"S.R." Sockets? Can't seem to find any info.

[Smokeshow69]

screenshot of the 1946 Craftsman catalog showing the mixed brand 1/4 drive set- Note the unmistakable plomb pear head ratchet. These sets that I have seen in person include the traditional be/ circle h sockets in them with the traditional knurling at the base

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It was a 1/4" ratchet

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for clarifying. I wasn't sure what "with one" was referring to, and if you were saying you have a third example to Smoke's swivel set anecdotes with an [S.R.] snuck in there or not.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks for clarifying. I wasn't sure what "with one" was referring to, and if you were saying you have a third example to Smoke's swivel set anecdotes with an [S.R.] snuck in there or not.

If I understood OTG correctly, he was saying he picked up one of those craftsman marketed marketed sets with the un marked 1/4 ratchet in them ?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yep. He answered. His post followed Don's post, but without a quote, sometimes you can't tell if a person is replying to something from earlier, when the thread got bumped, and just catching up. I was just checking. Another "[S.R.]" swivel socket in a Crafty set would have been noteworthy.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Have not picked up any swivel sets, probably have a few loose ones

 

[Provincial]

Lugz, did Sears have any tool contracts with the Government during WWII? The likeness to WF tools would indicate production in the same time frame. Leftovers could have been mixed into regular sets to get rid of them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz, did Sears have any tool contracts with the Government during WWII?

I think I covered this upthread very early on, or somewhere else, probably the Long C thread, but yes, Sears had some WWII contracts for tools. Most of them with the Signal Corps (Philadelphia office), a couple early Lend-Lease (Chicago office), and one with the Air Corps, also out of Chicago, and a few with the Navy for repair kits that might've included tools. There are Craftsman BE ratchets with wartime and postwar dates forged into the handle. I have one.

The likeness to WF tools would indicate production in the same time frame.

I think the consensus on Plomb production of tools bearing the "[S.R.]" marking has always been on late war to immediate postwar, Jock. Again, there has never really been much dispute about that. Who and when are pretty clear. What and why "[S.R.]" not so much.

Leftovers could have been mixed into regular sets to get rid of them.

We've known about Plomb WF- style ratchets showing up in postwar Craftsman sets and depicted in postwar Craftsman socket sets for some time and the 'leftover theory' that it looks like Plomb may have been getting rid of old stock or stretching the use of the dies etc, and, again, perhaps in parallel or just after the Circle-U contract, but for some mysterious no-frills 'Industrial' customer instead, has been discussed many times in several threads.

I am not aware of a similar phenomenon with ratchets or sockets marked "[S.R.]" showing up in Craftsman socket sets. Smoke reporting his associate's two swivel sets are the first I have ever heard of it.

If the "[S.R.]" tools were military, during the war, they've never shown up in a known kit. That is, I am not aware of anyone in the WWII tools community that associates them with any application or tool-set.

 

[humber2]

Here’s an SR item I saw at the Flywheelers swapmeet but the letters in the circle count against it being relative.

Sherman Reilly Inc of Chattanooga TN

Anyway it is a nicely made item so here’s the shots I took.....

 

[Zrxrunner]

This might have been thrown out there already too, but maybe combination of getting rid of the old stock, AND "S.R." being a stock of tools that were made up near the end of the plomb contract with sears to cover warranty items? Maybe way to designate Sears Roebuck warranty on them was SR? Then they had so many to get rid of when plomb lawsuit happened that they filled sets and sold to smaller mom n pop shops to clear em out? Maybe multiple factors led to SR tools?

 

[RagTopTA]

So this just popped up on the ebay... did the SR come with the Crasftsman set? or, like the SO and Duro, were they replacements ?Hmmmm...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is that box green? That's different than the swivel set that Smoke posted that had several Crafty swivels and an [S.R.] swivel in a black Crafty box. In this case we don't know which swivels, if any, were original to the box, do we? Or perhaps all or some of them were and it's military in origin. The Duro looks maybe postwar. What's the date code on the Snappy? If that's late mid to late 40s it will be interesting.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Is that box green? That's different than the swivel set that Smoke posted that had several Crafty swivels and an [S.R.] swivel in a black Crafty box. In this case we don't know which swivels, if any, were original to the box, do we? Or perhaps all or some of them were and it's military in origin. The Duro looks maybe postwar. What's the date code on the Snappy? If that's late mid to late 40s it will be interesting.

The picture that I posted is the same color box. The picture I posted is a greenish craftsman box with the same logo as the one Rags just posted. The one he just posted is a bit dirty but its the same box. Interesting that we see it has an 11/16 sr wobble in there....

Also, at the risk of running someone up, this nice set is also on ebay. A complete run of Craftsman circle u sockets. (no sr's but this is a beautiful set)

 

[MR.X]

I’m just adding to the data base of SR sightings. I realize the Sears Roebuck idea isn’t breaking any new ground. I guess this is a tube repair kit tin kicking around in the basement.

 

[MR.X]

No doubt this product predates WW2 era Plomb surplus but it is another Sears Roebuck Generic "S.R" sighting.

 

[Smokeshow69]

No doubt this product predates WW2 era Plomb surplus but it is another Sears Roebuck Generic "S.R" sighting.

Certainly is very interesting that Sears used S.R. In their advertising!

 

[Provincial]

Last weekend I picked up some more SR sockets. 1/2 drive, 12-pt., deep 1/2, 11/16, and 7/8.

 

[d42jeep]

I bought this last month. It seems much more shiny than most of mine.
-Don

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Well, I guess I'm joining the mystery SR club. I picked up this little 1/4" drive set yesterday. The plating seems similar in color to the other thread pictures. The only items marked with the boxed SR are the 7/16 and 3/8 sockets. The ratchet only states Made in U.S.A. with a small circle mark on the handle. The metal box is greenish, and clearly red labeled Craftsman on the inside cover.

 

[d42jeep]

How are the tools marked that aren’t SR? The ratchet was made by Plomb and sold by Sears.
-Don

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

All the tools, extension, sockets are the same plating as the ratchet. A dull Grey coloring. All the sockets have the same internal and external appearance and all, including the extension, have the same seep hole at the bottom on the outside surface.

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

How are the tools marked that aren’t SR? The ratchet was made by Plomb and sold by Sears.
-Don

Question now is, do I file these under Craftsman or Plomb inventory...life of tool collecting can be so complicated...

 

[Mintgrun]

They're usually marked (U) when made for Craftsman. (Circle U)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They're usually marked (U) when made for Craftsman. (Circle U)

True, but this set, apparently all unmarked except the "[S.R.]" sockets, could be further "evidence" - cobbled together from a few different sources, incl. other partial sets with mixed markings, of the "[S.R.]" stamp being a crude Plomb designation for the surplus tools they were dumping on Sears Roebuck for economy class sales, including unfinished, seconds, etc. Without assured custody, paperwork provenance, etc, nothing is definitive, but I am starting to lean harder that way, despite reservations.

 

[Mintgrun]

Yes, I almost replied with, "That settles it... Sears and Roebuck it is!"

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Well, just as I thought I was done...I find this Lone swivel waaay in the back of one of my tool drawers. Looks just like the SR swivels posted earlier in this thread. Same dull Grey plating. No markings except the size. I believe this is Plomb manufactured as well. Gonna place this one inside the green Craftsman box with the SR sockets and other unmarked tools in that set and leave my son a note so when I'm dead he won't be scratching his head...

 

[d42jeep]

With the large protruding rivet heads it certainly has the look of some Plomb made (but not all) universal sockets. Here are some examples.
-Don
Some Wright Field sockets of that design
A SR marked universal with the same look
Some Plomb universal sockets without the protruding rivet heads.
Just examples, no conclusions.

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

With the large protruding rivet heads it certainly has the look of some Plomb made (but not all) universal sockets. Here are some examples.
-Don
Some Wright Field sockets of that design
A SR marked universal with the same look
Some Plomb universal sockets without the protruding rivet heads.
Just examples, no conclusions.

Yes, mine pretty much identically matched the SR 3/8 swivel that RagtopTA posted on #104. I now wonder how many of these I previously tossed into the Restore donation box thinking they were foreign made and not USA...I'm gonna go through my Plomb toolbox today and see if I have any WF or SR in there. Eyes are wide open now, sure do appreciate having this forum!

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up a S.R. lot on eBay. It also came with three WF socket that I will pass along. My S.R. collection is now significantly larger.
Wright Field sockets
S.R. sockets that came today
All of my S.R. sockets
Deep 1/2” drive sockets
3/8” drive sockets
In the storage box
Back in the garage.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

I picked up a S.R. lot on eBay. It also came with three WF socket that I will pass along. My S.R. collection is now significantly larger.
Wright Field sockets
S.R. sockets that came today
All of my S.R. sockets
Deep 1/2” drive sockets
3/8” drive sockets
In the storage box
Back in the garage.
-Don

Nice collection! That wood box is pretty cool. I have a spot in my circle u tool board I made for sr sockets but I have less than a handful

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Oh, that's, hmmmm, nice...drooling with jealousy!

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Well, I guess I'm joining the mystery SR club. I picked up this little 1/4" drive set yesterday. The plating seems similar in color to the other thread pictures. The only items marked with the boxed SR are the 7/16 and 3/8 sockets. The ratchet only states Made in U.S.A. with a small circle mark on the handle. The metal box is greenish, and clearly red labeled Craftsman on the inside cover.

I know I’m very late to this conversation but check out that box.

 

[alinc100]

I bulked up my S.R. collection today from 1 to 5
I had the lonely 3/4" 12pt deepwell and now have
3/8" dr -7/16",5/8",11/16" swivels and the 3/4" deep
1/2" dr 9/16" 12 pt shallow

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

I bulked up my S.R. collection today from 1 to 5
I had the lonely 3/4" 12pt deepwell and now have
3/8" dr -7/16",5/8",11/16" swivels and the 3/4" deep
1/2" dr 9/16" 12 pt shallow

I’m needing some swivel sockets and 1/2 standard. If you have any duplicates I would love to talk

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

I agree. When I saw the first set I was intrigued but thought maybe the prior owner broke one and picked up the replacement sometime down the road. But once I saw the second set, I was really intrigued. Especially since these circle u wobble sets are pretty uncommon to begin with. Just seems super coincidental

I would offer another possible explanation after seeing the above-referenced ad. Suppose Plomb was actually distributing two different tagged sets and Sears called and sent in a sizable order. In order to fill the Sears order, Plomb took some shortcuts by substituting the SR 11/16 swivel sockets for the circle u because production couldn’t keep up with the delivery schedule………
I remember you asking me about the 11/16 socket once when I posted a pic of my circle u set and guess what. SR socket.
I had never even heard of a SR socket prior to that day.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I would offer another possible explanation after seeing the above-referenced ad. Suppose Plomb was actually distributing two different tagged sets and Sears called and sent in a sizable order. In order to fill the Sears order, Plomb took some shortcuts by substituting the SR 11/16 swivel sockets for the circle u because production couldn’t keep up with the delivery schedule………
I remember you asking me about the 11/16 socket once when I posted a pic of my circle u set and guess what. SR socket.
I had never even heard of a SR socket prior to that day.

That’s something I have often thought about. Seems very plausible for sure.

 

[Rileysan]

I figure it's time to bump this thread to the front of the line and reignite the passionate discussion about what "S.R." stands for. And while I don't recall if I ever offered an opinion on the matter in the past, my mind is made up. I passionately opine that SR stands for Sear Roebuck which seems likely to be the first iteration of sockets made for Sears by Plomb before they had the tooling to stamp the Craftsman logo on to sockets. My evidence is purely anecdotal, but it's pretty convincing evidence if I do say so myself!

I present to you 2.5 sets of Craftsman swivel sockets, 2 of which have a mix of Craftsman 'Circle-U', S.R., and blank (no stampings) sockets - all housed in the relatively rare stenciled Craftsman logo socket boxes, circa 1944-45, as well as a set of S.R. & blank sockets that were purchased without a socket box. The partial set came with only 4 sockets which I have kept as-is for the time being. What is interesting to me is that no one I am aware of has ever come across a mixed set of standard or deep mixed Craftsman/SR socket sets. The search continues ...

Ignore the random 'BE' socket set - I was showing off when I took this photo a couple years ago.

Brian

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My evidence is purely anecdotal, but it's pretty convincing evidence if I do say so myself!

Hi Brian. Good to see a post from you. Nice finds! You're in good and large company. FYSA, this bolsters the last round of similar 'mixed markings' type evidence from @Smokeshow69, also swivel sets, and @Tom "Python" Aycock, a small midget set, in 2023, during your hiatus, that tilted the group opinion meter very sharply toward Sears Roebuck, just shy of definitive.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

I figure it's time to bump this thread to the front of the line and reignite the passionate discussion about what "S.R." stands for. And while I don't recall if I ever offered an opinion on the matter in the past, my mind is made up. I passionately opine that SR stands for Sear Roebuck which seems likely to be the first iteration of sockets made for Sears by Plomb before they had the tooling to stamp the Craftsman logo on to sockets. My evidence is purely anecdotal, but it's pretty convincing evidence if I do say so myself!

I present to you 2.5 sets of Craftsman swivel sockets, 2 of which have a mix of Craftsman 'Circle-U', S.R., and blank (no stampings) sockets - all housed in the relatively rare stenciled Craftsman logo socket boxes, circa 1944-45, as well as a set of S.R. & blank sockets that were purchased without a socket box. The partial set came with only 4 sockets which I have kept as-is for the time being. What is interesting to me is that no one I am aware of has ever come across a mixed set of standard or deep mixed Craftsman/SR socket sets. The search continues ...

Ignore the random 'BE' socket set - I was showing off when I took this photo a couple years ago.

Brian

Yes and finding the at mixed in with the craftsman furthers the argument