Whats the story with Large and Small Font DFS wrenches?

[Cornpanzer]

Making a new thread about a discussion started elsewhere.

There are two types of Drop Forged Steel wrenches that pop up.

1) The Large Font which has larger lettering and very crisp machined edges on the open ends. You can also machine marks (lines) on the open ends. This is what I always find in original unmolested kits that I see in cars.

2) Small Font which has smaller lettering and soft edges and a textured finish on the ends that appear to be "as-cast"

A couple years ago, I bought a set of the small font wrenches from a regular tool seller on Pelican and sold them in a tool kit that I had restored. The fellow that purchased it complained about the wrenches saying that they were not correct for any early 911 and either returned the kit or took a pricing concession (cant recall how we resolved it).

The other worrisome issue with the small font wrenches is that they are often paired up with goofy sizes such as 18/20, etc which makes me wonder if they arent from another car like a Mercedes??? (no evidence, just wondering)

Here is a photo (my apologies to the person I stole it from) Note that the left two are Small Font and the right three are Large Font.

[Allen Henderson]

Dave,

I think and am pretty sure the large font DFG's wrenches are correct for late 356 and early 911 including all SWB toolkits, and most LWB ones up to 1973. The small font, frankly I'm not sure about but do think there was probably a transition to the smaller font starting, maybe, in the ealry '70s kits. Sometime around 1973 we also saw Selected Special Steel and two S's, Special Steel, I think it was wrenches. Thanks.

-Allen-

[Hpt911]

I have seen tool kit with Selected Special Steel wrenches in a late built (June-July) 1968 that is claimed to be original . Are they correct? Thanks

[mfitton]

My tool kit just sold to rowdy205, so the open wrenches with the smaller font must not be unusual, my guess is the ones with Drop Forged Steel (large & small font) are from the same vintage just different manufacturers. Here is a link from the 356 registry that seems to indicate this.
http://porsche356registry.org/356talk/13/33195.html

As I am sure everyone knows rowdy205 is the tool guru!

[Peanut]

I'd come to understand the large font DFS preceded the small font DFS, then SSS. I'd be interested to know some of the expert opinions.

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...light=Wrenches

[Allen Henderson]

IMHO, there is no way we are going to get a definitive answer on this question. Is it possible that wrenches were mixed in the kits? Sure during a transition period it could have happened, no doubt. However, let's say your kit is being judged in a concours. OK? Mixed DFG'd and SS or SSS wrench same kit, deduction I'm pretty sure, small one but deduction. Same goes again, my opinion, with small and large script. Here are a couple things I am VERY SURE of:
Late 356 C/SC kit and SWB kit had large script DFG'd wrenches (and Klein screwdrivers btw).
Late LWB, circa 1973 had SSS or SS wrenches and, maybe DFG'd too.
As for the small script DFG'd, not sure at all when they appeared.
There was a thread sometime ago, might have been removed, regarding SSS (or maybe they were SS) in an early SWB kit and a well-known expert said this was legit. However, myself and another often frequent seller and contributor to this board stated "no way." I'm in violent agreement with that: I have had around 50 kits, about 10 or so from cars I've owned and sold in the last six years, never saw anything in an original SWB kit that said SSS or SS on it ! Thanks.

-Allen-

[mfitton]

Here is a photo (my apologies to the person I stole it from) Note that the left two are Small Font and the right three are Large Font.

Looks to me like they are all a mixed bag which gets back to my theory that there was more than one mfg. company. The one on the far right (19-17) is large font "Drop Forged Steel" but "Germany" is small font, second from right (14-15) looks like small font but "Germany" large font, (13-12) all large font, last 2 (10-11 & 8-9) small font. I think there was a bin with tools in it and a kit was put together with what ever was around at the time. Of course it was done late in the day right after "Tea" break!

[Peanut]

Your threads were the ones that I typically referred to as "the standard."

IMHO, there is no way we are going to get a definitive answer on this question. Is it possible that wrenches were mixed in the kits? Sure during a transition period it could have happened, no doubt. However, let's say your kit is being judged in a concours. OK? Mixed DFG'd and SS or SSS wrench same kit, deduction I'm pretty sure, small one but deduction. Same goes again, my opinion, with small and large script. Here are a couple things I am VERY SURE of:
Late 356 C/SC kit and SWB kit had large script DFG'd wrenches (and Klein screwdrivers btw).
Late LWB, circa 1973 had SSS or SS wrenches and, maybe DFG'd too.
As for the small script DFG'd, not sure at all when they appeared.
There was a thread sometime ago, might have been removed, regarding SSS (or maybe they were SS) in an early SWB kit and a well-known expert said this was legit. However, myself and another often frequent seller and contributor to this board stated "no way." I'm in violent agreement with that: I have had around 50 kits, about 10 or so from cars I've owned and sold in the last six years, never saw anything in an original SWB kit that said SSS or SS on it ! Thanks.

-Allen-

[Frank Beck]

The good Dr. would be rolling in his grave if he knew Porsche enthusiasts were having a deep discussion about tool kit wrench fonts.

He would think it's utter absurdity.



Just an observation.

[Cornpanzer]

The good Dr. would be rolling in his grave if he knew Porsche enthusiasts were having a deep discussion about tool kit wrench fonts.

He would think it's utter absurdity.

Just an observation.

Actually, I suspect he would be more offended by someone presumptuously projecting their opinions on him posthumously. Just another observation.