Alloy Artifacts

Sockets and Drive Tools

Bonney was not one of the earliest producers of sockets and drive tools, as they waited until around 1927 to introduce this group of tools. By this time a number of other companies already had well-established lines of socket tools, including Blackhawk, Duro/Indestro, Hinsdale, Mossberg, New Britain, Snap-On, and Walden, plus many smaller companies.

The late entry did give Bonney one advantage though, in that they offered a full line of alloy-steel sockets and drive tools, while other companies were in the process of switching from the earlier carbon-steel models. Thus it's probably fair to say that Bonney was the first tool maker to offer an exclusively alloy-steel line of socket tools.

The socket tools offered in 1927 were only for 1/2-drive, but the 3/8- and 3/4-drive sizes followed later. Although rarely seen, Bonney also produced tools in 9/32-drive, a drive size introduced by Snap-On in the mid 1920s. The 9/32-drive tools were still listed in the 1938 catalog, but by 1939 had been discontinued in favor of 1/4-drive.

4019 1/2-Drive 19/32 Socket

Fig. 101. Bonney 1/2-Drive 4019 19/32 Socket, with Inset for Broaching.

Fig. 101 shows a 1/2-drive Bonney 4019 6-point socket of size 19/32, marked "Chrome Vanadium" in a fancy script with the CV-Circle logo in the center.

The finish is nickel plating.

The 40xx model number series was used for the first sockets offered by Bonney in 1927, and the script "Chrome Vanadium" marking shown here is believed to be the earliest marking style.

D14 1/2-Drive 7/16 Socket

Fig. 102. Bonney 1/2-Drive D14 7/16 Socket, with Inset for Broaching.

Fig. 102 shows a 1/2-drive Bonney D14 size 7/16 socket, marked "Chrome Vanadium" in script with the CV-Circle logo in the center.

The finish is nickel plating.

D40 1/2-Drive 1-1/4 Socket

Fig. 103. Bonney 1/2-Drive D40 1-1/4 Socket, with Inset for Broaching.

Fig. 103 shows a 1/2-drive Bonney D40 1-1/4 socket with an inset for the broaching detail. The reduced base is marked "Made in U.S.A." with the CV-Circle logo, and the drive end has a drilled hole in one wall for more secure holding.

The socket construction appears to be cold-broached, as some chatter marks are visible, and the chips have been clipped against the walls below the broaching. The socket base has a cross-hatched band with sufficient relief to assist with turning by hand, a convenience feature often found on early sockets.

The socket walls are slightly tapered, a feature of the Bonney Dxx socket series. Bonney also offered a 1/2-drive Axx socket series with straight walls.

4081 1/2-Drive Breaker Bar

Fig. 104. Bonney CV 1/2-Drive 4081 Breaker Bar, with Inset for Reverse Detail.

4095 1/2-Drive Universal

Fig. 105. Bonney CV 1/2-Drive 4095 Universal.

Fig. 105 shows a Bonney 4095 universal, marked "Chrome Vanadium" in a script font with the CV-Circle logo in the center.

The overall length is 2.4 inches, and the finish is chrome plating.

4096 1/2-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar

Fig. 106. Bonney CV 1/2-Drive 4096 Flex-Head Breaker Bar, with Insets for Detail.

Fig. 106 shows a 1/2-drive Bonney 4096 flex-head breaker bar, marked "Chrome-Vanadium" and "Made in U.S.A." with the CV-Circle logo. The overall length is 9.6 inches, and the finish is chrome plate.

The knurled handle is equipped with a cross-bar hole with a detent ball, as can be seen in the right inset. The end is also broached for 1/2-drive, allowing the tool to operate as an extension, in addition to its other functions.

The drive head is not fitted with a detent ball, but instead has some sort of friction mechanism to control its pivoting action.

4093 1/2-Drive Ratchets

Fig. 107. Bonney 1/2-Drive 4093 Ratchet, with Insets for Side View and Marking Detail, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 107 shows a 1/2-drive Bonney 4093 female drive ratchet with its 4094 drive plug, marked on the shank with "Bonney" and "Made in U.S.A." in forged raised letters. The shank also has a forged-in code "GU....." visible at the right, and shown in detail in the middle inset.

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

Note that this ratchet is not marked with a CV or Bonaloy alloy specification. The cadmium finish and lack of an alloy marking indicate production during the 1942-1945 wartime years.

Fig. 108. Bonney Bonaloy 1/2-Drive 4093 Ratchet, with Inset for Reverse Detail, 1946.

Fig. 108 shows a later 1/2-drive Bonney 4093 female drive ratchet, marked "Bonney" and "Made in U.S.A." in forged raised letters, with "Bonaloy" forged into the reverse. The shank also has a forged-in code "CX..." visible at the left.

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

Also shown is the standard Bonney 4094 drive plug (see lower left inset) with a "C.V." marking.

For this particular ratchet the "Bonaloy" marking and year code "X" indicate production in 1946. The 4093 ratchet was among the original drive tools offered by Bonney, and this ratchet model remained in production until being replaced by the A706 model around 1950.

4084 1/2-Drive Speeder/Brace

Fig. 109. Bonney 1/2-Drive 4084 Speeder, with Inset for Detail.

3/8-Drive Tools

Bonney introduced 3/8-drive tools some years after the initial 1/2-drive series, and the new tools were given model numbers with a "T" prefix, as in "Tiny".

T2 3/8-Drive Breaker Bar

Fig. 110. Bonney T2 CV 3/8-Drive Breaker Bar, with Insets for Top and Side Views, 1932.

Fig. 110 shows a 3/8-drive Bonney T2 fixed-head breaker bar with a panelled shank. The shank has forged-in markings "Made in U.S.A." on the top (see middle inset), with "Chrome-Vanadium" and the CV-Circle logo on the bottom. The shank also has a forged-in code "EX" visible at the left, near the drive head.

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

The year code "X" indicates production in 1932, in the first cycle of the Bonney date code system.

T28 3/8-Drive Ratchets

The Bonney T28 ratchet was a 3/8-drive non-reversible model with an open gear, introduced in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The ratchet remained in production for a number of years, and was still listed in the 1947 catalog. We're fortunate to have several examples of this model as shown in the next figures.

Fig. 111. Bonney T28 CV 3/8-Drive Ratchet and T29A Drive Plug, with Insets for Side View and Reverse, 1933.

Fig. 111 shows an earlier 3/8-drive Bonney T28 ratchet with its T29A drive plug, marked with "Bonney" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the shank. The reverse side has "Chrome-Vanadium" and the CV-Circle logo forged into the shank, with a forged-in code "KYv" visible at the right.

The overall length is 6.5 inches. The original finish has been lost to wear and rust.

The year code "Y" indicates production in 1933.

The drive plug is marked "C.V." with the Bonney name and model.

Fig. 112. Bonney T28 CV 3/8-Drive Ratchet and T29A Drive Plug, with Inset for Reverse, 1939.

Fig. 112 shows a somewhat later Bonney CV T28 ratchet and drive plug, marked with "Bonney" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the shank. The reverse side has "Chrome-Vanadium" and the CV-Circle logo forged into the shank, with a forged-in code "LR....." visible at the right.

The overall length is 6.5 inches. The finish appears to be chrome plating, but much has been lost due to wear.

The year code "R" indicates production in 1939, in the second cycle of the Bonney date code system.

The drive plug is the Bonney model T29A.

Fig. 113. Bonney T28 Bonaloy 3/8-Drive Ratchet, with Inset for Reverse Detail, 1946.

Fig. 113 shows a later example of a Bonney Bonaloy T28 ratchet, marked with "Bonney" and "Made in U.S.A." forged into the shank, with "Bonaloy" and a forged-in code "KX...." on the reverse.

The overall length is 6.5 inches.

The "Bonaloy" marking and "X" year code indicate production in 1946.

T35 3/8-Drive Reversible Ratchet

In 1936 Bonney introduced the T35 reversible ratchet, the first reversible model for the 3/8-drive line.

Fig. 114. Bonney T35 3/8-Drive Reversible Ratchet, with Insets for Side View and Reverse Detail, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 114 shows a 3/8-drive Bonney T35 reversible ratchet, marked with the "Bonney" name forged into the shank, with the model number and a forged-in "KV.." code on the reverse.

The overall length is 6.5 inches, and the finish is plain steel.

Note that this ratchet is not marked with a CV or Bonaloy alloy specification. The plain finish and lack of an alloy marking indicate production during the 1942-1945 wartime years.

Bonney assembled their reversible ratchets with rivets instead of screws, which made the tools more difficult to disassemble for cleaning or repair. (The soft steel rivets are fairly easy to remove though.) This particular example is badly worn from extensive use.

PWA1397 3/8-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar

This next figure shows an example of Bonney production for Pratt-Whitney Aircraft.

Fig. 115A. Bonney PWA1397 3/8-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1942-1945.

Fig. 115A shows a rare 3/8-drive Bonney PWA1397 flex-head breaker bar, stamped with the Bonney name and a model number for Pratt-Whitney Aircraft.

The overall length is 7.6 inches, and the finish is black oxide.

The knurled handle is equipped with a cross-bar hole with a detent ball, allowing use as a Tee-handle.

T30 3/8-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar

Fig. 115B. Bonney T30 3/8-Drive Flex-Head Breaker Bar, with Inset for Marking Detail, ca. 1947+.

Fig. 115B shows a 3/8-drive Bonney T30 flex-head breaker bar, stamped "U.S.A." with the Bonney name.

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

The knurled handle is equipped with a cross-bar hole with a detent ball, allowing use as a Tee-handle.

1/4-Drive Tools

V17 1/4-Drive Sliding Tee Breaker Bar

Fig. 116. Bonney V17 1/4-Drive Sliding Tee Breaker Bar.

Fig. 116 shows a Bonney V17 1/4-drive sliding Tee breaker bar, marked "Made in U.S.A." with the CV-Circle logo embedded in the "Bonney" name.

The overall length is 4.0 inches.

V25 1/4-Drive Ratchet

Fig. 117. Bonney V25 1/4-Drive Ratchet, with Inset for Side View.

Fig. 117 shows a Bonney V25 1/4-drive reversible ratchet, marked "U.S.A." with the company name.

The overall length is 4.4 inches.

The ratchet mechanism uses a 20-tooth drive gear with a pivoting pawl.

3/4-Drive Tools

By 1929 Bonney was offering a "Heavy Duty" line of sockets and drive tools in 3/4-drive. An advertisement from that year shows a "No. H Heavy Duty Socket Wrench Set" consisting of a "Hercules" forged ratchet, sliding Tee handle, two extensions, and ten hexagon sockets.

CV 4295 3/4-Drive Universal

Fig. 118. Bonney CV 4295 3/4-Drive Universal, with Insets for Marking Detail.

Fig. 118 shows a 3/4-drive Bonney 4295 universal, stamped "Chrome Vanadium" with CV-Circle logo in the center, with the model number and "Made in U.S.A." at the sides.

The overall length is 3.9 inches, and the finish is polished chrome.