This weeks Rare Vintage Snap On tool 3/9/08

[chad s]

This weeks tool one of the original tools from the first ones issued by Snap on. This T wrench dates to 1921-1922, Identified by the 4 pinches at the end to strop the socket from engaging too far. The very first one from 1920 would have had only 2 pinches. Also shown is a 1920-1923 "strike over" socket, which was the earliest form of marking for Snap-on sockets.

 

[Elroy]

Nice Snap-on, But Elroy prefers his "Frank Mossberg #331" speeder:

When Elroy picked this tool up is was a rusty crust with a broken spring behind the detent ball. That is fixed and as you can see fully polished. Elroy spends or lets say "did spend" WAY TOO MUCH TIME on old tools. It did turn out nice and Elroy uses the tool as well.

 

[krusty the clown]

is that like krusty rust i have that in my joints

 

[chad s]

Nice T handle Elroy, but not sure if I'd call that a "speeder". As far as I know, a speeder is one of these:

Im sure you probably know, that Mossenberg came before Snap On with the interchangeable socket setup. Too bad Frank didnt have what it took to bring his product to the front of the market.

 

[Elroy]

Excellent, How old do you think that Mossberg is ? Elroy has no "idear"

Is that Snap-on "T" cadmium plated ? Nice tools

 

[chad s]

Excellent, How old do you think that Mossberg is ? Elroy has no "idear"

Is that Snap-on "T" cadmium plated ? Nice tools

Thanks. It does seem to have a thin, cadmium like plating. A lot of the early snap on tools had a lot of variences in finishes, I guess they were experimenting.

I tried looking on the alloy-archives site to get date info on Mossenberg tools, but it seems there isnt much. Being that it is 1/2 drive (correct?), I would think its early-mid 1920's.

 

[Elroy]

Yes, Elroy's Mossberg "T" is 1/2" drive. Elroy has also looked at the "artifact" page with no date luck. Oh well.

Thanks for the response

 

[wrenchr]

Wrenchr likes elroys speeder!!! lol

 

[krusty the clown]

after 1927 it would be an APCO mossberg so mid twenties seems right

 

[Elroy]

after 1927 it would be an APCO mossberg so mid twenties seems right

Most Excellent. Elroy thanks you for the input.

Question, Any idea what APCO stand for?

 

[Elroy]

Wrenchr likes elroys speeder!!! lol

What's deal with likeing all of Elroy old "junk" ?

 

[wrenchr]

Wrenchr is messing around with Elroy!!! lol

 

[krusty the clown]

Most Excellent. Elroy thanks you for the input.

Question, Any idea what APCO stand for?

Auto Parts COmpany

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Elroy's t-handle/speeder is awesome. Moose is jealous.

 

[Elroy]

Elroy indicated that he spends a lot of time on tool restoration. Here are a few samples for ya:

A "no name" pawn shop purchase that stated out as a another piece of crusty rust. Elroy knew it was worth saving because the face had a small chip at the rim which told him: nice hard tool steel. About 6 hours later here is what Elroy has. Elroy also likes the "classic" shape. Cast iron it is not.

Here is another pawn shop score:

Yep a "War Finish" Plomb

Just a few shots for your "tool" enjoyment

 

[eschoendorff]

Nice Elroy!

 

[le6920]

Thats nice work Elroy.

 

[Elroy]

It's just a hammer that Elroy hits things with. It's nice and hard, that's why it cleaned up so nice. Thanks for the kind comments. The Plomb is another pawn shop find that had so much rust Elroy could barely make out the brand. The "War Finish" was extra nice to find once cleaned up.

A few more would be nice.

 

[Uncle Buck]

It's just a hammer that Elroy hits things with. It's nice and hard, that's why it cleaned up so nice. Thanks for the kind comments. The Plomb is another pawn shop find that had so much rust Elroy could barely make out the brand. The "War Finish" was extra nice to find once cleaned up.

A few more would be nice.

So just exactly what did you do to the Plomb to clean it up so well?

 

[dxdexter]

It's just a hammer that Elroy hits things with. It's nice and hard, that's why it cleaned up so nice. Thanks for the kind comments. The Plomb is another pawn shop find that had so much rust Elroy could barely make out the brand. The "War Finish" was extra nice to find once cleaned up.

A few more would be nice.

Dex thinks the non-pro craftsman tools have had the "war finish" for 66 years.
Dex feels Elroy did a nice job cleaning up the wrench. Could Elroy please inform Dex as to which war Elroy thinks it's from.

 

[filthy]

It's just a hammer that Elroy hits things with. It's nice and hard, that's why it cleaned up so nice. Thanks for the kind comments. The Plomb is another pawn shop find that had so much rust Elroy could barely make out the brand. The "War Finish" was extra nice to find once cleaned up.

A few more would be nice.

Why do you always write in the third person?

 

[Jared]

Nice work on the tools elroy.

 

[Uncle Buck]

So just exactly what did you do to the Plomb to clean it up so well?

I still want to know how you cleaned them up so well, all I ever use is a wire wheel on the bench grinder.

 

[Elroy]

Could Elroy please inform Dex as to which war Elroy thinks it's from.

No thinking to it.
1944 Vintage.

 

[Elroy]

Talking about date codes. Elroy picked this 1/2" drive Snap-on up a few days ago. Should have taken a "before" shot. Anyways need your call on this date stamp:

When Elroy got this, the owner claimed it was WWII vintage. So what do ya think? 1942 ? or 1952.

Don't see this particular model listed @ Alloy Artifacts

The shift lever is "broken" but inside is primo

Note the "hard ring" on the inside.

 

[eschoendorff]

Nice shots Elroy!

 

[lbgradwell]

When Elroy got this, the owner claimed it was WWII vintage. So what do ya think? 1942 ? or 1952.

He lied; Elroy has a 1952 model...

 

[Uncle Buck]

Crystal clear pics! Nice ratchet too!

 

[Elroy]

Think Elroy can get a warranty claim on that broken shift lever? You know it's only 56 years old. They got to have all kind of stock on repair parts. It is a SNAP-ON you know and they got a good warranty.

Hell, Elroy might as well go to Home Depot and get a new Husky or better yet a Matco.

 

[DavidtheDuke]

Hell, Elroy might as well go to Home Depot and get a new Husky or better yet a Matco.

You're a good finisher Elroy

Maybe you could fabricate a shift lever?

 

[Elroy]

That's the plan. Elroy will be sure to post a few detailed pictures when done. Plan on about 6 weeks because Elroy has a few other projects to do first.

 

[chad s]

Heres my 1952 snap on ratchet, a rare FR-42 round head. This one was made in 52, and then sold in 54, as noted by the re-stamped date code to the left of the original date code. The practice of re-stamping date codes was common in the 1920's and early 30's, as at that time, Snap on tools only had a 1 year warranty (shouldnt there have been a month stamp? well, I have several tools from the 1920's, from different lots, that have numbers hand stamped, none higher than 12), and tools were re-stamped if they were sold in a different year than they were made. It is very rare to see it on a tool from the 50's.

 

[Elroy]

You must have one heck of a Snap-on collection. Elroy assumes you're aware that FR-42 was warranted and exchanged at some point identified by the "E" for exchange stamped in the handle. Think that would have anything to do with the new date?

 

[chad s]

You must have one heck of a Snap-on collection. Elroy assumes you're aware that FR-42 was warranted and exchanged at some point identified by the "E" for exchange stamped in the handle. Think that would have anything to do with the new date?

It actually has "E.G" stamped on the handle. I thought it may be an owners marking, but a friend of mine had the same view that you have, Elroy, that it was re-built, and re-sold. Thats certainly possible, I dont know a lot about the early round head ratchets, perhaps they didnt get rebuilt on the truck, and they went to the factory for a rebuild, and then were re-circulated. The teeth on these ratchets are not attached to the square drive, and if those teeth strip, it cant be fixed on the truck. I think your right, it had to go back to the factory to get the later date stamp.

Have you seen the "EG" stamp before?

 

[Uncle Buck]

I am sure I am wrong, but there is no possibility that the EG stood for "Emergency/Government" perhaps due to the Korean War? EG coming from the Snappy date code sheet?

 

[chad s]

I am sure I am wrong, but there is no possibility that the EG stood for "Emergency/Government" perhaps due to the Korean War? EG coming from the Snappy date code sheet?

E and G were 1944 (E) and 1945 (G). Some think that they meant emergency and govt, and one of the date codes out there statesthat, but its not true. E and G were only used for the two years (1944 and 1945 respeictively), and those years were military production years, but those markings were never used in other years to signify goverment/military/emergency use. I have a few military ratchets from the early 60's, which have handle styles thet were never used on any other ratchet other than late 50's/early 60's military ratchets, but they carry the correct date codes for their years of manufacture.

The E.G on this ratchet was hand stamped with letter punches, as was the 1954 date code.

 

[Uncle Buck]

E and G were 1944 (E) and 1945 (G). Some think that they meant emergency and govt, and one of the date codes out there statesthat, but its not true. E and G were only used for the two years (1944 and 1945 respeictively), and those years were military production years, but those markings were never used in other years to signify goverment/military/emergency use. I have a few military ratchets from the early 60's, which have handle styles thet were never used on any other ratchet other than late 50's/early 60's military ratchets, but they carry the correct date codes for their years of manufacture.

The E.G on this ratchet was hand stamped with letter punches, as was the 1954 date code.

I figure something like that, speculation on my part.

 

[Elroy]

The E.G on this ratchet was hand stamped with letter punches, as was the 1954 date code.

Here is what Elroy knows: In the early 70's Elroy had a 1/4" drive ratchet that had some "issues'. It was in the glove box of the car for a good year or so. The tool was about 10 years old. One day Elroy was like on the other side of the state saw a Snappy truck. Pulled in and ask to get the tool warranted. The rep produced an "exchange" ratchet. It was NOT NEW and the handle was stamped with an "E". The rep told Elroy that warranted tools were replaced with factory reconditioned tools that were stamped with the "E" for exchange. Elroy could only guess that "E G" and a new date might stand for Government Exchanged on the new date. What makes you think this tool of yours is government?

 

[krusty the clown]

i believe the EG is an owners initials. there was an exchange program years ago that a dealer could use if a ratchet couldn't be fixed in the field. those were factory reconditioned with an e stamped on them, but i have never seen one stamped on the handle, only on the beam.

 

[chad s]

Here is what Elroy knows: In the early 70's Elroy had a 1/4" drive ratchet that had some "issues'. It was in the glove box of the car for a good year or so. The tool was about 10 years old. One day Elroy was like on the other side of the state saw a Snappy truck. Pulled in and ask to get the tool warranted. The rep produced an "exchange" ratchet. It was NOT NEW and the handle was stamped with an "E". The rep told Elroy that warranted tools were replaced with factory reconditioned tools that were stamped with the "E" for exchange. Elroy could only guess that "E G" and a new date might stand for Government Exchanged on the new date. What makes you think this tool of yours is government?

I do think the E.G. are owners initials, There is a period between the two also. I didnt say I thought this one was government (I had mentioned some other tools I have that were strictly made for the military).

I do think this ratchet did go through a factory re-condition though, and thats why it has a 2 year later date stamp next to the 1952 stamp.