I was introduced to Bonney version of Snap-on flank drive around 1978, before I saw the Snap-On version. I wondered then who was the first on base. I have a smattering of Bonney from late 60's to early 70's. One example is every bit as nice as my same era Snap-on. I purchased that used wrench around 1980 and used it on and off for a decade. I dug it out of a surplus wrench drawer just last week to use a as dedicated wrench on an American Pacemaker that I am currently restoring. I am very impressed again! I moved on to Snap-on tools by 1990, so the odd Bonney went in the surplus drawer. This Bonney will serve admirably for the rest of my life. Thanks for the history lesson.
@paulhunt598. American Pacemaker were great lathes for sure. Nice to hear you are restoring one. Also like your thinking of using a Bonney wrench as a dedicated wrench on the Pacemaker. Nice homage to great American companies that are sadly no more.
Highly impressive video, I loved it! So much good info there. I've loved Bonney tools ever since I scored a bunch in the early 2000s from a military surplus store. They had a warehouse with so many of these orchard box pallets filled with 80s-90s government Snap-On and Bonney tools! Selling everything for a few bucks each!! I gave them all the cash I had on the spot for what I could grab. Then I came back 5 days later and the business was gone. No signs, just a vacant, cobweb filled building, and never seen them again. I'll always be thankful for what I got that day, but can't help feeling like I lost out on the score of my lifetime.
Those long, thin wrenches are called “tappet” wrenches. They are used to set the solid-lifter valve lash on flat-head engines, the lifters (aka: tappets) are on the SIDE of the motor and UNDER the exhaust manifold. Tappet wrenches are thin so that you can fit one on the adjuster nut and still have room for one on the lock nut, they are long so that you can reach the tappet and keep the back of your hand from the hot manifold. .
@@ballinator I don't think the ones I have are tappet wrenches. Same thickness (around 1/4") but with only a single open end and short handle. I'll to verify but I believe the set ranges from 1" to 3" in 1/4" increments. Got em from the estate of an aircraft mechanic.
@@ballinator Those socket sizes were from the old SAE series of nut sizes from back in the 30's and 40's. My dad gave me some open-end wrenches that included these odd ball sizes which I have never used. Snap On still makes these sizes in their half inch drive line of sockets I believe.
@@ENGINEER125 I've been slowly piecing together a full set of /32 sockets. Somewhere here I started a list of all the things those size bolts are found on, for a future video.
@ballinator we call them unicorn 🦄 sockets because they are so dam hard to find LoL 😆 😅😅😊 I do have a bunch of them I find a lot more in chineseum now a days no name no country of origin
Another great vid. Have a smattering of Bonney wrenches. My road service box is made up all different brands of made in USA tools. No top shelf brands, (Snap-On, Cornwall, Mac etc…). Reason being if I loose a tool in the dirt not quite as expensive to replace. Mostly Indestro, Proto, and Wright in that box. A few Bonney wrenches in their too that get a pull every now and then.😎
One tool style not pictured is a single open-end wrench set, and a simple blade handle. In the 70's Dad business was servicing Harrison, GM auto air conditioning. His Bonny set of these tools were perfect for large 1" to 2" open end and 8" handle to loosen O-Ring Aluminum nut. I have several now, could send a photo if you like.
@markkeller8915 Interesting. I think those are the "service wrenches" Page 38 of this catalog: archive.org/details/bonney-tools-catalog-57-s-1957/page/n37/mode/2up
@@ballinator yes the 30 degree service wrench. FB seller had a box of aircraft tools, Whitworth, and these. Said were WWII tools, I kept these and passed the rest on. I had two already. The timeline doesn't match with your report. These service wrenches were or were not WWII in production?
@markkeller8915 They could be. I saw them in the 1941 catalog too. If they have the cadmium finish on them they def are war time. If they have a two letter code on them, you might be able to date them. There's a date table on the Alloy Artifacts page: alloy-artifacts.org/bonney-forge-tool.html#dates
@@ballinator I have a great many of these Bonney Service Wrenches that are popular in the aircraft industry for reaching hydraulic and pneumatic fittings in tight places. We often used sections of flattened out tubing to slip over the wrench handles for extended leverage. Martin Tools took over the Bonney line of service wrenches and even kept the same part numbers that Bonney used. I have some Martin wrenches also in metric sizes. Martin wrenches are still in production.
An interesting tool that Bonney may have made is now made by Martin Tools. They make 12 point Metric Crowfoot wrenches in sizes that are very useful for power steering and air conditioning repairs. I tried to get some of these from my Snap On man and he did not have them on the truck and the lead times were enormous. Turned out Amazon had Martin Crowsfeet that were available on short notice.
great video cool looking grey bonney catalog cover now i am going to have to find and get a look at it i have 2 from right about the middle ages of their production from some of my research alot of what was left of cooper tools was wadded up and thrown in the forge and out of the ashes was what would become apex tool group at least in the Canadian market love your content
Thanks! Yeah I love the artwork in some of the old catalogs. There's a bunch of their catalogs on archive.org archive.org/search?query=bonney+tools&and%5B%5D=mediatype%3A%22texts%22
Great video and history!! Kinda funny how snap on has in a round about way stolen so many ideas and innovations over the years yet people still flock to the brand. Here’s another example SPTC had the patent on a indexible head ratchet and snap on bought the patent then started producing it under their name. I wasn’t aware of the loc rite and flank drive tiff. Thank you for researching and sharing this information, I’ve been a tool nut and collector for nearly 30yrs and still learn something every time I watch one of your videos.
My Dad's tool collection has many Bonney and Utica- Bonney wrenches, along with Williams, mostly from industrial tool machine sources. Understand Williams also bought by Snap on in the late 90's ?
Interesting stuff - thanks! Just a small correction of your pronunciation of Ayrshire - it should be AIR-sher, with the stress on the first syllable and the i in shire flattened.
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I was introduced to Bonney version of Snap-on flank drive around 1978, before I saw the Snap-On version. I wondered then who was the first on base. I have a smattering of Bonney from late 60's to early 70's. One example is every bit as nice as my same era Snap-on. I purchased that used wrench around 1980 and used it on and off for a decade. I dug it out of a surplus wrench drawer just last week to use a as dedicated wrench on an American Pacemaker that I am currently restoring. I am very impressed again! I moved on to Snap-on tools by 1990, so the odd Bonney went in the surplus drawer. This Bonney will serve admirably for the rest of my life.
Thanks for the history lesson.
@paulhunt598.
American Pacemaker were great lathes for sure. Nice to hear you are restoring one.
Also like your thinking of using a Bonney wrench as a dedicated wrench on the Pacemaker. Nice homage to great American companies that are sadly no more.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching. Very cool dedicating the wrench to the lathe.
Highly impressive video, I loved it! So much good info there. I've loved Bonney tools ever since I scored a bunch in the early 2000s from a military surplus store. They had a warehouse with so many of these orchard box pallets filled with 80s-90s government Snap-On and Bonney tools! Selling everything for a few bucks each!! I gave them all the cash I had on the spot for what I could grab. Then I came back 5 days later and the business was gone. No signs, just a vacant, cobweb filled building, and never seen them again.
I'll always be thankful for what I got that day, but can't help feeling like I lost out on the score of my lifetime.
I miss the old surplus stores like that. You never knew what you were going to find.
everybody who's been around for at least 60yrs has some bonney,blackhawk,or millers falls in their boxes
I have all three brands along with a Utica lineman pliers.
No doubt that they made good tools.
or gray if you're canadian (and also grey)
Wright tools are good quality.
I own and used Bonney tools for years. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to your next video 👍👍🔧🔧🪛🪛🙂
You're welcome! Thanks for watching.
Man. I collect vintage tools and use a lot of them. Will be on the Bonney lookout at my sales!
Same here! Trying to piece together a full set of the loc-rite flare wrenches.
I have a long offset 3/8"-7/16" obtained from Pop that has been my go to for u-joint differentials for 50 years. Thanks for the history lesson too.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching.
I have an old set of thin Bonney service wrenches that have gotten me out of a few jams. Love em. Thanks for the lore.
You're welcome! Yeah, thinn tappet wrenches can be a lifesaver at times.
Those long, thin wrenches are called “tappet” wrenches. They are used to set the solid-lifter valve lash on flat-head engines, the lifters (aka: tappets) are on the SIDE of the motor and UNDER the exhaust manifold. Tappet wrenches are thin so that you can fit one on the adjuster nut and still have room for one on the lock nut, they are long so that you can reach the tappet and keep the back of your hand from the hot manifold. .
@@ballinator I don't think the ones I have are tappet wrenches. Same thickness (around 1/4") but with only a single open end and short handle. I'll to verify but I believe the set ranges from 1" to 3" in 1/4" increments. Got em from the estate of an aircraft mechanic.
@@smoil Those would be the "Service Wrenches" a couple others have commented that they were popular in aircraft service.
You are lucky. I wish I had a set.
Was going through my loose sockets & found some 21/32" & 25/32" Bonney sockets. I had never heard of them before. Thanks for the video.
Very cool. Thanks for watching!
@@ballinator Those socket sizes were from the old SAE series of nut sizes from back in the 30's and 40's. My dad gave me some open-end wrenches that included these odd ball sizes which I have never used. Snap On still makes these sizes in their half inch drive line of sockets I believe.
@@ENGINEER125 they're definitely an oddball size. The only time I'll need them is when I don't have them.
@@ENGINEER125 I've been slowly piecing together a full set of /32 sockets. Somewhere here I started a list of all the things those size bolts are found on, for a future video.
@ballinator we call them unicorn 🦄 sockets because they are so dam hard to find LoL 😆 😅😅😊
I do have a bunch of them I find a lot more in chineseum now a days no name no country of origin
I had a Bonny Open box end wrench set. It was unbreakable.
Thanks for the video, love this stuff. I'am Canadian from the east coast. thanks for the Canadian content.
You're welcome! Yeah, I know I have a handful of subscribers from Canada, so I want to include those connections in the story when I can.
Another great vid. Have a smattering of Bonney wrenches.
My road service box is made up all different brands of made in USA tools. No top shelf brands, (Snap-On, Cornwall, Mac etc…). Reason being if I loose a tool in the dirt not quite as expensive to replace.
Mostly Indestro, Proto, and Wright in that box. A few Bonney wrenches in their too that get a pull every now and then.😎
Thanks. Always cool to hear that tools from these brands are still in service.
The Snap-on® flank drive comparison reinforces the truth, which is everything has happened before! Love your videos.
Yeah, the world just remembers the one that was marketed better... Thanks for watching!
Excellent channel Thank you 👍
I have some Bonney wrenches excellent quality.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Good show as always! I learned something today, and being a know it all already. Well that's impressive ;-)
Thanks! I learn a lot while doing the research. There's always something new that I discover that I didn't know before.
One tool style not pictured is a single open-end wrench set, and a simple blade handle. In the 70's Dad business was servicing Harrison, GM auto air conditioning. His Bonny set of these tools were perfect for large 1" to 2" open end and 8" handle to loosen O-Ring Aluminum nut. I have several now, could send a photo if you like.
@markkeller8915 Interesting. I think those are the "service wrenches"
Page 38 of this catalog:
archive.org/details/bonney-tools-catalog-57-s-1957/page/n37/mode/2up
@@ballinator yes the 30 degree service wrench. FB seller had a box of aircraft tools, Whitworth, and these. Said were WWII tools, I kept these and passed the rest on.
I had two already. The timeline doesn't match with your report. These service wrenches were or were not WWII in production?
@markkeller8915 They could be. I saw them in the 1941 catalog too. If they have the cadmium finish on them they def are war time. If they have a two letter code on them, you might be able to date them. There's a date table on the Alloy Artifacts page:
alloy-artifacts.org/bonney-forge-tool.html#dates
@@ballinator I have a great many of these Bonney Service Wrenches that are popular in the aircraft industry for reaching hydraulic and pneumatic fittings in tight places. We often used sections of flattened out tubing to slip over the wrench handles for extended leverage. Martin Tools took over the Bonney line of service wrenches and even kept the same part numbers that Bonney used. I have some Martin wrenches also in metric sizes. Martin wrenches are still in production.
An interesting tool that Bonney may have made is now made by Martin Tools. They make 12 point Metric Crowfoot wrenches in sizes that are very useful for power steering and air conditioning repairs. I tried to get some of these from my Snap On man and he did not have them on the truck and the lead times were enormous. Turned out Amazon had Martin Crowsfeet that were available on short notice.
I have a Bonney 3/8" gold plated ratchet and socket set, given as awards to G.M. technicians. Bought it at a flea market for $20.
Ohhh, Very Cool!
great video cool looking grey bonney catalog cover now i am going to have to find and get a look at it i have 2 from right about the middle ages of their production
from some of my research alot of what was left of cooper tools was wadded up and thrown in the forge and out of the ashes was what would become apex tool group
at least in the Canadian market
love your content
I am on Facebook or Instagram I would like to send you some of the information I have come across
Thanks! Yeah I love the artwork in some of the old catalogs. There's a bunch of their catalogs on archive.org
archive.org/search?query=bonney+tools&and%5B%5D=mediatype%3A%22texts%22
Great video and history!! Kinda funny how snap on has in a round about way stolen so many ideas and innovations over the years yet people still flock to the brand. Here’s another example SPTC had the patent on a
indexible head ratchet and snap on bought the patent then started producing it under their name. I wasn’t aware of the loc rite and flank drive tiff. Thank you for researching and sharing this information, I’ve been a tool nut and collector for nearly 30yrs and still learn something every time I watch one of your videos.
You're welcome! I'll make a note about SPTC for when I do the Snap-on video.
Never heard of them, thanks for sharing. Charles
You're welcome! Yeah, the brand pretty much died off after all the mergers happened. Not a lot of people now-a-days know about them.
You sure have a lot of creativity 😅👍
great stuff, thanks for a wonderful episode, cheers form Florida, and a Bonney owner...Paul
You're welcome! Thanks for the view.
thanks for the great video! Man snap on gets their fingers in everything it seems. God bless and all things for Gods glory!
You're welcome. Thanks!
Channel lock and Klein for tradesman’s hand tools
Love the lore!
Thanks!
My Dad's tool collection has many Bonney and Utica- Bonney wrenches, along with Williams, mostly from industrial tool machine sources.
Understand Williams also bought by Snap on in the late 90's ?
@jeffhill3681 Correct. Williams also got picked up by Snap-On. There's a full video on Williams on my channel.
Bonney did make Matco's first wrenches including for John Deere.I have some of the Bonney made Matco wrenches
Thanks for the info. I did not know that.
If you see the Matco wrenches with the first three in the part number WCL is one way to tell
Interesting stuff - thanks! Just a small correction of your pronunciation of Ayrshire - it should be AIR-sher, with the stress on the first syllable and the i in shire flattened.
Thanks! I figured I would probably pronounce it wrong..
Bonney was Napa's tool line for years. Have a ball peen hammer in my box.
I buy used American made tools before buying anything made in china ....great video
Thanks!
Triangle and Cooper...we're getting closer to Diamond. Aren't we.
Diamond is on the list for a future video. Next episode will be on Klein.
Bill puts the lotion in the basket
Do Snap-on
They're on the list. Waiting until my editing skills get a little better, as the Snap-on one will be a big one.
0:56 Val Kilmer's great grandaddy, lol.
He played William H. "Bonney" aka Billy the Kid in a 1989 made for TV movie.
@@ballinator ahh, whoosh. Hahahaha
i think i have one of those wierd Bonney vices
The one with the anvil? I've never seen one IRL.
Blue Point Bonney ?????
Blue Point was a different company. Eventually when I cover the full story of Snap-On, Blue Point will be included there.
@@ballinator ths
Bon e con?never seen many 🤔
@richardnorthern6945 You're right, I didn't mention them in the video. Bon e Con was Bonney's 'budget' line.
Great story as always👍. I used Bonney service wrenches between 1 and 2 inches many times in my 36 year career as an aircraft mechanic. 🛬🛫
Very cool! Thanks!