Gimmick Tools That Aren't Always Gimmick Tools

[AbiggerGarage]

Never had a Gatorgrip socket, did know one person that used it for the radiator drain plug, until one of those plastic radiators wouldn't seal back up and he decided to follow shop protocol and drain via the bottom hose instead.

Did know someone else who drilled where a cracked socket stopped, cut a notch for those wing nuts and welded on the socket to fill the crack (low torque use).

I've never done enough wing nuts for one.
Two others, long ago "gifted" to me by an inlaw that thought they would be fine with a smaller toolbox and these would actually do the job (until they bought their kids a basketball goal and actually bought a cheap wrench set).
multi wrench
universal dogbone wrench

Both images are from ebay, because I LONG ago and quickly disposed of the gimmicks and that family member has borrowed proper tools from me.

[Hickory n Steel]

I have a couple of those multi type wrenches around somewhere from my grandfather.
I don't know if he got them new or from the flea market but they're very rusty like he never used them.

Those dogbone wrenches are definitely a gimmick, but they're also one of the most persistent gimmicks because they've been introduced to the world so many times over the past 100 years.

[goodfellow]

Getting back to Cross-Force for a moment, I was a little late in getting in on the large jumbo sized US made versions of that set, and opted for the import lobster claw version that they were offering at the time. The fit/finish and the looks are not as good as the Danaher versions, but those big lobster claw wrenches have had some huge pipes attached to them to leverage off fasteners from farm machinery. Surprisingly they've held up very well. -- They still look awfully awkward though when compared to their more refined smaller Danaher produced brethren.

[Uncle Buck]

Years ago I bought at least one or possibly even two dog one wrenches, one a Craftsman and  I think a Williams or Armstrong  brand dirt cheap,  perhaps a buck ot two each knowing full well I would never use them.Both were 60's vintage or so, well used, but not abused. I liked  them, but saw small likelihood of ever using either. Each was cheap enough the extravagance was of no consequence.