Hello, More from the flea. The 5 at top are stamped BILLINGS, and the 4 at bottom are stamped Billings & Spencer (slanted script). 7 of these are a 1428, variation in the logos & shank markings. These are truly new old stock, never used, from a retail setting. These are marked differently for sizes, OC (the O looks more like a hexagon), USS, and SAE.Regards, Lou

A real nice find, that should keep a smile on your face for a day or two.

I do like them crooked wrenches. 

Quote from: lptools on March 05, 2017, 11:56:42 AM
These are marked differently for sizes, OC (the O looks more like a hexagon),  Lou

It IS a hexagon.

Hello, leg17. Well, at least I got 1 thing right today!!!! Could you please explain the meaning of that symbol in relation to the other wrench markings? Thanks, Lou

Nice find.   Probably couldn't have been in much better condition right after manufacture.   That puts a smile on my face and i don't even collect them (yet).   

Quote from: lptools on March 05, 2017, 04:46:17 PM
Hello, leg17. Well, at least I got 1 thing right today!!!! Could you please explain the meaning of that symbol in relation to the other wrench markings? Thanks, Lou

Standards for Opening Sizes

The wrench model number specified a combination of opening sizes, but the means of describing the sizes added further confusion. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, wrench sizes were commonly named by the nominal size of the bolts whose nuts they fit, rather than the size (across the flats) of the nuts themselves. For example, a "1/2" opening might fit a 7/8 (across the flats) nut threaded on a 1/2 inch bolt.

To further compound the confusion, there were at least three different standard systems for nuts and bolts:

    The U.S.S. or U.S. Standard,
    The S.A.E. or Society of Automotive Engineers standard, and
    The Hex Cap screw standard used by hardware manufacturers.

The latter convention was often indicated by a hexagon symbol followed by "C" or "CAP".

These multiple standards meant that some wrench openings might be marked with three size indications. For example, a number 23 wrench would be marked "3/16 U.S.S." for the small opening, and "1/4 U.S.S.", "5/16 Hex Cap", and "5/16 S.A.E." on the larger end. Also, the U.S.S. size was sometimes marked as "NUT".

This confusing system of multiple size standards persisted until around 1927, when it was phased out in favor of the across-flats size.

http://alloy-artifacts.org/table_oe_wrench.html

Interesting.  I was aware that the British stayed with that designation of wrenches by the bolt size pretty much through the end of the period that Whitworth sizes were common (early 50s?) - with, apparently, different thread pitches having different head sizes for the same diameter of bolt; I didn't realize it was done on this side of the pond, too.