Lets make an all vintage Snap-on tool picture thread!

[rustyzman]

Yeah I can bet most of them were never used by my grandfather. He was not a tool guy and paid to have everything done for him. The tool box was locked and had about three inches of dirt and grime. Could barely tell it was a tool box. I'm surprised the tools were not rusted beyond repair!

Sent from my SM-G950U using The Garage Journal mobile app

Very cool that you got to save that set for the future.

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up these two unusual sockets today at the Tahoe flea. The one on the left is a wingnut socket, the one on the right is a 9/16 flex impact socket. Both are 3/8” drive. I may add the wingnut socket to my Ferret set as an extra since it’s around the same vintage.
-Don

 

[bridferr]

I always find vintage tools amazing and still useful! Yet I don't have one to show, I look forward for more photos the see.

 

[Username already in use]

I don't usually grab the SnapOn stuff at the flea because the vendors typically think it's made of gold... but a few pieces did follow me home yesterday.
A trio of ratchet adaptors (first I've ever found at the flea). The 3/8 and 1/2 drive are '47 and '48, the 3/4 drive is much newer.

Also a '44 dated stud extractor and a '42 dated drag link bit.

 

[Username already in use]

I added this double date stamp ('31 and '33) single offset DBE 13/16"

 

[d42jeep]

I added this double date stamp ('31 and '33) single offset DBE 13/16"

Ooh, I like that early single offset DBE. Nice find!
I found some interesting Blue Point and Snap-on tools over the weekend. On Saturday I found this disintegrating Blue Point 9/32” short spinner. I located some pictures of one in the 1942 catalog.
On Sunday I found a pair of snips and a cool small 50th anniversary slotted screwdriver with a real gaudy handle. Here are some pictures.
-Don

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I hope I'm posting in the right spot. I picked up these Blue-point screwdrivers. I searched the part number on the yellow ones and couldn't find any info at all. They seem to be very high quallity and they were in unused condition. Any info at all on the approximate age would be great! Thanks

 

[rustyzman]

Those clear yellow handles are the same basic design as the Par-X units I think. Not sure when they made those, but the quality is probably excellent. Maybe no warranty. I know they won't warranty my Par-X stuff anyway.
The center one is a more modern hard handle. I think 80's-90's, maybe into early 2000's. My first ones were of that variety, but yellow. My personal favorite handle of theirs. Replaceable blades as long as the handle is not damaged. Good stuff.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Oh, I didnt even consider they might have a warranty! Im pretty new to snap-on/blue-point but let me tell you, I can feel the quality! They just seem to fit the hand so well. The tip really holds on to screws too.

 

[J.A.F.E.]

The amber handle are excellent drivers. Snap-on used the handles on Snap-on branded nut drivers and a few Snap-on branded drivers. They show up as the handle in later Par-X production and when Snap-on phased out Par-X it moved the drivers over to Blue Point but retained the Par-X numbers. These drivers are later as they no longer carry the Par-X part numbers.

Great score.

 

[GT4WRC]

Found this 1940’s Snappy socket digging around at a garage sale.

 

[GT4WRC]

At a local Catholic thrift store I found an old box with some miscellaneous tools and hardware in the bottom of the box was an old red case with Mac drill bits and this one with a set of Snap-On 1952 marked bushing driver set, cost of the box? $2.50

 

[rustyzman]

At a local Catholic thrift store I found an old box with some miscellaneous tools and hardware in the bottom of the box was an old red case with Mac drill bits and this one with a set of Snap-On 1952 marked bushing driver set, cost of the box? $2.50

Very Good Score! That is a nice set.

 

[MShaw]

I wonder who made the driver set. It looks a lot like my 1962 vintage set by L O Beard, Lancaster, Pa.

 

[snapmom]

I think Beard made them too. Even have the same model numbers in the older sets.

 

[snapmom]

I think the early Blue Point ones had a sticker on the box, that usually came off.
Here is one on ebay I am about sure it is a BP. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Automotive-Bushing-Remover-and-Replacing-21-pc-set-Used-Professionally-Vintage/142926250492?hash=item21471181fc:g:4ucAAOSwdklbjX8d

Also here is a pic of one with a wood box, has the same model numbers as the Beard and BP. no sticker.

 

[MShaw]

"I think Beard made them too."
And the interesting thing is I bought them from my Snap on dealer. He had the complete snap on line but also sold Channel lock pliers, OTC pullers and, by order, SK tools. Also, when SO started out making their own boxes he continued to sell MBC until the SO quality improved. He sold the less expensive brands to help individuals starting out in their career. Invariably these tools would come back as trade in's which he would resell as used tools to the beginners. Needless to say he had a loyal following that remembered the help in the beginning.

 

[rustyzman]

"I think Beard made them too."
And the interesting thing is I bought them from my Snap on dealer. He had the complete snap on line but also sold Channel lock pliers, OTC pullers and, by order, SK tools. Also, when SO started out making their own boxes he continued to sell MBC until the SO quality improved. He sold the less expensive brands to help individuals starting out in their career. Invariably these tools would come back as trade in's which he would resell as used tools to the beginners. Needless to say he had a loyal following that remembered the help in the beginning.

Those were the days. Back when a tool dealer did not have to be exclusive to one franchise brand.

My Matco dealer got reprimanded by the company once because he did not wear a pair of shorts one day that had Matco embroidered on them (long time exclusive Snap on dealer was unhappy he came to town as competition and had some loyal followers snitch on him, not cool).

Always smart to have alternatives available because credit or not, not everybody can or wants to go into massive truck debt to get the tools they need. I know I never held a balance over a week myself and would improve my tools as I could afford.

You had a really good dealer for sure!

 

[rustyzman]

I think the early Blue Point ones had a sticker on the box, that usually came off.
Here is one on ebay I am about sure it is a BP. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Automotive-Bushing-Remover-and-Replacing-21-pc-set-Used-Professionally-Vintage/142926250492?hash=item21471181fc:g:4ucAAOSwdklbjX8d

Also here is a pic of one with a wood box, has the same model numbers as the Beard and BP. no sticker.

Thanks for the tip Snapmom, I made an offer on that set and got it! It was time to upgrade to a better set. I will look for some markings when it arrives.

 

[bmwrd0]

So, I found this today:

A '28 Snap-on 202B set, it was mostly there when I found it, just missing the T-bar. But, I had that T-bar in my stash!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Very nice. Those brass tag sets are awesome.

 

[rustyzman]

Fantastic find. Almost complete too, don't see that too often.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I look forward to seeing that again when it's cleaned up, beemer. The data plate is really going to pop. I'll try to keep my envy in check.

 

[bmwrd0]

So, interestingly enough, one of the sockets isn't from '28, it is from '31. It could be a replacement for a lost socket, or the socket could have been sold separately, and this was a later fill in when the set was sold.

Started cleaning it last night, and yes, the tag pops out. The red and black paint is still there. I am out the door right now and will post pics later.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

So, interestingly enough, one of the sockets isn't from '28, it is from '31. It could be a replacement for a lost socket, or the socket could have been sold separately, and this was a later fill in when the set was sold.

The "Story of Snap-on", published in 1960 as a pamphlet handed out at the 40th Anniversary stockholders meeting, talks about that being a rough patch for the company. Many sockets collected from this precise timeframe - 1928 through 1933, just prior to the Great Depression, and just after it struck with a vengeance - are stamped twice (first when they were produced, and secondly when they were re-stocked as NOS), and I have a 5/8-inch drive socket with a 31/32" service opening that was actually stamped three times: 1929, 1931, and 1933, telling the story of those troubling years. See pics.

Your sockets not being stamped twice may lend credence to your explanations. Another possibility is that all of the pieces in the set were originally made in 1928, but it sat on a shelf unsold for three successive years without the individual pieces being re-stamped. In 1931, as it was being re-stocked for sale yet again, it was discovered to be missing a socket, and a socket from current production was added to compete the set.

Whatever the explanation, it's a terrific set and I look forward to seeing more photos.

 

[rustyzman]

I think the early Blue Point ones had a sticker on the box, that usually came off.
Here is one on ebay I am about sure it is a BP. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Automotive-Bushing-Remover-and-Replacing-21-pc-set-Used-Professionally-Vintage/142926250492?hash=item21471181fc:g:4ucAAOSwdklbjX8d

The set has arrived. Like you said, probably had a sticker on it at one time that is now gone. No other maker marks visible on the box or tools. Nice heavy metal box with wrinkle finish paint. Certainly very old. Minor mushrooming on the drivers, not too much. Looks like I only have to make one retaining nut for the middle sized driver. Should be a nice upgrade from the China set and a really decent price too.

 

[3baygarage]

Some finds today. The set was sold off and split up this morning and I chased the pieces down from two different flea vendors. Not sure if there had been more pieces.

1947 made in Canada Ferret speeder, a couple Canada sockets with no date, and USA 1946 dated ratchet, u joint, extension.

The 3/8 socket (USA) is double stamped all around except the name!
The 7/16 says MADE IN CANADA
THE 1/2 just says CANADA

Also, nut splitter.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice haul!

 

[3baygarage]

Thanks, I really didn’t see much Canada Snap On when living next to the country.

 

[rustyzman]

Some finds today. The set was sold off and split up this morning and I chased the pieces down from two different flea vendors. Not sure if there had been more pieces.

1947 made in Canada Ferret speeder, a couple Canada sockets with no date, and USA 1946 dated ratchet, u joint, extension.

The 3/8 socket (USA) is double stamped all around except the name!
The 7/16 says MADE IN CANADA
THE 1/2 just says CANADA

Also, nut splitter.

Best Nut Splitter out there. One of those has solved some very sticky situations over the years for me.

 

[bmwrd0]

Lugz, here is what I meant by a '31 socket

As you can see, completely different design, not a double (or triple) stamp.
And here is a better pic of the brass tag

As you can see, the red and black are intact and show up nicely. Are the colors paint or enamel? In any case, I don't want to rub to hard and mess them up.
And for any Blue point fans out there, here are a couple of disintegrating drivers.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's a nice one. Good clean up!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

3bay, I have come across one canadian f6, so you have me beat!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz, here is what I meant by a '31 socket.
As you can see, completely different design, not a double (or triple) stamp.

Thanks. I assumed it either wasn't stamped with a date code or if stamped, stamped with the 31 date code only since you didn't say anything about double or triple stamps. Same possibilities apply though. It was a rough time. They had unsold NOS sitting at the plant, unsold NOS sitting with dealers, etc. Who knows how well they kept up with re-stamping everything or not. They could've added the later production socket to a set with the earlier production sockets in it. But I'm still back to your replacement theory, perhaps even by the original owner, as most likely.

Are any of the sockets or handles date coded?

Data plate looks great!

 

[snapmom]

Factory date codes.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's the coolest date code yet!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Factory date codes.

More like, "FFFFFFFFFFFFactory date codes." That was a long die stamping skitter on that one!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

My latest Misstamp find, a "9/13" socket

 

[HeelSpur]

Knocked the rust off this today and had no idea it was a snap-on.

DSCF2085 by wvwheaties, on Flickr

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks like a 20s connecting rod wrench