Vintage S-K Tools

[Oldtuleguy]

Came into a bunch of chrome alloys and tiger sockets

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Are those stamped Japan?
I just passed a set today that looked the same but stamped Japan

No. They are only marked with the size and the famous dot. Nothing else.

Awesome bottle opener

All credit to notlob for pointing out the bizarre anomaly. It is one of the most mind-boggling coincidences we are likely to encounter in this hobby.

 

[MattyLouie]

Does anyone know of a tool box set for sale? I am a first year mechanic working at a shop currently before I go to Tech school. Using newer Craftsman however I have some SK at Home and would like something made in the USA. Thank you.

 

[Username already in use]

All credit to notlob for pointing out the bizarre anomaly. It is one of the most mind-boggling coincidences we are likely to encounter in this hobby.

Too cool, The S-K font is near identical!
Now, why do I suddenly feel like a beer...

Here's my S-K from the weekend.
3/8 drive SK Tools and Kraeuter ratchets and the Kraeuter 3/8 drive breaker bar.

 

[d42jeep]

Hey, those look familiar! The last picture is the S-K I found at the Concord flea on Saturday.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I had picked up a S-K 1/2” drive ratchet with a broken drive side at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago. Username told me that if I emailed S-K customer service and gave them the part number they would send a free repair kit and that is exactly what happened. Here are a few before and after pictures. Thanks for the info!
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

You're welcome!
SK customer service is pretty fantastic. That's a nice looking ratchet.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Too cool, The S-K font is near identical!

I know! It is so uncanny! The font on the eBay sale opener that notlob posted back in post #1116, linked here, is even better! I am surprised that everybody isn't out there looking for vintage Schorr-Kolkschneider beer products now! EDIT: Frankly, I though that I would start a trend and I've been waiting for the photos to come pouring in here ever since!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

My first post on this thread. Found on CL last night, picked up today for 25 bucks. I don't believe it's ever had a tool put in it.

 

[d42jeep]

That’s wartime or earlier and amazingly well preserved including the handle. Great pickup.
-Don

 

[txlonghorn1989]

I had picked up a S-K 1/2” drive ratchet with a broken drive side at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago. Username told me that if I emailed S-K customer service and gave them the part number they would send a free repair kit and that is exactly what happened. Here are a few before and after pictures. Thanks for the info!
-Don

I hope that's a pair of S-K needle nose pliers you fixed that with! If not that's blasphemy! ;-)

 

[d42jeep]

No wonder it was so difficult to compress that snap ring. I was using those off brand Channellocks. I actually don’t believe that I own any S-K longnoses. Something else to look for, I guess.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My first post on this thread. Found on CL last night, picked up today for 25 bucks. I don't believe it's ever had a tool put in it.

It looks like it was put in a hermetically sealed box in the back of a closet - in a museum!

Here is a decal and catalog excerpt I promised in the Toolboxes thread.

I wouldn't worry about the decal I am posting not matching yours exactly. There were several variations that haven't been worked out chronologically as far as I know. The only thing that is certain is that these water transfer decals in this general style (again, with slight variations in the triangles and the thickness of the white inside the SK) were dropped for the metal badges around 1946.

The shape of the lock is a little different in the catalog image, which probably means yours is older than 1943. But I am guessing it's a No. 619 or 626. Measure the height, width, and depth and weight it.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Thanks for the info Lugz, especially the catalog data. I'll be measuring this one. And yes, it sure is in good shape. There probably won't be any tools going in this one. I'd hate to be the first idiot to scratch it.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

It looks like it was put in a hermetically sealed box in the back of a closet - in a museum!
...

Lugz,
I was looking at the S-K box again and had the thought this morning that whoever sold it to JoCo just took it out of the box to list it. What a shame they didn't give him the box as well! ;-) That is almost mint and probably as mint as they come these days! What a find!

 

[bonneyman]

WWII meets 2018 upgrade

I recently bought a 15 inch 40170 for $10 at a garage sale and got the DT100 upgrade for it. I have been so impressed with it I bought an old 42470 on ebay that appears to be a well worn black oxide model I was shocked how great the teeth are in for its age. It might be sacrilegious in this thread but this oldie also got the 100 click treatment but know that I took my other short 1/2 drive ratchets (proto and craftsman) out of my box so this old girl is now my primary short-handle fixed-head 1/2" drive ratchet. I really wish I could continue to use the original switch as the machining marks are awesome. Note there what looks like more of an 86 cast where the C-clip is.....any info on that?

I think S-K had a strong feeling their upgrade kits were gonna be used alot for tools like yours.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Lugz,
I was looking at the S-K box again and had the thought this morning that whoever sold it to JoCo just took it out of the box to list it. What a shame they didn't give him the box as well! ;-) That is almost mint and probably as mint as they come these days! What a find!

The story I got from the PO was that he was originally from upstate NY and a big Gerstner fan. Saw the box at a garage sale 20 years ago and bought it for the leather handle. Took the box home and saw the decal inside and overall condition of the box and couldn't bring himself to cannibalize it. He's moving on to FL now and just didn't want to move it again. The shipping box theory may be right though. Multiple owners not screwing that thing up is a long shot.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: this didn't look too bad from the outside, but the surprise was when I opened the lid. it looked like time stopped in there.

I think I have the ratchet for the rest of this 1/2 inch socket set and looks like it was barely used.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Fantastic!

 

[bbrins]

WWII meets 2018 upgrade



It might be sacrilegious in this thread but this oldie also got the 100 click treatment but know that I took my other short 1/2 drive ratchets (proto and craftsman) out of my box so this old girl is now my primary short-handle fixed-head 1/2" drive ratchet.

Tools are meant to be used, so if a DT kit makes you enjoy using it, great. The nice thing about these kits are that they don't require any modifications, so you can bring the ratchet back to it's original configuration at any time with just a pair of needle nosed pliers.

I'm guessing SK realized just how many pre-Ideal ratchets were out there being sold on eBay and collected, and figured that they could make a few bucks off of stuff that was sold decades ago. They can make a bit off of someone that they might otherwise lose money on by selling them an upgrade rather than giving them a standard rebuild kit.

 

[d42jeep]

ALL: this didn't look too bad from the outside, but the surprise was when I opened the lid. it looked like time stopped in there.

I think I have the ratchet for the rest of this 1/2 inch socket set and looks like it was barely used.

That is a great wartime looking set. I would love to find one like that. I’ve even started setting pieces aside for one.
-Don

 

[misterbill]

ALL: this didn't look too bad from the outside, but the surprise was when I opened the lid. it looked like time stopped in there.

I think I have the ratchet for the rest of this 1/2 inch socket set and looks like it was barely used.

I agree with everyone else - fantastic. I have that same box, but with a leather handle. First one I've seen with the hard handle and diamond decal.

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Decal is one of the cleanest I have seen

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I'm trying really really hard not to become an SK fan but I'm not doing to good a job at it. Great set drives.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: thanks for the good words on my cool old SK set. if any of you might want better pictures or want me to take pics of a specific item in the tool box or set just ask.

I have several other old SK tools and i'll post them up as soon as I find them cause everything is not easily found at the minute.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and may your holidays bring you a smile!!

 

[Mgdoug3]

I need help figuring out this SK tool box. I would like to fill it up with the right tools. I bought some stuff off a guy and most of all the SK tools were metric. I believe this was a 3/8 metric set, but I'm not completely sure. I bought mostly 3/8 drive things from the guy but I did buy a 42470 ratchet once.

 

[isb cornbinder]

When I was born in December, 1945, my Father went to a local Medicine Hat hardware store and bought a set of SK sockets, extensions and a ratchet. I still have this set and I use it often. Years later when I went through trade school, I called the Allied Tool Truck and bought everything SK. I mean everything. this included three lengths of combination wrenches in metric and SAE, SK screwdrivers 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" sockets, extensions, breaker bars, "T" handles and ratchets. If SK made it, I bought it including snap-ring pliers. I have never had anything SK fail. This cannot be said about some of the other brands. The all have excellent warranty on the job service.
I cannot say I have wild passion for one brand over another. Some tools from one brand fit and work better.
I am enjoying retirement, but, I have to say I miss working in the trade. I had very few days where I felt like I was working because I liked what I was doing.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I

The shape of the lock is a little different in the catalog image, which probably means yours is older than 1943. But I am guessing it's a No. 619 or 626. Measure the height, width, and depth and weight it.

Lugz. It's a 619. I'm not going to able to NOT put tools in this thing. Would like to cork the inside and put the proper tools in it. Is this catalog you posted out of archived somewhere I can access? I'm assuming the box was also available as part of a kit. I'm slowly learning about SK here but need a clue in the right direction as to what I need to be looking for. Thanks.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Real nice find Drives!

 

[four.cycle]

I need help figuring out this SK tool box.

A 15" x 3" box could contain any number of different sets: 1/4" drive, 3/8" drive, a combination of both, metric or SAE. Take a look at Ebay listings under "S-K socket set" (used) and you'll see the variety of different sets contained in that box.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Thanks. I was assuming it was a 3/8 set maybe around the 80's. I think I have most of the sockets and extensions already to fill out the kit.

 

[d42jeep]

A 15" x 3" box could contain any number of different sets: 1/4" drive, 3/8" drive, a combination of both, metric or SAE. Take a look at Ebay listings under "S-K socket set" (used) and you'll see the variety of different sets contained in that box.

Good advice, BK. Check out my set in post #1040 for a possible SAE match.
-Don

 

[Mgdoug3]

Thanks for the post number. It makes more sense now that I realize I'm missing the plastic tray. The only thing I need besides that is the deep sockets. I appreciate all the help.

 

[d42jeep]

Also check the set out in post #494 for a set without the plastic tray.
Merry Christmas.
-Don

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have a standing order at a few second hand stores and pawn shops. I want all of the SK tools and toolboxes. I used to get a call a day and now I get called once a month, maybe. I think the shop owners have discovered that SK is not an off-brand piece of junk. I also buy real Vise Grips this way. I have around 200 of the Made in Nebraska ones.
This may be a good tip for the serious collector of anything.

 

[Perrorojo]

I picked these up for $37.50 at an auction today. I've been looking for a metric set for a while.



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[d42jeep]

I picked these up for $37.50 at an auction today. I've been looking for a metric set for a while.



Sent from my XT1710-02 using The Garage Journal mobile app

That’s a nice metric set. I would have bought those too.

As I originally posted in the 2018 garage sale thread, I found this well used 3/8” drive set at the Concord flea on Saturday. There was just enough left of the plastic divider to hold the tools in place. I had a box in better condition sitting around that I transferred to tools into after cleaning.
-Don

 

[Sunset_Z28]

Picked up a couple NOS goodies this afternoon from a local tool store.




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[CRTDI]

Nice find! Really like those stubby drivers...

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

Some awesome pickups guys!