Tool Talk

Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Classic Auto and Motorcycle Tools => Topic started by: Yadda on October 25, 2025, 02:50:32 PM

Title: SPEED-HED and Quali-Kraft Wrenches
Post by: Yadda on October 25, 2025, 02:50:32 PM

Ratcheting wrench set from last weekend's estate sale.  The 9/16 wrench is a Thorsen Speed-Hed wrench. Alloy Artifacts points out Spped-Hed wrenches bear a stocking resemblance to  Vlchek wrenches. The others are Quali-Kraft, a Montgomery Ward tool brand.  They were manufactured in Japan.  Also, per Alloy Artifacts, the Thorsen Speed-Hed wrench is from the mid 50's making it close to 70 years old.  The Quali-Kraft wrenches could be from as late as the 90's.

Title: Re: SPEED-HED and Quali-Kraft Wrenches
Post by: four.cycle on October 26, 2025, 04:08:03 PM

Yes. The Thorsen "Speed-Hed" was a 1950s experiment.
The "Quali-Kraft" stuff was manufactured for Petersen. Originally they were producing product in country, and later went offshore and outsourced it.

Quali-Kraft / adjustable wrench see Petersen Tool Co., El Dorado, KS / first production run was U.S. made / https://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=3555939&typeCode=0 /

The Thorsen ad is from 1952

Title: Re: SPEED-HED and Quali-Kraft Wrenches
Post by: d42jeep on October 27, 2025, 12:58:19 PM

A few wrenches and some more ads.
-Don

Title: Re: SPEED-HED and Quali-Kraft Wrenches
Post by: Yadda on October 27, 2025, 01:41:35 PM

Cool, thanks for rhe info.