G&J Cracker Jack wrench

[3baygarage]

Hey guys. I discovered this little one at a sale. What do you all make of it?

Was it a Cracker Jack prize?

I have had several of these wrenches around, but the packaging I've never seen before.

[3baygarage]

The back side.

It's stapled to the card still.

[Lewill2]

I think they were offered to different companies as advertising giveaways. Companies could have their name and whatever embossed on the wrench to advertise their business. I have one or two with different markings.

[turnnut]

 I have a few of those wrenches also, BUT, not any with the advertising,  good find.

it may have come in one of those large boxes of crackerjack or perhaps you had to send in a box top and maybe a dime.

back in the day, box top buying was a big thing. just like getting a Captain Midnight ring, etc.

finding that wrench is why we should always be on the lookout.

[Northwoods]

I have one, too.  Broken.
I submit that the hanging wheel design is the worst in the history of bike wrenches.
Were they trying to save 2 cents, or what?

[Lewill2]

One of mine that I located is marked; J. Sender Co Whsl Plumbing Supp

[3baygarage]

Thanks for the info guys. I have seen them with advertising too.

This is the only one I can find at the moment but I have some others.

FOREST HILLS TRANSFER of Pennsylvania. Apparently a moving and storage company from what I see.

Says USA on the back.

Any idea the age of these wrenches?  Not sure how to decipher the rest of the shorthand markings but that looks like a clue it is older.

[3baygarage]

More pics.

[turnnut]

PE 1-9800 could be the telephone number, such as 731-9800

[3baygarage]

Thanks Turnnut. Sure enough that is their phone # on the wrench.

[J.A.F.E.]

I don't think it was a snack prize it looks like retail packaging to me. Cracker Jack the snack is two words but as one word was a term used to describe something above ordinary or exceptional.  Can't be many of them left still on the card - good find!

[turnnut]

3baygarage, did you peek behind the wrench to check for any writings ???

[3baygarage]

J.A.F.E. - Thanks. Those were my thoughts as well, the food is two words. I was hesitant to make an assumption about it being from the snack. I showed an older picker friend who was there that day. I said look at this Crackerjack wrench and he said must be a "Premium Prize". He also said he'd always wondered what these wrenches were so I guess that is irrelevant.

Every prize wrench that turned up in my online searching is a toy like cast metal or plastic.

It was found in a box of NOS hardware store items that was tucked away. There was also a NOS WHALE PLI-RENCH I got with it.

Turnnut- I did in fact check to compare it to the advertising wrench and this card wrench has nothing on the back at all, not even the USA stamp.