Score for the Weekend - How'd I Do? Vintage Hand Tools.

[Filson]

Ran by a local Swap Meet and picked some stuff up today. I know I did pretty well on the 1/2" S-K socket set, but not sure about other stuff - anyway, wanted some insight from you all on this older stuff and what you think it's worth, or if they're keep-and-hand-down-to-the-kids-worthy.

This is the 1/2" S-K & random Socket set I picked up. The ratchet is a 1/2" Plumb no. 5449. I don't know anything about the ratchet. The long extension is old-school Craftsman. The flex extension is from Walden (not familiar with that either) no 1102. The smallest socket is a Thorsen, largest is a Herbrand (not familiar with), and the 7/8's is a Wizard (no idea either lol). The rest is S-K. I picked it up for the $30 asking price that the guy was firm on.

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I picked up what seems like extremely well made and heavy pair of pliers. I have no idea about either manufacturer. The smaller one is a 'Krabuter 1841-B'. The larger one has a set of diamond shapes with letters within that spell out 'Utica'. It also has a large "US" stamp on it which seems almost old-school military to me? Not sure. I paid $2 dollars each.

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I picked up this old hatchet that had some lettering stamped on the side. It looks like 'RBT' was double-stamped on it. Bought it for $1.

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The guy threw this little Ridget pipe cutter in, with the $30 dollar S-K set.

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And two Ridge pipe wrenches, an 8" and a 10" for $3 dollars each.

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Below is the full set of stuff I picked up. The tape measure I just bought for a dollar because it's in good working order and my kids keep losing mine. lol I paid $42 for everything. Any info on the tools would be appreciated!

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[Farmall450]

Not bad at all!

 

[jakemac]

The Wizard socket is/was Western Auto's house brand. Like True Value's Master Mechanic, or Lowes' Kobalt. IDK who made them for WA. Maybe Moore Drop Forge ? But that's just a guess.

There are a couple members that collect Wizard, they may know more.

 

[lbgradwell]

The Wizard socket is/was Western Auto's house brand. ... IDK who made them for WA.

Duro-Indestro made my set.

 

[zkling]

I'd say you got a good deal. Not sure if I would air guitar or hip thrust over it, but a good/fair possibly great deal never the less. If it was stuff you needed, you got it much cheaper than could be had new.

The one pliers are brand Kraeuter, which was a sub of SK IIRC. I have a few, not those exact ones though. Actually I have the matching pair of needle nose for those linesman pliers. They have the same engravings on the handles. I'll try to get a pic when I get home.

The other pliers, Utica are nice as well. I seen to have acquired quite a few of those in the past few months. Another good old brand that is not commonly known these days. For $2 each, definitely a good purchase. IMHO.

O.... BTW, the ratchet is a Plomb. Super cool looking.

The hatchet for $1. I mean really, how could you go wrong with that? That is alot of fun to be had for $1. Great deal. Same with the pipe wrenches for $3 each. Great deal.

 

[woody 73]

You did real well back around the turn of the century kraeuter was making mostly pliers that were top notch (think knipex of their day).

As hard as I look I can find those old sk sockets but never a complete set so you get the award.

Walden another great long ago tool company. and the Herbrand was made in my home state also top notch.

The plomb ratchet can still be rebuilt and it will live forever, made just after WWll.

Fantastic score you got there

 

[Filson]

I appreciate all your guys replies and the education! Sounds like all of it is fairly quality stuff. I'm happy I bought all of it =)

 

[Exceller8]

Looks like you did pretty good to me.

 

[bonneyman]

As has been said, the S-K sockets are old school.
They went to that style in the mid 40's, according to AA.

 

[Filson]

As has been said, the S-K sockets are old school.
They went to that style in the mid 40's, according to AA.

Awesome! How long did they run this style?

 

[scaron]

i think you got a real nice haul at a good price. i just picked up an old pair of pliers that look very similar to your top pair at a junk shop around here a few days ago but it needs a good cleaning; too much surface rust to make out any manufacturer info. utica tool was a fine make, i have a few pairs of old utica pliers laying around in my collection. real good deal on the pipe wrenches. love the old plomb ratchet. i'd like to get one like that someday. all in all, i'd be pretty excited if i saw that lot laying around any junk shop over here! personally i'd keep it all and add it to my collection of older tools, except chucking out that kobalt tape measure and the random hatchet.

 

[Flatintoone]

Awesome! How long did they run this style?

I've seen them with "SK Wayne" stamped on them, so at least into the '60s.

 

[Filson]

i think you got a real nice haul at a good price. i just picked up an old pair of pliers that look very similar to your top pair at a junk shop around here a few days ago but it needs a good cleaning; too much surface rust to make out any manufacturer info. utica tool was a fine make, i have a few pairs of old utica pliers laying around in my collection. real good deal on the pipe wrenches. love the old plomb ratchet. i'd like to get one like that someday. all in all, i'd be pretty excited if i saw that lot laying around any junk shop over here! personally i'd keep it all and add it to my collection of older tools, except chucking out that kobalt tape measure and the random hatchet.

Thanks! Can you add pics of your pliers when you get them cleaned up a bit? Would love to see 'em!

Yeah - I really dislike kobalt, but the kids keep stealing mine and leaving them outside and braking the tape so hey, it was $1. The hatchet I was happy to pick up - it's already found a home next to one of my fireplaces!

 

[rick carpenter]

The Wizard socket is/was Western Auto's house brand. Like True Value's Master Mechanic, or Lowes' Kobalt. IDK who made them for WA. Maybe Moore Drop Forge ? But that's just a guess.

There are a couple members that collect Wizard, they may know more.

That's interesting about Wizard, Jakemac. I have a Western Auto 3/8 drive ratchet.

Good score, Filson!

 

[Duct Tape Man]

That pair of pliers with the US stamped in it - yes that used to be in a military tool kit of some kind, hence the US stamp. Adds some value to it, and some interesting history.

 

[fatfillup]

You did just fine on your purchases. The plomb ratchet is probably the single most valuable tool,,,,,,,,guessing worth about $20. You can not go wrong with Ridgid pipe wrenchs and the pipe cutter being Ridgid is good and pricey to buy new. For user tools, all are good quality.

I do disagree with one poster. I don't think there was a Krauter SK connection but I certainly could be wrong.

In my store, buying the set and the rest of the pieces individually, you would have been $80 - $90, so you did well.

 

[scaron]

I do disagree with one poster. I don't think there was a Krauter SK connection but I certainly could be wrong.

I guess that is per the Alloy Artifacts site. According to them:

"In the late 1960s Symington-Wayne was purchased by Dresser Industries, a large conglomerate, and S-K Tools became a division of Dresser. As a side note, Dresser Industries had previously purchased the Kraeuter Company, a well known maker of pliers and other tools. At some point Dresser decided to introduce a Kraeuter brand of sockets and drive tools, and these were presumably made by the S-K Tools division, based on the similarities in design and construction."

So there may have been some connection between the two, but not until late in the game.

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/sherman-klove.html

 

[lbgradwell]

Yes, Kraeuter ended up with S-K. (Phil must have had a brain-fart; he surely has seen Kraeuter-by-SK production before!!!)

SK was essentially just using a well-respected name, though, as the production under their ownership (Dresser) had nothing to do with the excellent pliers for which Kraeuter was long-known...

Examples of SK-era Kraeuter:

 

[Filson]

Man I love this forum lol. Thanks for all the info guys!