Came across a Williams Superrench but can't find out much about it. It is a hex combination wrench.
It is like the one below--except that mine is XOE-618 ( 9/16" ).
What can you tell me? Why are they so scarce, when were they made, why in 6 point, not 12?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Williams-used-SUPERRENCH-XOE-624-combination-box-end-wrench-6pt-3-4-hard-to-find-/161922224789?hash=item25b3511295:g:-zsAAOSw5VFWKQ4Y
Northwoods,
You might want to check the Alloy Artifacts website; they have some good information on Williams wrenches (including the Superrench era).
Regarding scarcity-- I don't think they are scarce. I see Williams Superrench combo wrenches in my local pawn shops, flea markets, and swap meets every week. ebay also has them in good numbers (sometimes complete sets). The 12-point versions are more common than the 6-point versions; I probably see ten 12-point wrenches for every one 6-point wrench in Williams and most other brands. The 12-points have been the standard broach for at least 75 years.
I always wondered about these XOE series as well.
Maybe someone with a Williams catalog from the 80's or 90's could shed some light.
Keep us posted if you find any more info.
Probably post 1993 when Snap On purchased them.
Six point for those times that you REALLY want to round the corners off the nut.
More seriously, a six point box wrench will turn a nut that's been beat to [bad words] by people using nut-rounding tools like adjustable wrenches. A 12-point box sometimes can't get enough purchase on a badly treated nut. And, connected with that, you can apply a lot more grunt without rounding off the nut.