Wrenches

In its earlier years Walden did not offer drop-forged wrenches, and it wasn't until the 1930s that these tools became available.

One reason for the delay may have been that Walden lacked drop-forging capabilities and would have needed to outsource the production.

Tappet Wrenches

In the 1930s Walden offered tappet wrenches in a style with asymmetric offsets and different sizes. The models were paired so that both sizes were available in straight and offset openings.

Walden-Worcester 982 13/16x7/8 Tappet Wrench

Fig. 179. Walden-Worcester 982 13/16x7/8 Tappet Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s

Fig. 179 shows a Walden 982 13/16x7/8 tappet wrench, marked "Walden Worcester" in forged raised letters on the shank, with "Chrome-Alloy" forged on the back side.

One face is stamped with "Made in U.S.A." and a code resembling a backwards "Z", likely a date code.

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

The backwards "Z" code on the face probably indicates the manufacturing date, but we do not yet have the decoder ring for these codes.

This style of tappet wrench was illustrated in the 1932 Stevens Walden catalog No. 117.

Open-End Wrenches

Beginning in the 1930s Walden offered open-end engineer's wrenches in industry-standard models.

Walden-Worcester 1723 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench

The 1932 Stevens Walden catalog No. 117 listed open-end "Engineers' Wrenches" in a variety of sizes, and noted the construction from chrome alloy steel. The standard finish at that time was Udylite process cadmium plating with polished faces.

Fig. 180. Walden 1723 3/8x7/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s

Fig. 180 shows a Walden 1723 3/8x7/16 open-end wrench, marked with the "Walden Worcester" logo forged into the shank, with "Chrome-Alloy" on the back side.

The faces are stamped with the model number and "Made in U.S.A.", though the markings are difficult to read.

The overall length is 5.5 inches. The original finish appears to have been nickel plating, but most has been lost due to rust.

Walden-Worcester 1725 7/16x1/2 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 181. Walden 1725 7/16x1/2 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 181 shows a Walden 1725 7/16x1/2 open-end wrench, marked with "Walden Worcester" forged into the shank and "Chrome-Alloy" on the back side, and with "Made in U.S.A." stamped on one face.

The overall length is 5.5 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Walden-Worcester 1727 9/16x5/8 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 182. Walden 1727 9/16x5/8 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 182 shows a Walden 1727 9/16x5/8 open-end wrench, stamped "Made in U.S.A." on the face with a back sided "Z" date code below.

The shank is marked with "Walden Worcester" forged into the front, with "Chrome-Alloy" on the back.

The overall length is 7.0 inches. The finish appears to be nickel plating, but with extensive losses due to wear.

Walden-Worcester 1027A 5/8x11/16 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 183. Walden 1027A 5/8x11/16 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 183 shows a Walden 1027A 5/8x11/16 open-end wrench, with "Walden Worcester" forged into the shank and "Chrome-Alloy" on the back side. One face is stamped "Made in U.S.A." with a small back sided "F" date code.

The overall length is 7.5 inches, and the finish is nickel plating with polished faces.

Walden-Worcester 1729 Open-End Wrench

Fig. 184. Walden 1729 5/8x3/4 Open-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 184 shows a Walden 1729 5/8x3/4 open-end wrench, marked "Walden Worcester" in forged raised letters, with "Chrome-Alloy" on the back side.

The faces are stamped with the model number at one end and "Made in U.S.A." at the other, though both are difficult to read due to the pitted surface.

The overall length is 7.5 inches. The finish is chrome plating, with some loss due to rust.

Box-End Wrenches

By 1930 Walden was offering "Boxtite" single-offset box-end wrenches, and by 1932 double-offset wrenches were available as well.

"Boxtite" Single-Offset Box-End Wrenches

Walden-Worcester was one of several companies to produce box-end wrenches in a single-offset configuration, a style popular in the late 1920s through 1930s. (The other companies included Blackhawk, Bonney, Snap-On, and Williams, so it was a good group to join.) These wrenches offered two openings of the same size, with one end straight and the other offset.

Walden used the trade name "Boxtite" for the single-offset wrenches, possibly a reference to the extended depth of the box on the offset end, which was more like a socket.

Currently our earliest catalog reference for the "Boxtite" wrenches comes from the 1930 Sligo catalog, which lists them as "Walden Boxtite Wrenches".

Fig. 185. 1930 Catalog Listing for Walden "Boxtite" Single-Offset Box Wrenches.

The scan in Fig. 185 shows a listing for Walden "Boxtite" single-offset box wrenches, as published on page 124 of the 1930 catalog no. 70 from the Sligo Iron Store Company.

The wrenches were available in sizes ranging from model 2112 (3/8) up to 2132 (1 inch).

The text notes that the wrenches were drop-forged from chrome alloy steel, then heat treated and finished with cadmium plating.

The 1932 Stevens-Walden catalog listed them as "Single Offset Boxtite" wrenches, and noted that they are drop-forged from chrome alloy steel. The standard finish was Udylite, a cadmium plating process.

Examples of the single-offset wrench style from other makers include the Blackhawk 2720 Wrench, Blue Point X-16 Wrench, Bonney 2818 Wrench, and Williams 8140 Wrench.

Stevens-Walden 2112 "Boxtite" 3/8 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 186. Walden 2112 3/8 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Side View, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 186 shows a Walden 2112 3/8 single-offset box wrench, marked "Stevens Walden Worcester" in forged raised letters.

The overall length is 5.0 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Stevens & Company merged with Walden-Worcester in 1926, but the companies continued to mark their products separately for some years after that.

The Stevens marking on this wrench suggests that it may be more recent than our other examples.

Walden-Worcester 2114 "Boxtite" 7/16 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 187. Walden 2114 7/16 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 187 shows a Walden 2114 7/16 single-offset box wrench with 12-point broachings. The wrench is marked "Walden-Worcester" in forged raised letters, with "Chrome-Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." forged on the back side.

The overall length is 5.6 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating. (This was the standard finish, according to the Sligo catalog.)

The side view shows the design of the offset box, with an elongated and tapered form almost like a socket. The Boxtite single-offset wrenches were available in sizes ranging from model 2112 (3/8) up to 2132 (1 inch).

Walden-Worcester 2118 "Boxtite" 9/16 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 188. Walden 2118 9/16 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 188 shows a Walden 2118 9/16 single-offset box wrench, marked "Walden Worcester" in raised letters, with "Made in U.S.A." on the back side.

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

Walden-Worcester 2120 "Boxtite" 5/8 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 189. Walden 2120 5/8 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 189 shows a Walden 2120 5/8 single-offset box wrench, marked with "Walden Worcester" forged into the shank, with "Made in U.S.A." forged into the back side.

The overall length is 8.6 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Walden-Worcester 2122 "Boxtite" 11/16 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 190. Walden 2122 11/16 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 190 shows a Walden 2122 11/16 single-offset box wrench, marked with "Walden Worcester" forged into the shank, with "Made in U.S.A." forged into the back side.

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

Walden-Worcester 2124 "Boxtite" 3/4 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 191. Walden 2124 3/4 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 191 shows a Walden 2124 3/4 single-offset box wrench, marked with "Walden Worcester" forged into the shank, with "Made in U.S.A." forged into the back side.

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

Walden-Worcester 2128 "Boxtite" 7/8 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 192. Walden 2128 7/8 Single-Offset Box-End Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 192 shows a Walden 2128 7/8 single-offset box wrench, marked with "Walden Worcester" forged into the shank, with "Made in U.S.A." forged into the back side.

The overall length is 11.2 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Double-Offset Box Wrenches

The 1932 Stevens Walden catalog No. 117 listed three sizes of short double-offset box-end wrenches. The construction was from chrome alloy steel, and the standard finish at that time was Udylite process cadmium plating.

Walden-Worcester 485 1/2x9/16 Short Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 193A. Walden 485 1/2x9/16 Short Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 193A shows a Walden 485 1/2x9/16 short offset box wrench, marked "Walden Worcester" in forged raised letters, with "Chrome Alloy" and "Made in USA" forged on the back side.

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

Walden-Worcester 486 5/8x11/16 Short Offset Box-End Wrench

Fig. 193B. Walden 486 5/8x11/16 Short Offset Box Wrench, with Insets for Side View and Back Side Detail, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 193B shows a Walden 486 5/8x11/16 short offset box wrench, marked "Walden Worcester" in forged raised letters, with "Chrome Alloy" and "Made in USA" forged on the back side.

The overall length is 6.2 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Flex-Box Wrenches

By 1932 Walden was offering flex-box wrenches with swiveling sockets. These wrenches were listed in the 1932 Stevens-Walden catalog No. 117 under the name "Flextite Wrenches".

Four models were available, 3906 (7/16x1/2), 3907 (9/16x5/8), 3909 (5/8x3/4), and 3910 (11/16x21/32). The four wrenches could also be purchased as a No. 3900 set in a metal box.

Flex-box wrenches were made by a number of other manufacturers. An early example is the Herbrand 6827 Flex-Box Wrench shown on our page for Herbrand.

Walden-Worcester 3907 9/16x5/8 "Flextite" Flex-Box Wrench

Fig. 194. Walden 3907 9/16x5/8 Flex-Box Wrench, with Inset for Broaching, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 194 shows a Walden 3907 9/16x5/8 flex-box wrench, stamped "Walden-Worcester" with "Chrome Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the shank, although some markings have been obscured by grinding.

The overall length is 8.1 inches.

The shank shows a small mark resembling a back sided "F" that is presumed to be a date code, but the interpretation is not yet known.

Combination Wrenches

The next several figures show examples of early Walden combination wrenches, featuring a distinctive Walden-Worcester logo with an extended "W" in raised letters.

Combination wrenches were first offered by Plomb and Bonney in 1933, and by the mid to late 1930s many other companies were offering them as well. Due to gaps in our catalog coverage for Walden, we are not sure when the Walden combination wrenches were first offered, but based on the "Chrome Alloy" marking they were probably available by the late 1930s.

Walden-Worcester 2150 3/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 195. Walden 2150 3/8 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1930s.

Fig. 195 shows a Walden 2150 3/8 combination wrench, marked "Walden Worcester" with "Chrome-Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 5.0 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Walden-Worcester 2153 9/16 Combination Wrench

Fig. 196. Walden 2153 9/16 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1930s.

Fig. 196 shows a Walden 2153 9/16 combination wrench, marked "Walden Worcester" with "Chrome-Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 6.8 inches, and the finish is nickel plating with polished faces.

Walden-Worcester 2154 5/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 197. Walden 2154 5/8 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1930s.

Fig. 197 shows a Walden 2154 5/8 combination wrench, marked "Walden Worcester" with "Chrome-Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the back side. The overall length is 7.7 inches.

This example is finished in a heavy nickel plate.

Walden-Worcester 2155 11/16 Combination Wrench

Fig. 198. Walden 2155 11/16 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1930s.

Fig. 198 shows a Walden 2155 11/16 combination wrench, marked with "Walden Worcester" and the model number forged into the front, with "Chrome-Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the back side.

The overall length is 8.7 inches.

Walden-Worcester 2156 3/4 Combination Wrench

Fig. 199. Walden 2156 3/4 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1930s.

Fig. 199 shows a Walden 2156 3/4 combination wrench, marked with "Walden Worcester" forged into the front, with "Chrome Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the back.

The overall length is 9.5 inches.

The finish is plain steel, with no evidence of a prior plated finish.

Walden-Worcester 2157 7/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 200. Walden 2157 7/8 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1930s.

Fig. 200 shows a Walden 2157 7/8 combination wrench, marked with the "Walden Worcester" logo forged into the shank, with "Chrome-Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the back side. The back side face (not shown) is stamped with the 2157 model number.

The overall length is 10.9 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Walden-Worcester 2159 1 Inch Combination Wrench

Fig. 201. Walden 2159 1 Inch Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1930s.

The overall length is 11.9 inches, and the finish is heavy nickel plate with polished faces.

Walden-Worcester 2161 1-1/8 Combination Wrench

Fig. 202. Walden 2161 1-1/8 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1930s.

Fig. 202 shows a Walden 2161 1-1/8 combination wrench marked "Walden Worcester" in forged raised letters, with "Chrome-Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 14.0 inches, and the finish is heavy nickel plate with polished faces.

Walden-Worcester 2162 1-1/4 Combination Wrench

Fig. 203. Walden 2162 1-1/4 Combination Wrench, with Insets for Side view and Back Side Detail, ca. Late 1930s.

Our largest example in this series is shown in Fig. 203, a Walden 2162 1-1/4 combination wrench marked "Walden Worcester" in forged raised letters, with "Chrome-Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 15.0 inches, and the finish is heavy nickel plate with polished faces.

Specialty Tools

Walden-Worcester 459 7/16x1/2 8-point Ford Brake Wrench

Fig. 204. Walden 459 7/16x1/2 8-Point Ford Brake Box-End Wrench, with Inset for Back Side, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 204 shows a Walden 459 7/16x1/2 8-point box-end wrench, marked with "Walden-Worcester" forged into the shank, with "Chrome-Alloy" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the back side.

The overall length is 14.2 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

The model 459 wrench was listed in the 1932 Stevens-Walden catalog No. 117 for a $1.80 price.

This wrench was designed for adjusting the brakes on Ford automobiles. Similar tools were made by a number of other companies in the 1930s, and examples can be seen as the Duro-Chrome 268 Ford Brake Wrench, Herbrand 2333 Ford Brake Wrench, or Herbrand 2333V V-8 Ford Brake Wrench.

Walden 369 10 Inch Water Pump Pliers with Spanner

Fig. 205. Walden 369 10 Inch Water Pump Pliers with Spanner, ca. 1930s.

Fig. 205 shows a pair of Walden 369 10 inch water pump pliers, stamped "Walden-Worcester" and "Made in U.S.A." on one handle, with "Chrome Alloy" and "Water Pump Wrench" on the other.

The overall length is 10.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

These pliers were listed in the 1932 Stevens-Walden catalog No. 117 with a price of $1.60, and the catalog notes that the spanner end of one handle was designed to fit the splined pack nuts on the Ford Model A, Reo, and some recent Chrysler models.

Stevens Walden T-615 Chain Repair Pliers

Fig. 206. Stevens Walden T-615 Chain Repair Pliers, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. Mid to Late 1920s.

Fig. 206 shows a pair of Stevens Walden T-615 chain repair pliers, stamped "Stevens Walden Worcester" and "Made in U.S.A." near the pivot.

The overall length is 7.0 inches. The original finish was nickel plating, but much has been lost due to rust.

Pliers of this style were used for opening and closing the links in tire chains when making repairs.

Although not marked with a patent notice, these pliers are covered by patent #1,338,804, issued to D.C. Woodworth in 1920.

The "Stevens Walden" marking indicates production in 1926 or later, after the two companies had merged.

Another example of these pliers can be seen as the E.T. Company Chain Repair Pliers.

Walden-Worcester 867 Refrigeration Ratchet

Fig. 207. Walden 867 1/4-Drive Refrigeration Ratchet, with Inset for Back Side.

Fig. 207 shows a Walden-Worcester 867 1/4-drive refrigeration ratchet, marked "Walden-Worcester" with "Made in U.S.A." on the back side.

The overall length is 6.0 inches, and the finish is cadmium plating.

Refrigeration ratchets typically include several additional wrench openings in the handle, and this tool has openings for 7/32 square, 1/4 square, and 1/2 hex.

Modern Production

Walden 2122 11/16 Combination Wrench

Fig. 208. Walden 2122 11/16 Combination Wrench, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 208 shows a Walden 2122 11/16 combination wrench marked with just the company name, model, and fractional size.

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

Walden 2156A 13/16 Combination Wrench

Fig. 209. Walden 2156A 13/16 Combination Wrench.

In Fig. 209 we see a Walden 2156A 13/16 combination wrench, with "U.S.A." and "Alloy" stamped on the shank.

The overall length is 10.5 inches, and the finish is chrome plating with polished ends.

The construction of the wrench allows us to identify Vlchek as the maker.