A good day at the flea market today!

[derk derin]

A picture of the Double-Hex 1/2''-9/16'' box end wrench 181 that I was looking for to add to my CMP 3 ton tool kit list. Now I have to find a Double-Hex 5/8''-3/4'' box end wrench 184.

[rob love]

Do you find it hard walking around flea markets with all those horseshoes in your posterior weighing you down?

Nice finds.

[derk derin]

It's the metal detectors at the airport that find that horseshoe up there every time!
Nice to find that wrench,I'm always happy to find another tool to add to my tool kit. I am also happy to finally find a signalling mirror and I know this one will be proper as the kit was all together when I bought it and judging by the straw at the bottom of the small pack,must have been in a shed or barn! I was also happy to find a Sheffield England knife in the kit.The fork isn't issue but the spoon is.I don't know that there was ever an issue knife as every soldier was supposed to have a clasp knife but as this knife was in with all the kit,must have been what he used.
Happy,Happy!
Derk

[rob love]

During my short time in the army, if we went to the field and forgot our knife, fork, or spoon, they got liberated from the nearest mess hall.

[David Dunlop]

Hey Derk.

Not sure about this one being a wartime GSW item. I had two, years ago (both went to Don Perry in Edmonton).

From what I recall, they are GSW stamped and dated as per their 2-Gallon and 1-Gallon cans. The cap is the same heavy brass and if memory serves, diagonally across the top of the can from the big brass cap is a much smaller knurled brass breather that is opened to allow the contents to exit smoothly.

Not to say that the can you found is not a civvies can from the 30's or 40's. Nice finds in any event!


David

[Ed Storey]

There were WWII issue knife, fork and spoon sets (this is British) as well as here is one of the many types of WWII issue Clasp Knives.

IMG_2076 copy.jpg

CASE M346 - body - showing C Broad Arrow copy.jpg

[rob love]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Hey Derk.

Not sure about this one being a wartime GSW item. I had two, years ago (both went to Don Perry in Edmonton).

From what I recall, they are GSW stamped and dated as per their 2-Gallon and 1-Gallon cans. The cap is the same heavy brass and if memory serves, diagonally across the top of the can from the big brass cap is a much smaller knurled brass breather that is opened to allow the contents to exit smoothly.

Not to say that the can you found is not a civvies can from the 30's or 40's. Nice finds in any event!


David

We have a few of those 4 gallon cans at the museum. However, many of the flimsies had much cheaper tops.

[derk derin]

So there was an issue knife with the fork and spoon! I have seen many issue forks & spoons in the past but never found a knife which made me think that they must have just used their clasp knife.
Thank you Ed for posting that information.
David,
The 4 gallon flimsy is definitely a civilian one by the top handle (flat metal soldered to the can versus the military issue ones that had a wire handle and by the filler opening is a screwed on tin cap versus the sealed cap). I am happy just having the can as I collect gasoline cans too!

As for the first aid metal box I found today it is stencilled on the top;
8-1000
OUTFIT
FIRST AID
GENERAL LARGE
Does anybody have any idea what this first aid kit was for? Vehicle maybe?
Regards,Derk

[Wayne Hingley]

Originally Posted by derk derin

A picture of the Double-Hex 1/2''-9/16'' box end wrench 181 that I was looking for to add to my CMP 3 ton tool kit list. Now I have to find a Double-Hex 5/8''-3/4'' box end wrench 184.

Derk,
To go with your 181, here are DUBL-HEX wrenches 180, 182 & 183, plus a Ford branded box end wrench.

[derk derin]

Hi Colin,
That is great information and just the kind of answers I have been looking for.I did see your thread with the picture of that wrench but didn't know what it was for either. With that list of Ian's tool packing list showing those wrench numbers definitely makes it clear that the wrenches were Ford marked with those part numbers on it.I am sure they will be harder to find than Dubl-Hex wrenches!
I have GMC marked wrenches that are stamped;MADE IN CANADA BY GRAY. One is a double box end wrench;
15/16'' GMC 5824672 1 1/16'',ALLOY STEEL-MADE IN CANADA
The other two wrenches are a single box end wrench,the one has a bent end;
7/8'' GMC 5824675,ALLOY STEEL MADE IN CANADA BY GRAY
The other one is a straight handle single box end wrench;
1'' GMC 5824676,ALLOY STEEL MADE IN CANADA BY GRAY
I wonder if the Ford wrenches were like these as well built by Gray or if Ford made their own wrenches like the ones you have? Just my luck I have a Ford and am sitting on GMC wrenches!
I would be interested in finding any tools I need to complete my tools list so yes I would be interested in your spare C39Q-17007. Thanks.
Derk

[derk derin]

One more shot of the back of the double box end wrench.

[Colin Alford]

Hi Derk,

To me it is very clear that Gray was producing these wrenches for both Ford and Chev (GMC). The wrenches were produced with Gray's standard dies then the necessary Ford or GMC part numbers were stamped in.

For the GMC marked wrenches it is easier to find written references to them because Chev produced updated CMP Parts Lists until well into 1945 so these lists included the new wrenches (first introduced in 43). Unfortunately for the Ford wrenches I have only found the one reference (Ian's Tool Packing List) that actually gives part numbers for them.

Here is a list of the part numbers with descriptions:
Ford:
C39Q 17006 - 1/2" x 9/16" Box Socket Wrench
C39Q 17007 - 5/8" x 3/4" Box Socket Wrench
C39Q 17009 - 15/16" x 1" Box Socket Wrench

Chev:
5824673 - Wrench, Double end - Double offset Hex Box 15/16" x 1-1/16"
5824674 - Wrench, Single end offset - Hex Box 15/16" approx 14" long
5824675 - Wrench, Single end offset - Hex Box 7/8" approx 14" long
5824676 - Wrench, Single end straight - Hex Box 1" approx 14" long
5824677 - Wrench, Double end - Double offset Hex Box 1/2" x 9/16"
5824678 - Wrench, Double end - single offset Hex Box 15/16" x 1" approx 14" long (small end offset)

I know that C39Q 17006 and 5824677 are exactly the same wrench (pics attached).

The description of 5824678 completely matches an actual C39Q 17009.

By extension I suspect that the single end 15/16" Box Socket wrench (unknown part number) shown in the Ford Driver's Handbooks will be the same as 5824674.

I have attached images of C39Q 17006 next to GMC 5824677 and including a"077 Made in Canada". Somewhere I have a "078 Made in Canada 1/2" x 9/16" but it is currently misplaced. I included the "077" to illustrate the similarity with a normal production wrench.

Also there are images that show C39Q 17009 next to GMC 5824673 and a Gray-Bonney 2894 (this is not a CMP wrench but I believe that it nails down the manufacturer of the others).

The 5th image is a GMC 5824674 15/16" offset wrench.

I have been trying to collect examples of both the Ford and Chev wrenches. Perhaps we could conduct a trade?

For any one else reading this: Can anyone provide more info on Ford Box-End wrenches? I am interested to see pictures of any other types of surviving examples, identify correct part numbers from tool lists, or identify different size combinations from Driver's Handbooks.

Colin

[derk derin]

Colin,
I have no use for the GMC wrenches so would be more than happy to trade! You certainly have done your homework on the wrenches and it is nice to finally figure out what kind of wrenches I need to find!
I did some researching on the internet and came across an article that suggests that the DREADNAUGHT brand of wrenches were actually made by GRAY. Have you heard of this before?
Derk

[rob love]

I too was wondering if there was a Dreadnaught connection. Looking at my selection of Dreadnaught wrenched I note they are very similar in their methods of stamping as the Ford wrenches shown in this thread. Edited to add: I got my answer here: http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.ca/...eadnaught.html

As well, the CMP (or was it carrier?) manual shows the double open end wrench set which is held together by a little metal bracket which tightens up and holds the wrenches together. I picked up one of those sets which had a red bracket instead of khaki, and the wrenches are all dreadnaught.

Derk

Perhaps our favorite surplus store is where you want to be looking for CMP wrenches. There are bucket loads of wrenches out there.

[Wayne Hingley]

Originally Posted by Colin Alford

I have been trying to collect examples of both the Ford and Chev wrenches.

Hi Colin,
I have a few GMC 5824620 wrenches. If you do not have one, send me a PM, and Ill make sure you get one.

[derk derin]

Well I wound up collecting more GMC wrenches! I was looking through the pile of wrenches in the surplus store in Calgary last weekend where I originally found them hoping this year to find some Ford wrenches thanks to Colin's help but only GMC wrenches were there. I did manage to find one of the 15/16'' GMC 5824674 box end wrench so that may have to go in the tool kit until I find a Ford marked one.