SK Dresser set No. 4224 (45170 fans)

davethorik · Sep 22, 2013

picked this up a couple of weeks ago at a small tool exchange i frequent. I tried googling the # and didn't turn up much. I was curious if these are the original pieces.

it came with a 45170 ratchet, 6" extension, 3/8 fem. to 1/4 male adapter, 1/4 nutdriver handle and then 20 sockets including 2 spark plug sockets, 3 deepwell 6pt 3/8 (7/16, 1/2, and 9/16), 9/16 thru 7/8 in short 3/8 drive, and 3/16 to 1/2 in short 1/4 drive.

Looks like someone else got it NOS and used it to tighten a few bolts. Only the 1/2 and 7/16 deepwell sockets have ever been used, and everything looks minty.

The box is dated March of 1974.

ChevyEFI · Sep 22, 2013

How sharp is the knurling? It looks like it might be more aggressive than some, but photos can be deceiving.

That set is newer than the family stuff I've used and quite older than my personal stuff.

It's interesting to see a non-knurled extension and matte shank surface. The silver square drive looks different than that on my Grandpa's (now mine) 3870, but different again from my 1990s 45170 and 3870.

Nice find of quality U.S. made tools. I have no personal commentary on whether they're original, but nothing stands out as unoriginal to me.

davethorik · Sep 22, 2013

the knurling looks more aggressive than it is, it is grippy but not sharp.

The reason i ask about originality is the 2 spark plug sockets are knurled and none of the rest are. also, it is just about impossible to get the case to close with the 2 spark plug sockets in there. regardless, it is a nice hardly used set that i will get good use of.

rusty65 · Sep 22, 2013

The 1/4 spinner handle looks like it may be newer but other then that and maybe missing a 3in extension the set looks very nice and complete. Thank you for sharing your awesome set with us it's not often you see cardboard from 1974 and with it having the original tools inside.

Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

rusty65 · Sep 22, 2013

davethorik said:
the knurling looks more aggressive than it is, it is grippy but not sharp.

The reason i ask about originality is the 2 spark plug sockets are knurled and none of the rest are. also, it is just about impossible to get the case to close with the 2 spark plug sockets in there. regardless, it is a nice hardly used set that i will get good use of.

It would not surprise me if the spark plug sockets were added that is not uncommon because usually you didn't get the plug sockets unless you got one of the bigger sets.

Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

davethorik · Sep 22, 2013

rusty65 said:
The 1/4 spinner handle looks like it may be newer but other then that and maybe missing a 3in extension the set looks very nice and complete. Thank you for sharing your awesome set with us it's not often you see cardboard from 1974 and with it having the original tools inside.

Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

thank you! I found a NOS 3" extension on ebay that matches the 6" in this set, and bought some other goodies to go with it as well :eyecrazy:

edit: im not sure about the spark plug sockets either, but they are brand new never used whatever the vintage they are.

Fedwrench · Sep 23, 2013

I say it's all as it should be for that time period. SK knurled their spark plug sockets long before any of their extensions as many manufacturers also did back in the day. I think the spinner handle wasn't used is why it looks so good. Lastly, the male square drive on the ratchet is silver not black is also from the 1970's. Nice hammertone green box with the plastic insert. nice stuff from my high school days. :lol:

Steinmetz · Sep 23, 2013

davethorik said:
picked this up a couple of weeks ago at a small tool exchange i frequent. I tried googling the # and didn't turn up much. I was curious if these are the original pieces.

it came with a 45170 ratchet, 6" extension, 3/8 fem. to 1/4 male adapter, 1/4 nutdriver handle and then 20 sockets including 2 spark plug sockets, 3 deepwell 6pt 3/8 (7/16, 1/2, and 9/16), 9/16 thru 7/8 in short 3/8 drive, and 3/16 to 1/2 in short 1/4 drive.

Looks like someone else got it NOS and used it to tighten a few bolts. Only the 1/2 and 7/16 deepwell sockets have ever been used, and everything looks minty.

The box is dated March of 1974.

It looks original to me. And I own tons of SK tools (sets) from just about every era.

sk farmer · Sep 23, 2013

i concur with both statements above.^^^^^^

i nice set. i never understood having 1/4 or 3/8 sockets in a set without a corresponding ratchet. it seems like a craftsman move but i know sk and others did it back in the day.

scaron · Sep 23, 2013

very nice find? i love those little metal-boxed sets. wish they would go back to making them and ditch the blow-molded plastic so popular today.

ganymede · Sep 23, 2013

So as of 1974 they were still stamping the patent number on ratchets.
Interesting.

rusty65 · Sep 23, 2013

scaron said:
very nice find? i love those little metal-boxed sets. wish they would go back to making them and ditch the blow-molded plastic so popular today.

Proto and Wright still sell and make the metal boxes as a side note. And I'm still jealous of the OPs awesome SK set I still can't believe it has the original cardboard.

Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

d.mcfarland · Sep 23, 2013

Curious why it mixes 12 point and 6 point...

rusty65 · Sep 23, 2013

d.mcfarland said:
Curious why it mixes 12 point and 6 point...

That's not uncommon for older sets to have a mixture of 12 point and 6 point with 6 point on the smaller sizes because of the lack of a flank drive technology. Smaller size bolts are more easily rounded so those sizes need any help they can get so companies stuck with 6 point on those sizes.

Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

davethorik · Sep 24, 2013

d.mcfarland said:
Curious why it mixes 12 point and 6 point...

i thought that was odd, too. the only 3/8 drive 6 pt socket in the set is 9/16, smaller are 1/4 drive and larger are 12 pt.

ChevyEFI · Sep 25, 2013

davethorik said:
i thought that was odd, too. the only 3/8 drive 6 pt socket in the set is 9/16, smaller are 1/4 drive and larger are 12 pt.

Nothing new. Ko-Ken's 3277 3/8 set takes 6 point out to 12mm and 12 point from 13mm and up.

The larger the 12 point socket, the less likely to round a 6 point fastener.

chopper1 · Sep 25, 2013

That looks like a complete NOS set. I've recently learned that the last two digits of the part number of the set [ 4224 ] indicated how many pieces are in the set. Yours has 24 pieces.
Dave, where 'bouts in Akron is the tool exchange?

bluebolt · Sep 25, 2013

Have you pulled out the plastic tray and looked underneath? I had a minty metric similar set, pulled out the plastic and the display label with inventory was underneath.

TheGrooveking · Sep 25, 2013

The spark plug socket is original, I bought that same set new back in 1977, still have it, you guys would **** your pants if you saw all of my original 1970's/early 80's SK, especially the dozens of green metal boxes....in new condition since I took the tools out of them to place in my Craftsman tool boxes. Someday I'll have to take a few photos. I started buying SK when I was 10 with my paper route money, the first thing I bought was a 1/2" ratchet from Ace Hardware. They had the big display case and I would just drool....

TheGrooveking

TheGrooveking

CCaillet · Oct 9, 2025

Picked up this S-K Tools 4224-76 set at an estate sale today for $8
Missing the two 9/16" 3/8" drive sockets but got a 3/8" 6-pt extra S-K socket.

SK Dresser set No. 4224 (45170 fans)

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