Howdy from a Minnesota What's It Fella!

[rhb-3]

   Hi from Minnesota, I seem to come across lots of odd, unusual or unidentified tools and hardware that I've been selling sell on E-Bay as rhb-3 for about 25 years now. I hope to pester you good folks with lots of head scratchers. Since I'm here now I,d like to share a recent junk yard find. Hands full of heavy duty ,vintage mechanics end wrenches including combination, check nut style and tappet style.  As I began to frantically grab wrenches out of the pile I happened to notice that there seemed to be no visible markings and that the combination wrenches had the boxed end filled solid as if it had been welded shut. Also there seemed to be a lot of the same sized wrenches with some that had rough edges and obvious flaws from forging. When I got home and investigated further I found a few wrenches that were marked with the Martin Tools logo in script. Putting 2 & 2 together I figured that some one had lugged these home from the factory and had probably been passed down to a family member who had no use for them as it all to often happens. The problem with my theory is that the Martin Tool Co. seems to be making new tools that look similar to these with the same logo. So, here I am looking for information on this company and any comments including the value of these kinds of tools.

[mikeswrenches]

Welcome from Florida.  You'll find this is a good site for the odd and unknown.  We like pictures.

Mike

[rhb-3]

Trying to add some now.

[bill300d]

Hi rhb-3.
      This quote is from their website "Martin Tool & Forge, a division of Martin Sprocket & Gear, has been a leading supplier of quality industrial hand tools since 1917. All Martin tools are made in the U.S.A. with the highest quality materials and engineering". Fairmount Tool and Forging Co. began in 1917 in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1952-53 they became a subsidiary of Houdaille Industries where they remained till 1984 when Fairmount Tool and Forging was purchased by Martin Sprocket & Gear and named Martin Tool & Forge.
      Martin is producing basically the same wrenches as what Fairmount produced prior to being purchased by Martin. They haven't changed much. As far as value probably not a lot as they are more than likely seconds witch would explain the degrees of incompleteness but then I've been surprised before.

bill

[oldtools]

Welcome & Aloha from Hawaii...  Thank you for posting photos..
Very interesting, looks like they were incomplete broaching the box end, or rejects/seconds.. May not be tempered yet..
Maybe a unique collector's item..

[turnnut]

welcome from Massachusetts.

it looks like what oldtools said, mfg. process not completed due to flaws.
it could have been Martin  co. sold them to that scrap yard.

it would not hurt to ask the junk yard operator if he remembers where he got them.

on the combe wrenches box ends, can you see any seperation between the fill & the wrench ?
I do not believe they got that far on the operation when they found flaws to reject them.

use a few to make a display of before and after using a finished new one to complete the set.

[rhb-3]

   Thanks to all for the great information. Surprise to find they must have been made after 1984 since they look older though it would be fun to find out how they appeared in our little junk yard. Thanks again and hope to see you in the other forums.

[john k]

I would put a full polish on a half dozen, and display them, just to make people scratch their heads.    Welcome to the forum.

[Plyerman]

Greetings fellow northman!