Tool Talk

Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: erndog on April 14, 2012, 07:21:15 PM

Title: Nickname origin
Post by: erndog on April 14, 2012, 07:21:15 PM

Does anyone know the origin of the term "smitty set" for an allen wrench pack?

Title: Re: Nickname origin
Post by: Papaw on April 14, 2012, 07:24:55 PM

Maybe Smitty of Ask Smitty, who answered questions on the Shopsmith website?
http://www.shopsmithhandson.com/archives/may_jun_03/html/ask_smitty.htm (http://www.shopsmithhandson.com/archives/may_jun_03/html/ask_smitty.htm)

Title: Re: Nickname origin
Post by: erndog on April 15, 2012, 07:19:00 PM

I asked them, but no replies yet.

Title: Re: Nickname origin
Post by: john k on April 15, 2012, 10:15:47 PM

In all the shops I've been in, an allen wrench is an allen wrench.  Sometimes a regional name begins when a particularly popular or useful tool gets good exposure, and soon the name is becoming a generic one.

Title: Re: Nickname origin
Post by: rusty on April 16, 2012, 04:38:55 PM

Doing a search for that, I didn't find any hint of origin, but I did notice that it seems to be mostly used by the boating/fishing guys. (Things you want in your boat tool box)

Also do not see it anywhere before 2008....