Vintage S-K Tools

[d42jeep]

I suspect that those combo wrenches are much newer. Most of the earlier ones don’t have the size stamped on the open end face. It’s pretty hard to date the combos since S-K has been around so long with several ownership changes.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

We found this combination wrench today that looks like an S-K but is branded Artisan. The Artisan brand has been seen on other S-K made tools including beaver tail ratchets. According to AA that brand and Tiger was made for Gambles Auto stores. I have some other tools with the Artisan and Tiger brands.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

This group is sequential from C-32 (1") down to C-22 (11/16) then skips to C-18, then skips again to C-14 (six sided closed end) and finishes with a 10mm. I'm thinking the C-18 thru C-32 may have been part of a set (possibly #1711)--the last two are obviously not part of the same set so let's ignore them for now.

The research into my Roto-Ratchet last week (post 1960) on Alloy Artifacts led me to believe it was manufactured between 1959 and 1963 since it is marked S-K without the diamond and without Wayne. These wrenches are marked the same way. Looking at the catalogs posted on archive.org is more confusing than helpful in this case because the catalogs that aren't strictly socket sets are S-K Wayne or Dresser--and the combo illustrations in the Dresser catalogs actually depict S-K Wayne on the wrenches! I don't how Dresser era wrenches were marked.

So, does '59-'63 sound about right or am I missing something?[/QUOTE]

I have some sk lectrolytes numbered that way, but my Wayne's are not, so probably predate lectrolyte era.

 

[d42jeep]

I think they picked up that numbering system again post Wayne and used it right up until the shiny smooth chrome wrenches.
-Don

 

[Capt. Curt]

My vintage 1964-1968 S-K Wayne 5 drawer "Machinists" tool chest I recently picked up in the Dallas area off FB. In the original condition that I just cleaned up some with WD40 and fine steel wool. S-K Wayne was only branded by the Symington Wayne Company for 4 years as many of you already know.
I also have a S-K Wayne No. 1714 combination wrench set I've had since I was 13 years old I plan to put into this box.

 

[outofbounds]

A vintage 1964-1968 S-K Wayne 5 drawer tool box I recently picked up in the Dallas area off FB. In the original condition that I just cleaned up some with WD40 and fine steel wool. S-K Wayne was only branded by the Symington Wayne Co. for 4 years. I also have a S-K Wayne branded No. 1714 in a roll 14 piece combo wrench set I had since I was 13 I plan to put in this box.

Nice find! I love a box with odd assortment of drawers, and who doesn't love them in that terrific condition??

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice machinist box! Picked up a klein variant of the sk round head.

 

[r_olson_06]

Nice machinist box! Picked up a klein variant of the sk round head.

I have a Gamble's one that is identical. Minus the stamping.

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

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I think pennies had a version as well

 

[Capt. Curt]

Yes, I like all the drawers and those small drawers especially...I was lucky to find one in any condition since I don't see them out there in the wild often let alone for $45
Grew up in the Detroit area myself and worked at an auto parts store (1977-79) in Royal Oak that sold new S-K Tools for years so I ended up with many SK tools that I still have today including S-K taps & dies, tap handle and die stock, several gear pullers and a bunch of S-K and SK Wayne punches and cold chisels also.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's the perfect box for that stuff

 

[d42jeep]

I took a 3/8” drive family portrait today since I had them out.
The dark finish ratchet has the early patent.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice assortment!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. I’ve been working on this wartime 3/8” drive starter set and I’m only missing the wartime 3/8” and 1/2” sockets. I have duplicates of the 7/16” and 5/8” sockets if anybody else is putting one of these sets together.
-Don

 

[CRTDI]

Artisan/SK 1/4" drive set.

 

[CRTDI]

Tiger?/SK 1/4" drive set.

 

[d42jeep]

Those look great. It looks like the Tiger set uses the same tools as the early S-K Chrome set. How are the sockets marked in the Artisan set? Regular S-K markings?
-Don

 

[CRTDI]

With the exception of the ratchet, there's nothing really different with the Artisan set. All the sockets have the usual period S-K markings.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Mine is same way

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a wheel knocker complete with instructions

 

[r_olson_06]

Nice OTG with the original packageing. I have a set of those wheel knockers in a metal case if you are looking to add to your set.

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

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks Roy. I have a metal box set. Thought this one was interesting because of the box.

 

[toolmiser]

Here is a wheel knocker complete with instructions

Excuse my ignorance, what is a "wheel knocker"? I think I have one and never knew what it was used for.

 

[r_olson_06]

Thanks Roy. I have a metal box set. Thought this one was interesting because of the box.

That box is early. I have a couple of the later diamond era rebuild kits in the orange boxes.

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

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Used to knock the wheels off of early vehicles. The picture of the box I posted has directions for their use.

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up a couple of eBay items recently. First was this partial wartime set because of the condition of the box interior. It came with several knurled postwar sockets along with the wartime ones. Next I saw the empty postwar box that was available at a reasonable price. After adding some spares on hand, the sets won’t be too hard to complete.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I decided to transfer a rare complete cad plated set into the presentable new box.
-Don

 

[David Jackson]

Excuse my ignorance, what is a "wheel knocker"? I think I have one and never knew what it was used for.

I have one and got it when I got a late '40s HD GE three wheeler and wanted to take the rear wheels off. I called the then local dealer, an old time HD guy, and he told me a wheel knocker (I think he called it a Knock Off) for a Ford Model A would work. I did find one and it did! Those wheels are on a taper and when you hit the knocker with a hammer the shaft moves just a little bit and the wheel comes loose.

I did not know they were made by SK; maybe others made them too?

DJ

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Common tool back then, everyone sold them.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. I’ve been working on this wartime 3/8” drive starter set and I’m only missing the wartime 3/8” and 1/2” sockets. I have duplicates of the 7/16” and 5/8” sockets if anybody else is putting one of these sets together.
-Don

MrBill generously sent me the wartime 3/8” socket for my set. Only the 1/2” one left to find.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

I found some SK 1/4 drive stuff at an estate sale today. No ratchet, and mixed sockets of SK, Craftsman, Plomb and others. Even a Craftsman metric! No 1/2" socket, but the three 8-points are all SK. The box appears to be SK.

I was pleased to see the knurled cross-bar in the bottom!

There was a cheap hex drive set mixed in, but it was easily separated.

 

[d42jeep]

I found some SK 1/4 drive stuff at an estate sale today. No ratchet, and mixed sockets of SK, Craftsman, Plomb and others. Even a Craftsman metric! No 1/2" socket, but the three 8-points are all SK. The box appears to be SK.

I was pleased to see the knurled cross-bar in the bottom!

There was a cheap hex drive set mixed in, but it was easily separated.

That looks like the smaller set shown in the 1943 catalog. Normally the hinge handles are unmarked.
-Don

 

[David Jackson]

Here are a couple of photos, not all that good, will have to redo them. One is of my 3/4" in its box and the 1/2" wartime sockets.
I don't have any ratchets for the 1/2" and don't even really know what a wartime ratchet would look like.

DJ

 

[d42jeep]

Mine looks like a larger version of these 3/8” drive examples but with the newer 2232477 patent number. You’ll need to find a box with the decal to put them in rather than the riveted on tag.
-Don

 

[David Jackson]

Hi Don,

Many thanks for the tips. I never would have thought of the decal box v riveted one. Finding a dark ratchet and decal box will be a challenge but I don't mind looking around and asking around.

David J.

 

[Username already in use]

Scored my first vintage 4-way lug wrench today. Along with a few other SK goodies.

 

[r_olson_06]

Scored my first vintage 4-way lug wrench today. Along with a few other SK goodies.

Very nice. I have never seen an SK one before. Thanks for sharing.

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

 

[d42jeep]

Nice find. My 4way is a S-K Wayne but I would have preferred S-K Tools. What size is the Chrome Alloy socket?
-Don

 

[David Jackson]

I find I have a Chrome Alloy socket in 1/2" drive; are those desireable? Mine is 21/32nds and i would love to find one with wartime black oxide finish, if they were even made then.