Garage Gazette

TOOLS AND THE SHOP => ANTIQUE/COLLECTOR TOOLS/BOXES/HAND ONLY => Topic started by: Davethorik on June 06, 2020, 11:16:39 PM

Title: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: Davethorik on June 06, 2020, 11:16:39 PM

I can't say I've ever seen one like this before in that font with the stars. 8" Wardmast'r sure looks a lot like a Crescent re-badge to me.

Title: Re: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: Davethorik on June 07, 2020, 02:07:41 AM

Here's a close-up of the logo

Title: Re: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: bonneyman on June 07, 2020, 09:43:34 AM

I agree it looks like a re-badge.

Title: Re: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: Uncle Buck on June 08, 2020, 08:53:30 AM

I would first look at the lower jaw to see if it would appear to interchange with a Crescent brand. Usually, that is the first tell you are dealing with another brand is the inability to exchange that jaw. Other details shared or not would follow the jaw to me. 

Title: Re: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: hickory n Steel on July 15, 2020, 09:16:36 PM

Those markings by the hole scream JP Danielson to me.
Obviously made for Montgomery Wards right?

Title: Re: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: Davethorik on July 16, 2020, 02:27:03 AM

Quote from: hickory n Steel on July 15, 2020, 09:16:36 PM

Those markings by the hole scream JP Danielson to me.
Obviously made for Montgomery Wards right?

Yes sold by Wards.
I don't have any wrenches around at the moment, but Danielsons 99% have a throat designed to hold hex or square nuts. The Wardmast'r is for hex.

I also feel like I have seen the Molybdenum Alloy marking before. But can't for the life of me remember where

Title: Re: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: hickory n Steel on July 16, 2020, 11:57:51 AM

Quote from: Davethorik on July 16, 2020, 02:27:03 AM

Quote from: hickory n Steel on July 15, 2020, 09:16:36 PM

Those markings by the hole scream JP Danielson to me.
Obviously made for Montgomery Wards right?

Yes sold by Wards.
I don't have any wrenches around at the moment, but Danielsons 99% have a throat designed to hold hex or square nuts. The Wardmast'r is for hex.

I also feel like I have seen the Molybdenum Alloy marking before. But can't for the life of me remember where

Oh I see it now.
So did Crescent use a similar kind of date code stamp like this ?

Title: Re: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: Davethorik on July 16, 2020, 08:36:12 PM

I think some did. I have to go off pics online, strangely with 30-40 adjustables in my collection, i only have a couple crescents.

Title: Re: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: lauver on August 13, 2020, 12:06:41 PM

Dave,

Just a thought... I noticed a "D" near the date code.  Could this adjustable have been made by Duro/Indestro?

I don't have any D/I adjustables to compare markings.  Do you?

D/I was a known supplier to Montgomery Wards... just saying  :-\

Title: Re: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: Davethorik on August 17, 2020, 10:32:44 PM

Lauver,
Thank you for the response. I don't have any Duro adjustables to compare, but I am pretty sure Duro farmed their adjustables out, based on what I have seen.

Title: Re: Wardmast'r adjustable wrench USA
Post by: amecks on September 05, 2021, 03:01:57 PM

Pretty sure Wards Master Quality adjustables were made by Diamond.  Based on Alloy Artifacts article in Diamond - Contract Production.  Here are two different Wards wrenches - one marked only Wards and the other Wards Master Quality. 
(https://i.postimg.cc/yNczqHqg/IMG-0083-01.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Wards version is marked Japan and Drop Forged Alloy Steel.  The Master Quality is marked Made in U.S.A. and Drop Forged Molydenum Alloy.