Vintage S-K Tools

[misterbill]

d42jeep put me on to this plain steel 45170 ratchet. Here it is along with a chrome sibling from the same period. Many thanks, Don.

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I like the steel and industrial finish sk stuff, but rarely see them around here.

 

[Sunset_Z28]

I got this set in the mail from eBay yesterday for what I consider a good price for about $25 shipped. It’s one of the few pleasant surprises I’ve gotten on eBay. It’s without a doubt the cleanest set I’ve found. The case and chrome wrenches are almost perfect.




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[SilverDeck]

Picked up this very early SK round-head (1934-1938 if Alloy Artifacts is correct).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Probably for a Brazil Tools set. I've been looking for a 4970 to complete a 1/4-inch set. Looks similar, except no space for the patent number. (Unless I blink first and trade my Brazil sockets and case to Don...)

 

[SilverDeck]

Probably for a Brazil Tools set. I've been looking for a 4970 to complete a 1/4-inch set. Looks similar, except no space for the patent number. (Unless I blink first and trade my Brazil sockets and case to Don...)

Any idea if this ratchet came out simultaneously with the SK-marked version? Or did one precede the other? I noticed that the SK-marked version has the model number of 45170 and this one is simply 4570. Both versions have patent #1981526.

 

[d42jeep]

In terms of dating the patent number is the main clue, as far as I can tell. My 1/4” drive version has the newer patent number. I would assume the S-K versions came out around the same time.

Lugz,
I’m making some progress.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz,
I’m making some progress.

In double-quick time!

 

[Username already in use]

I've still got a couple of those Chrome Alloy sockets for you, Lugz. Or, I can send them to Don, to include in his set if you'd prefer.

I added this 1/2" drive Artisan ratchet to the toolbox.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I recently saw one of the beaver tail ratchets that was branded mac

 

[twertsy]

I recently saw one of the beaver tail ratchets that was branded mac

Yup, I think I have MAC, S-K, Artisan and unbranded in the beavertail style.

Edit: and by the way, the fact that there is a MAC branded beavertail tells you the AA date range is off by quite a bit. I don't think MAC would have been in the ratchet market until at least 1944, corresponding with their socket beginnings. JMO

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've still got a couple of those Chrome Alloy sockets for you, Lugz.

Yup. A 5/16" 12-point and a 7/16" 12-point. Thanks for the prod. I'll PM you.

Or, I can send them to Don, to include in his set if you'd prefer.

For future reference, I can't think of any circumstances where this would ever be true.

 

[d42jeep]

I can!
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

A little SK carry box I picked up a couple of weeks ago; 6X6x14:

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Lo and behold the long missing tray from my early sk toolchest has been found! I had long given up on it. It is smaller than later versions so all the loose ones I have found are too big.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I was browsing Craigslist yesterday and came across a SK 3/4" socket set. It's missing a few sockets but had all the extensions, t-handle and ratchet. I decided to get it. While I was there I noticed he had a SK tool box full of tools and several SK sockets and breaker bar. There's several taps, Allen wrenches, flare tool and some older ratchets (not SO unfortunately).

Upon tearing down the ratchet I noticed some teeth on the prawl were laid back from a lot of torque. I went ahead and ordered a NOS rebuild kit for $35. I gave $75 for the socket set and $100 for the tool box. I don't think I did too bad. Here is a picture of the 3/4 set and a picture of what the tool box looks like. I'll get pictures of the actual box when it's light outside.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Here's some more pictures. The toolbox is full of SK, Craftsman, and None Better. There's also easy outs, Allen wrenches, and taps and dies. I found two Snap On 1/2 drive Allen heads in 1/2 and 5/8. I forgot about the S-K Wayne I just bought. I know have one 42470 from every era starting from 1950. No beaver tails though.

 

[Toothaker]

OK, you got all that for $175? You ****.

And in case you've not seen that before, that is high praise around here, for buying something at an excellent price.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I got lucky. He had a garage sell this past weekend and this stuff was somehow left over. I wish I knew what all he sold off before I arrived.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Some of you may recall that I found a partial Brazil set at the flea market at the end of March. It was just a box with the remains of a brownish reddish crinkle finish, a number stenciled on the end (“8387”) and seven (7) CHROME ALLOY sockets, shown in post #623 on page 32, linked here.

Thanks to the alert and innovative mind of a GJ member who shall remain as anonymous as he wants to be or not, I have now acquired a CHROME ALLOY 4970 ratchet for the set, in exchange for – get this! – the “next cool and unique 1/4-inch ratchet you find.” HAHA! Not kidding. Moreover, this is actually the second time we’re doing this. The last time he sent me something, the exchange was even more vague. My orders were to “surprise” him. These kinds of trades can be tougher than straightforward terms, of course, because there’s more at stake with the element of surprise. Will he like it? Is this equitable? Is this interesting enough? Also fun, though. Now I have a goal for the summer!

Pic 1 is the original find. Pic 2 is the set, with the ratchet and an unmarked SK hinge handle I had, just waiting for two (2) additional sockets from Unaiu to be fairly complete. Pic 3 is a beavertail zoom.

 

[barnee]

Now that my garage is finished and the cabinets installed I have been unpacking my tools. Here's my SK's which all say SK on one side and Alloy on the other.

 

[barnee]

Sorry that they are still in bags but I don't have enough tool boxes to set these up in. The empty space in the middle is where my next box will go to house these and a large set of Craftsman -V- series wrenches.

 

[d42jeep]

Some of you may recall that I found a partial Brazil set at the flea market at the end of March. It was just a box with the remains of a brownish reddish crinkle finish, a number stenciled on the end (“8387”) and seven (7) CHROME ALLOY sockets, shown in post #623 on page 32, linked here.

Thanks to the alert and innovative mind of a GJ member who shall remain as anonymous as he wants to be or not, I have now acquired a CHROME ALLOY 4970 ratchet for the set, in exchange for – get this! – the “next cool and unique 1/4-inch ratchet you find.” HAHA! Not kidding. Moreover, this is actually the second time we’re doing this. The last time he sent me something, the exchange was even more vague. My orders were to “surprise” him. These kinds of trades can be tougher than straightforward terms, of course, because there’s more at stake with the element of surprise. Will he like it? Is this equitable? Is this interesting enough? Also fun, though. Now I have a goal for the summer!

Pic 1 is the original find. Pic 2 is the set, with the ratchet and an unmarked SK hinge handle I had, just waiting for two (2) additional sockets from Unaiu to be fairly complete. Pic 3 is a beavertail zoom.

I will graciously concede that you have taken the lead in the great Brazil 1/4” drive race.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Well, I gotta get ahead of He Who Never Sleeps on something!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

barnee: I am jealous of how well-lit your garage/shop is! Are those skylights?

 

[barnee]

barnee: I am jealous of how well-lit your garage/shop is! Are those skylights?

Next best thing, Twelve 2' by 4' flat panel LEDS in 650 square feet.

Shines day or night

 

[Toothaker]

Awesome. Close Encounters of the Garage Kind.

 

[d42jeep]

I found quite a few rusty S-K sockets at the estate sale yesterday. Here are before and after pictures. Most of them cleaned up pretty well.
-Don

 

[twertsy]

Sorry that they are still in bags but I don't have enough tool boxes to set these up in. The empty space in the middle is where my next box will go to house these and a large set of Craftsman -V- series wrenches.

Come on over Barnee...........I'm sure I can be convinced to let go of a box to help you get set up...........

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Next best thing, Twelve 2' by 4' flat panel LEDS in 650 square feet.

Wow. They are so bright I couldn't tell if the rectangle was flush or recessed or protruding on the other shot. They really do look like skylights.

Close Encounters of the Garage Kind.

Haha. 'Zackly.

 

[barnee]

Come on over Barnee...........I'm sure I can be convinced to let go of a box to help you get set up...........

Thanks for the kind offer, but it was bugging me so badly that I ran out yesterday and picked up the HF 44" box. I'm halfway through setting it up.

Ill post some pics later

 

[Catfishdan]

Flea market finds. Nice chrome on the 3/8 ratchet.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[txlonghorn1989]

I found quite a few rusty S-K sockets at the estate sale yesterday. Here are before and after pictures. Most of them cleaned up pretty well.
-Don

Don,
How do you clean up sockets like this?
Mike

 

[d42jeep]

Mike,
It was mostly surface rust so I put them on a spinner and grip the outside with medium steel wool and spin away. I do the inside with round wire brushes with a handle designed to de-burr pipe, often Oatey brand. Then I degrease the inside with some solvent and blow them off with compressed air. It's a little time consuming.
-Don

 

[Mgdoug3]

Here are some more pictures of the SK things I got my my purchase last week.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I will graciously concede that you have taken the lead in the great Brazil 1/4” drive race.

With the two (2) missing sockets from Unaiu now nestled with their brethren, I may be approaching the finish line, Don. Or I am on the last lap, in need of a tommy bar. Not quite sure. It struck me that we are likely in different races, though, me in the Daytona 500 and you in the Dakar Rally, since my box is considerably smaller, holding fewer possible pieces.

 

[Outlawmws]

Lugz, are you missing the bar for the breaker? maybe a short extension?

I'm guessing the smaller box didn't come with the ratchet?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yep. We talked about that earlier when I found the box and the sockets. It does look like a box for a typical nut spinner set, with only a hinge handle and a "cross bar" (I have gotten into the habit, picked up from my WWII UK collecting mates, of calling it a "tommy bar", which I mentioned in the post above yours.) Info is sparse though. As far as I know, there is no Brazil Tools catalog or ad out there. So, yeah, I've probably got a hybrid set going with the ratchet and the hinge handle in a nut spinner box. And it won't go very much more than what it is except for the tommy bar. The lid will close with the ratchet inside. But it wouldn't hold a sliding tee or an extension I don't think.

 

[Username already in use]

With the two (2) missing sockets from Unaiu now nestled with their brethren, I may be approaching the finish line, Don. Or I am on the last lap, in need of a tommy bar. Not quite sure. It struck me that we are likely in different races, though, me in the Daytona 500 and you in the Dakar Rally, since my box is considerably smaller, holding fewer possible pieces.

I'll keep a lookout for a tommy bar for your set. Glad the sockets arrived safely.

Not too vintage, but I grabbed up a few SK pieces from he flea on Sunday.
Always gotta grab those metric SK when I see them.
7, 8, 9mm combos
9/16, 15/16 combos
17mm deep 3/8" drive socket and short 1/2" drive extension

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'll keep a lookout for a tommy bar for your set.

Are they marked or otherwise distinctive? I was just going to stick a stray in there.