What Is It

[Scorpius]

I think it's a lead balloon were are looking at.

Nev

[511Flyer]

GS? Correct Pete. A big un!!

[Airspeed]

As in "Grubby Screwdriver"?

actually service shorthand for Screwdriver, General Service, engineers pattern.
haven't seen a Dzus tool in years until now

ttfn

Pete

Glad to have the Knowledgeable Ones on hand. Your reference to Service terminology reminded me of this:
When I was young, I wondered why equipment listings included: "Boots, ammunition."
I realised the sequence of noun, adjective, had logical reasons, but why **#@ AMMUNITION?
Thanks to Quartermaster Google, and Sergeant Wiki, I have learnt:

Ammunition boots, also known as Boots, General Service (BGS), were the standard footwear for the British Army from the late 1880s until the late 1950s. They replaced the earlier lace-up "Blucher" (also known as Wellington) boots that had been in service since the early 1800s.

The term "Ammunition boots" comes from the boots' unusual source. They were procured by the Master Gunner and the Munitions Board at Woolwich (the Regiment of Artillery's headquarters) rather than Horse Guards (the headquarters of the British Army). They were usually produced at a factory on site, but civilian manufacturers were given contracts to produce them during times of increased demand.

[airboatr]

Hi All

Rick - thank you. Nice to see you pop in btw,
And thanks to all the rest of you for your participation. I didn't recognize it for what it was.
The Dzus tool belongs to my cousin in law who inherited it from his father. I don't have all the details of how his father acquired it but he served in the military and somehow it fell in his duffel back.

like many others I use a flat blade screw driver to turn the fastener. But I can see the benefit of using it, as there is less risk of marring the finish.

hold on what do you know, Carl just sent me the reply to my email.

Here is what he knows

Wow, I can't believe how fast that you were able to determine what this tool was. With your identification, I found one of these wrenches exactly like my Dad's for sale on E-bay for $50. It gave some info about it (attached).

I'm fairly certain that my Dad got this tool while he was in Berlin right after the end of World War II. He was a mechanic and served as the head of the motor pool for an U.S. Army artillery unit during the war in Europe. Shortly after Berlin fell, he was assigned as part of the U.S. occupation troops in Berlin. He took photos of the ruins, etc. I know he went to the Tempelhof air base in Berlin, and associated with the guys there, so maybe that is where he got this "Mickey Mouse" wrench. Being a mechanic he probably thought it was both neat and useful as a multi-purpose tool. I've attached a few photos he took of the planes at Tempelhof.

Thanks again,

Carl

and there you have it.

Cheers

Joe

PS. anyone want to see some aircraft piccies he sent.?
I have to ask first of course

[Dev One]

If I remember correctly DZUS fasteners slots (the types used in the old days for cowlings etc) were plung milled, i.e. the slot was not straight across at the same depth, so a curved ended screwdriver, a coin or that tool was ideal & a straight ended screwdriver could damage the slot.
Keith

[Motormouse]

If I remember correctly DZUS fasteners slots (the types used in the old days for cowlings etc) were plung milled, i.e. the slot was not straight across at the same depth, so a curved ended screwdriver, a coin or that tool was ideal & a straight ended screwdriver could damage the slot.
Keith

And that is quite correct.

Ttfn

Pete