10 Vintage Wrenches and Tool Sets Worth Serious Money

Old shop gear is finding fresh attention among collectors. Vintage wrenches and complete sets from known makers can draw serious bids. Prices rise when pieces are complete and left as found. Condition, clear markings, and original boxes carry real weight. With those points in mind, a patient eye helps a lot when you hunt.

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Snap-on Super Service Set Model 6

Early collectors know this set for its green enamel boxes and early ratchet parts. Released around 1923, it targeted garage owners who wanted a full socket outfit. Original pricing in period catalogs sat roughly in the mid to high thirty dollar range, about $35 to $45. Today, a complete and correct set with early logos can bring about $1,500 to $3,000 depending on condition. Look for matching sockets, proper clips, and intact trays since completeness moves the needle.

This set stands out for its early one-half inch drive layout and the mix of speeders, extensions, and adaptors. Knurling style and logo stamps help date the components. Refinished boxes tend to sell for less than untouched examples. Light surface wear with clean internals usually appeals to serious buyers. Original paperwork and sales literature can add a nice premium.

Plomb WF Combination Wrench Set

Many collectors chase Plomb for the WF stamp and prewar production. The early WF combination wrench bundles were modestly priced at the time. A small four to six wrench set could start around $2 to $6 when new, depending on sizes. Present values for a matched group often reach $300 to $700. Scarcer sizes and crisp markings can push results higher.

These wrenches have a pleasant satin finish when not overly polished. Matching font, size progression, and original roll help hold value. Replated examples look shiny yet usually bring less money. Shop rash is acceptable if markings stay clear. Provenance such as a period tool roll earns attention.

Walden-Worcester 5211 one-half inch Drive Socket Set

Early Walden sets show smart engineering and stout steel for the era. The 5211 layout was common in the late 1920s for automotive work. Typical new prices sat near $18 to $25 depending on dealer and options. Current market estimates cluster around $400 to $900 for complete outfits with the correct hinges and trays. Scarce hinge ratchets and early logos increase interest.

Collectors check for proper knurl styles and period stampings. Socket substitutions from later decades reduce appeal. A straight, original lid with working clasp helps. Tools with light patina usually feel right for age. Paper labels and catalog sheets make a nice bundle.

Mossberg No. 350 Model T Tool Kit

Model T owners will recognize Mossberg as a common supplier of period service tools. The No. 350 kit lined up with mid 1910s Ford needs and basic roadside jobs. Factory or dealer pricing for a small kit like this often fell near $3 to $5 when new. Today, clean near-complete kits with the right wrenches and tire tools can reach $400 to $1,000. The strongest results come from matched contents and a sound box.

Pieces to confirm include the jack handle style, plug wrench, and correct spanners. Mixing later aftermarket tools into the roll holds values down. Surface oxidation is acceptable if threads and jaws remain square. Repaired or repainted tins usually lag. A period Ford instruction slip helps the case.

Billings and Spencer Model 97 Bicycle Wrench

Small bicycle wrenches from Billings carry crisp markings and neat profiles. Production spanned from the late 1890s into the 1910s. Pricing when new was pocket change, often around 25 cents to 50 cents depending on size. Current prices for excellent examples with clear stamps can run $75 to $200. Scarce variants and early fonts can stretch that range.

Collectors prefer honest patina without heavy sanding. Jaw tips should stay square and true. Nickel-plated versions sometimes appear and can bring a premium. Markings that show city and maker add charm. Provenance from a bicycle shop roll is a sweet bonus.

Crescent 24-inch Adjustable Wrench

Big Crescents appeal to display buyers and shop historians. The 24-inch size traces back to early production after 1907. Catalog pricing in the period was usually around $1.50 to $2.50 depending on finish. Present values run near $150 to $400 for clean, early stamp versions. Extra points go to wrenches with smooth action and tight jaws.

Collectors like even wear and unbent handles. Painted examples from later decades sit lower on price ladders. Nickel remnants can help if original. Stamps should remain legible along the shank. A tidy wire-brushed cleanup beats aggressive polishing.

J H Williams Superrench Open-End Set

Williams promoted these as tough service wrenches for garages and plants. The open-end set format let shops buy a full run for common sizes. New prices for a boxed progression often hovered around $10 to $18. Current estimates for a matched set in a period roll fall near $300 to $800. Early script logos and matching length steps raise confidence.

Finish should look correct for age rather than mirror bright. Mushroomed ends or spread jaws cut value. Rolls with intact snaps or strings look great on the shelf. Tool numbers should follow a tidy sequence. Spare duplicates suggest later mixing.

Bonney Open-End Wrench Set

Bonney branded sets earned fans for slim heads and good steel. This set covered everyday automotive sizes in one box. Original retail often sat in the $5 to $8 range. Today, a complete and crisp set can reach $200 to $500. Scarcer box styles or early script markings can add a little more.

Collectors want consistent markings across all pieces. Heavy plating loss or deep pitting slows bids. Original boxes with intact labels lift the set. Length progression should feel right in hand. Shop initials are fine if neatly stamped.

S-K Wayne 40970 Drive Set

Fans of wartime era tools recognize the stout ratchet and neat knurling here. The 40970 was a shop favorite in the early 1940s. New pricing commonly fell around $20 to $28 depending on the tray and extras. Present market value often reaches $350 to $800 when complete and clean. Better results come with original paint inside the lid and matching stamp styles.

The best examples show smooth ratchet action without slop and no cracked sockets. Cases with straight lids photograph well and help bids. Replated or heavily buffed pieces tend to trail. Size progression should be even across the SAE run. A correct handle set and extensions round out the appeal.

Barcalo Buffalo Open-End Wrench Set

Barcalo Buffalo earned a following for slim heads and tidy machining. Sets from the 1940s show up in both civilian and contract forms. Typical new pricing for a boxed progression ranged from $6 to $10. Current prices hover around $180 to $450 for a full, matched group. Scarcer sizes and clean original boxes help push higher.

Look for consistent stamp depth and a smooth climb in lengths across the set. Rolls or boxes with readable labels make photos pop. Deep pitting near the jaws drags bids down. Nickel traces can be a plus when original. A simple wipe and light oiling preserve the right look.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.