I recently needed a 1-1/16 box end wrench, but the largest I had was 1 inch. You don't need that size very often, but I needed one, but I didn't want to pay full freight for a bigger size in my existing premium lineup. So I found this on Harry Epstein's tools website. I purchased it and it's a real monster. I compared it to my long pattern 1970's era Crasftsman 1 inch combination wrench. At that time I think it was made by Armstrong, USA made, forged I think. For comparison I measured the length and weighed my existing Craftsman piece, coming in at 13.5 inches long by 13.5 oz in weight. But compared to this brand new WWII era double box end Williams from HE tools, this guy dwarfs the Craftsman, at 15.5 inches long by 1 lb 13 oz. It's a 1-1/16 x 1-1/8 inch double offset box end:

https://www.harryepstein.com/w...-x-1-1-8-wrench.html

So, if you need some big wrenches but don't want to invest in a modern premium wrench, you can buy various sizes of WWII era premium USA forged tools from Harry Epstein Tools. I've done business with them before, it's a lot of fun just to browse their website. You never know what you're gonna find that you may need.

I also bought a four-piece top-of-the-line Proto straight slot screwdriver set for $20 even. You can't beat that with a stick.

Interestingly they call this wrench a "Williams NOS WWII Era Box End 1 1/16 x 1 1/8 Wrench"

I'm still trying to find out what the "NOS" nomenclature in the name of the wrench means, I couldn't find anything yet. If you know that that means let me know. I'm not sure about the metalurgy of this antique wrench, but I can tell it it looks to be outstanding. It could also serve as a secondary if you find yourself in a bad situation without a roscoe.

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
NOS

New old stock?

Williams made some damn fine tools in the day. Nice value for the price.

I had a 1-1/8 wrench I rarely used but needed it one day about five years ago. I put it on my truck rear bumper, forgot and drove somewhere later, wrench gone. I still rarely need that wrench but at that price, I'll fill that hole. Thanks, wrightd

quote:

Originally posted by Ripley:
I had a 1-1/8 wrench I rarely used but needed it one day about five years ago. I put it on my truck rear bumper, forgot and drove somewhere later, wrench gone. I still rarely need that wrench but at that price, I'll fill that hole. Thanks, wrightd

Ouch. But good timing!

Cool site. Don't know whether to thank you or curse you; I'll probably spend too much time and money there!

Cool! I have a modern cheap version. I think it’s promoted for and used by me for trailer hitch balls.

I visited that store, the window displays look 50 years old. Family owned and I think grandsons work there. I looked over the store pretty good, but my tool inventory is quite complete, so I bought nothing.

That wrench would be handy for boaters to keep with their spare prop, as it fits many prop nuts.

That is a neat site. My tractor has some fairly good sized bolts on her, I will check those out tomorrow. My selection of wrenches is pretty thin over 1 inch.

New Old Stock

Williams was bought by Snap-On

I've got some old Williams tools in one of my tool boxes, haven't heard that name in a long time.

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Cool! I have a modern cheap version. I think it’s promoted for and used by me for trailer hitch balls.

I bought a 1 1/8" x 1 1/2" extra long boxend trailer ball combo from Harbor Freight. It was $8 and I use it for lots of other things and works fine.

The Williams stuff is cool though.

quote:

Originally posted by Blackmore:
I bought a 1 1/8" x 1 1/2" extra long boxend trailer ball combo from Harbor Freight. It was $8 and I use it for lots of other things and works fine.

Made in the USA, was it?

Does Harbor Freight feature anything made in the USA? On the plus side the Chinese hand tools do work well even if they look like a bad knockoff of Craftsman's USA made tools. Due to a history of designing and assembling rather large production machines I have combination wrenches from 1/4 inch up to 2 1/2 inches and everything over 1 1/2 inch is Chinese. Kind of hard to justify spending $ 330.00 on a 2 inch combination wrench from Snap On when a made in China will do the same job for 22.00 dollars.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
NOS

New old stock?

Yes

New old stock, meaning it is a new item, never used, even though quite old.

quote:

https://www.harryepstein.com

Great, now I'm trying to figure out where I can use a tank periscope.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
Great, now I'm trying to figure out where I can use a tank periscope.

In your tank, of course.

Williams Industrial is still around and I believe mostly made in USA.
The bottom of their web page shows they are now a division of Snap-On Tools.

https://www.williams-industria...s_en/who-is-williams

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
So I found this on Harry Epstein's tools website.

That’s a neat site. Already found a crows foot wrench I could use.