Early Bird Gets the Worms

Manufacturers, configurations, Shovels, Axe, Wrenches, Oiler, F/E etc.
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gpw_42
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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by gpw_42 » Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:46 pm

Wingnutt wrote:
Fri Dec 01, 2017 8:37 am
The brass drift is unbranded.
That's quite the haul! I like that lineup of the Cornwell sockets, and the file card.

What's the diameter of the brass drift?

Wish we had an early bird around here....
Steve


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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by Wingnutt » Fri Dec 01, 2017 6:55 pm

gpw_42 wrote:
Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:46 pm
What's the diameter of the brass drift?
Spot on at 3/4" for the late war kit. It's a little short at 8" long, but with the mushrooming on this thing, who know how many times it was used and groomed, used and groomed.

The Cornwell sockets are awesome! Believe it or not, in all my years of collecting GMTK sockets, which must number in the couple hundreds by now, for five of my own GMTK's, not to mention the sockets and partial sets I have moved on to others, this is the first time I have ever found a set this complete in the wild. The thirteen (13) sockets in that line include a 1-1/4 (which the GMTK did not include), so it's really twelve (12) of the fourteen (14) specified GMTK sockets, in matching brand and hue of the natural steel finish. I have to do a detailed inventory to figure out which two (2) are missing. But that's a first for me. I've found maybe six (6) together, tops, prior to this, and I thought that was a lot. My first GMTK had a compete set of Indestro Super, but that was a complete set of everything, sockets, handles, extensions, etc, so I'm not counting that. Every other set I started with a few and just onesy-towsied it until I had a set, regardless of the brand.
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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by gpw_42 » Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:06 am

Wingnutt wrote:
Fri Dec 01, 2017 6:55 pm
gpw_42 wrote:
Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:46 pm
What's the diameter of the brass drift?
Spot on at 3/4" for the late war kit. It's a little short at 8" long, but with the mushrooming on this thing, who know how many times it was used and groomed, used and groomed.
One of these days, I'll find a 1" drift: one keeps eluding me. I had to go all the way to my garage to secure a 3/4" drift, (c. 1995), but the spec for my MVMTS calls for 1". The hunt continues...

I've been completely skunked the last few weeks at our area fleas. OTOH, neither did I make any "bad" purchases, whew!

Steve

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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by Wingnutt » Fri Dec 08, 2017 3:29 pm

Small haul today.

- The engineers wrench is a Fairmount 27-C sharp with an "A" shank.
- The breaker bar is 3/8-inch drive and unmarked, looking SK to me (and shown with what I believe is an unmarked 1/4-inch drive SK breaker bar).
- The OTC chain-type strap wrench is probably post-war, but I like it.
- The pliers were a research/curiosity buy. They are marked P.S. & W. Co. (for Peck, Stow, and Wilcox), but also PESCO. I think they were made by PEXTO for PESCO, a Borg-Warner division that made hydraulic systems for aircraft before and during WWII.

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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by Wingnutt » Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:38 am

I found this machinists’ chest at a flea market today.

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There’s little to no doubt it’s military. The leather handle suggests wartime or earlier, despite the 11-digit Federal Stock Number (5180-945-7478) a prior owner scrawled on the top some time in the early 1950’s. It’s very compact compared to my other machinists’ chests, measuring just 16” H x 11” W x 8-1/2” D. And yet, attesting to how well-built this is, it weighs 28 lbs empty!

Five (5) drawers with a few dividers and green felt lining that appears original. The drop front is detachable and has a nifty shallow trough running the entire width of it, handy for keeping small parts and pieces from rolling off when it’s in its work surface position - functionally similar to the round dimples on my Kennedy drop front. Heavy duty clasp with a provision for a padlock with a chain. Strong handles on each side. Crinkle green baked enamel finish.

If anyone recognizes it based on any of the features, pulls, hardware, handles, etc, please shout it out.

I have not cracked open a single catalog etc, but I am pretty sure it’s not an SK or a Kennedy, or, at least not a 1940’s SK or Kennedy.

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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by mrbill » Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:54 am

Mysterious... the hasp reminds me of the ones on the Kennedy cantilever boxes and the pulls remind me of the ones on Snap-on boxes. Leather handle makes it likely mid to late 40s or earlier. Maybe you've discovered a new genus, Wing.

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1945 Ford GPW 268739 from the Dallas, TX plant.

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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by frenchman » Sun Dec 17, 2017 10:50 am

hello
i beleve this box to be an armorer tool chest i guess they made 2 style 4 drawers and 5 drawers
dont know the year it was made jeff will problably now
hope this help
frenchman

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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by mrbill » Sun Dec 17, 2017 11:30 am

No manufacturer, but it looks like the one in this thread 41-K-8425 Tool sets for small arms and automatic weapons

Bill
1945 Ford GPW 268739 from the Dallas, TX plant.

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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by Wingnutt » Sun Dec 17, 2017 12:59 pm

frenchman wrote:
Sun Dec 17, 2017 10:50 am
hello
i beleve this box to be an armorer tool chest i guess they made 2 style 4 drawers and 5 drawers
dont know the year it was made jeff will problably now
mrbill wrote:
Sun Dec 17, 2017 11:30 am
No manufacturer, but it looks like the one in this thread 41-K-8425 Tool sets for small arms and automatic weapons
I think you both nailed it!

My thoughts: since mine has a leather handle, I am thinking it's earlier than the NOS example in that thread, which has French postwar repack origins. Being earlier in production may also be the explanation for the 5-drawer configuration on mine versus the 4-drawer configuration on the French postwar repack example. I am speculating that mine was early to mid war, and the box used in the postwar French kit was either late war or possibly postwar itself. But who knows. Interesting nonetheless.
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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by gpw_42 » Sun Dec 17, 2017 1:07 pm

Love it!

It reminds me of this one from AZJeff, but I can't tell if his has a handle on top or not; it certainly has a hasp.
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=285636&p=1656703&h ... t#p1656703

Nice score,
Steve

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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by Wingnutt » Sun Dec 17, 2017 1:12 pm

That has to be it, Steve! Thanks for remembering. I PM'd Jeff. Hopefully he'll share more info and pics. I can't find an exact match for what I think the FSN says (5180-945-7478), but everything in the 5180 category is kits and all the ones that come up with slightly different numbers are armorer's kits for small arms repair!
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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by AZ Jeff » Sun Dec 17, 2017 2:03 pm

Nice chest Greg!

This is one I have. Found it for $1 at a swap meet... nasty overpaint at the time and missing the front cover/tray but it cleaned-up nicely. Refinished in USN/USMC forest green. Takes a small padlock...

Image

These are definately small arms related, possibly other applications as well. The AFKX-352 repair van had perfect bench slots for 10-12 of these as I recall. I'm guessing the CCKW ord vans did as well. I've seen them in one SNL but I can't recall where.

Jeff Q.
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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by Wingnutt » Sun Dec 17, 2017 2:15 pm

Thanks for the kind words and prompt reply, Jeff!

It's interesting that yours appears to be a third variant. Five (5) drawers like mine (and unlike the 4-drawer French repack), but different hardware for attaching the handle (than the French repack or mine). The pulls are the same on all three. And I'm going to take the liberty of assuming that the drop front would also be the same, if you had it (since it is the same on the French repack and my leather-handled jobbie). I'm curious" are the side handles on your chest like those on mine?
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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by AZ Jeff » Sun Dec 17, 2017 3:13 pm

Side handles are the same Greg.

My other chests (years ago) had two ~ 3" diameter recesses for parts in the fronts/covers. Never saw one with a full width recess before now. It's nice that your's has the detachable (= typically removed and long gone) partitions and retainers.

Jeff Q.
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Re: Early Bird Gets the Worms

Post by Wingnutt » Sun Dec 17, 2017 3:34 pm

AZ Jeff wrote:
Sun Dec 17, 2017 3:13 pm
Side handles are the same Greg.
Thanks for confirming. I'd love to figure out the OEM.
AZ Jeff wrote:My other chests (years ago) had two ~ 3" diameter recesses for parts in the fronts/covers. Never saw one with a full width recess before now.
Me neither. My Kennedy Bighorn box has three round dimples in the drop front for small parts and pieces.
AZ Jeff wrote:It's nice that your's has the detachable (= typically removed and long gone) partitions and retainers.
Agreed. Those and the drop fronts are almost always missing.
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