Different numbers on the same wrenches

[gibsontool]

I've been sorting out some of my wrenches and at first glance these 4 looked the same. They are all 4 3/8"lg with 1/2" x 7/16" openings and all have an M inside a circle which I believe was a TM used by the Moore Drop Forging Co. I looked a little closer and noticed they all had numbers on them but all 4 numbers are different. The 1st on the left says 27, the 2nd says 26, the 3rd 15 and the last one says 7. This doesn't make much sense to me so I was wondering if anybody here has ever seen this or can offer a logical explanation.

[EVILDR235]

Maybe different working shifts when the tool was made ? Maybe some kind of date code ? Code for the machine that it was forged on ? Code for the worker that ran the forge that stamped the tool that Jack bought ? Tool number one, tool number two, tool number three ?

Big Tool ?

[gibsontool]

EVILDR235.  I like the idea of a date. that makes some sense.

[lauver]

Gang,

These look like Ford wrenches, perhaps aftermarket; MDF was an OEM for both factory and aftermarket Ford wrenches.

Perhaps the numbers are tool numbers used in a different tool kits... just a WAG.

[BRwrench]

Those are Ford wrenches. From mid 1928 to late 1931 the Ford script was not required on Ford tools. I believe the number on the wrenches are a manufacturing batch number (or some other type of internal marking for the manufacturer). If you look at spark plug head bolt Ford wrenches you will also note batch numbers as well as makers marks and part numbers.

[EVILDR235]

I have come to realize that there is more old Ford wrenches than there is old Fords.

xxxxxx

[turnnut]

EVILDR235,  yes, I agree about the amount of tools for Fords.

think about Walden Tools out of Worcester, Massachusetts, in the early 1920's they made
many tools just to repair Fords and their 1st special tool boards were for Fords.

check some 1920's auto accesory catalogs, the majority of replacement parts were made
for Fords T's to start with, and they claimed to be superior to Henry's quality parts.

they even sold conversion kits to make your Ford T into a farm tractor.

[leg17]

Don't think it would be date codes.
Too much trouble to continually re-mark the forging dies.
Possibly each die was marked differently for QC purposes, much like modern molding.

[keykeeper]

I agree with Leg17.

They are die numbers. The quality control guys could then note when a die needed replaced on the production line, by knowing which number die wasn't forging correctly. Then only that machine would have downtime while being changed out. To inspect each die would be time consuming and slow production considerably.