Toho Kōki

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Toho Kōki Company is a Japanese drop-forger and toolmaker best known for its "HIT" brand tools, including Crescent-style adjustable wrenches, pipe wrenches, bolt cutters, and other tools.

Background information on the Japanese tool industry can be found in our page on Japanese Tool Makers.

Company History

The company was established in 1926 by Seiichi Kawakami as the Kawakami Seisakusho, and initially operated in Minato-ku, Osaka as a maker of machine parts.

By 1934 the company was making forged adjustable wrenches, pipe wrenches, and open-end wrenches.

New Factory in Kami

Fig. 1. 1938 Ad for Toho Kōki Adjustable and Pipe Wrenches.

In 1938 the company moved its head office and factory to Kami, Hirano-ku, and reorganized as the Toho Kōki Company, Ltd.

Fig. 1 shows a 1938 advertisement for Toho Kōki wrenches, as published in the 工業仕入案内 ("Industrial Purchasing Guide").

The illustration shows straight and curved "monkey" wrenches and a Trimo-style pipe wrench.

This advertisement shows some of the influences from U.S. and European tool makers on the development of the tool industry in Japan. The "BANKO" adjustable wrench at the left was probably based on models from Bahco in Sweden, and "BANKO" may be a word play on "BAHCO".

The second wrench from the left with the curved handle is very similar to the Bergman "Queen City" 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench, even down to the square opening at the end of the handle.

The pipe wrench (third from the left) was based on a design from Trimont Manufacturing, as seen in the Trimo 18 Inch Pipe Wrench. However, this style of wrench was also being produced by Matsusaka Iron Works (MCC) in the mid 1930s, so the influence may have come indirectly.

It's interesting to note that the pipe wrench is marked with "HIT Tool Mfg Co", possibly the first use of "HIT" as a brand.

The wrench at the right in the illustration is more generic, but would be representative of a Crescent-style adjustable wrench.

First JIS Certification

On June 28, 1951 the company received JIS certification 657 for class B4604 (adjustable wrenches) with the factory address listed as 114 Kamishinya-chō in Osaka City (大阪府大阪市東住吉区加美新家町114). The record for this certification can be seen in the 1952-01 Monthly Report for Classes B4604 and B4605.

Toho Kōki was one of the first five companies to receive JIS certification for adjustable wrenches. In this same year the company began using chrome-molybdenum alloy steel for adjustable wrenches.

JIS Certification for Pipe Wrenches

On May 13, 1952 the company received JIS certification 1452 for class B4606 (pipe wrenches) at the Kamishinya-chō factory. This record for this certification can be seen in the 1952-09 Monthly Report for Classes B4604-B4606.

The certification was also reported in the 1955 JIS Summary for Classes B4604 and B4606, but in this report the B4606 certification has been combined with B4604 on JIS 657.

JIS Strong "H" Class?

By around 1954 the JIS administration had adopted testing requirements for a new "Strong" grade applying to classes B4604 and B4606, which would be denoted by an "H" suffix. As an early adopter of alloy steel for its adjustable wrenches, Toho Kōki should have been one of the first companies to qualify for JIS "H", but the notes for JIS 657 with "Strong" grade don't appear until the 1967 Certified List.

We think that this is likely a reporting problem and that the company probably qualified much sooner.

Supply Contract with Toyota Motor

At some point Toho Kōki received a major contract to supply adjustable wrenches to the Toyota Motor Company. We haven't yet found the starting date for the contract, but the wrenches themselves are known to have been in production by 1955, if not earlier.

In later years the wrenches were marked with Toho Kōki's "HIT" trademark, so the production by Toho Kōki is not in question.

Examples of Toho Kōki's production can be found in the section on Production for Toyota. We hope to find more information on the Toyota contract, and eventually hope to be able to estimate the production dates for the different generations of wrenches.

JIS Certification for Class B4630

In 1958 the company received JIS certificate 6036 for class B4630 (open-end wrenches) at the Kamishinya-chō factory. The record for this certification can be seen in the Aggregated Monthly Reports for 1958-08.

For unknown reasons, this JIS number was later reported as 6039 in some of the Certified Lists.

Supply Contract with Fuller Tool Company

By the late 1950s it's likely that Toho Kōki had a supply contract for adjustable wrenches with the Fuller Tool Company. Fuller adjustable wrenches in an early style have been observed with the "HIT" trademark, and a Japanese book by a tool industry insider reports an early Fuller contract of an Osaka-based maker of adjustable wrenches.

See the section on Production for Fuller for more information.

Toho Forging Company

In 1961 the forging division became independent as Toho Forging Company, Ltd., with operations in Yamatokoriyama, Nara prefecture, Japan.

Investment by Fuller Orient Corporation

In 1962 Toho Kōki received a $15,000 investment from the Fuller Orient Corporation, the import subsidiary of the Fuller Tool Company. The investment was noted in a 1963 Annual Report on Foreign Capital from the Japanese Department of Trade and Industry.

This investment may have been related to an expansion of the supply contract with Fuller, as in 1962 Toho Kōki began supplying "Dunlap" brand wrenches to Sears Roebuck through Fuller Orient.

The January 9, 1964 issue of "Weekly Japanese Economy" noted that Toho Kōki was exporting directly to the Fuller Orient Corporation, and that exports to the U.S., Asia, and Europe accounted for 20% of the company's sales.

In 1965 the company began a full-scale export program, and its "HIT" brand products became popular in 50 countries around the world.

JIS Certification for Classes B4632 and B4643

On June 18, 1966 the company received JIS certificate 566036 for class B4632 (box-end wrenches) at the Kamishinya-chō factory. The record for this certification can be seen in the Aggregated Monthly Reports for 1966-09.

On the same date the company also received JIS certificate 566035 for class B4643 (bolt cutters) at the same factory. The record for this certification can be seen in the Aggregated Monthly Reports for 1966-09.

JIS Release for B4630 "N" Grade

On August 30, 1982 the company canceled its certification for B4630 in Normal grade, but continued to hold certification for Heavy grade. The record for this cancellation can be seen in the Aggregated Monthly Reports for 1982-12.

New Factory in Yamatokoriyama

In 1984 the company began relocating to a new factory in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture, and as a result all of its JIS certifications were temporarily revoked. The records for these JIS cancellations can be seen in the 1984-08 Monthly Report for Toho Kōki.

By 1985 the new factory was in operation, and on June 13, 1985 Toho Koki regained JIS certification for adjustable wrenches, retaining its original (657) number. The record for this JIS recertification can be seen in the 1985-09 Monthly Report for Toho Kōki.

On October 16, 1985 the company regained JIS certificate 566035 in class B4643 at the new factory. The record for this JIS recertification can be seen in the Aggregated Monthly Reports for 1986-01.

JIS Recertification for B4630 and B4632

For some reason it took much longer to regain certification in classes B4630 and B4632 at the new factory, but on December 4, 1991 the company received JIS certificate 591036 for classes B4630 and B4632. The record for these certifications can be seen in the Aggregated Monthly Reports for 1992-04.

We are calling this a "recertification" since the company previously was certified in these classes, but with the long lapse the JIS number was changed.

Outsourced Adjustable Wrenches

By 2000 the company had decided not to continue production of adjustable wrenches, and on July 12, 2000 Toho Koki relinquished its JIS certification for this class. The record for this cancellation can be seen in the Aggregated Monthly Reports for 2000-11.

After this point adjustable wrench production was outsourced. We have observed "Strong HIT" adjustable wrenches marked with JIS 9786, indicating production by Hokuyo Sangyō.

Continuing Operations

Toho Kōki continues in operation today and is located in Yamatokoriyama, Nara prefecture, Japan. The company maintains a website (in Japanese and English) at www.hittools.co.jp [External Link], which provides a page with extensive information on the Company History [External Link].

Patents

Trademarks

Toho Kōki has several trademarks registered in Japan, including "HITROI", "HITLOY", and a logo with "HIT" in the center of a gear, referred to as the HIT-Gear logo on this site.

The "HITROI" trademark has a curious story. Like most English speakers, when we first saw "HITROI" we were a bit puzzled about the meaning. (HITROI? Hit Roy? Who is Roy, and why would I want to hit him?) But after learning about the "HITLOY" trademark, it all became clear.

In the early 1950s Toho Kōki had started using chrome-molybdenum steel for their wrenches and wanted to get a trademark along the lines of "Bonaloy" or "Armaloy". They were thinking of "HITLOY", but since the Japanese language doesn't have distinct "L" and "R" sounds, when "HITLOY" was written in katakana it was then romanized to "HITROI".

Then after discovering that the "HITROI" trademark didn't evoke any connections with alloy for English speakers, Toho Kōki filed the "HITLOY" trademark shortly afterwards.

JIS Certification History

Toho Kōki has a very eventful JIS certification history, including multiple classes of tools, temporary revocations due to a factory move, and even a rare relinquishment.

Factory locations were in Minato-ku (港区) and Kami (加美) in Osaka prefecture, and in Yamatokoriyama (大和郡山) in Nara prefecture.

View Company History with Factories for Toho Kōki.

View JIS Certification Events for Toho Kōki.

Background information on the JIS program can be found in our article on Japanese Industrial Standards.

Tool Identification

The company used "HIT" as a brand in the pre-war era, and in the early 1950s registered "HITROI" and "HITLOY" as trademarks.

Later adjustable wrenches were typically marked "Strong HIT", with "Strong" emphasizing the JIS-H ("Strong" class) certification.

Tools from Toho Kōki are frequently marked with the HIT-Gear logo.

HIT-Gear Logo

Fig. 2. HIT-Gear Logo.

Fig. 2 shows the HIT-Gear logo forged into a tool.

References and Resources

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

Catalog Resources

Adjustable Wrenches

Adjustable wrenches were an important product for Toho Kōki and at one point the company was Japan's largest maker of these wrenches.

Construction Details

Fig. 3. Annotated Close-up of Jaw Detail for "Strong HIT" Adjustable Wrench.

Toho Kōki's preferred style of construction for its own brands had a round ("maru") outline for the jaws, with an angled transition at the corner of the fixed jaw.

Fig. 3 shows an annotated close-up of the jaws of the "Strong HIT" 200mm Adjustable Wrench.

This is probably the most popular design for Japanese adjustable wrenches.

Fig. 4. Close-up of "Maru" Jaw Design for "Strong HIT" Adjustable Wrench.

To explain further about the round or "maru" design of the jaws, we added a circle just outside the jaws of the wrench.

Fig. 4 shows the jaws of the "Strong HIT" 200mm Adjustable Wrench with a circumscribed circle.

Note that the red circle closely tracks the outline of the fixed jaw and then covers most of the wrench head.

This is the "classic" design for Japanese adjustable wrenches and was used almost universally until the mid 1960s, when KTC introduced "spear type" jaws for its adjustable wrenches.

Toho Kōki also made wrenches with a rounded transition if the customer requested it. Examples can be seen as the Toyota Motor 250mm Adjustable Wrench and Fuller "HIT" 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench.

Another important construction detail for Toho Kōki is that the pin securing the worm gear is threaded on the outside end. Only one other maker (Nippon Riki/Lobtex) is known to use outside threads, with most makers preferring inside threads.

Since customers would normally not care (or even know) about the thread position, there should be no reason for a manufacturer to change its threading style, and the thread position may be helpful in determining the maker of a wrench. However, we recently (2025) discovered that in the early to mid 1970s KTC switched from inside to outside threads, for reasons that are not yet known.

We measured the size of the pin and found that the 10 and 12 inch wrenches use standard metric coarse threads of size M5 (5.0mm) and M6 (6.0mm) respectively. However, for the 8 inch wrench the pin has a 4.25mm diameter at the threads, a non-standard size.

"HITROI" 150mm (6 Inch) Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 5. Hit "HITROI" 150mm (6 Inch) Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Edge View and Back Side Detail.

Fig. 5 shows a Hit "HITROI" 150mm (6 inch) adjustable wrench, marked with "HITROI" and "Alloy" plus the JIS-Circle+H logo forged into the shank, with "Toho Koki Co." and "Japan" plus the HIT-Gear logo forged into the back side.

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

"Strong HIT" 200mm (8 Inch) Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 6. "Strong HIT" 200mm (8 Inch) Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Construction Detail.

Fig. 6 shows a "Strong HIT" 200mm (8 inch) adjustable wrench, marked with "Strong HIT" and the JIS-Circle+H logo forged into the shank, with "Cr-Mo Drop Forged" and "Japan" plus the HIT-Gear logo forged into the back side.

The shank also has a forged-in code "657" to the right of the JIS logo, which is Toho Koki's original JIS certification number for adjustable wrenches.

The lower inset illustrates the construction of the jaws. Note the angled transition at the corner of the fixed jaw and the corresponding angled cutaway on the movable jaw.

The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with some losses due to rust.

One construction characteristic to note is that the pin securing the worm gear is threaded on the outside (slotted) end. The diameter of the pin was measured as 4.26mm at the threaded end and 3.94mm at the interior section.

This wrench illustrates Toho Kōki's preferred style of construction, with the angled transition of the fixed jaw, the relatively constant curvature ("maru" style) of the jaw outline, and the ridge around the hanging hole.

Fig. 7. Close-up of Jaw Parts for "Strong HIT" 200mm Adjustable Wrench.

Fig. 7 shows a close-up of the disassembled jaw parts from the "Strong HIT" 200mm adjustable wrench. From top to bottom, the parts consist of the movable jaw, the worm gear, a small spring, and a threaded pin.

Note that the pin is threaded on the outside (slotted) end.

"Strong HIT" 300mm (12 Inch) Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 8. "Strong HIT" 300mm (12 Inch) Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Edge View.

Fig. 8 shows a "Strong HIT" 300mm (12 inch) adjustable wrench, marked with "Strong HIT" and the JIS-Circle+H logo forged into the shank, with "Cr-Mo Drop Forged" and "Japan" plus the HIT-Gear logo forged into the back side.

The shank also has a forged-in code "657" to the right of the JIS logo.

The overall length is 12.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating, with some losses due to rust.

The "657" code is Toho Koki's original JIS certification number for adjustable wrenches, first received in 1951.

One construction characteristic to note is that the pin securing the worm gear is threaded on the outside (slotted) end. This detail has also been noted on adjustable wrenches made by Nippon Riki (Lobtex).

Wrenches

Hit 21x26mm Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 9. Hit 21x26mm Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Edge View and Back Side Detail, ca 1966+.

Fig. 9 shows a Hit 21x26mm offset box-end wrench, marked with the fractional sizes and "HIT" forged into the front, with "Chrome Molybdenum" and the fractional sizes forged into the back side. (The inset shows the markings in their natural upside-down position.)

The shank is also marked with the JIS-Circle logo forged into front.

The overall length is 14.3 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

The absence of a "Japan" marking on this tool indicates that it was originally produced for the domestic market.

Toho Kōki received JIS certificate 566036 for box-end wrenches (class B4632) in 1966, indicating that this wrench would have been produced in 1966 or later.

Bolt Cutters

Toho Kōki received JIS certificate 566035 for bolt cutters (class B4643) in 1966.

HIT 300mm (12 Inch) Bolt Cutters

Fig. 10. HIT 300mm (12 Inch) Bolt Cutters, ca. 1966+.

Fig. 10 shows a pair of HIT 300mm (12 inch) bolt cutters, marked with "HIT" and "12 Forged Steel" plus the JIS-Circle logo forged into the upper handle, with "300" and "CAP. 5MM 3/16" forged into the lower handle.

The jaw cross-piece is stamped with "HIT" and the JIS-Circle logo on the front, with "Japan" on the back side (not shown).

The overall length is 12.7 inches, and the finish is red paint.

The JIS marking indicates that this tool would have been produced in 1966 or later.

Contract Production for Toyota

Toho Kōki had a major contract with Toyota for production of adjustable wrenches, and numerous examples of these tools can be found marked with "HIT" near the hanging hole. The wrenches were produced in two sizes, 200mm and 250mm.

Early Production

In earlier years Toyota adjustable wrenches were made in a distinctive style with a small raised oval panel near the hanging hole. (The oval panel looks like it was made for a stamped model number, but no such markings have been observed.) Wrenches in this style are known to have been in production by 1955, based on an illustration in a parts manual for the 1955 Toyota model FA truck.

Wrenches with the raised oval panel did not include any apparent maker's marks, but currently all of the examples we've checked can be attributed to Toho Kōki on the basis of outside threads on the pin securing the worm gear.

It's currently an open question as to whether Toho Kōki made all of the early Toyota adjustable wrenches, or if another manufacturer (possibly KTC) began making them and then later turned it over to Toho Kōki. At the present time (early 2025) there is no evidence for Toyota adjustable wrenches made by anyone except Toho Kōki.

Since there is no evidence for production by KTC, some readers may wonder why we're even raising the possibility. There are two reasons, the first of which is that KTC did have a major contract with Toyota for production of tools, including fixed wrenches and pliers. In addition, KTC made adjustable wrenches for Nissan, so why not for Toyota?

The second reason is more technical. For its own production of adjustable wrenches Tohō Kōki usually used an angled transition at the fixed jaw, as can be seen in the section on Toho Kōki Construction Details. But the early production of Toyota adjustable wrenches used a rounded transition at the fixed jaw, which was also the preferred style for KTC, as can be seen in the KTC Construction Details.

The difference in the jaw style could be explained if Toho Kōki had adopted a prior style for continuity, assuming that KTC had started production and then shared it with (or turned it over to) Toho Kōki.

Later Production

In later years a number of changes were made to the Toyota adjustable wrenches, including the addition of a "HIT" marking near the hanging hole, a change from rounded to angled transitions at the fixed jaw, and the removal of the Toyota "トヨタ" Katakana logo.

We would like to be able to estimate the dates when these various changes occurred, as well as to discover the overall time period for OEM wrench production by Toho Kōki. To assist in this research it would be very helpful if we could find information on the contents of Toyota OEM tool kits by model and year, although it seems unlikely that anyone would have compiled such information.

We have found some information along this line in discussion forums for owners of older Toyota vehicles, and the preliminary indications are that adjustable wrenches were being supplied to at least some Toyota vehicles into the 1980s. The inclusion of an adjustable wrench sometimes depended on the trim level, with vehicles equipped for off-road use more likely to include an adjustable wrench.

For example, we found a company advertising tool kits said to be appropriate for the 1979-1986 FJ60 model, which included a 10 inch adjustable wrench.

If any of our readers have a Toyota vehicle with an adjustable wrench in the OEM tool kit, please let us know via email.

End of Production?

In 2000 Toho Kōki stopped producing adjustable wrenches and afterwards used outsourced production for its own brands.

After the "retirement" of Toho Kōki, the Toyota contract apparently passed to Hokuyo Sangyō ("Sanki"), another major maker of adjustable wrenches. We have seen Toyota adjustable wrenches marked with an "SA" code for Sanki to replace the former "HIT" mark, and Sanki is known to have supplied "Strong Hit" adjustable wrenches to Toho Kōki.

At the time of this writing (2025) it appears that Toyota is still supplying adjustable wrenches in the OEM tool kits for at least some vehicles, but we are unsure of the current maker of the wrenches.

Stylistic Generations of Toyota Motor Adjustable Wrenches

As noted above, the Toyota Motor adjustable wrenches went through a number of production and marking changes over the years, and the following table is an attempt to summarize the changes. Based on our present understanding, we have defined six stylistic generations with easily observed visual characteristics.

Each generation is believed to include both 200mm (8 inch) and 250mm (10 inch) wrench sizes, but the prevalence of the sizes may vary widely. In our experience, the 250mm size is more common in the first and second generations, and the 200mm size is much more common in the third and later generations.

The table includes a column with a rough estimate of the production date range, and we will make updates as new information becomes available. The notes column includes some hints based on observations of tools that we used in our estimates.

The production and marking attributes defining the generations are as follows:

• Finish. Nickel vs. Chrome plated finish.
• Raised Oval. The presence or absence of a raised oval panel near the hanging hole.
• HIT Mark. The presence or absence of the HIT trademark near the hanging hole.
• Transition. The style of the transition (rounded or angled) at the fixed jaw.
• トヨタ Logo. The presence or absence of the stylized Toyota Katakana logo.
• Name. The long or short company name as "Toyota Motor" or "Toyota".

If we look through the production changes that define the wrench generations above, it's clear that not all of the changes are equally significant.

From Toyota's standpoint, the most important changes were probably the addition of the "HIT" marking (coinciding with the removal of the raised oval) between the second and third generations, the removal of the Katakana logo between the fourth and fifth generations, and the shortening of the company name between the fifth and sixth generations. Other changes such as the switch from nickel to chrome plating in the finish are more minor.

It's uncertain whether even these "important" changes would have resulted in a change in the Toyota part number for the wrenches. From a functional standpoint, all of the generations are equivalent, and the only fundamental difference is in the two sizes (200mm or 250mm) of the wrenches.

As a starting point for developing the estimates, we are confident that the first two generations cover the period from the 1950s until at least the mid 1960s. The quirky raised oval panel has been observed in a 1955 factory manual, and a second generation wrench has been observed in a photograph of a 1963 FJ40 tool kit.

We are similarly confident that the sixth generation (plain "Toyota" marking) began in the late 1990s, based on the known "retirement" of Toho Kōki in 2000 and the observation of a small number of sixth-generation wrenches with a "HIT" marking. In addition, wrenches in this generation have been observed with an "SA" mark for Hokuyo Sangyō ("Sanki"), the company known to have supplied wrenches to Toho Kōki after it ceased production.

After establishing the beginning and end points, to make rough estimates of the intermediate points we have assumed that any change in the Toyota part number for the adjustable wrench would correspond to one of these important generational changes. We found information in an online forum for Land Cruiser owners showing that one part number was used from 1969-1980 and then changed for 1980-1984, and these date ranges fit well if we assume that the change from the third to fourth generation was relatively minor.

We are actively looking for further information to refine and confirm the production dates, and are especially interested in observing the contents of OEM tool kits for which the model year is known. If any of our readers have access to a Toyota tool kit from a known model year, please let us know via email!

First Generation Toyota Adjustable Wrenches

The first generation wrenches were characterized by a raised oval panel and a nickel finish.

[Toho Kōki] Early Toyota Motor "トヨタ" 250mm (10 Inch) Adjustable Wrenches

The next two figures show examples of early Toyota 250mm adjustable wrenches.

Fig. 11. Early Toyota Motor 250mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Construction Detail, ca. 1950s.

Fig. 11 shows an early Toyota Motor 250mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" and the Toyota katakana logo forged into the front, with "250mm Angle Wrench" forged into the back side.

The front of the wrench has a distinctive raised oval panel between "Motor" and the hanging hole, a feature characteristic of the early generations of Toyota wrenches.

The middle inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate construction details. Note the rounded transition at the corner of the fixed jaw and the corresponding inset convex cutaway on the movable jaw.

The overall length is 10.2 inches and the maximum opening is 1.1 inches.

The finish is plain steel, with traces of the original nickel plating.

We disassembled the wrench for cleaning and noted that the pin securing the worm gear is threaded on the outside end.

The absence of a "Japan" marking on this tool indicates that it was originally produced for the Japanese domestic market.

The thin nickel plating on this wrench suggests an early production date. Modern plated chrome finishes typically have three layers, with a copper base followed by nickel and then chromium.

Fig. 12. Early Toyota Motor 250mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Construction Detail, ca. 1950s.

Fig. 12 shows another similar Toyota Motor 250mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" and the Toyota Katakana logo forged into the front, with "250mm Angle Wrench" forged into the back side.

The front of the wrench has a distinctive raised oval panel between "Motor" and the hanging hole, a feature characteristic of the early generations of Toyota wrenches.

The middle inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate construction details. Note the rounded transition at the corner of the fixed jaw and the corresponding inset convex cutaway on the movable jaw.

The overall length is 10.1 inches and the maximum opening is 1.1 inches.

The finish is nickel plating, with some losses due to wear.

We disassembled the wrench for cleaning and noted that the pin securing the worm gear is threaded on the outside end.

Second Generation Toyota Adjustable Wrenches

The second generation wrenches were physically similar to the first generation but came with a triple-plated chrome finish.

[Toho Kōki] Toyota Motor "トヨタ" 250mm (10 Inch) Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 13. Toyota Motor 250mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side and Construction Detail, ca. 1960s?

Fig. 13 shows a similar Toyota Motor 250mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" and the Toyota katakana logo forged into the front, with "250mm Angle Wrench" forged into the back side.

The middle inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate the construction details.

As with the previous example, the front of the wrench has a raised oval panel near the hanging hole.

The overall length is 10.2 inches and the maximum opening is 1.1 inches.

The finish is chrome plating with polished faces. The heavy chrome plating on this wrench suggests a later production date than the previous example shown above.

Referring again to the middle inset, notice that the inner corner of the fixed jaw is rounded, and that the corner of the movable jaw has an inset cutaway with a matching convex radius.

We removed the pin securing the worm gear and confirmed that the pin is threaded on the outside end, a characteristic of Toho Kōki production. The diameter of the pin was measured as 5.00mm at the threaded end and 4.73mm at the interior section.

The absence of a "Japan" marking on this tool indicates that it was originally produced for the Japanese domestic market.

Fig. 14. Close-up of Jaw Parts for Toyota Motor 250mm Adjustable Wrench.

Fig. 14 shows a close-up of the disassembled jaw parts from the Toyota Motor 250mm adjustable wrench. From top to bottom, the parts consist of the movable jaw, the worm gear, a small spring, and a threaded pin.

Note that the pin is threaded on the outside (slotted) end.

As a side note, it's usually possible to determine whether the pin has inside or outside threads without disassembling the wrench. First screw the pin all the way in, then examine the bore carefully, using a magnifying glass if needed.

If the side walls of the bore are smooth, the pin is threaded on the inside; if threads are visible in the bore, the pin is threaded on the outside end.

The close-up of the movable jaw reveals another interesting detail: the small forged-in "S" at the inside corner proves that the inset convex cutaway was created by precision forging rather than a machining step.

Both of the above wrenches use a pin with outside threads to secure the worm gear, which allows us to confirm Toho Kōki as the maker of the wrenches. Most other makers are known to use pins with inside threads. (KTC used inside threads until the mid 1970s, then switched to outside threads.)

With Toho Kōki identified as the maker, the use of a rounded transition at the corner of the fixed jaw needs some further discussion. Toho Kōki usually used an angled transition for its own production, as we saw in the section on Construction Details above.

Since the rounded transition is not Toho Kōki's preferred style, it's reasonable to ask why this wrench was made with that particular feature. Our initial assumption was that Toho Kōki was copying the style previously used for Toyota adjustable wrenches, presumably those made by KTC. KTC is known to have preferred the rounded transition, and the jaws of this wrench closely resemble early KTC adjustable wrenches, such as those made as OEM production for Nissan.

Our assumption could be easily tested by comparison with a Toyota Motor adjustable wrench made by KTC, but thus far no such wrenches have been found.

Contract production for Fuller Tool also used rounded transitions, so there may be other reasons for this feature, such as a request from the customer. However, at this point we haven't found a fully satisfactory explanation for this particular feature.

This leads to the following hypothesis: Toyota adjustable wrenches made by KTC look substantially the same as the above example by Toho Kōki, and can be distinguished from Toho Kōki production only by the use of a pin with inside threads.

We would like to test our hypothesis, so if any of our readers have examples of similar Toyota Motor wrenches, please check whether the pin has inside or outside threads and let us know via email.

[Toho Kōki] Toyota Motor "トヨタ" 200mm Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 15. Toyota Motor 200mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Construction Detail, ca. 1960s?

Fig. 15 shows a Toyota Motor 200mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" and the Toyota Katakana logo forged into the front, with "200mm Angle Wrench" forged into the back side.

The middle inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate construction details. Note the rounded transition at the corner of the fixed jaw and the corresponding inset convex cutaway on the movable jaw.

The front of the wrench has a raised oval panel near the hanging hole, a defining feature for the second generation.

The overall length is 10.2 inches and the maximum opening is 1.1 inches.

The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

We were not able to remove the pin securing the worm gear, but did observe that the bore is threaded, indicating that the pin is threaded on the outside end. The use of outside threads confirms Toho Kōki as the maker of the wrench.

The presence of the raised oval panel and the chrome plated finish identify this example as a second generation wrench.

Third Generation Toyota Adjustable Wrenches

The main changes between the second and third generation wrenches were (1) the removal of the raised oval panel and (2) the addition of a forged-in "HIT" marking near the hanging hole.

Since "HIT" is a trademark of Toho Kōki, the addition of this marking effectively announced Toho Kōki as the maker of the wrenches.

The "HIT" marking was typically followed by a one or two digit lot number or production code. (We hope to eventually be able to turn these lot numbers into production date estimates.)

[Toho Kōki] Toyota Motor "トヨタ" "HIT52" 200mm Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 16. Toyota Motor "HIT" 200mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, Construction Detail, and Marking Detail, ca. 1970s?

Fig. 16 shows a somewhat later Toyota Motor 200mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" and the Toyota Katakana logo forged into the front, with "200mm Angle Wrench" and "Made in Japan" forged into the back side.

The wrench is also marked with "HIT52" forged into the front near the hanging hole.

The lower inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate the construction details. Note the rounded transition at the fixed jaw and the inset convex cutaway on the movable jaw.

The overall length is 8.1 inches and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches.

The finish is chrome plating, with extensive losses due to wear and rust.

The "HIT" marking indicates production by Toho Kōki.

Based on our classification of Stylistic Generations, this wrench would be representative of the third generation of Toyota adjustable wrenches. The main changes from the second to the third generation were the removal of the raised oval panel and the addition of the "HIT" marking.

Fourth Generation Toyota Adjustable Wrenches

The main change between the third and fourth generation wrenches was the use of an angled transition at the fixed jaw, instead of the rounded transition used for prior generations.

[Toho Kōki] Toyota Motor "トヨタ" "HIT25" 200mm Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 17. Toyota Motor 200mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Construction Detail, ca. Late 1970s?

Fig. 17 shows a later Toyota Motor 200mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" and the Toyota Katakana logo forged into the front, with "200mm Angle Wrench" and "Japan" forged into the back side.

The wrench is also marked with "HIT25" forged into the front near the hanging hole.

The middle inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate the construction details. Note the angled transition at the fixed jaw and the corresponding angled cutaway on the movable jaw.

The overall length is 8.2 inches and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The "HIT" marking indicates production by Toho Kōki.

Based on our classification of Stylistic Generations, this wrench would be representative of the fourth generation of Toyota adjustable wrenches. The main change from the third to the fourth generation was use of an angled transition at the fixed jaw, while still retaining the Katakana logo. All prior generations had used a rounded transition at the fixed jaw.

Another minor change was that the marking on the back changed from "Made in Japan" to simply "Japan".

Based on our observations of online photographs, this is a relatively rare style for the Toyota adjustable wrenches. The simplest explanation for the scarcity of this style would be that the Katakana logo was removed shortly after the change to the angled transition, so that this generation was produced for only a short period.

Fifth Generation Toyota Adjustable Wrenches

The main change defining the fifth generation of Toyota adjustable wrenches was the removal of the stylized Toyota Katakana ("トヨタ") logo, which had been prominently located between "Totota" and "Motor" in all previous generations.

From an observational standpoint, the fifth generation wrenches in the 200mm size are by far the most commonly seen, suggesting a relatively long production period. But as might be expected, there were some minor changes during this period.

The first change noted is that the lot numbers following the "HIT" marking began using an "L" or "R" suffix, probably due to Toho Kōki running out of two-digit codes. We're unsure of the meaning of the "L" and "R", but they might indicate different forging or assembly lines.

Fifth generation wrenches have been observed without a suffix, indicating that the lot number suffixes were added part way into the generation.

A second notable change is that at some point the pin securing the worm gear was changed from a threaded pin to a press-fit pin. This effectively split the fifth generation into two variants, with earlier production using a threaded pin (as had been used in all previous generations), and later production using a press-fit pin.

Technically the change in pin construction could be regarded as defining a new generation, but we prefer to define generations that can be determined by simple visual inspection. The type of pin in use requires close inspection of the wrench and usually can't be determined from a photograph.

From examination of a large number (18) of 200mm fifth-generation wrenches, we are confident that the change to add L/R suffixes occurred during this generation, and that the switch to press-fit pins occurred after the suffixes were in use.

The next figures will show examples and variations of fifth-generation wrenches. With our understanding of the changes within this generation, we can arrange the examples in chronological order, with threaded pins before press-fit, and all-numeric lots before lots with suffixes.

And as luck would have it, two of the wrenches in a large lot happened to be in the same "HIT39L" lot, with one having a threaded pin and the other having a press-fit pin. These wrenches can then be seen as among the last of the threaded variant and the first of the press-fit variant.

[Toho Kōki] Later Toyota Motor "HIT52" 200mm Adjustable Wrench

We'll begin this section with two examples from the variant with threaded pins, representing relatively earlier production within the generation.

Fig. 18. Toyota Motor 200mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, Construction Detail, and Marking Detail, ca. Early to Mid 1980s?

Fig. 18 shows a later Toyota Motor 200mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" forged into the front, with "200mm Angle Wrench" and "Japan" forged into the back side.

The wrench is also marked with "HIT52" forged into the front near the hanging hole.

The middle inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate the construction details. Note the angled transition at the fixed jaw and the corresponding angled cutaway on the movable jaw.

The overall length is 8.2 inches and the maximum opening is 0.9 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

We were not able to remove the pin securing the worm gear, but did observe that the pin is slotted and the bore is threaded.

The "HIT" marking indicates production by Toho Kōki.

Based on our classification of Stylistic Generations, this wrench is representative of the fifth generation of Toyota adjustable wrenches. The main change from the fourth to the fifth generation was the removal of the Toyota Katakana logo marking.

The use of a threaded pin and the absence of a suffix for the lot number indicates that this wrench is an early example of the fifth generation.

Interestingly, the "HIT52" lot number on this wrench is a duplicate of that observed on the Toyota Motor "トヨタ" "HIT52" 200mm Adjustable Wrench of a prior generation. This probably wasn't supposed to happen, and provides a good reason for the adoption of the L/R lot number suffixes.

[Toho Kōki] Later Toyota Motor "HIT39L" 200mm Adjustable Wrench (Threaded Variant)

Fig. 19. Toyota Motor 200mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, Construction Detail, and Marking Detail, ca. Early to Mid 1980s?

Fig. 19 shows another later Toyota Motor 200mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" forged into the front, with "200mm Angle Wrehch" and "Japan" forged into the back side.

The wrench is also marked with "HIT39L" forged into the front near the hanging hole.

The middle inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate the construction details. Note the angled transition at the fixed jaw and the corresponding angled cutaway on the movable jaw.

The bottom inset shows a close-up of the slotted pin securing the worm gear, with threads visible in the bore.

The overall length is 8.1 inches and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The "HIT" marking indicates production by Toho Kōki.

Based on our classification of Stylistic Generations, this wrench is representative of the fifth generation of Toyota adjustable wrenches. The main change from the fourth to the fifth generation was the removal of the Toyota Katakana logo marking.

Before proceeding with our discussion, we have a question for our readers. Do you see anything odd in this photograph? This may seem like an ordinary wrench, but it's actually a "wrehch" (pronounced "wretch") — it says so right there on the back!

It's fairly rare to find a forged-in typo from a major Japanese manufacturer, but a group of 18 fifth-generation wrenches included three of these "wrehches", which were spread across three production lots! (The other lots with the typo were "HIT32R" and "HIT50L".) The typo was in the forging die for the back side and apparently went undetected as the lot numbers were changed.

This wrench is in the earlier variant of the fifth generation that used threaded pins, and interestingly enough we also acquired a wrench in the same "HIT39L" lot but of the later press-fit variant .. and the typo was fixed! Since lot "HIT39L" is split across the threaded and press-fit variants, this was apparently the active production lot when the change to press-fit pins occurred.

[Toho Kōki] Later Toyota Motor "HIT39L" 200mm Adjustable Wrench (Press-Fit Variant)

The next two figures show wrenches employing a press-fit pin to secure the worm gear, beginning with an example from the same "HIT39L" production lot as the previous figure.

Fig. 20. Toyota Motor 200mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, Construction Detail, and Marking Detail, ca. Mid 1980s to 1990s?

Fig. 20 shows slightly later Toyota Motor 200mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" forged into the front, with "200mm Angle Wrench" and "Japan" forged into the back side.

The wrench is also marked with "HIT39L" forged into the front near the hanging hole.

The middle inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate the construction details. Note the angled transition at the fixed jaw and the corresponding angled cutaway on the movable jaw.

The bottom inset shows a close-up of the press-fit pin securing the worm gear.

The overall length is 8.1 inches and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches.

The finish is chrome plating with polished faces, with minor losses due to rust.

The "HIT" marking indicates production by Toho Kōki.

This wrench uses a press-fit pin to secure the worm gear, indicating that it is part of the later variant of the fifth generation of Toyota adjustable wrenches, based on our classification of Stylistic Generations. The main change from the fourth to the fifth generation was the removal of the stylized Toyota Katakana ("トヨタ") logo.

Rather remarkably this wrench is in the same production lot as the previous example with a threaded pin, so we can further infer that this wrench would have been among the first to use a press-fit pin.

Also note that the odd "WREHCH" typo on the back of the previous example has been fixed for this example.

By inspection of a large number of fifth-generation wrenches, we found that somewhat more than half (11 of 18) used a press-fit pin.

Interestingly, the lot codes for all of the press-fit examples had an "L" or R" suffix, whereas one of the examples with threaded pins had a purely numeric lot code. This allows us to infer that the L/R suffix represents later production, probably after the company ran out of two-digit numbers. The lot codes of earlier generations are all numeric, providing further evidence for this interpretation.

[Toho Kōki] Later Toyota Motor "HIT57R" 200mm Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 21. Toyota Motor 200mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, Construction Detail, and Marking Detail, ca. Mid 1980s to 1990s?

Fig. 21 shows a later Toyota Motor 200mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" forged into the front, with "200mm Angle Wrench" and "Japan" forged into the back side.

The wrench is also marked with "HIT57 R" forged into the front near the hanging hole.

The middle inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate the construction details. Note the angled transition at the fixed jaw and the corresponding angled cutaway on the movable jaw.

The bottom inset shows that the worm gear has been secured with a press-fit pin instead of a threaded stud.

The overall length is 8.1 inches and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The "HIT" marking indicates production by Toho Kōki.

This wrench uses a press-fit pin to secure the worm gear, indicating that it is part of the later variant of the fifth generation of Toyota adjustable wrenches, based on our classification of Stylistic Generations. The main change from the fourth to the fifth generation was the removal of the stylized Toyota Katakana ("トヨタ") logo.

[Toho Kōki] Later Toyota Motor "HIT24" 250mm Adjustable Wrench

This next figure shows an adjustable wrench in the less common 250mm size.

Fig. 22. Toyota Motor 250mm Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, Construction Detail, and Marking Detail, ca. Late 1980s to 1990s?

Fig. 22 shows a later Toyota Motor 250mm adjustable wrench, marked with "Toyota Motor" forged into the front, with "250mm Angle Wrench" and "Japan" forged into the back side.

The wrench is also marked with "HIT24" forged into the front near the hanging hole.

The middle inset shows a close-up of the jaws to illustrate the construction details. Note the angled transition at the fixed jaw and the corresponding angled cutaway on the movable jaw.

The overall length is 10.2 inches and the maximum opening is 1.3 inches.

The finish is chrome plating with polished faces, with extensive losses due to rust.

The "HIT" marking indicates production by Toho Kōki.

This wrench uses a press-fit pin to secure the worm gear, which places it in the later variant of fifth-generation Toyota adjustable wrenches in our Stylistic Generations. The main change from the fourth to the fifth generation was the removal of the stylized Toyota Katakana ("トヨタ") logo.

Sixth Generation Toyota Adjustable Wrenches

The change defining the sixth generation of Toyota adjustable wrenches was the replacement of "Toyota Motor" with just "Toyota". The wrenches are otherwise identical to the late production of the fifth generation.

Toho Kōki is known to have ceased production of adjustable wrenches in 2000. We have observed only a relatively small number of sixth-generation wrenches with the "HIT" marking, allowing us to infer that this generation must have started sometime in the late 1990s.

After ceasing its own production, Toho Kōki used Hokuyo Sangyō ("Sanki") as a supplier of adjustable wrenches, and Sanki's "SA" mark has been observed on Toyota adjustable wrenches as well.

Sanki served as Toyota's supplier only briefly, as the company went out of business in 2002. Production of Toyota adjustable wrenches then passed to AIGO Kōgyō, based on observations of an "AI" marking.

AIGO served as Toyota's supplier only briefly, as the company went out of business in 2011. [Editor's note: we see a pattern here! We're calling this "The Curse of the Toyota Wrench" 😂]

After the demise of AIGO, production of Toyota adjustable wrenches passed to an unknown maker, who wisely decided not to mark their production.

We will add examples when available.

Contract Production for Fuller Tool

Toho Kōki is known to have had a supply contract for adjustable wrenches with the Fuller Tool Company, based on numerous observations of Fuller wrenches marked with the "HIT" trademark. The contract probably began in the late 1950s, as a Japanese book by a tool industry insider mentions an early Fuller contract with an Osaka-based maker of adjustable wrenches.

In addition, a documented 1962 investment in Toho Kōki by the Fuller Orient Corporation (Fuller's import subsidiary) indicates an ongoing supplier relationship.

[Toho Kōki] Early Fuller "HIT" 8 Inch Thin-Pattern Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 23. Early Fuller No. 8 "HIT" 8 Inch Thin-Pattern Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Construction Detail, ca. Late 1950s to Early 1960s.

Fig. 23 shows an early Fuller 8 inch thin-pattern adjustable wrench, marked with "Fuller" and "Drop Forged" forged into the front, with "Thin Pattern" and "Chrome Alloy Steel" forged into the back.

The shank is also marked with "Japan" forged along a curved arc near the hanging hole, with "HIT" along a curved arc on the back side.

The lower inset shows a close-up of the open jaws, illustrating the rounded corner of the fixed jaw and the inset convex cutaway of the movable jaw

The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches. The finish is chrome plating, with extensive losses due to wear and rust.

We observed that the pin securing the worm gear is threaded on the outside end, a characteristic of production by Toho Kōki.

Several details for this wrench suggest an early production date. The "Thin Pattern" marking is rare for Fuller wrenches and suggests a contrast with a "thick" pattern, presumably a carbon steel (or non-alloy) wrench. We haven't seen a non-alloy Fuller adjustable wrench, but "Thin Pattern" would be a reminder that alloy-steel wrenches are thinner and lighter.

Another detail to note is that the wrench is not marked with "No. <size>", the "model number" marking found on most Fuller adjustable wrenches. In addition, the finish is very thin and is deteriorating, in contrast to the heavy plated chrome finishes typically found on Fuller wrenches.

Based on these marking and construction differences, we think it's plausible that this wrench was made in the late 1950s to early 1960s.

[Toho Kōki] Fuller No. 8 "HIT" 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 24. Fuller "HIT" 8 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Construction Detail.

Fig. 24 shows a Fuller No. 8 8 inch adjustable wrench, marked with "Fuller No. 8" and "Chrome Alloy" forged into the front, and with "Full Drop Forged" forged into the back side.

The shank is also marked with "HIT" forged along a curved arc near the hanging hole, with "JAPAN" forged along a curved arc on the back side.

The lower inset shows a close-up of the open jaws, illustrating the rounded corner of the fixed jaw and the inset convex cutaway of the movable jaw.

The overall length is 8.2 inches, and the maximum opening is 1.0 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The "HIT" marking indicates production by Toho Kōki.

One detail noted for this wrench is that the pin securing the worm gear is threaded on the outside (slotted) end, a characteristic of Toho Kōki production.

Contract Production for Sears Roebuck

As one of the production partners of the Fuller Tool Company, Toho Kōki became a supplier to the Sears "BF" line of tools.

In 1962, prior to the start of the "BF" series, Sears placed a trial order for test marketing and Toho Kōki supplied "Dunlap" brand adjustable wrenches.

[Toho Kōki] Dunlap "Japan" 12 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 25. Dunlap "Japan" 12 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Construction Detail, ca. 1962.

Fig. 25 shows a Dunlap 12 inch adjustable wrench, marked with the Dunlap oval logo and "Chrome Alloy Steel" forged into the shank, with "Full Drop Forged" and "Japan" forged into the back side.

The center inset shows the construction of the jaws. Note the rounded transition at the corner of the fixed jaw, and the corresponding inset convex cutaway on the movable jaw.

In addition, note the round or "maru" outline of the jaws.

The overall length is 12.1 inches and the maximum opening is 1.4 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

We disassembled the wrench for cleaning and verified that the pin securing the worm gear is threaded on the outside end. The pin diameter was measured as 6.05mm at the threaded end and 5.47mm at the interior section.

This wrench has been identified as part of a trial order placed by Sears in 1962 and imported by the Fuller Orient Corporation. At that time Fuller's primary manufacturing partners were Toho Kōki and KTC, and the outside threads on the pin of this wrench identify Toho Kōki as the maker.

The trial order was apparently well received by its customers, and in 1964 Sears began its "BF" series of imported Japanese tools.

[Toho Kōki] Early Sears [30872] "BF" 10 Inch Adjustable Wrench

Fig. 26. Sears [30872] "BF" 10 Inch Adjustable Wrench, with Insets for Back Side, Side View, and Construction Detail, ca. 1964-1965.

Fig. 26 shows an early Sears [30872] 10 inch adjustable wrench, marked with "Sears" and "Chrome Alloy Steel" forged into the front, with "Full Drop Forged" and "BF Japan" forged into the back.

The lower inset shows a close-up of the fully open jaws, illustrating the rounded corner of the fixed jaw and the corresponding inset convex cutaway of the movable jaw. Note also the round or "maru" jaw outline.

The overall length is 10.1 inches and the maximum opening is 1.3 inches. The finish is chrome plating with polished faces.

The pin securing the worm gear is threaded on the outside end, with threads clearly visible in the bore.

The construction of this wrench is very similar to the Dunlap "Japan" 12 Inch Adjustable Wrench made by Toho Kōki In particular, the "maru" outline of the jaws, the ridge around the hanging hole, and the use of outside threads for the pin confirm Toho Kōki as the maker.

This wrench is currently our only example of production by Toho Kōki for the Sears brand. We have a theory that Toho Kōki dropped out as a supplier to Sears at a fairly early stage, but are still gathering evidence before presenting our explanation.

This wrench is not marked with a model number, but the catalogs listed the 10 inch size as model 30872. The absence of a model number suggests production from 1964-1969, and the production by Toho Kōki narrows the estimated date to 1964-1965.

Appendix A: Toyota OEM Tool Kits

In an earlier section we showed examples of the various generations of Toyota OEM adjustable wrenches, with descriptions of the changes from the prior generation.

For our next investigation we would like to discover which vehicles offered adjustable wrenches in their OEM tool kits. Thus far we've had only limited success in looking into this, but it does appear that the popular "Land Cruiser" series offered a 250mm wrench in most (if not all) editions.

Eventually we hope to find information on the particular generation of wrench included with at least some model years, which will then provide a basis for estimating production dates.

If any of our readers have an older Toyota vehicle with the original tool kit, please let us know via email.