Vintage S-K Tools

[outofbounds]

Curious to know if these two sockets are both SK in origin. The "generic" on the right simply says the size and "Chrome Alloy". Looks all the world like the SK, but the differences are subtle, including the width of the knurled band. Any experts to weigh in on this?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Those are generic sk sockets sold under other brand names

 

[Username already in use]

That 3/4" drive chrome alloy socket would look good in a Brazil toolbox. Paging Don...

 

[outofbounds]

That 3/4" drive chrome alloy socket would look good in a Brazil toolbox. Paging Don...

I might have 1 or 2 others as well. would have to check.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks for the thought but that one would be a duplicate for me, believe it or not. Here are many of the Chrome Alloy (Brazil) tools. I would be happy to look at any others.
-Don

 

[misterbill]

I’m having a pretty good run lately. I got up at the crack of dawn today to retrieve this Facebook Marketplace find. A nearly complete S-K 4098R 1/4” set. Just missing the cross bar, 6” extension, and the 40908 (1/4”) and 40909 (9/32”) sockets.

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

You are on a roll!

 

[outofbounds]

Thanks for the thought but that one would be a duplicate for me, believe it or not. Here are many of the Chrome Alloy (Brazil) tools. I would be happy to look at any others.
-Don

I think at least the other one I have is a 1-1/2" so probably a duplicate for you there too.

Ironically, I'm sure I've seen those wrenches several times and flipped them back into the bin, as I'm trained to only hunt the "names".......I learned the same with "Chromium Vanadium" vis-a-vis Western Auto, and so now I've gained more experience as it relates to Brazil. Thanks for sharing your pics!

 

[Username already in use]

They were sold under several brands. Brazil, Western Giant, Artisan, Tiger Tools... maybe others.

 

[d42jeep]

What he said.
-Don

 

[Kdaniel8601]

I just received this order from eBay that I won in an auction last Thursday. I think it is the 4168W set from the 1943 catalog. It has 7 cadmium and 6 black sockets, the flex bar, crossbar, and ratchet are black oxide. Someone put tape on three of the sockets and the box a very long time ago, the tape peeled off pretty easily from the sockets but left a glue residue. Does anybody have any ideas on how to remove the glue?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Acetone takes it off

 

[d42jeep]

I just received this order from eBay that I won in an auction last Thursday. I think it is the 4168W set from the 1943 catalog. It has 7 cadmium and 6 black sockets, the flex bar, crossbar, and ratchet are black oxide. Someone put tape on three of the sockets and the box a very long time ago, the tape peeled off pretty easily from the sockets but left a glue residue. Does anybody have any ideas on how to remove the glue?

If acetone is ineffective you might try Brake cleaner on the sockets but it might take the paint off of your new box. That’s really cool that you found a complete set. It’s taken me quite a while to put my wartime and postwar sets together. I’m still looking for a wartime crossbar. If you are interested, there is a pretty close repro decal available on eBay for the wartime set from Jim’s Engine Decals. Here are some pictures of my sets at various stages.
-

 

[d42jeep]

While going through my chisel and punch drawer, I found this round nose S-K Tools chisel. From my ID marking I apparently bought it in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s for a specific job. I wonder what that job might have been?
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

A nice group of metric 3/8” drive sockets from Roy arrived today. They will be used to fill our some sets. The second picture is an eBay lot that arrived today. I thought the ratchet might be wartime but it started out life Chrome plated. It was totally frozen when it arrived, but after a couple of hours of disassembly, cleaning and lubing it is back to working like new but still unattractive.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are the almost complete metric 3/8” drive sets. Just a couple of sockets missing.
-Don

 

[ForrestT]

Here are the almost complete metric 3/8” drive sets. Just a couple of sockets missing.

-Don

Don, how about an SK lesson? Why are some of their shallow sockets shorter than others? I’ve always wondered. Figured it was just an era/ownership/design change. What gives? Thank you if you know the answer.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[r_olson_06]

A nice group of metric 3/8” drive sockets from Roy arrived today. They will be used to fill our some sets. The second picture is an eBay lot that arrived today. I thought the ratchet might be wartime but it started out life Chrome plated. It was totally frozen when it arrived, but after a couple of hours of disassembly, cleaning and lubing it is back to working like new but still unattractive.
-Don

Glad they made it there. Set is looking good.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[r_olson_06]

Don, how about an SK lesson? Why are some of their shallow sockets shorter than others? I’ve always wondered. Figured it was just an era/ownership/design change. What gives? Thank you if you know the answer.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

It is a generational thing. SK has changed ownership so many times. Yes earlier sockets were slightly shorter. I think this ran up to generation 1 post dresser era (S-K Tools) which I think would be 80s. After that the metrics adopted a 3 line vs 2 line on the sockets.

Looking for a Round Beam Plomb 1068 Double Box End Wrench

 

[d42jeep]

Roy knows his S-K. Particularly with 3/8” drive, the earlier sockets were the shortest.
-Don

 

[ForrestT]

Thanks, Roy and Don!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[misterbill]

I just walked into my dining room... title this one "Vintage Cat Approves Vintage S-K Tools".

 

[Outlawmws]

More like "Vintage cat claims SK tools!"

 

[d42jeep]

I think that Bill’s cat would approve of this wartime 3/8” drive ratchet I received from an eBay seller today.
-Don

 

[ForrestT]

I think that Bill’s cat would approve of this wartime 3/8” drive ratchet I received from an eBay seller today.

-Don

Great looking Ratchet, Don!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Outlawmws]

Great looking Ratchet, Don!

Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Fixed it for you:

 

[d42jeep]

Here is another S-K 3/8” drive ratchet I had to have. It arrived this evening.
-Don

 

[RubiconJK]

Here is another S-K 3/8” drive ratchet I had to have. It arrived this evening.
-Don

Very cool!

 

[Outlawmws]

Don, does it have the 1/4" head?

 

[d42jeep]

It seems to be typical 3/8” drive except really short.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

I was thinking it may have been one of the early 3/8 >> 1/4 conversions. I love that one. I've converted several...

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice ratchet don. Here is a kane nutspinner set.

 

[Provincial]

Two items from last weekend.

Artisan Spark Plug Gapping Tool

Chrome Alloy 1/2 dr 12-pt sockets 15/16" and 1".

 

[d42jeep]

Two items from last weekend.

Artisan Spark Plug Gapping Tool

Chrome Alloy 1/2 dr 12-pt sockets 15/16" and 1".

Nice find on the 1” Chrome Alloy. I’m missing that one.
-Don

 

[Provincial]

Nice find on the 1” Chrome Alloy. I’m missing that one.
-Don

It's yours! The 15/16 is cracked.

 

[d42jeep]

It's yours! The 15/16 is cracked.

Thanks. I’ll send you a PM
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

One of the benefits of wartime and prewar S-K drive tools (except ratchets) being unmarked is that eBay sellers often offer them at low prices. This 1/4” drive hinge handle finally arrived yesterday after USPS delays. The last two pictures are of a set for comparison and the ‘43 catalog listing.
-Don

 

[bmwrd0]

I did not know that Don. That answers a few questions and helps fill some boxes.

 

[bmwrd0]

I found this old boy yesterday, and talked the estate sale guy down to a price I was happy about, and so it followed me home!


A bit rusty and the flip latches and lock hasp are gone:


But there was something about it that makes me want to restore it




It had all the right parts:

And the drawers were straight


I am pretty behind on my "get stuff done on the house" list right now, so this is pretty low priority, but the over all plan is to find a doner for the hasp and latches, pretty common on boxes of this age, beat back the rust, and give it a coating of gloss OD to bring it up to snuff. But I do have the right Artisan marked pieces

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That's a rare bird!