Author Topic: Williams Railroad Special  (Read 4254 times)

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Offline DM11

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Williams Railroad Special
« on: March 22, 2013, 11:41:06 PM »
with the Santa Fe 2542 2-8-0 steam locomotive at Wilson Park.
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David

Offline keykeeper

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Re: Williams Railroad Special
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2013, 08:43:30 AM »
Nice pictures, cool backdrop.

But, why does the wrench have the Whitman and Barnes logo on the handle?? Is it from the era when Williams bought out W&B?

Interesting piece.
« Last Edit: March 23, 2013, 08:50:56 AM by keykeeper »
-Aaron C.

My vintage tool Want list:
Wards Master Quality 1/2" drive sockets (Need size 5/8), long extension, & speeder handle.
-Vlchek WB* series double box wrenches.
-Hinsdale double-box end round shank wrenches.

Offline DM11

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Re: Williams Railroad Special
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2013, 04:38:16 PM »
Aaron that is a good question of which I do not have an answer for. The head or upper jaw is stamped: Railroad Special, J H Williams & Co., Warranted, Made In U.S.A.. As you have noted the handle has the Diamond W&B logo. Hopefully some one will have the answer.
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David

Offline DM11

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Re: Williams Railroad Special
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2013, 05:08:00 PM »
Aaron after prowling around Alloy Artifacts this is what I found. In 1920 the drop-forge and wrench operations of Whitman & Barnes were acquired by the J.H. Williams company. Some of the W&B product lines (e.g. monkey wrenches and alligator wrenches) continued in production by Williams.
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David

Offline rusty

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Re: Williams Railroad Special
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2013, 05:29:11 PM »
The only remaining detail being that the last date stamped on the Valve gear plaque seems to be 1853....

Great pictures :)
Just a weathered light rust/WD40 mix patina.

Offline keykeeper

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Re: Williams Railroad Special
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2013, 08:36:55 PM »
I would say you have a true "transitional" wrench, David, based on the double markings.

Looks like Williams used remaining pieces already marked by W&B to finish out wrenches, after the acquisition.

That, or they didn't deem it necessary to change perfectly good forging dies picked up when they bought W&B.

Either way, a definite cool factor is added by the double markings on it!!


-Aaron C.

My vintage tool Want list:
Wards Master Quality 1/2" drive sockets (Need size 5/8), long extension, & speeder handle.
-Vlchek WB* series double box wrenches.
-Hinsdale double-box end round shank wrenches.