Mercedes-Benz Ponton Tool Kits

In the USA during the 1950s, Mercedes-Benz vehicles were sold through Studebaker-Packard dealerships.  Here is a service letter from Studebaker-Packard Corporation (South Bend, Indiana) which includes a chart showing the tools and accessories that were furnished with each type of new Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle of the period.

The Studebaker-Packard chart is not always consistent with the illustrated, model-specific Mercedes-Benz Ponton spare parts lists (catalogues).  One such contradictory item is the U-shaped wheel mounting fork.  The chart provided in the Service Letter lists the tool as being part of all models in the Ponton range, yet not all spare parts catalogue illustrations (that have been provided in the creation of this web page, thus far) include that particular tool.  One spare parts list illustration (see below) which does include the U-shaped wheel mounting fork is from the Type 190SL roadster.  The publication dates of the parts catalogue illustrations may be significant as to the corroboration of the Studebaker-Packard document which is dated December 12, 1957.  Unfortunately, in the case of the Type 190SL tool kit illustration (see below), no publication date was provided.  Other tool kit illustrations on this page are dated for comparison with the Studebaker-Packard Service Letter.  Note the differences between the early (May, 1956) versus the later (July, 1959) tool kit illustrations for the Type 190 sedan, below.

All models in the Ponton range used a 12 mm wheel lug nut (17 mm wheel nut wrench size) while the Type 300SL roadster-cabriolet, Type W136 170S-V sedan (7/1953-2/1955) and Type 300 "Adenauer" sedans of the era used a larger 14 mm wheel lug nut and wheel lugs (19 mm wheel nut wrench size). These cars also had a larger diameter U-shaped wheel mounting fork in their tool kits. Besides helping to align and install the wheel, the fork also protected the threads of the lug from damage during tire removal and installation.

Illustration of tool kit and accessories from the Type 220SE Catalog A, dated November, 1958. Courtesy: Bill Fulton

Tire pressure gauge (Luftdruckprüfer) (0.5 - 3.0 atü) with original box and data sheet for Mercedes-Benz Type 180 Ponton sedan. Photos submitted: December 27, 2005.  Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5200.

The gauge reading is reset by tapping it lightly in the palm of your hand

The manufacturer's name, Messko Hauser, is engraved on the barrel of the gauge

Illustration of Type 190SL tool kit and accessories
Note the U-shaped wheel mounting fork
No publication date provided

This illustration (Table 43, Group 58) is from a Type 300 Adenauer limousine spare parts list. Item 18 (spark plug wrench) has a spring at the end. Item 13 (long-handle pliers) is not shown in other Ponton-era kits, but is described in the Service Letter as "Adjustable Pliers" (000 581 01 38). Items 11 and 12 are socket wrenches; special tools for the Type 300 only – used to service the generator and water pump assembly. Finally, Item 24 – the pouch (186 580 01 07) was not canvas, but leather (usually red) as was the "Bag for car Papers" (a.k.a. documents pouch) (000 585 02 95) also provided with the Type 300 limousines. The service letter proclaims that the tire pressure gauge was no longer furnished as standard equipment as of December 12, 1957. Here is a link to the Type 300 Adenauer tool kit.

Mercedes-Benz Ponton tool kit.  The green screw driver handle is unusual.  The hex (Allen) wrench is 6 mm.  The small box contains spare fuses.  There are two different common colors for the canvas pouch: beige, and olive drab.  Here, the beige pouch appears to be in very good condition.

Most original Ponton era tools (with possible exceptions depending on which market the vehicles were sold in) were black anodized, not silver plated.  The silver plated tools were introduced later.

Detail of same tool kit.  The screw driver handle appears to be plastic, and thus from a later kit.  The original, wood screw driver handles are hard to find in good condition.

Ponton tool kit assembled from two partial kits
Courtesy: Andy Litkowiak / 1959 Type 220S sedan

The illustration above is from the Mercedes-Benz Type 190 Spare Parts List, Edition A, dated May, 1956.  Note that it includes the U-shaped wheel mounting fork.  Compare this to the illustration below for the Type 190b dated July, 1959.

Illustration of Type 190b sedan tool kit and accessories as per spare parts list dated July, 1959.  Note that the U-shaped wheel mounting fork is not shown in this illustration.  The Service Letter (above) from the Studebaker-Packard Corporation (dated: December 12, 1957) lists the U-shaped wheel mounting fork as part of the Type 190 tool kit.  The wheel mounting fork must have been phased out with the introduction of the Type 190b (6/1959).

Also note that the service letter from Studebaker-Packard proclaims that the tire pressure gauge was no longer furnished as standard equipment as of December 12, 1957, yet this illustration from July, 1959 still includes it.

An original, unopened tool kit for the Type "190/220/220S."  Since the bag is unopened, we do not know if the tools are black anodized or silver plated.  If they are silver, this kit may be from the post-Ponton (Heckflosse) series, which would include the Type W110 190c, W111 220b and W111 220Sb. 

Reproduction olive drab canvas tool pouch; available from SL Auto Haus
See Links for contact information

Reproduction tool kit pouch with contents including a fuse kit (top right) and tire pressure gauge (0.5 - 4.0 atü).  The fuse kits are still available new from Mercedes-Benz.  To be authentic, this kit needs a black anodized spark plug wrench (approximate length: 208 mm / 8.2 inches) and handle (approx. length: 200 mm / 7.9 inches).  The silver plated spark plug wrench and handle in this photo are from a later Mercedes-Benz tool kit.  Since this kit is part of a 1957 Type 190 sedan, it also needs the U-shaped wheel mounting fork and a 6 mm hex (Allen) socket screw wrench to be complete. / Courtesy: Jeff Miller / July 4, 2003.

Mercedes-Benz toolkit with reproduction pouch
Courtesy: Jeff Miller / August 27, 2011

Close-up of "box w/ spare fuses" (DB# 136 580 00 10) / (6) 8A, (2) 16A, and (1) 25A.  Available new from authorized Mercedes-Benz agents.

Tire pressure gauge (0.5 - 4.0 atü) and box.  The box is missing the label designating which model it originally came from.  However, it is known that this gauge came from a 1958 Type 300SL roadster-cabriolet (8/1957-2/1963). The car was owned by Larry Hansen of Penn Yan, NY. The service letter from Studebaker-Packard proclaims that the tire pressure gauge was no longer furnished as standard equipment as of December 12, 1957. Courtesy: Jeff Miller

Here is the tool kit illustration that came with the 1958 Type 300SL roadster-cabriolet (8/1957-2/1963).  Note the shape of the canvas pouch.  It is different from other pouches in the Ponton line up.  It resembles one of the Type 190SL pouches.

This 14 mm hex (Allen) wrench (120 581 05 65) appears to be included in the illustration (item 7) of the 1958 Type 300SL roadster-cabriolet tool kit.  However, the Studebaker-Packard letter lists a different part number (120 581 06 65) for the "drain plug wrench size 14" for the Type 300SL.  The sedans, coupés and cabriolets are also allegedly supplied with the same (120 581 06 65) wrench.  The obvious difference between the two wrenches is the profile.  Photo Courtesy: Tyler Carlson

Original style 14 mm hex (Allen) wrench

The original Mercedes-Benz Ponton 14 mm hex (Allen) wrench (120 581 06 65) is used for the following drain plugs:

• differential (both drain and filler plugs)
• gas tank
• oil pan
• transmission (both drain and filler plugs)

Note that some automotive supply stores sell generic ("L" shaped) 14 mm hex (Allen) wrenches.  The profile of these "L" shaped wrenches may not work on the Ponton differential and transmission filler plugs because there is not enough space to get the wrench into position.  In that case, either the original Mercedes-Benz tool, or the modern combination wrenches (detailed below) will be needed.

Modern Equivalent Oil Service / Combination Wrenches

The contemporary Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) part number for the oil filter combination wrench is 000 589 24 07 00. As of January 2006, the tool is available through authorized Mercedes-Benz agents at a suggested retail price of $19.00. Enter the part number (000 589 24 07 00) into this Mercedes-Benz link to verify: http://www.startekinfo.de/etools/content/lookup.jsp It is described as, "Box Wrench for Allen Socket."

Other manufacturers and vendors of this tool may be located by searching the web using words such as, "Mercedes-Benz 14 mm hex 17 mm box oil service wrench", or "Daimler AG Pkw oil plug spanner", etc.

As of January 2006, the Stahlwille tool company (www.stahlwille.com) sells a combination wrench that has the same profile as the original Mercedes-Benz 14 mm hex (Allen) wrench. It includes a 14 mm male hex key at one end (for the oil, transmission, differential and gas tank plugs) and a 17 mm box wrench (used on the oil filter canister) at the other. The Stahlwille part number is listed on their web site as either SF 3677 or 3677. As of January 2006, the list price of the Stahlwille tool is: $51.88.

The Hazet tool company also sells a version of this tool under the part number HZ 2760. As of January 2006, the price for the Hazet tool is about $57.00.

Stahlwille 3677 combination 14 mm male hex / 17 mm female box wrench

Hazet 2760 combination 14 mm male hex / 17 mm female box wrench

Ponton tool kit including the 6 mm hex (Allen) socket screw wrench and U-shaped wheel mounting fork

According to the Studebaker-Packard Corporation's Service Letter (shown above) the U-shaped wheel mounting fork was original to all models in the Ponton range. Photo courtesy: Tyler Carlson

Tire pressure gauge (0.5 - 4.0 atü) from Ponton era tool kit (Type 300SL). Note the color of the box.  It is a lighter blue than the other boxes of this era.

This tool is from a Type W120/W121 Ponton era diesel tool kit. Ponton era diesel models include: 180D/180Db/180Dc/190D/190Db. It is described as a "single ring spanner", and it fits the glow plugs. The size is 20.8 mm (13/16"). Markings include: "20.8 / Made in Germany / DOWIDAT / 000 581 18 36 / Mercedes-Benz". 

Photos of glow plug tool courtesy: Len Sokoloff / February 13, 2011