Snap-on and Blue Point Tools

1930-1959

Table of Contents

Introduction

This article will look at the history and development of the Snap-on Tools Corporation in the decades from the 1930s to the 1950s, with examples of their tools sold under the Snap-on and Blue Point (or Blue-Point) brands.

Company History

Information on the development of Snap-on during the 1920s can be found in our article on the Snap-On Wrench Company covering their first decade of operations.

Patents

Trademarks

The table below lists the various trademarks registered or in use by Snap-on during this period. The entries are presented in order of the registration number (or issue date), and in some cases the registrations are successors to an earlier filing.

Variability in "Blue Point" Markings

Although Blue Point Tool registered only one "BLUE POINT" trademark in the 1920s -- the trademark #270,479 showing "BLUE POINT" with two arrowheads -- the brand markings actually used on tools show a fair degree of variability. Beginning in the 1920s, the markings "Blue Point", "Blue-Point", "Blue Points", and "Blue Points-Chicago" were regularly used, sometimes with the arrowhead symbols, but other times just as text. Both block letters and script forms were used.

From the 1930s through the 1950s, forms more commonly used were "Blue Point" or "Blue-Point", sometimes followed by "Boxocket" or "Supreme" as a secondary trademark. In order to recognize the variability in usage, this article will report the brand using the form closest to the marking on the tool, with the understanding that all of these marks refer to the earlier "BLUE POINT" trademark. (The #270,459 registration was renewed in 1950, giving it coverage over the full nominal period of this article.)

Manufacturing Dates

The date code system established by Snap-on in 1927 was further extended during the following decades. The first few years of the 1930s used several odd symbols, but by 1934 the date codes had been standardized on the use of stylized numeric digits. In this arrangement each decade was given a particular "theme", with the digits transformed according to the theme. For example, during the 1950s the numbers had rounded tops or bottoms, or both.

Snap-on periodically published charts of its date code system, and scans of the chart are widely available online. (See for example this Date Code Chart [External Link].)

The actual stamped symbols sometimes vary from the idealized form shown in the charts, and for this reason it's helpful to study the actual markings. At some point we may provide a table of "As Used" date code markings.

References and Resources

Photographs and observations of particular tools are based on items in the Alloy Artifacts Collection.

Information on Snap-on's development was found in an online article on Snap-on Company History.

Additional information was obtained from a Snap-on internal publication called "The Snap-on Story".

Catalog Resources

Product information was obtained from a number of Snap-on catalogs, as summarized in the table below.

Blue Point Wrenches

Boxocket Box-End Wrenches

Blue Point had offered box wrenches since the 1920s in two styles, the long single-offset and short double-offset models. During the 1930s the selection of box wrenches expanded significantly, first with addition of the XD-series of angled box wrenches, then later with the X-series of long double-offset wrenches.

The figures below will explore all of these styles, beginning with the single-offset wrenches.

Single-Offset Box Wrenches

Blue Point introduced the X series of single-offset box wrenches in 1927, and these models were among the first double-box wrenches available from any vendor. The X-series wrenches continued in production into the 1930s, with one additional model (X-30) being added during this period. But toward the end of the decade this style had fallen out of favor, and the series was discontinued by 1939.

Blue Point X-18 9/16x9/16 Single-Offset Box Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the Blue Point X-18 model.

Fig. 1. Blue Point X-18 9/16x9/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1931.

Fig. 1 shows an earlier Blue Point X-18 9/16x9/16 box wrench in the single-offset style, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" on the shank, with a "Pat. 1424069" patent notice and a "*" date code symbol for 1931 on the back side.

The overall length is 11.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Fig. 2. Blue Point X-18 9/16x9/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1935.

Fig. 2 shows a later Blue Point X-18 box wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" on the shank, with the "Pat. 1424069" patent notice and a stylized "5" date code for 1935 on the back side.

The overall length is 10.6 inches. The original finish was chrome plating, but only a few traces remain now.

The patent notice for the Blackmar 1922 patent #1,424,069 on this 1935 example is one of the last (latest) known such markings.

Blue Point X-20 5/8x5/8 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 3. Blue Point X-20 5/8x5/8 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, 1931.

Fig. 3 shows a Blue Point X-20 5/8x5/8 box wrench in the single-offset style, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" on the shank. The back side is marked with a "Pat. 1424069" patent notice and a "*" date code symbol for 1931, as shown in the inset. (The inset has been rotated for readability.)

The overall length is 11.9 inches. The finish is now plain steel, but some traces of an earlier cadmium finish can be seen near the box ends.

A version of this model from the 1920s can be seen as the Early Bluepoint X-20 Wrench in our other article on Snap-on and Blue Point. The earlier model was substantially shorter, 10.0 inches compared to the present 11.9 inches.

Blue Point X-22 11/16x11/16 Single-Offset Box Wrenches

Fig. 4. Blue Point X-22 11/16x11/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1930.

Fig. 4 shows a Blue Point X-22 11/16x11/16 single-offset box wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" on the shank, with a "Pat. 1424069" patent notice on the side (see top inset) and a "30" date code for 1930 on the back side.

The overall length is 10.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Fig. 5. Blue Point X-22 11/16x11/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, 1931.

Fig. 5 shows a Blue Point X-22 11/16x11/16 box wrench in the single-offset style, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" on the shank. The back side is marked with a "Pat. 1424069" patent notice and a "*" date code symbol for 1931, as shown in the inset. (The inset has been rotated for readability.)

The overall length is 12.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Blue Point X-24 3/4x3/4 Single-Offset Box Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the Blue Point X-24 wrench.

Fig. 6. Blue Point X-24 3/4x3/4 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Date Code, 1930.

Fig. 6 shows an earlier Blue Point X-24 3/4x3/4 box wrench in the single-offset style, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" on the shank with a "Pat. No. 1424069" patent notice on the side (see upper inset).

The back side is marked with a non-standard "30" date code for 1930, shown as a close-up in the lower inset.

The overall length is 11.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Fig. 7. Blue Point X-24 3/4x3/4 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Date Code, 1937.

Fig. 7 shows a later Blue Point X-24 3/4x3/4 box wrench in the single-offset style, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" on the shank.

The back side is marked with date code symbol for 1937, as shown in the inset.

The overall length is 13.5 inches, substantially longer than the example in the previous figure. The finish is chrome plating.

Blue Point X26 13/16x13/16 Single-Offset Box Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the Blue Point X26 single-offset wrench.

Fig. 8. Blue Point X26 13/16x13/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, 1936.

Fig. 8 shows a Blue Point X26 13/16x13/16 single-offset box wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" with the size and model number, as shown in the middle inset for close-up detail.

The back side is stamped "Pat. 1424069" with a stylized "6" date code for 1936, as shown in the lower inset.

The overall length is 14.1 inches. The original finish was chrome plating, but most has been lost due to rust and wear.

The patent notice for the Blackmar 1922 patent #1,424,069 on this 1936 example is one of the latest known such markings.

Fig. 9. Blue Point X-26 13/16x13/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. Early 1930s.

Fig. 9 shows another example of the Blue Point X-26 single-offset wrench, but in an unusual short format. The shank is stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" with the size and model number, with "Pat. 1424069" (but no date code) on the back side.

The overall length is 12.1 inches, substantially shorter than the example in the previous figure. The finish is plain steel.

Blue Point X-28 7/8x7/8 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 10. Blue Point X-28 7/8x7/8 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1931-1935.

Fig. 10 shows a Blue Point X-28 7/8x7/8 box wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" with the size and model number, a "Pat. No. 1424069" patent notice on the back side.

The overall length is 15.8 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Blue Point X-30 15/16x15/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench

Fig. 11. Blue Point X-30 15/16x15/16 Single-Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, 1934.

Fig. 11 shows Blue Point X-30 15/16x15/16 single-offset box wrench, the largest mmodel in the single-offset series.

The shank is stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" with the size and model number, as shown in the lower inset for close-up detail.

The middle inset shows the back side markings, a "Pat. No. 1424069" patent notice plus the stylized "4" date code for 1934. In addition, a "5" date code appears to have been overstamped to the right of the "4".

The overall length is 16.5 inches. The finish is chrome plating, though most has been lost due to rust and wear.

Short Offset Box-End Wrenches

The Blue Point XS series of short offset box wrenches had its origins in the 1920s, and this popular style remains in production to the present day.

Blue Point XS-1214 3/8x7/16 Short Offset Box-End Wrenches

Fig. 12. Blue Point XS-1214 3/8x7/16 Short Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1936.

Fig. 12 shows an earlier Blue Point XS-1214 3/8x7/16 short box wrench, stamped on the shank with the model and sizes, with "Pat. No. 1424069" and a stylized "6" date code for 1936 on the back side.

The overall length is 5.0 inches. The original finish was probably chrome plating, but most has been lost due to wear.

The patent notice for the Blackmar 1922 patent #1,424,069 on this 1936 example is one of the latest known such markings.

Fig. 13. Blue Point XS-1214 3/8x7/16 Short Offset Box Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1946.

Fig. 13 shows a later Blue Point XS-1214 short box wrench, stamped "Made in U.S.A" with a date code for 1946 on the back side.

The overall length is 4.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue Point XS-1618 1/2x9/16 Short Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 14. Blue Point XS-1618 1/2x9/16 Short Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1932.

Fig. 14 shows a Blue Point XS-1618 1/2x9/16 short box wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" on the shank, with the patent number "1424069" and a date code for 1932 on the back side. (The inset for the back side markings has been rotated for readability.)

The overall length is 5.6 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Blue Point XS-1820 9/16x5/8 Short Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 15. Blue Point XS-1820 9/16x5/8 Short Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1947.

Fig. 15 shows a Blue Point XS-1820 9/16x5/8 short box wrench, stamped "Made in U.S.A." with the Blue Point logo on the shank, with a stylized "7" date code for 1947 on the back side. (The inset for the date code has been rotated for readability.)

The overall length is 6.0 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.

An early example of this model can be seen as the 1929 Blue Point XS-1820.

Blue Point XS-2024 5/8x3/4 Short Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 16. Blue Point XS-2024 5/8x3/4 Short Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1947.

Fig. 16 shows a Blue Point XS-2024 5/8x3/4 short box wrench, stamped "Made in U.S.A." with the Blue Point logo on the shank, with a stylized "7" date code for 1947 on the back side. (The inset for the date code has been rotated for readability.)

The overall length is 6.4 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.

Long Angled Box-End Wrenches

In the early 1930s Blue Point introduced the XD series, a new style of double-box wrenches with straight shanks and angled heads.

Blue Point XD-1214 3/8x7/16 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 17. Blue Point XD-1214 3/8x7/16 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1945.

Fig. 17 shows a Blue Point XD-1214 3/8x7/16 box-end wrench, stamped "Made in U.S.A." with a "G" date code for 1945 on the back side.

The overall length is 4.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

This wrench is unusually short for the XD series, almost as though it was a special order item, but the markings indicate standard production.

Blue Point XD-1416 7/16x1/2 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 18. Blue Point XD-1416 7/16x1/2 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1931-1934.

Fig. 18 shows a Blue Point XD-1416 7/16x1/2 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" with "Pat. No. 1424069" on the back side.

The overall length is 8.6 inches. The finish is plain steel, with some pitting due to rust.

No date code was found on this wrench, but the particular patent notice was generally marked between 1931 and 1934.

Blue Point XD-1618 1/2x9/16 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 19. Blue Point XD-1618 1/2x9/16 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1947.

Fig. 19 shows a Blue Point XD-1618 1/2x9/16 box-end wrench, stamped with "Blue Point" and "Made in U.S.A." (not shown) on the shank, and with a stylized "7" date code for 1947.

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

Blue Point XD-1820 9/16x5/8 Box-End Wrenches

The next figures show two generations of the Blue Point XD-1820 wrench.

Fig. 20. Blue Point XD-1820 9/16x5/8 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1934.

Fig. 20 shows an earlier Blue Point XD-1820 9/16x5/8 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" on the shank, with "Pat. No. 1424069" and a stylized "4" date code for 1934 on the back side.

The overall length is 9.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Fig. 21. Blue-Point XD-1820 9/16x5/8 Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, 1957.

Fig. 21 shows a later Blue Point XD-1820 9/16x5/8 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point" and "Made in U.S.A" with a date code for 1957.

The overall length is 9.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue Point XD-1922 19/32x11/16 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 22. Blue Point XD-1922 19/32x11/16 Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Marking Detail, 1935.

Fig. 22 shows a Blue Point XD-1922 19/32x11/16 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" with "Pat. No. 1424069" and a date code for 1935 on the back side. (The inset was rotated for readability.)

The overall length is 10.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue Point XD-2022 5/8x11/16 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 23. Blue Point XD-2022 5/8x11/16 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Date Code, 1944.

Fig. 23 shows a Blue Point XD-2022 5/8x11/16 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point" and "Made in U.S.A" with an "E" date code for 1944.

The overall length is 10.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Blue Point XD-2224 11/16x3/4 Box-End Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the XD-2224 model.

Fig. 24. Blue Point XD-2224 11/16x3/4 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1934.

Fig. 24 shows an earlier Blue Point XD-2224 11/16x3/4 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point Boxocket" on the shank, with "Pat No. 1424069" and a stylized "4" date code for 1934 on the back side.

The overall length is 11.1 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Fig. 25. Blue Point XD-2224 11/16x3/4 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Date Code, 1939.

Fig. 25 shows a slightly later Blue Point XD-2224 11/16x3/4 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point Boxocket" with a stylized "9" date code for 1939.

The overall length is 11.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue Point XD-2526 25/32x13/16 Box-End Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the XD-2526 wrench.

Fig. 26. Blue Point XD-2526 25/32x13/16 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Date Code, 1944.

Fig. 26 shows a Blue Point XD-2526 25/32x13/16 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" and "Made in U.S.A.", with an "E" date code symbol for 1944.

The overall length is 11.7 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Fig. 27. Blue Point XD-2526 25/32x13/16 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Date Code, 1946.

Fig. 27 shows a slightly later Blue Point XD-2526 box-end wrench, stamped "Made in U.S.A." with a stylized "6" date code symbol for 1946 on the back side.

The overall length is 12.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue Point XD-3032 15/16x1 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 28. Blue Point XD-3032 15/16x1 Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, 1933.

Fig. 28 shows a Blue Point XD-3032 15/16x1 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" and "Pat. No. 1424069", and with a date code symbol for 1933 (not shown).

The overall length is 13.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue Point XD-3440 1-1/16x1-1/4 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 29. Blue Point XD-3440 1-1/16x1-1/4 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, 1934.

Fig. 29 shows a Blue Point XD-3440 1-1/16x1-1/4 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue Point Boxocket" and "Pat. No. 1424069", and with a date code for 1934.

The overall length is 16.2 inches. The original finish was chrome plating, but much has been lost due to wear.

The lower inset shows a close-up of the patent notice and date code.

Blue Point XD-3640 1-1/8x1-1/4 Box-End Wrench

Fig. 30. Blue Point XD-3640 1-1/8x1-1/4 Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, 1933.

Fig. 30 shows a Blue Point XD-3640 1-1/8x1-1/4 box-end wrench, stamped "Patent App. For" and "Blue Point Boxocket" on one side, with "Pat. No. 1424069" and date code symbol for 1933 on the back side.

The overall length is 16.9 inches. The original finish was probably chrome plating, but most has been lost due to wear.

The patent corresponding to the pending notice is not yet known.

Long Offset Box-End Wrenches

The last of the major box wrench styles offered by Blue Point was the X-series of long double-offset wrenches. These were introduced in 1935 in a number of sizes, and additional models were offered at later dates.

Blue Point X-1618 1/2x9/16 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 31. Blue Point X-1618 1/2x9/16 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Marking Details, 1944.

Fig. 31 shows a Blue Point X-1618 1/2x9/16 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point" and "Made in U.S.A" with an "E" date code for 1944.

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

Blue Point X-1820 9/16x5/8 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 32. Blue Point X-1820 9/16x5/8 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Date Code, 1942.

Fig. 32 shows a Blue Point X-1820 9/16x5/8 offset box-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point" and "Made in U.S.A" with a date code for 1942.

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

Blue Point X-2428 3/4x7/8 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 33. Blue Point X-2428 3/4x7/8 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Date Code, 1944.

Fig. 33 shows a Blue Point X-2428 3/4x7/8 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point" and "Made in U.S.A." with an "E" date code for 1944.

The overall length is 12.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Blue Point X-2628 13/16x7/8 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 34. Blue Point X-2628 13/16x7/8 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Date Code, 1947.

Fig. 34 shows a Blue Point X-2628 13/16x7/8 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point" and "Made in USA" with a stylized "7" date code for 1947.

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

Blue Point X-3032 15/16x7/8 Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 35. Blue Point X-3032 15/16x7/8 Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Date Code, 1946.

Fig. 35 shows a Blue Point X-3032 15/16x7/8 box-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point" and "Made in U.S.A" with a stylized "6" date code for 1946.

The overall length is 13.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Blue Point Open-End Wrenches

Blue Point first offered open-end wrenches in the mid 1920s with a line of "Number Series" models, e.g. model No. 1922 for a 19/32 by 11/16 wrench. This series continued into the 1930s as the primary line of open-ended wrenches, at least until the 1935 introduction of the Blue-Point "Supreme" line.

Blue-Point No. 1922 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 36. Blue-Point No. 1922 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 36 shows a Blue-Point No. 1922 19/32x11/16 open-end wrench, marked on the shank with "Blue-Point" in forged raised letters, and with the model stamped on the face.

The overall length is 7.3 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

Blue-Point No. 2225 11/16x25/32 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 37. Blue-Point No. 2225 11/16x25/32 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 37 shows a Blue-Point No. 2225 11/16x25/32 open-end wrench, marked with the model number stamped on the face, and with "Blue-Point" forged into the shank,

The overall length is 8.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

An earlier version of this model can be seen as the Blue Points Chicago No. 2225 Wrench.

Blue-Point No. 3034 15/16x1-1/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 38. Blue-Point No. 3034 15/16x1-1/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Marking Detail, 1941.

Fig. 38 shows a Blue-Point No. 3034 15/16x1-1/16 open-end wrench, marked with "Blue-Point" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the shank. The faces are stamped with the model number and a "1" date code for 1941, with the fractional sizes on the back side (not shown).

The overall length is 10.9 inches, and the finish is nickel plating, with some loss due to wear.

The lower inset shows a close-up of the "1" date code, with the normal curved bottom for 1941 missing (or only very lightly struck).

An earlier version of this model can be seen as the Blue Points Chicago No. 3034 Wrench.

Blue-Point No. 3640 1-1/8x1-1/4 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 39. Blue-Point No. 3640 1-1/8x1-1/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 39 shows a Blue-Point No. 3640 1-1/8x1-1/4 open-end wrench, stamped with the model number on the left face, with the "Blue-Point" underline logo forged into the shank, and with the fractional sizes stamped on the back side faces.

The overall length is 13.0 inches, and the finish is nickel plating with polished faces. (The red paint was added by a former owner.)

Blue-Point Supreme Open-End Wrenches

In 1935 Snap-on introduced a new line of open-end wrenches under the "Blue-Point Supreme" name. According to the 1935 Snap-on catalog, the new wrenches were made possible by the development of a high-carbon alloy steel, which allowed a thinner and lighter design without compromising strength.

The early production of the Supreme wrenches had the shank ground after forging, with the sides tapering to a flat strip in the center. The flat strip was used for the marking "Blue-Point Supreme" (and possibly a date code), and the wrenches were finished with nickel plating.

This ground-shank style was soon superseded; by 1937 the Blue-Point Supreme wrenches were using a forged design with a raised rib in the center. The top of the rib was then ground and polished, and the sides were left with their natural forged finish. By this time the standard finish had become plated chrome.

The table below summarizes the Blue-Point Supreme open-end wrench models, and one of the columns reports the earliest year of production, based on catalog listings or known examples. (Our catalog coverage is a bit uneven though, so it will take some time to refine the table.)

Blue-Point Supreme S-810 1/4x5/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 40. Blue-Point Supreme S-810 1/4x5/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, 1950.

Fig. 40 shows a Blue Point S-810 1/4x5/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "U.S.A." and a stylized "0" date code for 1950 on the back side.

The overall length is 4.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue-Point Supreme S-1012 5/16x3/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 41. Blue-Point Supreme S-1012 5/16x3/8 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 41 shows a Blue Point S-1012 5/16x3/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib.

The overall length is 4.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

No date code was marked on this wrench, but the plain steel finish indicates production during 1942-1945.

Blue-Point Supreme S-1214 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrenches

Fig. 42. Blue-Point Supreme S-1214 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1947.

Fig. 42 shows an earlier Blue-Point S-1214 3/8x7/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "Made in U.S.A." and a date code for 1947 on the back side.

The overall length is 4.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Fig. 43. Blue-Point Supreme S-1214 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1957.

Fig. 43 shows a somewhat later Blue Point S-1214 wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "USA" and a date code for 1957 on the back side.

The overall length is 5.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Note that the center rib has been made wider on this later model, providing more space for the markings.

Fig. 44. Blue-Point Supreme S-1214 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1959.

Fig. 44 shows another Blue-Point S-1214 wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "USA" and a date code for 1959 on the back side.

The overall length is 5.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blue-Point Supreme S-1416 7/16x1/2 Open-End Wrenches

Fig. 45. Blue-Point Supreme S-1416 7/16x1/2 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1935-1937.

Fig. 45 shows an early Blue-Point S-1416 7/16x1/2 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the flat of the shank.

The overall length is 5.6 inches. The original finish was nickel plating, but most has been lost due to wear and rust.

Note that despite the signs of extensive use and wear, the jaw openings of this wrench remain in fine condition.

Fig. 46. Blue-Point Supreme S-1416 7/16x1/2 Open-End Wrench, 1937.

Fig. 46 shows a somewhat later Blue-Point S-1416 wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib, and with a date code for 1937 stamped on the face.

The overall length is 5.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with some losses due to wear.

This second example is unusual in having a "Made in U.S.A." marking with a 1937 date code. The marking for the USA origin is generally found only in 1940 and later, or possibly in late 1939.

Blue-Point Supreme S-1618 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrenches

The next group of figures show multiple generations of the S-1618 model, a fairly popular size.

Fig. 47. Blue-Point Supreme S-1618 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1937.

Fig. 47 shows an earlier Blue-Point S-1618 1/2x9/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the flat of the shank.

The overall length is 6.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

No date code was marked on this wrench, but the ground shank design together with a chrome finish suggests production around 1937.

Fig. 48. Blue-Point Supreme S-1618 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench, 1937.

Fig. 48 shows a slightly later version of the Blue-Point S-1618 wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib, with a "7" date code for 1937 stamped on the face.

The overall length is 6.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with some losses due to wear.

This example is unusual in having a "Made in U.S.A." marking with a 1937 date code.

Fig. 49. Blue-Point Supreme S-1618 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 49 shows a somewhat later version of the Blue-Point S-1618 wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib.

The overall length is 6.1 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

No date code was marked on the wrench, but the cadmium finish suggests production during 1942-1945.

Fig. 50. Blue-Point Supreme S-1618 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1948.

Fig. 50 shows a later version of the Blue-Point S-1618 wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "Made in U.S.A." and a date code for 1948 on the back side.

The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with some loss due to wear.

Fig. 51. Blue-Point Supreme S-1618 1/2x9/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1959.

Fig. 51 shows a later version of the Blue-Point S-1618 wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "USA" and a date code for 1959 on the back side.

The overall length is 5.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue-Point Supreme S-1820 9/16x5/8 Open-End Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the S-1820 model wrench.

Fig. 52. Blue-Point Supreme S-1820 9/16x5/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1937.

Fig. 52 shows an early Blue-Point S-1820 9/16x5/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib with a "-7" datecode for 1937.

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

Fig. 53. Blue-Point Supreme S-1820 9/16x5/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1951.

Fig. 53 left shows a later Blue-Point S-1820 wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib with "U.S.A." and a 1951 date code on the back side.

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

Blue-Point Supreme S-1922 5/8x11/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 54. Blue-Point Supreme S-1922 19/32x11/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1959.

Fig. 54 shows a Blue-Point S-1922 19/32x11/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "U.S.A." and a 1959 date code on the back side.

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blue-Point Supreme S-2022 5/8x11/16 Open-End Wrench

The next two figures show examples of the S-2022 model wrench.

Fig. 55. Blue-Point Supreme S-2022 5/8x11/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1950.

Fig. 55 shows a Blue-Point S-2022 5/8x11/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "Made in U.S.A." and a 1950 date code on the back side.

The overall length is 7.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Fig. 56. Blue-Point Supreme S-2022 5/8x11/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1960.

Fig. 56 shows a later Blue-Point S-2022 5/8x11/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "USA" and a stylized "0" date code for 1960 on the back side.

The overall length is 6.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blue-Point Supreme S-2024 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrenches

The next figures show several examples of the model S-2024 wrench.

Fig. 57. Blue-Point Supreme S-2024 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, 1936.

Fig. 57 shows an early Blue-Point S-2024 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the flat of the shank, followed by a "6-" date code for 1936.

The overall length is 7.6 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

Fig. 58. Blue-Point Supreme S-2024 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1947.

Fig. 58 shows a later Blue-Point S-2024 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "Made in U.S.A." and a 1947 date code on the back side.

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

Fig. 59. Blue-Point Supreme S-2024 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1953.

Fig. 59 shows another example of the Blue-Point S-2024 wrench, stamped "Blue-Point Supreme" on the raised rib, but with a different font than the previous example. In addition, the markings are stamped on the opposite side of the wrench, so that the wrench is oriented with the smaller opening to the left.

The back side is stamped "U.S.A." with a 1953 date code.

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

Blue-Point Supreme S-2224 11/16x3/4 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 60. Blue-Point Supreme S-2224 11/16x3/4 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 60 shows a Blue-Point S-2224 11/16x3/4 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib.

The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

This wrench is not marked with a date code, but the cadmium finish suggests a manufacturing date of 1942-1945.

Blue-Point Supreme S-2228 11/16x7/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 61. Blue-Point Supreme S-2228 11/16x7/8 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 61 shows a Blue-Point S-2228 11/16x7/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib.

The overall length is 9.1 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

This wrench is not marked with a date code, but the cadmium finish suggests a manufacturing date of 1942-1945.

Blue-Point Supreme S-2426 3/4x13/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 62. Blue-Point Supreme S-2426 3/4x13/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1957.

Fig. 62 shows a Blue-Point S-2426 3/4x13/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "Made in U.S.A." and a date code for 1957 on the back side.

The overall length is 9.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blue-Point Supreme S-2428 3/4x7/8 Open-End Wrenches

The next figures show two generations of the model S-2428 wrench.

Fig. 63. Blue-Point Supreme S-2428 3/4x7/8 Open-End Wrench, 1937.

Fig. 63 shows an earlier Blue-Point S-2428 3/4x7/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib, and with a date code for 1937 stamped on the face.

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

This 1937 wrench is unusual in having the "Made in U.S.A." marking, as that did not come into general use until about 1940. A previous figure also noted the early "Made in U.S.A." marking on a 1937 Blue Point S-1416 Wrench.

Fig. 64. Blue-Point Supreme S-2428 3/4x7/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1952.

Fig. 64 shows a later Blue-Point S-2428 wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "U.S.A." and a date code for 1952 on the back side.

The overall length is 10.0 inches, somewhat longer than the earlier model, and the shank is narrower as well.

The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blue-Point Supreme S-2526 25/32x13/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 65. Blue-Point Supreme S-2526 25/32x13/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1959.

Fig. 65 shows a Blue-Point S-2526 25/32x13/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "U.S.A." and a 1959 date code on the back side.

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

Blue-Point Supreme S-2528 25/32x7/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 66. Blue-Point Supreme S-2528 25/32x7/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1941-1945.

Fig. 66 shows a Blue-Point S-2528 25/32x7/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib.

The overall length is 9.1 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Currently we do not have a catalog reference for this model. The rough surface and cadmium finish suggest production during the 1941-1945 wartime years.

Blue-Point Supreme S-2628 13/16x7/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 67. Blue-Point Supreme S-2628 13/16x7/8 Open-End Wrench, 1942.

Fig. 67 shows a Blue-Point S-2628 13/16x7/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib, and with a date code for 1942 stamped on the face.

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

Blue-Point Supreme S-2830 7/8x15/16 Open-End Wrenches

Fig. 68. Blue-Point Supreme S-2830 7/8x15/16 Open-End Wrench, 1942-1945.

Fig. 68 shows a Blue-Point S-2830 7/8x15/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib.

The overall length is 10.4 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

No date code was marked on this tool, but the cadmium finish suggests a wartime manufacturing date.

Fig. 69. Blue-Point Supreme S-2830 7/8x15/16 Open-End Wrench, 1947.

Fig. 69 shows a Blue-Point S-2830 7/8x15/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib, with a date code for 1947.

The overall length is 10.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blue-Point Supreme S-2834 7/8x1-1/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 70. Blue-Point Supreme S-2834 7/8x1-1/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1949.

Fig. 70 shows a Blue-Point S-2834 7/8x1-1/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib, with a stylized "9" date code for 1949. The model number is stamped on the back side face (see inset).

The overall length is 12.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue-Point Supreme S-3032 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench

The next two figures show two generations of the Blue Point model S-3032 wrench.

Fig. 71. Blue-Point Supreme S-3032 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench, 1942-1945.

Fig. 71 shows an earlier Blue-Point S-3032 15/16x1 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib.

The overall length is 10.4 inches, and the finish is plain steel, possibly originally with cadmium plating.

No date code was marked on this tool, but the plain finish suggests a wartime manufacturing date.

Fig. 72. Blue-Point Supreme S-3032 15/16x1 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1950.

Fig. 72 shows a later Blue-Point S-3032 15/16x1 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "Made in U.S.A." and a "0" date code for 1950 on the back side.

The overall length is 12.4 inches, surprisingly a full two inches longer than the earlier model. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blue-Point Supreme S-3236 1x1-1/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 73. Blue-Point Supreme S-3236 1x1-1/8 Open-End Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Marking Detail, 1949.

Fig. 73 shows a Blue-Point S-3236 1x1-1/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Blue Point" and "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "Made in U.S.A." and a stylized "9" date code for 1949 on the back side.

The overall length is 12.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue-Point Supreme S-3436 1-1/16x1-1/8 Open-End Wrenches

Fig. 74. Blue-Point Supreme S-3436 1-1/16x1-1/8 Open-End Wrench, 1937.

Fig. 74 shows an early Blue-Point S-3436 1-1/16x1-1/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the flat of the shank, followed by a "-7" date code for 1937.

The overall length is 11.3 inches. The original finish was appears to have been nickel plating, but most has been lost to wear.

Fig. 75. Blue-Point Supreme S-3436 1-1/16x1-1/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1951.

Fig. 75 shows an later version of the Blue-Point S-3436 wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib with "U.S.A." and a date code for 1951 on the back side.

The overall length is 12.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue-Point Supreme S-3440 1-1/16x1-1/4 Open-End Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of Blue-Point S-3440 wrench.

Fig. 76. Blue-Point Supreme S-3440 1-1/16x1-1/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1953.

Fig. 76 shows a Blue-Point S-3440 1-1/16x1-1/4 open-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point Supreme" on the raised rib, with "Made in U.S.A." and a stylized "3" date code for 1953 on the back side.

The overall length is 13.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Fig. 77. Blue-Point Supreme S-3440 1-1/16x1-1/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1959.

Fig. 77 shows a slightly later Blue-Point S-3440 open-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point Supreme" on the raised rib, with "Made in U.S.A." and a stylized "9" date code for 1959 on the back side.

The overall length is 13.9 inches. The original finish was chrome plating, but most has been lost due to rust.

Blue-Point Supreme S-3640 1-1/8x1-1/4 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 78. Blue-Point Supreme S-3640 1-1/8x1-1/4 Open-End Wrench, 1937.

Fig. 78 shows a Blue-Point S-3640 1-1/8x1-1/4 open-end wrench, with very faint markings "Blue-Point Supreme" stamped on the flat of the shank.

The overall length is 12.8 inches, and the finish is nickel plating, but with much lost due to wear.

A date code "7-" for 1937 can be seen on the flat of the shank.

Blue-Point Supreme S-3842 1-3/16x1-5/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 79. Blue-Point Supreme S-3842 1-3/16x1-5/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, 1950.

Fig. 79 shows a Blue-Point S-3842 1-3/16x1-5/16 open-end wrench, stamped with "Blue-Point Supreme" on the raised rib, with "U.S.A." and a stylized "0" date code for 1950 on the back side.

The overall length is 15.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue-Point Supreme S-4446 1-3/8x1-7/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 80. Blue-Point Supreme S-4446 1-3/8x1-7/16 Open-End Wrench, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 80 shows a Blue-Point S-4446 1-3/8x1-7/16 open-end wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib.

The overall length is 13.9 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Blue-Point Supreme S-4448 1-3/8x1-1/2 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 81. Blue-Point Supreme S-4448 1-3/8x1-1/2 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1949.

Fig. 81 shows one of the larger wrenches in the family, a Blue-Point S-4448 open-end wrench with 1-3/8 and 1-1/2 openings.

The wrench is stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "U.S.A." and a 1949 date code on the back side.

The overall length is 16.2 inches.

The finish is chrome plating with polished faces, with some chrome peeling around the openings.

Blue-Point Supreme S-4652 1-7/16x1-5/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 82. Blue-Point Supreme S-4652 1-7/16x1-5/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1952.

Fig. 82 shows another of the larger Supreme wrenches, a Blue-Point S-4652 open-end wrench with 1-7/16 and 1-5/8 openings.

The wrench is stamped "Supreme" on the raised rib, with "U.S.A." and a 1952 date code on the back side.

The overall length is 17.1 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blue-Point Supreme S-4852 1-1/2x1-5/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 83. Blue-Point Supreme S-4852 1-1/2x1-5/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1930s.

Fig. 83 shows a Blue-Point S-4852 1-1/2x1-5/8 open-end wrench, stamped with "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib.

The overall length is 14.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

This wrench is not marked with a date code, but the slightly raised rib and chrome plating suggest a production date in the late 1930s.

Blue-Point Supreme S-4854 1-1/2x1-11/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 84. Blue-Point Supreme S-4854 1-1/2x1-11/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. Late 1930s.

Fig. 84 shows a Blue-Point S-4854 1-1/2x1-11/16 open-end wrench, stamped with "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib.

The overall length is 14.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

This wrench is not marked with a date code, but the slightly raised rib and chrome plating suggest a production date in the late 1930s.

The size combinations on this wrench are unusual, and currently no catalog reference for this model has been found. A close look at the model number shows that the final "4" is stamped over a "2", indicating that this is likely a special order tool made by replacing the 1-5/8 opening of an S-4852 Wrench with 1-11/16.

Tappet Wrenches

The Blue-Point Supreme line extended to tappet wrenches as well, and the next set of figures will show examples.

Blue-Point Supreme ST-1614 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 85. Blue-Point Supreme ST-1614 7/16x1/2 Tappet Wrench, ca. 1935-1938.

Fig. 85 shows a Blue-Point ST-1614 7/16x1/2 tappet wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the flat of the shank.

The overall length is 7.8 inches, and the finish is nickel plating, with some loss due to wear and rust.

This example is not marked with a date code, but the ground shank indicates production in the years 1935-1938.

Blue-Point Supreme ST-1816 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 86. Blue-Point Supreme ST-1816 1/2x9/16 Tappet Wrench, 1938.

Fig. 86 shows a Blue-Point ST-1816 1/2x9/16 tappet wrench, stamped "Supreme" on the shank with a date code of "8-" for 1938.

The overall length is 8.0 inches, and the finish is nickel plating, with some loss due to wear and rust.

The date code initially posed a bit of a mystery here, as the digit style (and trailing dash) suggested manufacturing during the 1920s. However, this style of tappet wrench doesn't appear in the catalogs until the mid 1930s, and the construction style of this wrench is consistent with production in 1935-1938. Hence the "8-" date code likely indicates a manufacturing date of 1938.

Blue-Point Supreme LST-1816 Long Tappet Wrench

Blue Point also offered tappet wrenches in a long format LST series.

Fig. 87. Blue-Point Supreme LST-1816 1/2x9/16 Long Tappet Wrench, 1942.

Fig. 87 shows a Blue-Point LST-1816 1/2x9/16 long tappet wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib, and with a date code for 1942 stamped on the face.

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

Blue-Point Supreme LTA-1618 Long Tappet Wrenches

In later years Blue Point adopted a simplified design for its tappet wrenches using equal offsets for both ends, thereby obviating the need for paired models. The next figures show two generations of the Blue-Point LTA1618 model.

Fig. 88. Blue-Point Supreme LTA-1618 1/2x9/16 Long Tappet Wrench, 1937.

Fig. 88 shows an earlier Blue Point LTA-1618 1/2x9/16 long tappet wrench with equal (15 degree) offsets, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib. The face is stamped with a stylized "7" date code for 1937.

The overall length is 9.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Fig. 89. Blue-Point Supreme LTA-1618 1/2x9/16 Long Tappet Wrench, 1951.

Fig. 89 shows a later Blue Point LTA-1618 long tappet wrench, stamped "Supreme" and "Made in U.S.A." on the raised rib, with a stylized "1" date code for 1951.

The overall length is 9.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue-Point XL-186 Long Tappet Wrenches

Fig. 90. Blue-Point XL-186 9/16 Long Tappet Wrenches, 1951.

Fig. 90 shows a pair of Blue-Point XL-186 9/16 long single-ended tappet wrenches, both stamped "U.S.A." with a date code for 1951.

The overall length is 13.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Brake Wrenches

Blue Point Tool first offered brake wrenches in the late 1920s in a 51xx model series, and examples of these models can be seen in the section Bluepoint Early Brake Wrenches in an earlier article.

Blue Point No. 5228 Angle-Head Brake Wrench

Fig. 91. Blue-Point No. 5228 7/8x7/8 Angle-Head Brake Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 91 shows a Blue-Point No. 5228 7/8x7/8 brake wrench, marked with "Blue-Point" forged into the shank.

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

Blue Point No. 5216 1/2x1/2 Angle-Head Brake Wrench

Fig. 92. Blue-Point No. 5216 1/2x1/2 Angle-Head Brake Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Marking Detail, 1939.

Fig. 92 shows a Blue-Point No. 5216 1/2x1/2 brake wrench, marked with "Blue-Point" forged into the shank. The shank is also stamped with a stylized "9" date code for 1939, possibly with an overstamp for another year.

The overall length is 6.4 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

Blue Point No. 5218 9/16x9/16 Angle-Head Brake Wrench

Fig. 93. Blue-Point No. 5218 9/16x9/16 Angle-Head Brake Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. Late 1930s to 1940s.

Fig. 93 shows a Blue-Point No. 5218 9/16x9/16 brake wrench, marked with "Blue-Point" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the shank.

The overall length is 6.4 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

This wrench is not marked with a date code, but the "Made in U.S.A." marking suggests a manufacturing date from the late 1930s onward.

Blue Point No. 5220 5/8x5/8 Angle-Head Brake Wrench

Fig. 94. Blue-Point No. 5220 5/8x5/8 Brake Wrench, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 94 shows a Blue-Point No. 5220 5/8x5/8 brake wrench, marked with "Blue-Point" forged into the shank.

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

[Blue Point] S8752 3/8 Long Single-Open Wrench

This next figure is a bit of a mystery, but is believed to be a Blue Point specialty brake wrench, probably from the early 1930s.

Fig. 95. [Blue Point] S8752 3/8 Single-Open Wrench.

Fig. 95 shows a [Blue Point] S8752 3/8 long single-open wrench with a depressed panel.

The panel has the characteristic forged-in "arrowhead" symbols found on Blue Point wrenches, but the name between the symbols has been ground off.

The overall length is 9.0 inches, and the finish is nickel plating with polished faces.

Currently we don't have a catalog reference for this model, but the 1931 catalog lists a similar model, a Blue Point S-8754 5/16 long single-open brake wrench.

Ignition Wrenches

Blue-Point I-2428 Ignition Wrench

The next figures show two generations of the Blue-Point I-2428 ignition wrench.

Fig. 96. Blue Point I-2428 3/8x7/16 Ignition Wrench.

Fig. 96 shows a Blue Point I-2428 3/8x7/16 ignition open-end wrench, stamped on the shank with "Blue Points Chicago" between arrowhead symbols.

The overall length is 3.8 inches, and the finish is nickel plating.

Fig. 97. Blue Point I-2428 3/8x7/16 Ignition Wrench.

Fig. 97 shows another Blue Point I-2428 ignition wrench, marked with "Blue Point" forged into the shank with the model number stamped on the face.

The overall length is 3.7 inches, and the finish is nickel plating with losses due to rust.

Blue-Point C-1618 Ignition Wrench

Fig. 98. Blue-Point CI-1618 1/4x9/32 Ignition Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1937.

Fig. 98 shows a Blue-Point C-1618 1/4x9/32 ignition open-end wrench, marked "Blue-Point" on the shank in forged raised letters, with "Made in U.S.A." forged into the back side. One face is stamped with a "7" date code for 1937.

The overall length is 2.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue-Point C-1816 Ignition Wrench

Fig. 99. Blue-Point C-1816 1/4x9/32 Ignition Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail.

Fig. 99 shows a Blue-Point C-1816 1/4x9/32 ignition open-end wrench, marked "Blue-Point" on the shank in forged raised letters, with "Made in U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 2.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue-Point C-2022 Ignition Wrench

Fig. 100. Blue-Point C-2022 5/16x11/32 Ignition Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, 1954.

Fig. 100 shows a Blue-Point C-2022 5/16x11/32 ignition open-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point" on the shank, with "Made in U.S.A." and a "4" date code for 1954 on the back side.

The overall length is 3.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Blue-Point C-2428 3/8x7/16 Ignition Wrench

Fig. 101. Blue-Point C-2428 3/8x7/16 Ignition Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, 1948.

Fig. 101 shows a Blue-Point C-2428 3/8x7/16 ignition open-end wrench, stamped "Blue-Point" on the shank, with "Made in U.S.A." and a stylized "8" date code for 1948 on the back side.

The overall length is 3.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Waterpump Wrenches

Blue Point's distinctive "water pump" wrenches were introduced in an earlier article, and the reader may want to check the section on Bluepoint Waterpump Wrenches for additional examples.

The waterpump wrenches are generally marked with either "Patent Appl'd For" or "Patd. Re. No. 17417" forged into the shank, although sometimes the second notice is stamped on the back. Normally when a patent applied (or equivalent) notice is marked on a tool, we would expect the production date to lie between the filing and issue dates of the patent. However, estimating the manufacturing date for the waterpump wrenches has turned out to be a bit more difficult than expected.

The problem is that Blue Point appears to have continued using the "Patent Appl'd" forging dies for long after the patent was issued, possibly because the production volume was relatively low and the dies didn't wear out.

Blue Point 924 3/4 Waterpump Wrench

Fig. 102. Blue Point 924 3/4 Waterpump Wrench, ca. Early 1930s.

Fig. 102 shows a Blue Point 924 3/4 waterpump wrench, marked with "Patent Appld For" and "Blue Point Boxocket Chicago Ill" forged into the handle.

The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel with traces of cadmium plating.

The patent application notice refers to the (reissue) patent #RE17,417, issued in 1929 and assigned to Blue Point. (The original patent #1,626,809 had been issued to B. Gillett in 1927.)

Blue Point 928 7/8 Waterpump Wrench

Fig. 103. Blue Point 928 7/8 Waterpump Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1931.

Fig. 103 shows a Blue Point 928 7/8 waterpump wrench, with forged-in markings "Patent Appld For" and "Blue Point Boxocket Chicago Ill", but with the "Blue Point" and "Chicago" removed by grinding. The back side is stamped with "-29" and "*" date codes for 1929 and 1931 respectively.

The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

This example has a narrow handle with an approximately rectangular depressed panel in the shank. The narrow-handle style appears to have been used for the early production of all of the smaller sizes, with a single forging blank serving for sizes 3/4 up to 1-1/8 inch.

Blue Point 932 1 Inch Waterpump Wrench

The next figures show examples of the Blue Point 932 model, but made with different forging dies.

Fig. 104. Blue Point 932 1 Inch Waterpump Wrench, ca. 1932+.

Fig. 104 shows a Blue Point 932 1 inch waterpump wrench, marked with "Patent Appl'd" and "Blue Point Boxocket Chicago Ill" forged into the handle.

The overall length is 6.9 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

This example was made from an older forging with the patent applied notice for patent #RE17,417. The chrome plating and polished faces indicate later production, so the finished wrench was likely made from a blank forged some years before.

Fig. 105. Blue Point 932 1 Inch Waterpump Wrench, ca. Mid 1930s.

Fig. 105 shows a later Blue Point 932 waterpump wrench, marked with "Patd Re No 17417" and "Blue Point Boxocket Chicago Ill" forged into the handle. The back side is also stamped "Chev 36" (not shown), probably referring to a specific application.

The overall length is 6.4 inches, and the finish is polished steel.

The patent number forged into the handle indicates that the forging dies for this example were updated sometime after the 1929 reissue date for patent #RE17,417. Blue Point is known to have used its earlier forging dies for long after the patent date, so this example is probably from the mid 1930s.

Note also that the handle has a factory-installed hanging hole, a feature believed to indicate later production, though not specifically noted in the catalogs.

Blue Point 936 1-1/8 Inch Waterpump Wrench

Fig. 106. Blue Point 936 1-1/8 Waterpump Wrench, ca. Early 1930s.

Fig. 106 shows a Blue Point 936 1-1/8 inch waterpump wrench, with forged-in markings "Patent Appld For" and "Blue Point Boxocket Chicago Ill" on the shank. The back side is stamped "Pat. Re. No. 17,417" and "C-1", with the latter possibly a special application-specific model number.

The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

This example has a narrow handle similar to previous examples.

Blue Point 938 1-3/16 Waterpump Wrench

Fig. 107. Blue Point 938 1-3/16 Waterpump Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Mid 1930s.

Fig. 107 shows a Blue Point 938 1-3/16 waterpump wrench, marked with "Patd Re No 17417" and "Blue Point Boxocket Chicago Ill" forged into the handle, with a "9-2" code forged into the back side.

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

Note also that the handle has a factory-installed hanging hole, a feature believed to indicate later production, though not specifically noted in the catalogs.

A similar but somewhat earlier example of this model can be seen as the Bluepoint 938 Waterpump Wrench.

Blue Point 940 1-1/4 Waterpump Wrench

Fig. 108. Blue Point 940 1-1/4 Waterpump Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Early 1930s.

Fig. 108 shows a Blue Point 940 1-1/4 waterpump wrench, with forged-in markings "Patent Appl'd" and "Blue Point Boxocket Chicago Ill" on the shank, and stamped "Pat. Re. No. 17,417" on the back side (see inset).

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

This wrench is very similar to the Bluepoint 940 Waterpump Wrench shown in an earlier article. The present example has been finished with a grinding or sanding operation and is marked with the patent notice, indicating a later production date.

Blue Point 942 1-5/16 Waterpump Wrench

Fig. 109. Blue Point 942 1-5/16 Waterpump Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Early 1930s.

Fig. 109 shows a Blue Point 942 1-5/16 waterpump wrench, stamped with the model and size near the opening, with "Patent Appl'd" and "Blue Point Boxocket Chicago Ill" forged into a depressed panel on the shank.

The overall length is 7.0 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating with polished faces.

Blue Point 944 1-3/8 Waterpump Wrench

Fig. 110. Blue Point 944 1-3/8 Waterpump Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, 1935.

Fig. 110 shows a Blue Point 944 1-3/8 waterpump wrench, stamped with the model and size near the opening. The shank has a depressed panel area with forged-in markings "Blue Point Boxocket" flanked by "Patent Appl'd For" and "Chicago Ill" on either side.

The overall length is 7.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The back side has multiple date code stampings, with a stylized "5" for 1935 at the left and the 1931 asterisk symbol "*" at the right. It's somewhat unusual to have multiple date codes separated in time by several years, but one possible explanation is that the wrench was originally forged in 1931, then remanufactured with a chrome finish in 1935.

The patent applied marking refers to the Gillett 1929 reissue patent #RE17,417, although this example was made well after the issue date.

Blue Point 948 Waterpump Wrench

Fig. 111. Blue Point 948 1-1/2 Waterpump Wrench, 1931.

Fig. 111 shows a Blue Point 948 1-1/2 waterpump wrench, marked with "Blue Point Boxocket Chicago Ill" and "Patent Appl'd For" forged into the shank. The back side is stamped with "Pat. Re. No. 17417" and a "*" date code for 1931 (not shown).

The overall length is 7.7 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Blue Point 956 Waterpump Wrench

Fig. 112. Blue Point 956 1-3/4 Waterpump Wrench, with Insets for Back Side Detail, 1931.

Fig. 112 shows a Blue Point 956 1-3/4 waterpump wrench, marked with "Patent Appl'd For" and "Blue Point Boxocket Chicago Ill" forged into the shank. The back side is stamped with "Pat. Re. No. 17,417" and a "*" date code for 1931 (see insets).

The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Combination Wrenches

Combination wrenches were first introduced in the 1935 Snap-on catalog, which offered both short- and long-handled models in a limited selection of sizes. The initial selection included five short wrenches, with sizes from the 7/16 OEX-140 model up to the 11/16 OEX-220 model, and three standard (long) wrenches in sizes 1/2 (OEX-16), 9/16 (OEX-18), and 5/8 (OEX-20).

Combination wrenches proved to be very popular and the selection was soon expanded.

One quirk of the combination wrenches is that they were only inconsistently marked with date codes, at least until the post-war period. Thus in many cases a manufacturing date will have to be estimated based on production and marking characteristics. The section for the Standard Combination Wrenches has an extended discussion of the issues regarding estimation of manufacturing dates.

Blue Point OEX-Series Short Combination Wrenches

Short combination wrenches were first offered in 1935 in five sizes, with the addition of two more sizes in 1937, and one more (OEX-100) by 1941. Table 9 below summarizes the available models with their year of introduction.

The 1930s catalogs did not specify the finish for the combination wrenches. Based on the few known examples with date codes, the finish was cadmium plating until part way into 1937, then chrome plating with polished shanks and faces from 1937 until the wartime years.

With the change in finish came a change in the marking style as well. The forged-in markings on the shank found in earlier production were replaced by ground and polished shanks with stamped markings.

Blue Point OEX-100 5/16 Short Combination Wrench

Fig. 113. Blue Point OEX-100 5/16 Short Combination Wrench, with Inset for Date Code, 1941.

Fig. 113 shows a Blue Point OEX-100 5/16 short combination wrench, stamped with the "Blue Point" logo and "Made in U.S.A." on the shank. The inset shows the "1" date code for 1941 on the back side face, although it's not in the typical stylized form.

The overall length is 5.0 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.

This is one of the tools from the Blue Point 8-Piece Short Combination Wrench Set.

Blue Point OEX-120 3/8 Short Combination Wrench

Fig. 114. Blue Point OEX-120 3/8 Short Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Face, 1941.

Fig. 114 shows a Blue Point OEX-120 3/8 short combination wrench, stamped with the "Blue Point" logo and "Made in U.S.A." on the shank. The inset shows the "1" date code for 1941 on the back side face, although it's not in the typical stylized form.

The overall length is 5.2 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.

This is one of the tools from the Blue Point 8-Piece Short Combination Wrench Set.

Blue Point OEX-140 7/16 Short Combination Wrench

Fig. 115. Blue Point OEX-140 7/16 Short Combination Wrench, ca. 1935-1945.

Fig. 115 shows an early Blue Point OEX-140 7/16 short combination wrench, marked with the "Blue Point" logo and "USA" forged into the shank.

The overall length is 5.4 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating, with remnants of grinding marks on the face.

The manufacturing date for this wrench is ambiguous, as the forged-in markings and cadmium plating could indicate either 1935-1937 or the 1942-1945 wartime years.

Blue Point OEX-160 1/2 Short Combination Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the Blue Point OEX-160 wrench.

Fig. 116. Blue Point OEX-160 1/2 Short Combination Wrench, ca. 1937-1939.

Fig. 116 shows an earlier Blue Point OEX-160 1/2 short combination wrench, stamped with the "Blue Point" logo and model on the shank.

The overall length is 5.6 inches. The finish is chrome plating, but with significant losses due to rust and pitting.

Although no date code was found on this wrench, the production date can be estimated as 1937-1939 based in the stamped markings without a "Made in U.S.A." notation.

Fig. 117. Blue Point OEX-160 1/2 Short Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Face, 1942.

Fig. 117 shows a somewhat later Blue Point OEX-160 1/2 short combination wrench, stamped "Blue Point" and "Made in U.S.A." on the shank, and with a stylized "2" date code for 1942 on the back side face.

The overall length is 5.6 inches, and the finish is polished steel.

Blue Point OEX-180 9/16 Short Combination Wrenches

Fig. 118. Blue Point OEX-180 9/16 Short Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Face, 1941.

Fig. 118 shows a Blue Point OEX-180 9/16 short combination wrench, stamped with the "Blue Point" logo and "Made in U.S.A." on the shank. The inset shows the "1" date code for 1941 on the back side face, in the expected stylized form.

The overall length is 6.0 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.

This is one of the tools from the Blue Point 8-Piece Short Combination Wrench Set.

Fig. 119. Blue Point OEX-180 9/16 Short Combination Wrench, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 119 shows a Blue Point OEX-180 9/16 short combination wrench, marked with the "Blue Point" logo and "USA" forged into the shank.

The overall length is 6.0 inches. The finish is plain steel, with pitting due to rust, and with grinding marks remaining on the face.

The manufacturing date for this wrench is ambiguous, as the forged-in markings and cadmium plating could indicate either 1935-1937 or the 1942-1945 wartime years. We would lean towards attributing this to the wartime period, as the coarse grinding on the face would not have been acceptable in the earlier period.

Blue Point OEX-200 5/8 Short Combination Wrench

Fig. 120. Blue Point OEX-200 5/8 Short Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Face, 1941.

Fig. 120 shows a Blue Point OEX-200 5/8 short combination wrench, stamped with the "Blue Point" logo and "Made in U.S.A." on the shank. The inset shows the "1" date code for 1941 on the back side face, in the expected stylized form.

The overall length is 6.3 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.

This is one of the tools from the Blue Point 8-Piece Short Combination Wrench Set.

Blue Point OEX-220 11/16 Short Combination Wrench

Fig. 121. Blue Point OEX-220 11/16 Short Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Face, 1941.

Fig. 121 shows a Blue Point OEX-220 11/16 short combination wrench, stamped with the "Blue Point" logo and "Made in U.S.A." on the shank. The inset shows the "1" date code for 1941 on the back side face, though not in the expected stylized form.

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

This is one of the tools from the Blue Point 8-Piece Short Combination Wrench Set.

Blue Point OEX-240 3/4 Short Combination Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of the Blue Point OEX-240 combination wrench.

Fig. 122. Blue Point OEX-240 3/4 Short Combination Wrench, 1937.

Fig. 122 shows an earlier Blue Point OEX-240 3/4 short combination wrench, stamped with the "Blue Point" logo plus a "-7" date code for 1937.

The overall length is 6.7 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

This wrench is significant as one of the earliest examples with a fully polished shank and stamped markings. Other examples show that the forged-in markings continued into 1937, suggesting that 1937 was the transition year for stamped markings.

Fig. 123. Blue Point OEX-240 3/4 Short Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Face, 1941.

Fig. 123 shows a slightly later Blue Point OEX-240 3/4 short combination wrench, stamped with the "Blue Point" logo and "Made in U.S.A." on the shank. The inset shows the "1" date code for 1941 on the back side face.

The overall length is 6.8 inches, and the finish is polished chrome plating.

This is the largest wrench from the Blue Point 8-Piece Short Combination Wrench Set.

Blue Point OEX-80 8-Piece Short Combination Wrench Set

Fig. 124. Blue Point OEX-80 8-Piece Short Combination Wrench Set, 1941.

Fig. 124 shows a Blue Point OEX-80 8-piece short combination wrench set in its original leather roll.

The individual wrenches are all stamped with the Blue Point logo and "Made in U.S.A.", and all are finished in polished chrome.

The wrenches are also stamped with a date code for 1941, although not all of the codes are in the stylized form.

The leather roll is marked "Blue Point" in the upper left corner of the cover flap.

The wrench models and sizes in the set are, from the right, OEX-100 (5/16), OEX-120 (3/8), OEX-140 (7/16), OEX-160 (1/2), OEX-180 (9/16), OEX-200 (6/8), OEX-220 (11/16), and OEX-240 (3/4).

Several of the wrenches from the set are displayed in the previous figures, e.g. the Blue Point OEX-240 Short Combination Wrench.

Blue Point OEX-Series Standard Combination Wrenches

Standard length combination wrenches were first offered in 1935 in a limited selection of three sizes. In 1937 six more sizes were added, and in 1939 an additional four sizes were offered. Table 10 below summarizes the available models with their year of introduction.

The 1930s catalogs did not specify the finish for the combination wrenches. Based on the few known examples with date codes, the finish was cadmium plating until part way into 1937, then chrome plating with polished shanks and faces from 1937 until the wartime years.

With the change in finish came a change in the marking style as well. The forged-in markings on the shank found in earlier production were replaced by ground and polished shanks with stamped markings.

In the course of gathering the wrenches on display here, numerous examples of larger size wrenches (introduced in 1939) were found with forged-in markings and cadmium or plain finishes, instead of the polished shanks and stamped markings that were expected. This can be taken as strong evidence that the wrench production reverted to the forged-in markings during the wartime period, as this would have required less finishing work.

This reversion in marking style introduces ambiguities in determining the manufacturing dates for some sizes of wrenches. In particular, smaller size wrenches (from the original 1935 offering) with forged-in markings could have been made in 1935-1937, or in the later 1942-1945 period. The larger sizes (introduced in 1939) with forged-in markings can be attributed to the 1942-1945 period.

The next group of figures will show examples of the standard-length combination wrenches.

Blue Point OEX-20 5/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 125. Blue Point OEX-20 5/8 Combination Wrench, ca. 1935-1945.

Fig. 125 shows a Blue Point OEX-20 5/8 combination wrench, with forged raised letter markings "Blue Point" and "USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 8.7 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating, with grinding marks remaining on the face.

The manufacturing date for this wrench is ambiguous. The forged in markings and cadmium plating could indicate either 1935-1937 or the 1942-1945 wartime years.

Blue Point OEX-22 11/16 Combination Wrench

Fig. 126. Blue Point OEX-22 11/16 Combination Wrench, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 126 shows a Blue Point OEX-22 11/16 combination wrench, with forged raised letter markings "Blue Point" and "USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 9.2 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

The manufacturing date for this wrench is ambiguous. The forged-in markings and cadmium plating for a wrench of this size (introduced in 1937) could indicate either early 1937 or the 1942-1945 wartime years. We have examples of wrenches from early 1937 with date codes stamped, so the lack of a date code on this example makes the wartime years more likely.

Blue Point OEX-24 3/4 Combination Wrench

Fig. 127. Blue Point OEX-24 3/4 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Date Code, 1937.

Fig. 127 shows a Blue Point OEX-24 3/4 combination wrench, with forged raised letter markings "Blue Point" and "USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 9.7 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating, with grinding marks remaining on the face.

The inset shows the date code on the back side, a "7" digit for 1937. The symbol is larger than the typical date codes but rather faint, and appears to have been engraved rather than stamped.

This date-coded example shows that the finishes for the combination wrenches in the first few years (1935 to 1937) were fairly rough. We had hoped to use the presence of grinding marks on the face to distinguish wartime production, but this example shoots down that idea.

Blue Point OEX-26 13/16 Combination Wrenches

The next figures show two generations of the OEX-26 model, with differences in the construction and finish.

Fig. 128. Blue Point OEX-26 13/16 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Date Code, 1937.

Fig. 128 shows an earlier Blue Point OEX-26 13/16 combination wrench, marked with "Blue Point" and "USA" forged into the shank.

The overall length is 10.9 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Fig. 129. Blue Point OEX-26 13/16 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. Early 1940s.

Fig. 129 shows a later Blue Point OEX-26 13/16 combination wrench, stamped with the "Blue Point" logo and "Made in USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 10.0 inches, and the finish is polished chrome plating.

The polished chrome finish and marking style with "Made in USA" indicate production in the early 1940s.

Blue Point OEX-28 7/8 Combination Wrenches

The next figures show two generations of the Blue Point OEX-28 wrench.

Fig. 130. Blue Point OEX-28 7/8 Combination Wrench, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 130 shows an earlier Blue Point OEX-28 7/8 combination wrench, with forged raised letter markings "Blue Point" and "USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 11.8 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

The manufacturing date for this wrench is somewhat ambiguous. The forged-in markings and cadmium finish on a wrench of this size (introduced in 1937) could indicate manufacturing either in early 1937, or else in the 1942-1945 wartime period. We have examples of wrenches from early 1937 with date codes stamped, so the lack of a date code on this example makes the wartime years more likely.

Fig. 131. Blue-Point OEX-28 7/8 Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1947.

Fig. 131 shows a later Blue-Point OEX-28 combination wrench, stamped with "Blue-Point" and the model number on one side, with "Made in U.S.A." and a "7" date code for 1947 on the back side.

The overall length is 11.8 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

Blue-Point OEX-30 15/16 Combination Wrench

Fig. 132. Blue-Point OEX-30 15/16 Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1947.

Fig. 132 shows a Blue-Point OEX-30 15/16 combination wrench, stamped "Blue-Point" with the model number on the shank, with "Made in USA" and a stylized "7" date code for 1947 on the back side.

The overall length is 13.0 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

This wrench provides a good example of the marking style used in the mid to late 1940s. The "BluePoint" brand is now in a stylized font and is stamped with the model number, with the "Made in U.S.A." marking on the opposite side.

Blue Point OEX-32 1 Inch Combination Wrench

Fig. 133. Blue Point OEX-32 1 Inch Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1937.

Fig. 133 shows a Blue Point OEX-32 1 inch combination wrench, with forged-in markings "Blue Point" and "USA" on the shank, and with a faint "7" date code for 1937 on the back side.

The overall length is 14.0 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Blue Point OEX-34 1-1/16 Combination Wrench

Fig. 134. Blue Point OEX-34 1-1/16 Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, 1941.

Fig. 134 shows a Blue Point OEX-34 1-1/16 combination wrench, stamped with the "Blue Point" logo and "Made in USA" on the shank. The back side face is marked with a stylized "1" date code for 1941, shown as a close-up in the middle inset.

The overall length is 14.9 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.

This wrench provides a good example of the polished chrome finish and marking style in use during the early 1940s. Note the larger initial and final letters in "BluepoinT" that bracket the model number.

Blue Point OEX-36 1-1/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 135. Blue Point OEX-36 1-1/8 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 135 shows a Blue Point OEX-36 1-1/8 combination wrench, with forged-in markings "Blue Point" and "USA" on the shank.

The overall length is 15.7 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

The reversion to the forged-in markings on this larger wrench (introduced in 1939) indicates production during the 1942-1945 wartime years.