What's missing from my S-K Wayne 3/8" drive set?

[Karl_B]

I'm trying to see if I can reassemble this set from my stash of old S-K tools, but I really have no idea what is missing. I can't seem to find a part number for the set to see what should be in it and what is extra in the case already. Do we have any S-K experts who can help me out?

Here's a list of details:
The riveted label reads "S-K Wayne Tools, A Division of Dresser Industries INC"
The universal adapter is much newer than the rest, could be replaced or added to the set.
Deep sockets are all six point, 3/8" through 13/16"
Shallows run 3/8" to 7/8", but some six and some twelve point, shown in picture.
Universal sockets in 3/8" to 3/4", but missing 9/16"
It looks like someone shopped off the end of the bar from a T-handle, but the head of it is no where to be found.

I would imagine that at the very least, I'm missing some extensions and a 9/16" universal socket. What says the Garage Journal?

 

[jakemac]

Page 3 from the 1965 brochure. Look at kit number 4528.
(catalog downloaded from Twertsy's site)

 

[Karl_B]

My case is divided a bit differently than that one. There is room for each of the short sockets I have, and the area for the universal sockets is larger than that in the picture. There is no way those extensions would lie flat in that position in this case. External dimensions do seem to be the same.

Would the Dresser name on the label make this set older or newer than that catalog?

 

[Karl_B]

A little time on google answered that last question. Dresser bought S-K in 1968, so it's newer than that, and I believe the Wayne part of the name was dropped in 1979. I could be wrong on that last bit. I forget where I read it.

 

[jakemac]

I believe your set would be newer than the catalog. The only other catalog I have is from 1977, but it's print not digital, and by then the Wayne name was gone. I'm not an expert, but I think your set would be from the very early 70's, before the acquisition by Dresser was complete.

I have a Dresser (SK Tools) set that doesn't quite match the catalogs I have either, so I'm looking for earlier 70's catalogs as well to pin down the pieces I may be missing.

At least this page will give you a start on what might be missing from your set.
Hopefully someone with more knowledge will pipe in to help narrow your search.

 

[Karl_B]

Alloy Artifacts seems to think that the Wayne part of the name was gone in 1969. That gives me a pretty narrow window. Why in the world do I find researching this stuff to be so much fun?

If I find a catalog from the late 1960s or early 1970s, I'll let you know, Jake. Thanks for the help so far.

 

[r_olson_06]

I'm trying to see if I can reassemble this set from my stash of old S-K tools, but I really have no idea what is missing. I can't seem to find a part number for the set to see what should be in it and what is extra in the case already. Do we have any S-K experts who can help me out?

Here's a list of details:
The riveted label reads "S-K Wayne Tools, A Division of Dresser Industries INC"
The universal adapter is much newer than the rest, could be replaced or added to the set.
Deep sockets are all six point, 3/8" through 13/16"
Shallows run 3/8" to 7/8", but some six and some twelve point, shown in picture.
Universal sockets in 3/8" to 3/4", but missing 9/16"
It looks like someone shopped off the end of the bar from a T-handle, but the head of it is no where to be found.

I would imagine that at the very least, I'm missing some extensions and a 9/16" universal socket. What says the Garage Journal?

I will check my over flow. I may have what you need

Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk

 

[bonneyman]

Nice! I've got a Wayne set going, and it doesn't have all the pieces you've got.

And trying to find SK Wayne metric sockets is really tough! They are few and far between.

 

[Karl_B]

I'm not necessarily trying to make this set from period correct pieces, but I would like contents to be the original variety, even if I buy new ones. I think either I need to find a 1968 or 1969 catalog to figure it out or just make it up and run with it. I'm on the fence about keeping this one or trying to sell it.

I can't tell you guys how many tools I bought with the intention of reselling them later. I haven't sold one yet...

 

[twertsy]

Alloy Artifacts seems to think that the Wayne part of the name was gone in 1969. That gives me a pretty narrow window. Why in the world do I find researching this stuff to be so much fun?

If I find a catalog from the late 1960s or early 1970s, I'll let you know, Jake. Thanks for the help so far.

There's a 64 SK Wayne cat on my site. In addition, Dresser carried on the SK Wayne brand until 1971 when they dropped the Wayne. See my SK research page. Toolarchives.Com

Sent from my SM-P905V using Tapatalk

 

[bonneyman]

There's a 64 SK Wayne cat on my site. In addition, Dresser carried on the SK Wayne brand until 1971 when they dropped the Wayne. See my SK research page. Toolarchives.Com

Sent from my SM-P905V using Tapatalk

Might have been the same time they changed their headquarters from Chicago to Franklin Park? Someone told me that was early 1971.

 

[Karl_B]

I found two sold listings on ebay with a case that looks the same, but they look to be a newer logo label.

The first set I found.
The second set I found.

It looks like I can use a later catalog and make a set that at least looks right in the case. That should make things simpler. You know, if I had gotten these in a bag, I wouldn't give a second thought to just making the set however I wanted. Those darn cases always make me want to make it look complete.

 

[jakemac]

Here's page 6 from the 1977 catalog (Dresser). Perhaps the #4527 set will be of some use to you.

I believe that by the end of the Wayne era or the beginning of the Dresser era, the metal dividers were removed to allow the cases to be used for multiple sets and a plastic moulded tray was used to keep the bits and pieces in place.

I have a digital copy of the 1968 supplement, but it only lists new packaging and is nearly useless for identifying specific sets. I didn't see anything in there that would help you out. We'll have to wait until someone with the full '68 catalog turns up.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Just looking at it I would say the 6" ,3", and 1" extensions should be in that set also. I have a lot of SK tools but none of the old catalogs. My sets were not that big and didn't have the universal sockets and I got them separately in a SK metal box.

 

[Karl_B]

Between that 1965 brochure set 4528 and the 1977 catalog set 4527, it looks like I have an idea what to add. I did have one six inch S-K extension, albeit newer. I also used a Matco 9/16" to fill in the missing flex socket. My set will just have two extra sizes of S-K Wayne flex sockets, 3/8" and 3/4", as well as 13/16" and 7/8" short sockets.

I'm still not sure what to make of the "cross bar" listed in the 1965 brochure. I have that one piece that looks like a T-handle missing its head and the detent ball on one side. I'll just leave it in there since there is room.

At least my obsession is satisfied to move this off of my desk now. Thanks for all the help, everyone, and feel free to add any more information if you have it.

How much of a hassle is it to scan and host a catalog? It seems like between the members here, we could have a nice bit of reference available.

 

[jakemac]

I'm still not sure what to make of the "cross bar" listed in the 1965 brochure. I have that one piece that looks like a T-handle missing its head and the detent ball on one side. I'll just leave it in there since there is room.

That bar is for the hole in the handle of the breaker bar. It turns the breaker bar into a T-handle. Most brands stopped providing this feature in the 60's/70's.

Don't toss that bar. It's one of the first pieces of a set to go missing and are very hard to find because no-one knows what it was used for.

Most people think it's useless (and it pretty much is) but for antique collectors in the know, it's an important piece if they want a "complete" set. It won't mean much now, but in 40 or 50 years .............

 

[Karl_B]

This particular one was used a punch or drift a few times. I didn't pick up on using it on the flex handle because the hole isn't there. Nothing in my set has a hole for it, making it fairly useless on its own. I think the only ones I have with holes for cross bars are all 1/2" drive and have much bigger holes.

At least I learned something new. I always assumed a bar like that always came with the head to make it a T-handle and you removed that head or moved it over to use in flex handles and sockets with cross bar holes. Now of course, I'm going to be looking for those cross bars...

 

[MShaw]

I still have the crossbar that came with my 1960 vintage S-K 1/4" drive breaker bar.