Snap On Then and Now, 80 Years Back......

[chad s]

Here is a little time warp, boy have things come a long way. There are some interesting points about this 1928 catalog. First off, the stated warranty is for 1 year. That's right, no lifetime warranty!

Second, and the thing I found rather amusing, was the tool box marketing. The first snap on "roll cab" is shown, and its basically a chest on wheels. The best part is a parallel to their current marketing. They show (what they refer to as an actual photograph, it looks faked to me) a photograph of a car resting on their tool box by the front axle, to show how strong the box is. Very similar to the current KRL series add with the 22 ton dump truck sitting atop 6 KRL tool boxes.

Well, Enjoy!

 

[chad s]

 

[wrenchr]

Very cool!!!!!!! Thanks!!!

 

[strizzy]

WOW! Thanks for taking the time to post that!

Ever wish you had a time machine and cash handy?

 

[Cashed]

Very cool!! Thanks!

 

[arkracing]

Awesome!

Ever wish you had a time machine and cash handy?

Yes

 

[krusty the clown]

that was a great purchase! glad you posted it!

 

[ImportTuner]

Thanks for the post ... interesting reading ...

 

[jay50]

What, no air impact listed? LOL

 

[l_bilyk]

Wow! The master service set only contained 19 pieces!

 

[trackwelder]

Very cool thanks for posting for all to see. I have some I'd like to post if I could ever figure out that dang scanner of mine.

 

[chad s]

Very cool thanks for posting for all to see. I have some I'd like to post if I could ever figure out that dang scanner of mine.

Thanks all, glad I could share.

Trackwelder (or anyone else), do you have a catalog older than '28? I'd love to see an even older one. This catalog already has ratchets in it, I think the earliest catalogs just had breaker bar and T handles, and then toothed "ratcheting" adaptors.

 

[Fedwrench]

That's an outstanding bit of history. The rollaway listed reminded me of when I was in Votech. I had an old beat up remline top box filled with the school tool list sitting on a movers dolly that I pushed around. Worked great except for having to bend over to reach stuff. Some of the old wrench sizes are interesting, down to 32nds?

 

[chad s]

The rollaway listed reminded me of when I was in Votech. I had an old beat up remline top box filled with the school tool list sitting on a movers dolly that I pushed around.

Thats gotta be rough on your back after a long day!

I like the tool cart, I'd love to find one of those.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Thank you for being so kind as to share this rare old gem with the rest of us!

 

[Itzkwik]

I noticed a Diamond adjustable wrench on one of the pages. Was Diamond a SnapOn brand like Blue Point? Think I've got an old Diamond in my box.

 

[Merkava_4]

THANK YOU!

It was very nice of you to do this.

 

[krusty the clown]

I noticed a Diamond adjustable wrench on one of the pages. Was Diamond a SnapOn brand like Blue Point? Think I've got an old Diamond in my box.

i don't think so. i belive they just marketed diamond adjustables along with rigid pipe wrenches and the vacuum grip pliers (made by forged steel products). it help to make a complete line of tools so the distibutor could be a "one scouce" supplier.

 

[wilbilt]

Thanks for posting the scans! I have a few of those tools...interesting to see the original prices.

 

[Merkava_4]

Diamond is owned by Cooper Tools Group.

 

[krusty the clown]

oh my god! i just noticed the punches and chisels were made from swedish steel! they have been outscourcing from the beginning

 

[krusty the clown]

Diamond is owned by Cooper Tools Group.

not in 1928 though..........

 

[Uncle Buck]

Diamond is owned by Cooper Tools Group.

I thought Diamond was no longer?

 

[Merkava_4]

I thought Diamond was no longer?

That may be but I've got a Cooper catalog with Diamond, Nicholson, Wiss, Xcelite, Plumb, Lufkin, Cresent, Weller, H.K. Porter, and some others I can't think of right now.

 

[old salvage]

oh my god! i just noticed the punches and chisels were made from swedish steel! they have been outscourcing from the beginning

Aww man, thats funny.

 

[Merkava_4]

What's fascinating is that the punches and chisels haven't changed much in 80 years; and the pliers look very similar to today's pliers.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

GREAT POST!

-BWP

 

[krusty the clown]

I thought Diamond was no longer?

looks like diamond is only used for farrier tools and horshoes. i guess there was no need to have adjustables in both crescent and diamond!

 

[eschoendorff]

Diamond is owned by Cooper Tools Group.

and NOS Diamond stuff is still available at Harry Epstein.

Damn Chad, that was cool!!!!!!

 

[JB740i]

Awesome. Thanks for your post. That was great.

 

[gotmud13613]

Awesome, Thanks for sharing

 

[wilbilt]

and NOS Diamond stuff is still available at Harry Epstein.

And NCJ* Diamond tools are available at TSC.








*New Chinese Junk

 

[Cliff McNeill]

I know this is an old posting but just wanted to say thanks for the scan! Cant have too many tool catalog to use for reference!

 

[jerryW]

I just picked up a Blue points 9/16 5118 at the swap this weekend for only a nickle more than the list in the catalog, yes, only $1.


jerry

 

[Art From De Leon]

What's fascinating is that the punches and chisels haven't changed much in 80 years; and the pliers look very similar to today's pliers.

I was going to say the same thing, Snap On's big selling point on their punches and chisels has been the 'parabolic head' for as long as I can remember, and now we see it dates back to the very beginning.

The idea of a tool cart with the lift up lid, must have been a first.

There is/was a person selling REPRINTS of a 1923 Snap On catalog on ebay, I may have bought one, but I do not know what became of it. I did take it onto the truck, and ask if Tony would honor the prices that day.

The oldest tool catalog I have is a Cornwell from the mid/late 1940's.

Thank You for posting.

 

[chrislehr]

wow, awesome scan and find! Saving.

 

[billymade]

Interesting to see how Snap-On was putting their toolboxes under vehicles to demonstrate their strength! I guess there isn't any thing new under the sun!
Also, interesting to note: the warranty was only for 1 year; I wonder when the lifetime warranty came into play?

 

[justinmc]

Best post I've seen in awhile... Thank you very much for posting that.

 

[quatroad]

Thank you, Chad. That was tremendous fun! So cool of you to scan/share.

 

[Packard V8]

Anyone note there were no combination wrenches in 1928? Didn't they come along in the mid-1930s or so?

thnx, jack vines