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Thorsen tools collection

Started by OilyRascal, July 30, 2012, 05:53:15 PM

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OilyRascal

Thorsen Model 2314 1/2" x 7/16" tappet wrench.  My first of the tappet wrenches.



"FORGED IN THE USA" myself.  Be good to your tools!

Garden and Yard Rustfinder Extraordinaire!
http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=3717

dimwittedmoose51

Quote from: OilyRascal on September 07, 2013, 08:15:32 AM
A very unique Giller 77JC 3/8" drive ratchet.  I have a Thorsen branded 77JC that is identical to it.  These are the only two that I've seen.  I'm curious to know if others have seen them, and if so in what form (stand alone, part of a set).  My WAG is it was of limited production somewhere between 1965-1975.







OIly, I just dug up a Fleet Ratchet that looks a lot like your Giller/Thorsen.  It's not in great working or cosmetic condition however.....BTW, my Thorsen pile got a little bigger last w/e  and so did the Wizard...


DM&FS

Champion Pawn/Flea Plunderer
Old Tools and Music.....My drugs of choice

OilyRascal

This 16 piece 1/4" drive set model #1416 complete with hard evidence of a 1968 production.

"FORGED IN THE USA" myself.  Be good to your tools!

Garden and Yard Rustfinder Extraordinaire!
http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=3717

john k

Very good find.   Lets see, in 1968, that $13 would be two full tanks of gas in a Lincoln!   Things do change. 
Member of PHARTS - Perfect Handle Admiration, Restoration and Torturing Society

rusty

ahh...flashback...68 Lincoln..long as the Exxon Valdiz, and cornered just about as well....
Just a weathered light rust/WD40 mix patina.

skipskip


where is the evidence?

Quote from: OilyRascal on October 08, 2013, 09:05:53 PM
This 16 piece 1/4" drive set model #1416 complete with hard evidence of a 1968 production.

A place for everything and everything on the floor

OilyRascal

Quote from: skipskip on October 08, 2013, 10:34:51 PM

where is the evidence?

Quote from: OilyRascal on October 08, 2013, 09:05:53 PM
This 16 piece 1/4" drive set model #1416 complete with hard evidence of a 1968 production.


Bottom right drawer of my desk :)
"FORGED IN THE USA" myself.  Be good to your tools!

Garden and Yard Rustfinder Extraordinaire!
http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=3717

bonneyman

When did Thorsen go overseas production? sad
Ratchet Guru

Branson

Quote from: john k on October 08, 2013, 09:10:56 PM
Very good find.   Lets see, in 1968, that $13 would be two full tanks of gas in a Lincoln!   Things do change.

1968...  $3.50 filled the tank of my Volkswagen. 

OilyRascal

This certainly dispels the theory Thorsen was the exclusive maker of Giller tools.

"FORGED IN THE USA" myself.  Be good to your tools!

Garden and Yard Rustfinder Extraordinaire!
http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=3717

bonneyman

Quote from: OilyRascal on November 17, 2013, 07:00:19 AM
This certainly dispels the theory Thorsen was the exclusive maker of Giller tools.



That ratchet head looks New Britain to me.
Ratchet Guru

dimwittedmoose51

Has anyone come across the Thorsen "Value Line" sockets?  I got some Friday in an estate sale here in town. they say made in the USA on them and are all metric 3/8" and 1/4" drives.  I think they all originally came in the Dark Gray plastic case, but not sure if the 3/8" Thorslen-made PK ratchet was part of the package or not.  The next load of  photos are t-series PK that presumably was made by Thorsen, but in Asia or here in the US??. 

Also both Powr Kraft Ratchets in the other boxes had like 5 digit numbers and a really small t behind them, but the sockets were a mix of the t-series and  the 84H series Powr Krafts from New Britain or Wright.  Have no time line on any of this.  The 1968 number is good to know in the future though!!

DM&FS


Champion Pawn/Flea Plunderer
Old Tools and Music.....My drugs of choice

dimwittedmoose51

Here are some pix of the t-series stuff
Champion Pawn/Flea Plunderer
Old Tools and Music.....My drugs of choice

dimwittedmoose51

..and finally the 84H stuff from Wright or whomever...  they do all look a lot alike....grand total of about $18 on this stash....the 84H stuff is worth that.....

DM&FS

Champion Pawn/Flea Plunderer
Old Tools and Music.....My drugs of choice

lauver

#164
Oily,

Your 16 pc set is a gold mine. I've always wondered how late these open head ratchets were sold and when the round heads replaced them.

So if your proof is solid, that moves the date out to at least 1968.  Do you have any kind of a rough time line of the Thorsen ratchets?

Thanks for sharing your find.  A complete set in the original box with documantation included is a rare find indeed.
Member of PHARTS - Pefect Handle Admiration, Restoration, and Torturing Society