The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest a couple new old tools

I picked up a couple tools today at a yard sale. First up we have a valve adjuster for two different size capnuts with the markings "New Britain made in the usa and Pat. Pend."

Here is a picture

The second tool I have no idea what it is. Can you guys clue me in.

picture 1 and 2.

Man, I have no clue either. I've never seen anything like it. Could it be the proverbial left handed monkey wrench?

No. 2 looks like a ring gruve cleaner to me.

That's a possibility ttodd, the wheel thing in the second picture has five different sizes and could rotate in position by loosening the stovebolt screw.

I think they are both very old tools. Later valve adjusters had a square drive for a socket. The piston groove cleaner works just like later ones did except that it looks like this one did not have clamping force like the later ones. This one relied on the mechanic to squeeze it for the proper cutting depth. I would put these tools in the early thirties or even twenties.

YES! I found the Valve adjusting tool information at this address New Britain Machine Company. It describes mine perfectly. I am now the proud owner of an official Chevrolet valve adjusting tool circa 1947.

My H.S. Shop teacher taught us to break and use the old rings for groove cleaners. It has been 35 years, but now I remember him showing us a similar tool that we never used. That is why I bought it at the yard sale, I knew I had seen one before but couldn't figure it out so I splurged the whole $1.00 on it.