Early Wrenches and the Armstrong Connection

In the late 1920s Blackhawk partnered with the Armstrong Bros. Tool Company of Chicago to offer a line of alloy steel open-end wrenches, and the resulting tools were marked "Blackhawk-Armstrong" in bold raised letters. Although we're not sure of the exact starting date for the collaboration, it was probably in late 1928 or early 1929. Some publications from 1929 mention Blackhawk-Armstrong tools, and by 1929 the Blackhawk pocket guide catalog listed a moderate selection of wrenches under the Blackhawk-Armstrong brand.

The early Blackhawk-Armstrong wrenches were very similar to the wrenches in the Armstrong-Vanadium line, differing only by the substitution of "Blackhawk-Armstrong" for "Armstrong-Vanadium" in the forged-in markings. Examples of Armstrong's early production can be seen in the section on the Armstrong-Vanadium Open-End Wrenches.

By 1930 the selection had been expanded considerably, and the 1930 Blackhawk MG330 catalog offered a wide range of Blackhawk-Armstrong wrenches. These included double-open wrenches in industry standard sizes, 85-degree offset obstruction wrenches, tappet wrenches, S-shaped wrenches, and even single-open "waterpump" wrenches.

Armstrong continued as a manufacturing partner for Blackhawk for many years. The Blackhawk catalogs continued to mention the name Blackhawk-Armstrong at least through 1947, although not as prominently as in the earlier years, and catalog illustrations still showed tool rolls marked with both names. Some of the tools also retained markings from Armstrong; in fact, one later ignition wrench looks just like the standard Armstrong piece but with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" stamped on the back.

Open-End Wrenches

We'll begin the presentation with a selection of open-end wrenches in industry-standard sizes, the ad hoc model number system adopted by many manufacturers. (See our table Industry-Standard Wrench Models for more information.) By 1930 Blackhawk was offering a very extensive selection of these models, with 41 sizes ranging from the 1/4x5/16 model 1020 to the 1-1/8x1-1/4 model 1737.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1721 5/16x3/8 Open-End Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the Blackhawk-Armstrong 1721 wrench with slightly different markings.

Fig. 118. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1721 5/16x3/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 118 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1721 5/16x3/8 open-end wrench, with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, and with "Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side.

The inset shows the stamped "Armstrong Chicago U.S.A." marking on the back side face. Note that this wrench is not marked with a "Strong-Arm" logo.

The overall length is 5.3 inches.

Fig. 119. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1721 5/16x3/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 119 shows a similar Blackhawk-Armstrong 1721 wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank and "Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side.

The back side face on this example is stamped "Armstrong Made in U.S.A." with the Strong-Arm logo.

The overall length is 5.3 inches. The original finish was chrome or nickel plating, but most has been lost due to rust.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1723 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of Blackhawk-Armstrong 1723 wrenches, with minor differences in the markings noted in the text.

Fig. 120. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1723 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

In Fig. 120 at the left we see a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1723 3/8x7/16 open-end wrench, marked "Armstrong Chicago, U.S.A" on the face. The shank is marked "Chrome-Vanadium Steel" in forged raised letters, with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" on the back side.

The overall length is 5.3 inches. The original finish has been lost due to rust and wear.

Fig. 121. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1723 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 121 shows a very similar Blackhawk-Armstrong 1723 wrench, marked "Armstrong Made in U.S.A" with the Strong-Arm logo on the face. The shank has forged-in markings for "Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on one side, with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" on the back side.

The second wrench differs in the marking "Made in U.S.A." with the Strong-Arm logo, instead of "Chicago, U.S.A." on the first example. The significance of the difference is not known.

The overall length is 5.3 inches.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1725 7/16x1/2 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 122. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1725 7/16x1/2 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 122 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1725 7/16x1/2 open-end wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the fractional sizes on the front, with "Armstrong" and "Chicago U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 6.6 inches. The finish is plain steel, with traces of the original nickel or chrome plating.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1725-A 7/16x9/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 123. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1725-A 7/16x9/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 123 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1725-A 7/16x9/16 open-end wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the fractional sizes on the front, with "Armstrong" and "Made in U.S.A." plus the Strong-Arm logo on the back side.

The overall length is 6.6 inches. The original finish was chrome plating, but most has been lost due to rust.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1725-B 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 124. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1725-B 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 124 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1725B 1/2x9/16 open-end wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the fractional sizes on the front, with "Armstrong" and "Made in U.S.A." plus the Strong-Arm logo on the back side. (The "1725-B" model number should be marked on the back side face, but that end of the wrench has been ground thinner for some special application.)

The overall length is 6.5 inches. The finish shows traces of the original chrome plating, but most has been lost due to wear.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1025 1/2x19/32 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 125. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1025 1/2x19/32 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 125 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1025 1/2x19/32 open-end wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the fractional sizes on the front, with "Armstrong" and "Made in U.S.A." plus the Strong-Arm logo on the back side.

The overall length is 6.5 inches. The finish is chrome plating with some losses due to wear.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1727 9/16x5/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 126. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1727 9/16x5/8 Open-End Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Logo.

Fig. 126 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1727 9/16x5/8 open-end wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 6.9 inches.

The upper inset shows the stamped Armstrong "Strong-Arm" logo with "Made in U.S.A." as it appears on the back side of the 5/8 face.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1027-C 9/16x11/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 127. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1027-C 9/16x11/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 127 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1027-C 9/16x11/16 open-end wrench, marked "Blackhawk-Armstrong" in raised letters, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on the back side.

The overall length is 7.0 inches.

The inset shows the stamped "Strong-Arm" logo with "Made in U.S.A." as it appears on the back side of the 11/16 face. The finish is chrome plating with polished end faces.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1729 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 128. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1729 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. Late 1920s.

Fig. 128 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1729 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the fractional sizes on the front, with the model number and "Armstrong Chicago U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 7.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with pitting due to rust.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1028-S 5/8x25/32 Open-End Wrenches

Fig. 129. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1028-S 5/8x25/32 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 129 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1028-S 5/8x25/32 open-end wrench, marked "Armstrong Chicago, U.S.A" on the face. The shank is marked "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" in forged raised letters, with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" on the back side.

The overall length is 7.9 inches, and the finish appears to be nickel plating.

Fig. 130. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1028-S 5/8x25/32 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 130 shows a similar Blackhawk-Armstrong 1028-S wrench, stamped "Armstrong Made in U.S.A." on the face with the Strong-Arm logo (see inset). The shank has forged raised-letter markings "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on one side with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" on the other.

The overall length is 7.9 inches.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1731-A 3/4x7/8 Open-End Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the 1731-A wrench, with minor differences in the markings.

Fig. 131. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1731-A 3/4x7/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 131 shows an earlier Blackhawk-Armstrong 1731-A 3/4x7/8 open-end wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the fractional sizes on the front, with "Armstrong" and "Chicago U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 9.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Fig. 132. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1731-A 3/4x7/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 132 shows a later Blackhawk-Armstrong 1731-A open-end wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the front, and with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 9.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished end faces.

The inset shows the stamped "Strong-Arm" logo with "Made in U.S.A." as it appears on the back side of the 7/8 face.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1733 7/8x1 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 133. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1733 7/8x1 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 133 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1733 7/8x1 open-end wrench, stamped "Armstrong Made in U.S.A." on the face with the Strong-Arm logo. The shank has forged raised-letter markings "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on one side with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" on the back side.

The overall length is 10.5 inches. The original finish was chrome plating, but most has been lost to wear and rust.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 1033-C 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 134. Blackhawk-Armstrong 1033-C 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 134 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 1033-C 15/16x1 open-end wrench, stamped "Armstrong Made in U.S.A." with the Strong-Arm logo on the face. The shank has forged-in raised markings "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on one side with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" on the back side (see inset).

The overall length is 10.6 inches. The finish is chrome plating, with some losses due to wear and rust.

Tappet Wrenches

Blackhawk initially offered tappet wrenches in a design with one end straight and the other offset at 22.5 degrees. Two styles were available, the first with two openings of the same size, and the second style with different opening sizes. The wrenches of this second style were made in pairs with the openings exchanged, with the models distinguished by a "-B" or "-C" suffix to the model number.

The 1929 Blackhawk Mechanic's Guide listed both styles of tappet wrenches. The equal-sized models were available in sizes ranging from the 3/8 model 401 up to the 1 inch model 409. The unequal-sized models were offered in three pairs of sizes, models 402-{B,C} of sizes 1/2x9/16, 404-{B,C} of sizes 5/8x11/16, and 406-{B,C} of sizes 3/4x7/8.

Blackhawk later added tappet wrenches of the modern style with different opening sizes and 15 degree offset angles. Wrenches in this modern style are less commonly found, and at the present time we have only the Blackhawk-Armstrong 426 Tappet Wrench available for display.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 402 1/2x1/2 Tappet Wrench

The next several figures show examples of the style with equal-sized openings.

Fig. 135. Blackhawk-Armstrong 402 1/2x1/2 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1920s to Early 1930s.

Fig. 135 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 402 1/2x1/2 tappet wrench, marked on the shank with "Blackhawk Armstrong Tappet Wrench" in forged raised letters, with "Drop Forged Chrome Vanadium Steel" on the back side. The face is stamped "Armstrong Made in U.S.A." with the Strong-Arm logo.

The overall length is 8.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 403 9/16x9/16 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 136. Blackhawk-Armstrong 403 9/16x9/16 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. Late 1920s to Early 1930s.

Fig. 136 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 403 9/16x9/16 tappet wrench, marked on the shank with "Blackhawk Armstrong Tappet Wrench" in forged raised letters, with "Drop Forged Chrome Vanadium Steel" on the back side. The face is stamped "Armstrong Made in U.S.A." with the Strong-Arm logo.

The overall length is 8.5 inches. The original finish was chrome plating, but most of the finish has been lost due to extensive rust and pitting.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 404 5/8x5/8 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 137. Blackhawk-Armstrong 404 5/8x5/8 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1929-1930.

Fig. 137 shows another example of the older style with equal openings, a Blackhawk-Armstrong 404 5/8x5/8 tappet wrench. The wrench has raised-letter markings "Blackhawk-Armstrong Tappet Wrench" on the front with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on the back side, and is stamped "Armstrong Chicago U.S.A." on one face.

The overall length is 8.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 405 11/16x11/16 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 138. Blackhawk-Armstrong 405 11/16x11/16 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. Late 1920s to Early 1930s.

Fig. 138 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 405 11/16x11/16 tappet wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong Tappet Wrench" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the model number on the left, with "Armstrong" and "Made in U.S.A." plus the Strong-Arm logo on the right, and with the fractional sizes on the back side.

The overall length is 8.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 404-C 5/8x11/16 Tappet Wrench

The next several figures show examples of Blackhawk-Armstrong tappet wrenches with unequal opening sizes.

Fig. 139. Blackhawk-Armstrong 404-C 5/8x11/16 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1929-1930.

Fig. 139 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 404-C 5/8x11/16 tappet wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong Tappet Wrench" forged into the front, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the model number and "Armstrong Chicago U.S.A." on the front, with the fractional sizes on the back side.

The overall length is 8.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with extensive losses due to wear.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 406-C 3/4x7/8 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 140. Blackhawk-Armstrong 406-C 3/4x7/8 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1929-1930.

Fig. 140 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 406-C 3/4x7/8 tappet wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong Tappet Wrench" forged into the front, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the model number and "Armstrong Chicago U.S.A." on the front, with the fractional sizes on the back side.

The overall length is 8.9 inches. The original finish was chrome plating, but most has been lost due to wear.

The model number on this example has been partially obscured by damage to the "6" digit, but the correct "406-C" number can be determined by the sizes.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 428 15/16x1 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 141. Blackhawk-Armstrong 428 15/16x1 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. Late 1920s to Early 1930s.

Fig. 141 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 428 15/16x1 tappet wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong Tappet Wrench" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on the back side. The right face is stamped "Made in U.S.A." with the Strong-Arm logo, with the model number on the other end and the fractional sizes on the back side faces.

The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This wrench model is not listed in the 1930 or 1934 Blackhawk catalogs, suggesting that it might have been a special-order item.

Later Blackhawk-Armstrong "Chromium-Vanadium" 426 3/4x7/8 Tappet Wrench

The preferred modern style for tappet wrenches is a design with 15 degree offset angles at both ends but different opening sizes. This next figure shows an example of a Blackhawk-Armstrong tappet wrench in the modern style.

Fig. 142. Blackhawk-Armstrong 426 3/4x7/8 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. Early to Mid 1930s.

Fig. 142 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 426 3/4x7/8 tappet wrench in the modern style, with each opening offset at a 15 degree angle.

The face is stamped "Armstrong" and "Made in U.S.A." with the Strong-Arm logo, and the shank is stamped "Made in U.S.A." and "Chromium-Vanadium" on the front, with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" on the back side.

The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with some losses due to wear.

The Armstrong markings on this wrench are significant, as they show that by this time tools labeled "Blackhawk-Armstrong" were just standard Armstrong production with an added marking.

Also very significant is the "Chromium-Vanadium" (with the full element names) marking on the back side, which was used by Western Auto Supply as a brand in the early to mid 1930s. The accidental presence here (on a tool going to Blackhawk) suggests that Armstrong had its marking machine set up to handle contract production for Western Auto, and didn't bother changing the back side for Blackhawk!

This provides evidence that Western Auto was a much more important customer for Armstrong than had been previously realized.

Ignition Wrenches

The Blackhawk-Armstrong line also included ignition wrenches, although these are less commonly found.

The earliest reference for Blackhawk ignition wrenches is in an undated catalog MG-100 that appears to be from 1929, which offered an H-xx series of miniature open-end wrenches as well as a No. 18 set of specialty ignition wrenches. Blackhawk catalog MG330 from 1930 provides the earliest positive date for these tools.

Blackhawk-Armstrong H-Series Ignition Wrenches

Fig. 143. 1930 Catalog Listing for Blackhawk-Armstrong H-xx Series Ignition Wrenches.

Blackhawk-Armstrong offered an H-xx series of miniature open-end wrenches for ignition service, with openings ranging from 3/16 to 15/32 in five models.

The scan in Fig. 143 shows a catalog listing for the H-xx series wrenches, as published on page 32 of catalog MG330 from 1930.

The ignition wrenches were available in five models from H-10 (3/16x7/32) up to H-18 (13/32x15/32), as shown in the table to the left of the illustration.

Blackhawk-Armstrong H-10 3/16x7/32 Ignition Wrench

Fig. 144. Blackhawk-Armstrong H-10 3/16x7/32 Ignition Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. Late 1920s to Early 1930s.

Fig. 144 shows a diminutive Blackhawk-Armstrong H-10 3/16x7/32 ignition wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side.

The back side faces are stamped with the model on the left and "Armstrong" on the right.

The overall length is 2.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Later examples of Blackhawk-Armstrong ignition wrenches can be seen as the Blackhawk-Armstrong H-12 and Blackhawk-Armstrong H-15.

Blackhawk-Armstrong No. 18 Ignition Set

Fig. 145. 1934 Catalog Listing for Blackhawk-Armstrong No. 18 Ignition Set.

By 1929 Blackhawk was offering a No. 18 ignition set with 10 wrenches specially designed to service the ignition systems popular at that time.

Fig. 145 shows a catalog listing for the Blackhawk-Armstrong No. 18 set, as published on page 43 of the MG534 catalog for 1934.

Readers familiar with Bonney Forge & Tool will recognize these tools as the same Bonney No. 18 Ignition Set offered by Bonney since late 1928.

We have a Blackhawk-Armstrong No. 18 Ignition set and are preparing it for display.

Specialty Wrenches

Some of the early Blackhawk-Armstrong wrenches were designed for specialized applications such as brake service, for which the standard open-end wrenches weren't always suitable. These wrenches were given model numbers in the 25xx series, and in some cases the catalogs cited the particular application.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2526-A 9/16x9/16 Angle-Head Brake Wrench

Fig. 146. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2526-A 9/16x9/16 Angle-Head Brake Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1929.

Fig. 146 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2526-A 9/16x91/6 brake wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on the back side, and with "Armstrong Chicago, U.S.A." stamped on the face.

The overall length is 6.3 inches. The original finish was probably nickel plating, but has been lost due to wear and rust.

The wrench is designed with the openings at 22.5 and 60 degree offsets for better access in tight spaces. This type of design was typically termed an "obstruction" wrench, but Blackhawk settled on a somewhat different design for their broad line of obstruction wrenches.

The model 2526-A wrench was listed in the 1929 Blackhawk "Mechanic's Guide" catalog, but the description did not indicate a specific application.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2536 7/8 Brake Wrench

Fig. 147. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2536 7/8 Brake Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Marking Detail, ca. 1929.

Fig. 147 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2536 7/8 brake wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side, and with "Armstrong Chicago, U.S.A." stamped on the face.

The overall length is 4.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The 1929 Blackhawk "Mechanic's Guide" catalog listed the model 2536 wrench as a brake wrench for Studebaker cars.

This wrench apparently saw only limited use, as it retains a nearly perfect polished finish on the face. It's a good example of the high quality of Armstrong's production during the late 1920s.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2537-A 7/16x1/2 Angle-Head Brake Wrench

Fig. 148. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2537-A 7/16x1/2 Angle-Head Brake Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1934.

Fig. 148 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2537-A 7/16x1/2 brake wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on the back side. The back side face is stamped "Armstrong Made in U.S.A." with the Strong-Arm logo.

The overall length is 6.3 inches. The original finish was nickel plating, but most has been lost due to wear and rust. Some traces of the nickel plating can be seen on the left face and near the raised lettering on the shank.

The model 2537-A wrench is listed in the 1934 MG-534 catalog, but not in the 1930 catalog, indicating that it was introduced somewhat later. The application was described as "External Mechanical" brakes.

This wrench has a somewhat unusual configuration in that both the opening sizes and offset angles are unequal.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2542 5/8x3/4 Chevrolet Angle-Head Brake Wrench

Fig. 149. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2542 5/8x3/4 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Insets for Back Side Detail, ca. 1928-1929.

Fig. 149 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2542 5/8x3/4 Chevrolet brake wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 7.7 inches.

The upper left inset shows the small and rather faint "Armstrong U.S.A." marking; the original marking was likely "Armstrong Chicago U.S.A.", but part of it has been worn away. The upper right inset shows the model number on the back side face.

The model 2542 wrench is listed in a 1929 Blackhawk catalog section for brake wrenches, with the note "For Chevrolet Cars". Note that the design of this brake wrench is basically identical to the Blackhawk-Armstrong 2729 Obstruction Wrench shown in the next section. The 1930 MG330 catalog still offered the model 2542, but also listed the more standard model 2729 5/8x3/4 obstruction wrench.

Obstruction Wrenches

Obstruction wrenches were a specialized subset of open-end wrenches, designed with radically offset openings for work in tight spaces. Several different obstruction wrench designs were popular in the late 1920s, and Blackhawk-Armstrong chose a design with two different opening sizes placed at nearly right angles to the wrench axis.

Blackhawk's obstruction wrenches were assigned model numbers by adding 2000 to the industry-standard number for the equivalent open-end wrench. (See our table Industry-Standard Wrench Models for more information.) For example, a wrench with sizes 11/16x25/32 would be an industry-standard model 29, and therefore became a model 2029 obstruction wrench.

Some other companies made obstruction wrenches similar to the Blackhawk models, including Billings & Spencer and J.H. Williams, and examples can be seen in the Billings M-2030 Obstruction Wrench and Williams 2021 Obstruction Wrench.

Alternate obstruction wrench designs were used by companies such as Bonney and Herbrand, and examples of their production can be seen in the Bonney 2031 Obstruction Wrench and Herbrand 1827 Obstruction Wrench.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2725-A 7/16x9/16 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 150. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2725-A 7/16x9/16 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 150 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2725-A 7/16x9/16 obstruction wrench, marked "Blackhawk-Armstrong" in raised letters, with "Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on the back side.

The overall length is 5.5 inches.

The inset (back sided for readability) shows the small "Armstrong Chicago U.S.A." marking on one face, partially obscured by a previous owner marking.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2025 1/2x19/32 Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 151. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2025 1/2x19/32 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 151 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2025 1/2x19/32 obstruction wrench, marked on the shank with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" in forged raised letters, and with "Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on the back side.

The overall length is 5.5 inches. The original finish was chrome or nickel plating, but most has been lost due to wear.

The inset (left in its natural orientation) shows the small "Armstrong Chicago, U.S.A." marking stamped on one face.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2027-C 9/16x11/16 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 152. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2027-C 9/16x11/16 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1928-1929.

Fig. 152 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2027-C 9/16x11/16 obstruction wrench, stamped "Armstrong" and "Chicago, U.S.A." on the face (see inset). The shank is marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" in forged raised letters, and with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on the back side.

The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The "Chicago" marking suggests an earlier production date.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2728 9/16x3/4 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 153. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2728 9/16x3/4 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Inset (Rotated) for Back Side, ca. 1928-1929.

Fig. 153 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2728 9/16x3/4 obstruction wrench, stamped "Armstrong Chicago, U.S.A." on the back side face (see inset). The shank is marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" in forged raised letters, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on the back side. (The inset has been rotated for readability.)

The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The "Chicago" marking suggests an earlier production date.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2729 5/8x3/4 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 154. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2729 5/8x3/4 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1928-1929.

Fig. 154 shows an early Blackhawk-Armstrong 2729 5/8x3/4 obstruction wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the fractional sizes on one side, with the model number and "Armstrong Chicago, U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 7.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The faces of this wrench have been left roughly finished, with marks from the milling operation visible in the photograph, and the edges of the wrench have a ridge left from the trimming operation. The rough finish suggests that this wrench may have been a special order item.

The "Chicago" marking suggests an earlier production date.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2029 11/16x25/32 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 155. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2029 11/16x25/32 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 155 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2029 11/16x25/32 obstruction wrench, marked "Blackhawk-Armstrong" in raised letters with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" on the back side.

The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The inset (left in its natural orientation) shows the small "Armstrong Chicago, U.S.A." marking stamped on one face, partially obscured by a previous owner marking.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2731 3/4x13/16 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 156. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2731 3/4x13/16 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 156 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2731 3/4x13/16 obstruction wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 9.3 inches.

The inset shows the stamped "Armstrong Chicago U.S.A." marking on the back side of the face.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2731-A 3/4x7/8 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 157. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2731-A 3/4x7/8 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Marking Detail.

Fig. 157 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2731-A 3/4x7/8 obstruction wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the fractional sizes, with the model number and "Armstrong Chicago U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 9.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2731-B 13/16x7/8 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 158. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2731-B 13/16x7/8 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 158 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2731-B 13/16x7/8 obstruction wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 9.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The inset (back sided for readability) shows the small stamped "Armstrong Chicago U.S.A." marking, as it appears on the back side of the 7/8 face.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2733 7/8x1 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 159. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2733 7/8x1 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 159 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2733 7/8x1 obstruction wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side. The faces are stamped with the fractional sizes on the front, with the model number plus "Made in U.S.A." and the Strong-Arm logo on the back side.

The overall length is 9.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with some losses due to rust.

Note the use of double-quote marks to indicate inches for the fractional sizes, a marking convention frequently used by Armstrong but uncommon for other manufacturers.

Blackhawk-Armstrong 2733 Special 7/8x1-1/16 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench

Fig. 160. Blackhawk-Armstrong 2733 Special 7/8x1-1/16 Angle-Head Obstruction Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Marking Detail.

Fig. 160 shows a Blackhawk-Armstrong 2733 Special 7/8x1-1/16 obstruction wrench, marked with "Blackhawk-Armstrong" forged into the shank, with "Drop Forged Chrome-Vanadium Steel" forged into the back side.

The overall length is 9.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The small inset at the top (rotated for readability) shows the stamped "Armstrong Made in U.S.A." marking with the Strong-Arm logo.

Early Box-End Wrenches

In the late 1920s Blackhawk began offering 12-point box-end wrenches in a single-offset configuration, a style with two openings of the same size, one offset and one straight.

In addition, Blackhawk offered several models of double-offset box wrenches, with the earliest models being short format wrenches in a 278x model series. The 1930 catalog MG330 listed four models in this series, with sizes ranging from 3/8x7/16 (2780) up to 11/16x3/4 (2784).

Although Blackhawk began offering box-end wrenches around the same time as the Blackhawk-Armstrong open-end wrenches, the box-end wrenches carried only the Blackhawk brand. Based on the construction, the box wrenches were likely made by Armstrong, but the companies chose not to include them in the dual-branded line.

Single-Offset Box Wrenches

Blackhawk was one of a small number of companies to offer box wrenches in the single-offset configuration, a style with two openings of the same size, one offset and one straight. This style became popular in the late 1920s as one of the first types of box-end wrenches, and could be regarded as a forerunner of the combination wrench as well.

Other tool companies offering single-offset wrenches included Blue Point (Snap-On), Bonney, Walden, and Williams, and examples of this wrench style can be seen in the Bonney 2832 Wrench, Blue Point X-16 Wrench, Walden-Worcester 2114 Wrench, and Williams 8140 Wrench.

Initially the single-offset wrenches were offered in a 27xx series with forged-in markings and black paint as the finish. The 27xx series wrenches were not listed in an early 1927 catalog, but were offered in eleven sizes by the time of catalog No. 329 for 1929. The catalog description states that the wrenches were made of chrome-vanadium steel.

Interestingly, by 1930 Blackhawk was also offering the 29xx series of single-offset wrenches, and although the 29xx models were finished in chrome plating instead of black paint, the prices were actually lower than the older 27xx models! For example, the 2720 model had a $2.25 list price, but the newer 2920 model was just $2.15.

The likely reason for the lower prices is that for the 29xx series the markings were stamped instead of forged in, which would have made the dies easier to make.

We think the main reason that Blackhawk changed the 27xx single-offset series to the 29xx model series is that there were some ugly model number collisions between 27xx box wrenches and the 2xxx series of obstruction wrenches, which used industry standard numbers. For example, 2725 and 2728 would occur in both product lines. Since major tool makers such as J.H. Williams were also offering 2xxx series obstruction wrenches, Blackhawk decided to go along with the industry and change the numbers for their single-offset box wrenches.

The single-offset style was relatively short-lived and had been discontinued by 1940 (or earlier).

2718 9/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 161. Blackhawk 2718 9/16 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1928-1930.

Fig. 161 shows a Blackhawk model 2718 9/16 single-offset box wrench, marked with "Blackhawk" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the shank.

The overall length is 9.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel with some traces of the original black paint.

2720 5/8 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 162. Blackhawk 2720 5/8 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1928-1930.

Fig. 162 shows another example of the 27xx single-offset series, a Blackhawk model 2720 5/8 single-offset box wrench, marked with "Blackhawk" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the shank.

The overall length is 9.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel with some traces of the original black paint.

2722 11/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 163. Blackhawk 2722 11/16 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1928-1930.

Fig. 163 shows a Blackhawk model 2722 11/16 single-offset box wrench, marked with "Blackhawk" and "Made in U.S.A." plus the model and fractional size forged into the shank.

The overall length is 10.6 inches, and the finish is black paint, with losses due to wear.

2724 3/4 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 164. Blackhawk 2724 3/4 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1928-1930.

Fig. 164 shows a Blackhawk model 2724 3/4 single-offset box wrench, marked with "Blackhawk" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the shank.

The overall length is 11.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

2725 25/32 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 165. Blackhawk 2725 25/32 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1928-1930.

Fig. 165 shows a Blackhawk model 2725 25/32 single-offset box wrench, marked with "Blackhawk" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the shank.

The overall length is 12.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel with some of the original black paint.

2914 7/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench

The next several figures show examples of the later 29xx series of single-offset box wrenches. These single-offset models were listed in the Blackhawk MG330 catalog of 1930, in twelve models ranging from 2912 (3/8) up to the 2930 (15/16).

The single-offset style was relatively short-lived and had been discontinued by 1940 (or earlier).

Fig. 166. Blackhawk 2914 7/16 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1929-1939.

Fig. 166 shows a Blackhawk 2914 7/16 single-offset box-end wrench, stamped "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends.

2918 9/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 167. Blackhawk 2918 9/16 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1930-1939.

Fig. 167 shows a Blackhawk 2918 9/16 single-offset box-end wrench, stamped "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 9.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends.

2920 5/8 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 168. Blackhawk 2920 5/8 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1930-1939.

Fig. 168 shows a Blackhawk 2920 5/8 single-offset box-end wrench, stamped "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 9.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends.

2924 3/4 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 169. Blackhawk 2924 3/4 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1930-1939.

Fig. 169 shows a Blackhawk 2924 3/4 single-offset box-end wrench, stamped "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 11.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends.

2925 25/32 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 170. Blackhawk 2925 25/32 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1930-1939.

Fig. 170 shows a Blackhawk 2925 25/32 single-offset box-end wrench, stamped "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 11.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends.

Short Offset Box Wrenches

2780 3/8x7/16 Short Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 171. Blackhawk 2780 3/8x7/16 Short OFfset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1928-1931.

Fig. 171 shows a Blackhawk 2780 3/8x7/16 short offset box-end wrench, stamped "Made in U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 4.6 inches.

2782 9/16x5/8 Short Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 172. Blackhawk 2782 9/16x5/8 Short Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1928-1931.

Fig. 172 shows a Blackhawk 2782 9/16x5/8 short offset box-end wrench, stamped with "Blackhawk" and the model number on the front, with "Made in U.S.A." and the fractional sizes on the back side.

The overall length is 6.2 inches. The finish is plain steel with traces of nickel or chrome plating.

Offset Box Wrenches

Blackhawk later offered long-format double-offset wrenches in a 26xx model series, with sizes ranging from 3/8x7/16 (2612) up to 1-1/8x1-1/4 (2636). The 1934 catalog MG534 lists 12 models in the 26xx series, and specified chrome vanadium steel construction with chrome-plated finishes.

2624 3/4x13/16 Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 173. Blackhawk 2624 3/4x13/16 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1931-1933.

Fig. 173 shows an example of Blackhawk's long double-offset style, a Blackhawk 2624 3/4x13/16 offset box-end wrench marked "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 12.3 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

The plain finish on this wrench suggests an earlier manufacturing date, as by 1934 the wrenches were specified with chrome plating.

HeXo Brand Wrenches

Near the back of the 1934 Blackhawk MG534 catalog is a two-page section offering "HeXo" brand wrenches, described as the "finest quality, low priced popular wrenches made." The HeXo wrench models listed there include angled, short offset, and long offset box-end styles, plus four combination wrench models given the amusing (if somewhat odd) name "Half & Half".

Fig. 174. 1934 Catalog Listing for HeXo Wrenches.

The scan in Fig. 174 shows page 46 of catalog MG534, one of their half-sized "Handy Guide for Mechanics" series. HeXo wrench listings continued on page 47 as well.

This catalog listing is the first known reference to the HeXo brand, which previously had been a bit of a mystery.

HeXo had been tentatively attributed to the Husky Wrench Company, based on a resemblance to certain markings used by Husky: the stylized writing of the HeXo logo includes an underline trailing from the "H" and "X", and this bears a striking similarity to the "HeX" logo marked on certain early Husky Wrench Sockets. The well-known Husky brand name also incorporates an underline from the "H".

When we recall that Sigmund Mandl, the founder of Husky Wrench, had joined Blackhawk in the early 1930s, it's quite possible that the HeXo logo was based on a Husky Wrench brand. But regardless of the origin, the catalog listing positively identifies HeXo as a Blackhawk line from the mid 1930s.

The HeXo wrenches were almost certainly produced by Armstrong, Blackhawk's manufacturing partner for forged wrenches at the time. Armstrong began offering its own line of Combination Wrenches in 1935, in the same four sizes as the HeXo wrenches.

The HeXo brand was apparently short-lived, as the wrench models offered in 1934 were assimilated into the standard Blackhawk line within a short time. (Combination wrenches even retained the odd "Half & Half" name.) Although the exact dates aren't known, it's probably reasonable to assume that the HeXo-marked wrenches were made in 1934-1936 time frame.

The lower prices for the HeXo line were probably made possible by Armstrong's change from forged-in markings to stamped markings, which simplified the production of the forging dies.

The figures below show a number of examples of HeXo brand wrenches. All of the examples indicate the use of chrome-vanadium alloy steel and have 12-point broachings, and the Blackhawk catalog lists the finish as nickel plating.

HeXo 15176 3/8x7/16 Short Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 175. HeXo 15176 3/8x7/16 Short Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 175 shows a HeXo 15178 3/8x7/16 short offset box wrench, stamped with the HeXo logo and fractional sizes on the shank, "th Chrome-Vanadium" and "U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 4.6 inches.

HeXo 15178 5/8x11/16 Short Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 176. HeXo 15178 5/8x11/16 Short Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 176 shows a HeXo 15178 5/8x11/16 short offset box wrench, stamped "Chrome-Vanadium" and "U.S.A." on the shank, with the HeXo logo and fractional sizes on the back side.

The overall length is 6.3 inches, and the finish is nickel plating with polished ends.

HeXo 15180 3/8x7/16 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 177. HeXo 15180 3/8x7/16 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 177 shows a HeXo 15180 3/8x7/16 offset box-end wrench, stamped "U.S.A." and "Chrome-Vanadium" on the shank.

The overall length is 7.8 inches.

HeXo 15183 3/4x25/32 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 178. HeXo 15183 3/4x25/32 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 178 shows a HeXo 15183 3/4x25/32 offset box-end wrench, stamped "Chrome-Vanadium" and "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 11.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

HeXo 15301 3/8x7/16 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 179. HeXo 15301 3/8x7/16 Box-End Wrench, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 179 shows a HeXo 15301 3/8x7/16 box-end wrench, stamped with the HeXo logo plus "Chrome-Vanadium" and "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 7.9 inches.

HeXo 15302 1/2x9/16 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 180. HeXo 15302 1/2x9/16 Box-End Wrench, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 180 shows a HeXo 15302 1/2x9/16 box-end wrench, stamped with the HeXo logo plus "Chrome-Vanadium" and "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 8.8 inches.

HeXo 15303 5/8x11/16 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 181. HeXo 15303 5/8x11/16 Box-End Wrench, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 181 shows a HeXo 15303 5/8x11/16 box-end wrench, stamped with the HeXo logo plus "U.S.A." and "Chrome-Vanadium" on the shank.

The overall length is 9.9 inches.

HeXo 15304 3/4x13/16 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 182. HeXo 15304 3/4x13/16 Box-End Wrench, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 182 shows a HeXo 15304 3/4x13/16 box-end wrench, stamped with the HeXo logo plus "Chrome-Vanadium" and "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 11.1 inches.

HeXo 15305 7/8x15/16 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 183. HeXo 15305 7/8x15/16 Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 183 shows a HeXo 15305 7/8x15/16 box-end wrench, stamped with the HeXo logo plus "Chrome-Vanadium" and "U.S.A." on the shank.

The overall length is 12.6 inches.

HeXo 15306 1x1-1/16 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 184. HeXo 15306 1x1-1/16 Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 184 shows a HeXo 15306 1x1-1/16 box-end wrench, stamped with the HeXo logo plus "U.S.A." and "Chrome-Vanadium" on the shank.

The overall length is 14.2 inches.

HeXo 15350 7/16 Combination Wrench

HeXo combination wrenches were the first tools of this style offered by Blackhawk and were dubbed "Half & Half", one of the sillier names for the new style.

Fig. 185. HeXo 15350 7/16 Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 185 shows a HeXo 15350 7/16 combination wrench, stamped with the HeXo logo and fractional size on the shank, with "Chrome Vanadium" and "U.S.A." stamped on the back side.

The overall length is 4.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with possible traces of a plated finish.

HeXo 15352 9/16 Combination Wrench

Fig. 186. HeXo 15352 9/16 Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1934-1936.

Fig. 186 shows a HeXo 15352 9/16 combination wrench, stamped with the HeXo logo and fractional size on the shank, with "Chrome Vanadium" and "U.S.A." stamped on the back side.

The overall length is 5.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel, with possible traces of a plated finish.

That completes our brief look at the early Blackhawk wrenches. We'll turn next to the Lock-On sockets and drive tools, one of Blackhawk's most important product developments.