I Found An Unusual Walden Worcester 1/4” drive set. Feel free to post your Walden tools here.

[Ayrhead]

I have been looking for one of these little Walden ratchets for a while. In operation it’s not all that smooth so I’ll take it apart and lube it.
I received this cad early war set in a care package. It came in what was originally an FSN marked box which is now missing its stenciling.

-Don

Nice score

 

[four.cycle]

^ that 3150M is a fairly rare animal. and no, not much improvement at all over the earlier 3150.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a 1” formerly rusty 1/2” drive socket I probably should have left behind.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

These two Walden items showed up at a Berkeley estate sale today. The spinner looked unused but I liked the ratchet even better.

With it’s big brother.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This partial 1/4” drive Federal Stock Number marked set arrived from an eBay seller today. The sockets, flex handle and spinner have the black oxide finish I associate with late ‘44 or ‘45 wartime sets. The FSN marking is quite light but still visible. It came with a few other interesting Walden fools. The little screwdriver is Walden marked as are the small wrenches and 1/4” to 3/8” adapter.
The box has 5 hinge elements and the sockets all have the detent ball holes. I will likely have the missing sockets to complete the set but the black oxide finish ratchets are extremely difficult to find.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found this Tomahawk hex drive set at a Marin County estate sale yesterday. The goo on the box won’t come off without taking the red paint with it so I may have to leave it in place.
Slightly cleaned up and organized.

-Don

 

[four.cycle]

The little screwdriver is Walden marked

wow.... that is definitely quite a find.

The goo on the box won’t come off without taking the red paint with it so I may have to leave it in place.

did you try putting it into the freezer overnight and seeing if the stuff might CHIP off?

(just some wild speculation.)

 

[d42jeep]

This partial 1/4” drive Federal Stock Number marked set arrived from an eBay seller today. The sockets, flex handle and spinner have the black oxide finish I associate with late ‘44 or ‘45 wartime sets. The FSN marking is quite light but still visible. It came with a few other interesting Walden fools. The little screwdriver is Walden marked as are the small wrenches and 1/4” to 3/8” adapter.
The box has 5 hinge elements and the sockets all have the detent ball holes. I will likely have the missing sockets to complete the set but the black oxide finish ratchets are extremely difficult to find.
-Don

I added some matching sockets to the set yesterday.
I added the bullet ratchet to my partial 3/8” drive metric set. Filling this one out is going to be difficult.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I went for this green box 1/4” drive Walden set on eBay because it contained some chrome plated 8 point knurled sockets I needed to fill out a slightly newer red box set. The fact that it contained a crossbar may have contributed to my decision as well. When the set arrived I decided that it was too interesting to simply serve as a donor set. I believe it to be a set made immediately after the end of the WW2 metal restrictions and it still had the refrigeration style ratchet that was the only one offered until early 1944. When Walden introduced the reversible ratchet the refrigeration style ratchet was still being offered as well. Here it is as received.

I added matching sockets that were missing as well as an extension and spinner.
I’ll keep an eye out for a short extension and a sliding tee. The more complete red box set is still missing a matching chrome knurled 3/8” 8 point socket and the elusive short extension to be complete
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This partial 1/4” drive Federal Stock Number marked set arrived from an eBay seller today. The sockets, flex handle and spinner have the black oxide finish I associate with late ‘44 or ‘45 wartime sets. The FSN marking is quite light but still visible. It came with a few other interesting Walden fools. The little screwdriver is Walden marked as are the small wrenches and 1/4” to 3/8” adapter.
The box has 5 hinge elements and the sockets all have the detent ball holes. I will likely have the missing sockets to complete the set but the black oxide finish ratchets are extremely difficult to find.
-Don

I wasted no time securing this partial wartime set that included this rare dark finish ratchet when it became available. It will go a long way towards completing the FSN marked set. I believe that these ratchets were only offered in late ‘44 and ‘45 which no doubt accounts for their rarity.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Here is a 1” formerly rusty 1/2” drive socket I probably should have left behind.
-Don

You're a Marine among tool users, Don - you never leave any behind!

 

[d42jeep]

It may seem that way but seldom do I bring home tools made in India, China or Taiwan. At least the rusty treasures that I should leave behind are US made.
-Don

 

[Arne73]

Marked "WALDEN" and USA.
"190" over "5790". This is a beefy mini screwdriver.
Hoping its in the correct Walden thread.

 

[d42jeep]

I went for this green box 1/4” drive Walden set on eBay because it contained some chrome plated 8 point knurled sockets I needed to fill out a slightly newer red box set. The fact that it contained a crossbar may have contributed to my decision as well. When the set arrived I decided that it was too interesting to simply serve as a donor set. I believe it to be a set made immediately after the end of the WW2 metal restrictions and it still had the refrigeration style ratchet that was the only one offered until early 1944. When Walden introduced the reversible ratchet the refrigeration style ratchet was still being offered as well. Here it is as received.

I added matching sockets that were missing as well as an extension and spinner.
I’ll keep an eye out for a short extension and a sliding tee. The more complete red box set is still missing a matching chrome knurled 3/8” 8 point socket and the elusive short extension to be complete
-Don

I found a sliding tee that completed the immediate postwar green box set. I wouldn’t mind adding a short extension but those don’t come along every day.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I was unable to resist this partial Walden PM21 set on eBay since the seller had it priced at a very reasonable price (Cheap).
I wasted no time adding the missing pieces from one of my particularly ugly partial sets.
Other than a small rusty spot on the exterior of the box, it looks pretty nice.
Edit….Scraped off the rust and added a bit of blue paint.
-Don

 

[Mintgrun]

I found this unusual little SW 3100 K10 set screw wrench set today. I couldn't find it in the catalogs on the IA site.



The set is missing the smallest two sizes and whatever went in the long pocket.

 

[four.cycle]

^ That is a rather odd set that originally came with a driver handle.
Mine originally came in a clear plastic box, not a vinyl pouch.

 

[d42jeep]

I found several 3/8” drive Walden tools at today’s estate sale. They were rusty and some are currently in the evaporust.
Cleaned up the extensions.
I did a little straightening on the sliding tee.
From this.
to this.

-Don

 

[d42jeep]

After multiple different angles of trying to immerse the speeder in evaporust, I’m calling this Walden 3/8” drive 4025 done. See the previous post for the rusty before picture.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I can’t resist these 3/8” drive spinners when I see them for a reasonable price. This one arrived from an eBay seller yesterday and will be heading for my summer home toolset next week.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

After multiple different angles of trying to immerse the speeder in evaporust,

Solution to immersing large/long objects in Evaporust (e.g. old saw blades, etc.)
"Under the Bed" plastic storage tub. "Big Lots", "Home Goods", "Target", etc.
This one also works great for an anti-freeze drain pan - slides right under the vehicle and is large enough to catch all the splash as the coolant comes out of the petcock and splashes all over the crossmember.

 

[RTM]

Solution to immersing large/long objects in Evaporust (e.g. old saw blades, etc.)
"Under the Bed" plastic storage tub. "Big Lots", "Home Goods", "Target", etc.
This one also works great for an anti-freeze drain pan - slides right under the vehicle and is large enough to catch all the splash as the coolant comes out of the petcock and splashes all over the crossmember.

And rather than trying to flood the whole vessel, put a plastic bag in the tub, and make high spots anywhere that isn't speeder, and just let the bag outline the speeder, and you will use less.

 

[four.cycle]

^ That or any combination of objects placed under the pan, elevating one end, or immersing objects in the liquid, raising the level of the liquid in the pan.

 

[Provincial]

You guys should post the "bed pan" idea over on the Rust Removal thread!

 

[MFJL]

This Walden 3138 arrived in the mail yesterday. I have an earlier one somewhere.

The earlier one has a different part number, 7408.-Don

How do these work? Do you pull the one out to spin and the other one push button in the back?

 

[d42jeep]

There is a spring loaded detent ball to keep the handle in the engaged or disengaged position.
-Don

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Stevens Walden S20 20 piece 3/8" drive SAE Socket Wrench Set w/Original Box

manufactured by Stevens Walden, Worcester, Massachusetts U.S.A.

this set includes:

4012 3/8" 3/8" dr 12 pt shallow socket
4014 7/16" 3/8" dr 12 pt shallow socket
4016 1/2" 3/8" dr 12 pt shallow socket
4018 9/16" 3/8" dr 12 pt shallow socket
4020 5/8" 3/8" dr 12 pt shallow socket
4022 11/16" 3/8" dr 12 pt shallow socket
4024 3/4" 3/8" dr 12 pt shallow socket

4912 3/8" 3/8" dr 12 pt deep-well socket
4914 7/16" 3/8" dr 12 pt deep-well socket
4916 1/2" 3/8" dr 12 pt deep-well socket
4918 9/16" 3/8" dr 12 pt deep-well socket
4920 5/8" 3/8" dr 12 pt deep-well socket
4922 11/16" 3/8" dr 12 pt deep-well socket
4924 3/4" 3/8" dr 12 pt deep-well socket
4926 13/16" 3/8" dr 12 pt deep-well socket

4027 3 inch Extension
4022 8 inch Flex Handle (Breaker Bar)
4029 Universal Joint
4051 RHFT Reversible Ratchet

---- Steel Box

* NOS

BK, I was looking through a Habitat Restore in Maryland yesterday and found the same box. Had six original sockets still in it. Surprised to remove the top foam piece and find the content insert in pristine shape!

 

[d42jeep]

I have been searching for these Federal Stock Number stencilled 1/4” drive Walden boxes for over 10 years. I have quite a few that show their age but this was on eBay at a reasonable price and is in much better than average condition. It arrived yesterday. I’ll compare it with the one in my GMTK to see which one is nicer
It even came with some original tools, mostly cad plated.
This little Walden hex set was included as well.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I occasionally purchase Walden 1/4” drive ratchets for my wartime Walden sets. This one arrived from an eBay seller today and required some previous owner applied paint removal.
Added to the partial FSN marked set.




-Don

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

I occasionally purchase Walden 1/4” drive ratchets for my wartime Walden sets. This one arrived from an eBay seller today and required some previous owner applied paint removal.
Added to the partial FSN marked set.




-Don

Aaah, I would've taken that as a refrigeration ratchet at first look. I have Bonney RF ratchets that look very similar. I'm headed to the shop to look closer at my Walden stash...thanks for this post and the catalog reference, is that off ITCL?

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

I occasionally purchase Walden 1/4” drive ratchets for my wartime Walden sets. This one arrived from an eBay seller today and required some previous owner applied paint removal.
Added to the partial FSN marked set.




-Don

Found one! But, is it legal to sneak it alongside the wartime finish sets?

 

[d42jeep]

The dark finish sets are very late war as can be told by the relative rarity of the dark finish ratchets. I generally always use the refrigeration style ratchets with cad plated sets since that is what they came with. I prefer to find ones with 1/4” drive plugs but the plugs may be as rare as crossbars. I think the catalog page came from Tin Medic so it’s probably on the internet.
-Don
Sets in progress