Private Lugnutz
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Right? And yet no Vacuum Grip grips. It's a stumper.
Lets make an all vintage Snap-on tool picture thread!
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Oldtuleguy
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I have seen some older logos on newer stuff
Private Lugnutz
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Hmm. Maybe like a throwback issue or something.
I have not collected pliers (it is a long story). Some hints. has USA stamped on it. the logo has Snap-on and not Snap/on. Has underling under logo. The 8 stamp is not clear, but its not a 78 or 88. . Has no handle pattern. The 68-70 cat, shows a 387C (says no pattern). They do not have Vaccum grip stamped. So my guess is 1968. The date stamp, cats, logo, fits the best.
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Private Lugnutz
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Thanks, snapmom. Good point on the "USA". The 387C angle is interesting, but there's no sign of a "C" on my stamp. As for the straight up-and-down letters logo, I am definitely not used to seeing it on any tool after the late 1940's. If you and otg have, I am going to have to re-think that.
Private Lugnutz
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Disregard prior comments. The lightbulb just went on. I was so focused on the straight-up-and-down font - which I have exclusively associated with pre-1947 production that I completely overlooked the hyphen (instead of the diagonal hyphen it should have). I had no idea they were stamping any tools this late (1968) with an older looking (non slanting letters) font. Thanks.
Oldtuleguy
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Snap-On-497-Neddle-Nose-Pliers-90-Degree-Bent-Angle-Jaw-/391951853641?hash=item5b4226a849%3Ag%3AtqMAAOSw-
olaRFil&nma=true&si=8FTWW3802%252B2fJtS5h20eHss3QoI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
This fits the above. First shows up in the 70 cat, so a 68 code is probably right.
olaRFil&nma=true&si=8FTWW3802%252B2fJtS5h20eHss3QoI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
This fits the above. First shows up in the 70 cat, so a 68 code is probably right.
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Private Lugnutz
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Very interesting. Please post a photo. According to the catalogs, Snap-on sold standard dykes in three sizes, 5, 6, and 7 inches (model numbers #85, #86, and #87 respectively), and the high-leverage dykes in the 6 inch length only (model number #386), from 1929 up through 1954. In 1955, they added the high-leverage 7-incher as model number #387. Later, the #387C, which, as snapmom noted, had no pattern grips. At this point, who knows what yours are. Certainly not me!
Private Lugnutz
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See, I wouldn't call the 47 and the 60 anything alike. I would immediately peg that slanty 60 logo as post-war. Except for some Ferret handles, the logos on all the tools I am familiar with up to the war and through about 1947 or so were not slanted. Then they went slanted. But I am starting to be willing to consider modifying that rule of thumb.
Oldtuleguy
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I am just noticing the 48 no. 5 pliers have no underline and all caps! It is hyphenated.
Private Lugnutz
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Yeah, I totally ignored that one. My small mind can only take so many anomalies at one time before it blows!
Private Lugnutz
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Thanks. Nice pliers. Without the Snap-on name on them, my hunch is that those are an example of a Forged Steel Products tool, not a Snap-on tool, but that's just a hunch - I have a lot more studying to do on this subject.
Forged Steel Products, of Newark, NJ, TM'd the name "Vacuum Grip" in 1920. They moved to Newport, PA in 1923 and made and sold "Vacuum Grip" pliers before Snap-on started offering them in their catalogs (in 1926). The tricky part is that Forged Steel Products continued making "Vacuum Grip" pliers for their own sales as well as for Snap-on contracts and some of the contract pliers were marked Newport, PA. I am thinking they would've been marked Snap-on, though. In 1931 Forged Steel Products, which also made wrenches for Blue-Point, btw, became a subsidiary (or some kind of business entity) of Snap-on, and Snap-on re-trademarked the "Vacuum Grip" brand as their own in 1932. And Snap-on started making the pliers in their own plants (Milwaukee through 1930, and in Kenosha in 1930), and those are often found on the pliers as well. But again, I am pretty sure that all the Snap-on "Vacuum Grip" pliers would be marked Snap-on, even those made at the Forged Steel Products factory in Newport, PA.
What's interesting about your pliers is they are smooth. I think it's apparent that they came with and without the pattern grips made famous by the Vacuum Grip name, from both Forged Steel Products proper and Snap-on, despite what the catalogs seem to indicate. And the Collecting Snap-on site alludes to that. When is another matter.
Forged Steel Products, of Newark, NJ, TM'd the name "Vacuum Grip" in 1920. They moved to Newport, PA in 1923 and made and sold "Vacuum Grip" pliers before Snap-on started offering them in their catalogs (in 1926). The tricky part is that Forged Steel Products continued making "Vacuum Grip" pliers for their own sales as well as for Snap-on contracts and some of the contract pliers were marked Newport, PA. I am thinking they would've been marked Snap-on, though. In 1931 Forged Steel Products, which also made wrenches for Blue-Point, btw, became a subsidiary (or some kind of business entity) of Snap-on, and Snap-on re-trademarked the "Vacuum Grip" brand as their own in 1932. And Snap-on started making the pliers in their own plants (Milwaukee through 1930, and in Kenosha in 1930), and those are often found on the pliers as well. But again, I am pretty sure that all the Snap-on "Vacuum Grip" pliers would be marked Snap-on, even those made at the Forged Steel Products factory in Newport, PA.
What's interesting about your pliers is they are smooth. I think it's apparent that they came with and without the pattern grips made famous by the Vacuum Grip name, from both Forged Steel Products proper and Snap-on, despite what the catalogs seem to indicate. And the Collecting Snap-on site alludes to that. When is another matter.
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Bill Myers owned Forged Steel Products. In about 31, Myers was named President of Snap on. (It seems like a hostel takeover, SO owed him a lot of money and could not pay), After Myers went to SO, a woman ran Forged Steel Products.
Private Lugnutz
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Thanks, snapmom. An amazing story considering the era.
Here's a 387 I don't recall posting before. I don't see a date code stamp on it anywhere. No stamped logo near pin, double rows of vacuum grips, forged-in logos inside handles. Otherwise, similar to Lugz'. So thanks to everyone in that recent conversation for setting the date boundaries on it.
For comparison, I also have an 86 with a no-underline Snap-on logo, with a clear 1958 forged-in date code. Is the depressed rectangular panel typical for the 86? Interesting that the 387 doesn't have it.
2018 Easter Egg Hunt
For comparison, I also have an 86 with a no-underline Snap-on logo, with a clear 1958 forged-in date code. Is the depressed rectangular panel typical for the 86? Interesting that the 387 doesn't have it.
2018 Easter Egg Hunt
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d42jeep
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My 387s look just like LesserSon’s pair. The pliers are single row and have the 1951 date mark.
-Don
-Don
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Private Lugnutz
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Whether forged-in or stamped, the logos on LesserSon's and Don's pliers are the slanted letters type I automatically associate with 1950's. I've got these special purpose spring-levered thin-nose pliers/cutters, model 600 S (or 60D S), with a very crisp slanted logo stamp and a 1954 date code as another example of what I consider a more typical 50's logo.
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tin medic
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Here are my pliers/snips. The first 3 pics are of a pair of 86 and 87 side cutters with a 1951 date code. Note the "S" in Snap-on has a fully curved tail where most "S" tails are crossed like a "T".
The next set of pics are a pair of 87B side cutters with a 1953 date code. Note single row of grips.
The next set of pics are a pair of 87B side cutters with a 1953 date code. Note single row of grips.
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tin medic
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First 3 pics are a pair of number 5 pliers with a 1958 date code. They are 4-1/2" long and you can make out in the 2nd pic where it is stamped NEWP but the ORT is missing.
The next 2 pics are a 67 pair of 387C with plain handles.
The next 2 pics are a 67 pair of 387C with plain handles.
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Billy Jack
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My late father was a dealer mechanic (before they were called technicians) in the 50's into the 60's, then a dealer service manager until he passed away, always a devoted Snap on fan. When I found this forum, I took the time to download a date code sheet and label his older stuff I inherited. Here's a few of his DOE's, marked with the dates. I never found a situation needing the offset one, but the other two were some of his absolute favorites. As a young child, accompanying him to a "side job", I could always get it right when he requested "gimme the bigger pear-shaped wrench, son", even before I was old enough to understand fractions. As I grew older and starting working on cars myself, I came to understand their utility. Not only were they able to get your knuckles away from a flat surface, the thicker head also safely broke loose all but the most stubborn tubing fittings.
I started assembling my own tool collection thru the 70's and 80's, but never saw anything like these again. If someone came out with metric equivalents, I'd buy a set tomorrow.
Bill
I started assembling my own tool collection thru the 70's and 80's, but never saw anything like these again. If someone came out with metric equivalents, I'd buy a set tomorrow.
Bill
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3baygarage
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Those wedge wrenches are cool. Blackhawk had something similar called Wedg-Head.
Private Lugnutz
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Continuing at my typical onesy-twosy pace, I picked up this speeder at the early bird flea market this morning. Based on its length (19"), markings ("Snap/on" and "MILWAUKEE U.S.A."), and lack of other markings (no model number or date code), I am almost certain it's an early (pre-1927) No. 4.
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Private Lugnutz
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Thanks.
RubiconJK
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RubiconJK
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Thank you.
Flinter987
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Flinter987
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d42jeep
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I believe that Blackhawk may have been the supplier to Snap-On for the wedge style wrench.
RubiconJK
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Found a couple Snap-On pieces today at the estate sale. A 3/8" drive FV711 swivel head ratchet and a 3/8" drive F-10-HG offset drive breaker bar. The date codes on these two have alluded me so far. I found a reference to the breaker bar on the Collecting Snap-On site and it is ca 1940's, but not sure about the ratchet. I'm about to get the magnifying glass out and see if I can find a date code anywhere.
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RubiconJK
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Ok, thank you. I searched all over it and the breaker bar and couldn't find anything. Do you think the breaker might also be military or just from a time period when they were not date code stamping? From what I got off the Collecting Snap-On site I think the breaker is from the '40's. Thanks again.
d42jeep
Well-known member
On your 3/8” drive flex handle the F-10-H is the part number and the G is the date code, indicating that it is from 1945.
-Don