Question for the Snap-on Experts

[lauver]

Does anybody know the approximate time frame for Par-X tools?

Perhaps you have a collection of vintage Snap-on catalogs...What do the catalogs tell us about when Par-X tools were sold?

Perhaps you know when Snap-on began selling Blue-Point tools...wouldn't that be about when Par-X tools were discontinued?

Do Par-X tools have date codes? The handfull of Par-X tools that I have don't seem to have any visible date codes. If any of you have date coded Par-x tools, what dates do they suggest?

Any help appreciated. Thanks

 

[knobbylon]

I have a PAR-X 1/2 in drive socket set and ratchet and a set of PAR-X combo metric wrenches that I bought in about the mid 80s I think. I still have them and use the combos.

I just looked and couldn't find any date codes. I asked my SO dealer about them a couple of months ago and he'd heard about but never seen any of them until I showed him mine.

 

[lbgradwell]

Does anybody know the approximate time frame for Par-X tools?

From at least 1959 (J.A.F.E. has a ratchet dated that year) to sometime in the late 70s to early 80s. Even though it appears they were still available from SO dealers in the mid-80s, I don't know when they stopped production.

Perhaps you have a collection of vintage Snap-on catalogs...What do the catalogs tell us about when Par-X tools were sold?

I don't know if Par-X ever appeared in a SO catalogue. Anyone?

Perhaps you know when Snap-on began selling Blue-Point tools...wouldn't that be about when Par-X tools were discontinued?

Blue-Point are much older; they have been around since the very beginning in the 20s. The 2 lines aren't really connected.

Do Par-X tools have date codes? The handfull of Par-X tools that I have don't seem to have any visible date codes. If any of you have date coded Par-x tools, what dates do they suggest?

Like SO, some do & some don't!

 

[lauver]

LG,

I looked up the parts numbers for my Par-X wrenches in a 1987 Snap-on catalog. There were no Par-x wrenches in this catalog, but there were equivalent Blue Point wrenches with the same part numbers as my Par-X wrenches.

What do you make of this?

 

[J.A.F.E.]

I have several Par-X ratchets. The guts and bottom plates are the same as the equivalent time frame SO and interchange. The 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 ratchets have date codes, the 1/4 do not (from a sample of 2). In the 70's early 80's Par-X did not show up in any of the catalogs I had (and could slap myself silly for geting rid of). Sockets, extensions, wrenches and other tools don't seem to carry date codes.

 

[lbgradwell]

OK, I just saw this 1977 Par-X catalogue on eBay:

So it appears that Par-X either appeared as a stand-alone catalogue, or as an (available) insert to the regular SO edition for at least some years...

 

[krusty the clown]

So it appears that Par-X either appeared as a stand-alone catalogue, or as an (available) insert to the regular SO edition for at least some years...

since it has holes punched for 3 ring binders i'd assume it was intended for dealer use. most companies issued hard covered notebooks for dealer use.

 

[billymade]

Wow, that catalog is cool; would love to see pics of the pages of that thing! Someone buy it!

 

[lauver]

LG,

Thanks for posting the Par-X catalog and a documented date.

So it looks like we have a fairly solid Par-X date range of 1959 - 1981.

And a more speculative Par-X date range of 1950's - mid 1980's.

Does these square with your thoughts?

 

[lbgradwell]

So it looks like we have a fairly solid Par-X date range of 1959 - 1981.

Where does the 1981 date come from, Gary?

 

[krusty the clown]

i'll confirm the 1981 date.........

 

[lbgradwell]

i'll confirm the 1981 date.........

Very well then! Since Krusty can confirm 1981...

So it looks like we have a fairly solid Par-X date range of 1959 - 1981.

And a more speculative Par-X date range of 1950's - mid 1980's.

...looks like a synopsis of what we know.

Unless knobbylon can confirm his date above, let's stick with 1981 until shown otherwise!

 

[lauver]

I have a PAR-X 1/2 in drive socket set and ratchet and a set of PAR-X combo metric wrenches that I bought in about the mid 80s I think. I still have them and use the combos.

I just looked and couldn't find any date codes. I asked my SO dealer about them a couple of months ago and he'd heard about but never seen any of them until I showed him mine.

knobbylon,

Thanks for your post. How confident are you in your mid-80's purchase date?

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

I have a couple of Par X screwdrivers that are very like Snap On Octogrips, but with gray plastic. Will see if I can find them for interrogation.

 

[snapmom]

Its 80s had it verified by a older so dealer, but he could not remember extact dates.

 

[lauver]

Its 80s had it verified by a older so dealer, but he could not remember extact dates.

Snapmom,

Thanks for the posts...it helps. but don't the Snap-on guys know that lives hang in the balance?

 

[billymade]

Most Snap-On dealers at this point; don't even recognize PAR-X, much less know about it.... someone on here sent a PAR-X in and it was sent back! The other thread; actually shows the packaging having "lifetime warranty" on it! I guess, 1981 is quite awhile ago!

 

[snapmom]

There is just not much history on par x. sort of like blue point and blue points, not to many collectors. I have asked a couple of retired dealers, but nothing they said would tie in exact dates.
I have never collected par x myself, so I never looked into it, in depth.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

I have a parX ratchet , I found in a brand new cherokee in 1986 during a pdi

 

[billymade]

Hey, the catalog was sold with a "buy it now"; anyone here buy it?

 

[lauver]

I have a parX ratchet , I found in a brand new cherokee in 1986 during a pdi

SpiderGearsMan,

Is there a date code on your ratchet?

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Hey, the catalog was sold with a "buy it now"; anyone here buy it?

I was very interested but since I no longer use ebay I just regretted the loss. A friend of mine who knows my interest in Par-X snagged it for me.

I just received it and am very pleased with it although there are many questions remaining. There must be at least one other iteration of this.

One mystery solved is they did sell metric Par-X wrenches and sockets (3/8 only) at this time (catalog dated 77). Interestingly the socket set was 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19 mm. The wrenches 8 through 19 complete including 16 and 18

 

[lbgradwell]

A friend of mine who knows my interest in Par-X snagged it for me.

Sweet, J.A.F.E.!

Any chance you can scan the catalogue & post it in PDF form?

 

[lauver]

OK, I've got another question for the SO experts:

Where can I get a FV71 ratchet repair kit? Or equivalent?

According to the SO website, there is no longer a repair kit for the FV71. But wouldn't any SO 3/8 drive, 20-tooth, boxhead ratchet repair kit work? If so, where could I lay hands on one?

 

[snapmom]

my dealer repaired mine.

 

[lauver]

Snapmom,

Well, you're one step ahead of me; you have a dealer...I don't.

What are my odds of getting a repair if I can find a dealer? I'm not asking for a freebe, I'm willing to pay for the service/parts.