Anyone else like Par-X? [Archive] - The Garage Journal Board

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J.A.F.E.

11-01-2008, 07:57 PM

I just scored a 1/2 Par-X UR-71 (1959 date code) at a swap meet a couple weeks ago. I have never seen the 1/2 before even though I knew of them. At $25 I know I spent too much but I just had to have it and I did talk him down from 30.

I have a 3/8 VR-70 3/8 ratchet and a UN100 3/8 breaker bar of unknown vintage bought together. They have been used very hard. The 3/8 ratchet has a bent handle but it still works nicely with no broken teeth. The breaker bar head is tight.

I also have 1/4 UR7 with no date code that I bought as part of a set new about 1975.

I don't know why but I am just really taken with these Par-X items. Any other fans out there?

~Steve

krusty the clown

11-01-2008, 08:04 PM

i don't know if it makes me a fan but i have 3 sets of par-x sockets.

acording to this the par-x trademark was registered in 1961
http://alloy-artifacts.com/trademarks-and-logos.html#Trademark-Par-X

billymade

11-01-2008, 08:18 PM

J.A.F.E.

11-01-2008, 08:23 PM

i don't know if it makes me a fan but i have 3 sets of par-x sockets.

acording to this the par-x trademark was registered in 1961
http://alloy-artifacts.com/trademarks-and-logos.html#Trademark-Par-X

I guess your a fan if you think you are.

Interesting about the trademark because that's 2 years after the date code on the 1/2 - if they used the same date codes as mainline SO.

~Steve

krusty the clown

11-01-2008, 08:28 PM

i'm sure they do. just because the trademark was registered in 61 doesn't mean they wern't selling them before that!

billymade

11-01-2008, 08:31 PM

Here is a application from (June 7, 1961) with the US patent and trademark office:
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=jbdo7b.2.2

J.A.F.E.

11-01-2008, 08:37 PM

I am definitely a fan; there was a thread awhile ago... I showed off my ratchets... they look like the same models you have! :) I also have a 3/8" speeder wrench that has the same handle; like the one in the box below!
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21242

Glad I'm not alone! I notice quite a few similarities with the equivalent SO items.

I bought this exact set and still have all the pieces except, sadly, the box. I bought the metal SO 1/4 box for the set. Still have that, too, with a few bumps and bruises added for provenance.

When I bought the set the dealer said SO would give the same warranty as SO and would upgrade to SO items if the Par-X were not available. I guess anyone can say anything though.

In that other thread you say the packaging looks like 70's. You've got a good eye - I got mine right before I moved to LA which was in 75.

http://i11.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/0d/2e/6510_1.JPG

~Steve

krusty the clown

11-01-2008, 08:41 PM

When I bought the set the dealer said SO would give the same warranty as SO and would upgrade to SO items if the Par-X were not available. I guess anyone can say anything though.

when i bought mine my dealer said he would warranty them with snap on for half the list price.

paramudduck

11-01-2008, 09:23 PM

I alwys liked the Par-X handles. Unfortunately all I have left in it is a few sockets scattered around the place. I keep saying I am going to dig them all out some day. But as CCR said someday never comes.

davestlouis

11-01-2008, 10:16 PM

J.A.F.E.

11-02-2008, 02:48 AM

I'm not even going to read this thread any more...I own one Par-X socket and that'll be it. I started innocently reading a thread about Plomb tools and now I'm buying every Plomb I can lay my hands on, I can't afford to start chasing another brand of tools too.

I know the syndrome all too well -

"That's all I'm going to buy is just this one socket. That's it. Just this one socket. And the extension. That's really it. All I'm going to buy is just this one socket and the extension. And this ratchet. That's really it. All I'm going to buy is just this one socket and the extension and the ratchet. That's it. Just this one socket and the extension and the ratchet. That's really it. All I'm going to buy is just this one socket and the extension and the ratchet. And ..."

(with appologies to Steve Martin in "The Jerk")

~Steve

bmwpower

11-02-2008, 02:56 AM

I love Par-X stuff too. For some reason I have a several of their 3/8" breaker bars and not much else. They're my go-to breaker bars in that size.

Elroy

11-02-2008, 10:33 AM

I just scored a 1/2 Par-X UR-71 (1959 date code) at a swap meet.........

At $25 I know I spent too much but I just had to have it and I did talk him down from 30.

Why do you think you spent too much? Sets are always worth more than individual pieces and it looks like you now have a very nice set. Go out and buy a NEW 1/2" ratchet at that quality level and see what it costs.

Elroy thinks you did fine

paramudduck

11-02-2008, 10:55 AM

We hereby totally endorse Elroy's statement. You made a excellent purchase of a quality tool.

SpiderGearsMan

11-02-2008, 06:06 PM

the only par x I found were left in a new car by assembly line workers

Uncle Buck

11-02-2008, 09:08 PM

I have a few Par-X pieces, one of which is a 1/2" ratchet. I love Par-X stuff cause no one ever knows what it is so it usually sells damned cheap. I buy it when I find it which isn't very often cause I don't see much of it. Great stuff though.

J.A.F.E.

11-02-2008, 11:14 PM

The $25 was just the 1/2 ratchet. But it is in nice shape and very usable. And it will see some use it won't be a drawer queen.

But thank you Elroy and paramudduck for the validation.

~Steve

billymade

11-02-2008, 11:51 PM

Thats whats so good about this website; it adds one more voice to our "head", that helps us rationalize all these cool tools we can't help buying and collecting! :)

J.A.F.E.

11-03-2008, 12:00 AM

Thats whats so good about this website; it adds one more voice to our "head", that helps us rationalize all these cool tools we can't help buying and collecting! :)

Thanks for that. I guess water seeks it's own level.

~Steve