And now, some flea.

[heelsroll]

Well,

Wasted a few hours chasing a craigslist deal, driving an hour, waiting on the seller, finding the item not ready, not well described, etc, I punted and dropped in on a flea market.

Quickly found the tool stall and raced the clock digging through piles of stuff -- had to work today, hour's drive back, made it with 3 min. to spare.

Anyway, here's the haul. Not a killer deal today but a good start. I'll go back when I can dig through the wrench box!

Herbrand
3/8" drive deep swivel set, 7/16"-3/4"
3/8" drive deep swivel partial set (and one shallow)
3/8" drive flare nut crowsfoot socket set, 3/8"-7/8"
4 piece offset angle metric wrenches, 13, 15, 16, 18

6 Pratt & Read made in USA scredrivers
Craftsman scratch awl
Kobalt 7/8" combo long wrench
Barcalo Buffalo 7/8, 13/16
Plomb 13/16 service wrench
Plomb 5/8 and 3/4 combo
Blackhawk Armstrong 1/2" tappet wrench with once side opened to 9/16"
King Dick 1/2" A/F wrench

Craftsman BE series female-drive 1/4" ratchet -- works!
Williams thick-walled wrench, #530
Snap-On CT4E bent, thought the handle might clean up (This is a circuit probe or test light handle, missing the guts, ~$33 to the mothership and it's back in business...)
Bondhus 3/16" hex ball
Lisle CV Joint boot band clamp pliers (discovered in a patent search. 2 square holes allow use of a breaker bar and torque wrench)
odd Mitchell pliers

loose sockets from Mac, Matco, SK, Armstrong, Armstrong Armalloy, Master Mechanic (USA), Giller, and a Challenger 3/8" extension.
=================
They had a bucket of 30 or so of the Kobalt wrench. After I bought it the couple running the stall (extension of their retail tool store) said the wrenches were from the commercial shoot back when they drove the NASCAR car over the bridge of wrenches. I remember that. Hmm, famous wrench.

They had some Genius and Sunex tools there, too, alongside the requisite Chinese stuff. Decent stock of USA Vice-Grips.

Nothing earth-shattering, but I was pressed for time. I'll be back next weekend, and do some good searching through the old stuff.

I'm also considering starting up a collection of all the off-brands I never knew existed. Weird stuff.

Anybody sees anything you need for your collection, PM me.

Happy hunting to all,
J

[Bull]

Is that Herbrand USA or Herbrand Canada? I do not recognize that packaging...I've seen it once before but not up-close.

[eddyyy302]

I have a pair of those crazy needle nose as well, looks like a bottle opener on one side. I leave them in my plier drawer, they put a smile on my face everytime I see them. Anybody know their original intended use?

Dan

[heelsroll]

Originally Posted by Bull

Is that Herbrand USA or Herbrand Canada? I do not recognize that packaging...I've seen it once before but not up-close.

The packaging had "USA" printed all over it but not "MADE IN USA". The sellers were under the impression it was USA but I'm not convinced that they really knew.

After removing the packaging, I'd say that it was a repackage, anyway.

The sockets and wrenches are not marked with any COO information. Nor are they marked with CR-V or any other info that often implies Taiwan.

So, couldn't say. The finish on the FN Crowsfoot sockets isn't great -- some dimples and scratches under the chrome -- but the tolerances on all of them don't look bad on first check.

I'd say they're decent stock but not exceptional.

[heelsroll]

Originally Posted by eddyyy302

I have a pair of those crazy needle nose as well, looks like a bottle opener on one side. I leave them in my plier drawer, they put a smile on my face everytime I see them. Anybody know their original intended use?

Dan

They're pretty funky! I guessed fishing, but I dunno. Picked up those and the Lisle pliers for giggles, a patent search turned up the other pair but still wondering about the funkly pliers. Seem to have a crimper, cutter, bottle opener, and snap ring plier ends..

[Bull]

I have the funky pliers, too. I always thought fishing, but don't know why.

I don't believe Herbrand ever produced anything from Asia. The tools from their Triangle days are pretty sad, but still those were made in the US. Perhaps what you have there is the Canadian stuff?

[Even 11]

I'd say you did pretty good, I might be interested in a piece or 2.

PM Sent

-Dane

[lauver]

Those funky pliers are for the fishermen among us. One side is for scaling, the needle nose are for removing hooks, and bottle opener is for opening bottles. And, I'm sure there are a few other misc functions.