Fairalloy wrench

  Here's a wrench made by Fairmount just about the time that the use of chrome molybdenum and vanadium was becoming popular among toolmakers. The nonspecific term allowed them to source different steels when steel was scarce in WW2.

The company started in a blacksmith's shop in Cleveland in 1917, they focused on automotive tools from the beginning. During WW2 they supplied the US military with tool kits. After the war they were bought by Frontier Industries which became part of Houdaille Industries which closed up in the 1980s. Eastwood has taken up the name for their line of automotive restoration tools.

 

CB900F Resto-mod

Resto mod looking good.

 The style looked good on the 400 twin too, but no one is resto-modding them...

Datsun, Suzuki and Revell

 Not the GSXR truck promotion, but this is also only in black and white...

Spring tension gauges

These gauges were used to measure and set spring tension on contacts touching another contact in a electro-mechanical relay. 

 P.K. Neuses website

These gauges were part of a tool kit belonging to reader Arthur's father, who was an electrical engineer for Ohio Power, a subsidiary of AEP American Electrical Power.  Below are some tools in the kit.

Thanks, Arthur!

Lark Finalwrench

  AI is suggesting this was a Whitworth wrench made by Thomas Smith & Sons in Birmingham. but it's actually a standard 1/2- 9/16" wrench. The company forged the "Snail Brand" tools but would apparently also do other brand names to order. 

 I can't find any reference to the name. Ideas?

 

Monday Mystery, big hook thingy

 This comes out of rural Maine, looks like blacksmith-made it so it could be part of any sort of old farm or logging machine but the 4 bolt flange might have been mounted to a wooden beam. Another clue might be the hole halfways up the shaft, maybe for a pivot or actuating arm? Anyways, just guesses, any ideas?

No prince of darkness jokes please

 They're trying!

Sidecar Sunday

Seen at the 2026 CVMG Rally.

The times are a'changin...

 The four masted Star of Shetland passes underneath the partially constructed Golden Gate Bridge on September 19, 1936, as it is towed outwards for Osaka, Japan for scrapping. The ship had been launched in 1899 as the Edward Sewell, and was a bulk carrier till it was sold to the Alaska Packers Association in 1922. In support of the salmon canneries, it carried lumber, canned salmon, freight and passengers between San Francisco and Alaska till it was retired. The bridge opened on May 27 1937.

One of my vices is vises, York 125

The York 125 is a heavy duty vise with a 5" wide jaw made in the Czech Republic, probably between 1934 and 1956. Rumour has it the shape inspired the Wilton Bullet vices.  The company is still around today.   History thread at Garage Journal.