached! Many times I offer incorrect opinions and think nothing of the fact that my opinion turned out incorrect. Sometimes a guy is right, and sometimes wrong, but everyone's opinion in these discussions is always important!

I couldn't have said it any better UB.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: moparthug on June 20, 2018, 12:50:43 PM
I am, and always will be, an amateur tool collector. I will never attend one of the big Midwest tool auctions, my local newspaper will never run a personal interest story about my collection, I am a very small fish in a very big ocean. My specialty it seems, is saving old hand tools from scrap metal yards. I buy them for fifty cents a pound, clean them, oil them, and 4 out of 5 times I have no idea what I just bought. Half the fun I get out of tool collecting is showing pics of them here on this site and asking the Tool Gods (you know who you are) what do I have? Sometimes it's a simple answer, odd pliers for trimming glass, an unusual looking automotive body hammer, but every now and then I'll show off a new find and the Tool Gods will take notice of this mere mortal. So when I ask a question I appreciate each and every response, even if it's wrong, because that furthers the discussion and helps narrow down the search parameters. So to everyone reading this, thank you for putting up with me and my rust addiction.  :grin:
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: Papaw on June 20, 2018, 01:51:51 PM
No problem at all. We have all made wrong guesses at times, and I agree that our knowledge grows with each post about a tool.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: rustcollector on June 20, 2018, 03:36:11 PM
All thoughts are important if they are serious. You don't learn by not looking into it more. My questioning was not intended to be anything more than a question. Probably because I don't use the silly little face things they, (My comments), get taken out of context more often than not. We all better be learning something new every day on this stuff. I know I learn a lot more each day, just wish I could remember it 2 days later still...lol
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: Spartan-C on June 20, 2018, 04:22:35 PM
Even though feeling a little bit out of place here, I appreciate all the kind things mentioned and making the new guys on the block feel warm and welcome.  I feel better now. 
I really enjoy reading all of the comments made about wrenches I never knew existed.  Mr too, still learning.
The biggest thing that comes to mind to me is all of the wrenches my Pawpaw had back when he was alive and us grand kids played with as kids.  To this day, I have no clue what happened to them, the old ones that was.  Sure brings back sweet memories.

Oh, if you want to know anything about machine shop stuff, give me a holler, I thrive on it.  I go by 4GSR on MG, if and when it comes back up.  And on some of the other sites out there.

Now back to learning about old wrenches.

Ken
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: lptools on June 20, 2018, 08:46:30 PM
Hello, Ken. I do hope the sites that are down will come back up soon!!! The upside of the downtime is the input from new/old members!!!!! Regards, Lou
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: crankshaftdan II on July 28, 2018, 10:32:07 PM
This big wrench just followed me home from my local scrap metal yard, now that I have it cleaned up and oiled I'd like to know what it was originally used for. I'm guessing a 2-1/2 inch nut is going to be for a tractor or some farm implement. It's 18 inches long and 4-1/2 pounds. The marking on the handle of 39IN didn't turn up anything on a basic Google search, except for a bunch of 39 inch long things like shovel handles and such. No other markings on it. It has a good bend to the handle that looks original, and no signs of it being hit with a hammer or abused.

It's been 50+ years since I called on local railroad shops to sell them pneumatic tools-however something tells me that they used wrenches similuar to those for torqueing I think they called them "Gland Nuts" on Loco's???   Mind does not work as well as it used to!   Loco's have some very large fastners-the RR shops all had 1 1/2" drive Impact wrenches=3/4" dr. was the norm.
Title: Re: Pulled out of the scrap metal bin
Post by: Northwoods on July 29, 2018, 09:19:49 AM
About its use:  I was thinking construction.