This article was featured in the July, 1957 issue of Rod Builder & Customizer Magazine. I thought you guys would find it as fun to read as I did, so here it is...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
This article was featured in the July, 1957 issue of Rod Builder & Customizer Magazine. I thought you guys would find it as fun to read as I did, so here it is...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
57 years later, nothings changed ...
"In ratchets, however, I think you can do just as well with SK at a lower price. SK is an admirable line of good quality. While most of the line doesn't match Snap-On's, the price tags are much more attractive."
"In ratchets, however, I think you can do just as well with SK at a lower price. SK is an admirable line of good quality. While most of the line doesn't match Snap-On's, the price tags are much more attractive."
Russ G
Active member
Snap on makes nice stuff, no doubt about it. I can't justify the price though. I buy Mastercraft Maximum brand marketed by Canadian Tire. The tools feel just as nice in my hand and are covered by a lifetime warranty. I have only had to get one piece replaced and I just took it to customer service and got the replacement off the shelf. Nobody said well...you must have done this or you must have had a pipe on it or whatever. That was an interesting article. I love old magazines like that.
Nice article Ryan, forgot how much simpler life was back then (especially the tool requirement for general auto repair). I wonder if the mechanics of that era realized how easy they had it when working on an engine. You pop the hood and it was as if the engine were on a stand waiting for you. Large engine compartments, basic technology, easy access to everything as if designed with the mechanic in mind. Now, pop the hood and…. Oh ****, just a big plastic box, plastic covers, shrouding, disguises, where the hell is the engine? Can’t even slip a piece of paper between the fender well and engine anymore….
Lol.
All the specialty tools required now days just to accomplish minor repairs is mind boggling.
Lol. All the specialty tools required now days just to accomplish minor repairs is mind boggling.
malibu101
Well-known member
I like the 2nd page that shows a
"complete Snap-On socket wrench kit (that) is a must for doing full-bore automotive work.".
That was a comprehensive socket kit of the time.
How did the Snap-On man of the era stay in business when a guy only needed a few basic tools.
Instead of always needing a new tool for new models or access in todays crowded engine bays.
"complete Snap-On socket wrench kit (that) is a must for doing full-bore automotive work.".
That was a comprehensive socket kit of the time.
How did the Snap-On man of the era stay in business when a guy only needed a few basic tools.
Instead of always needing a new tool for new models or access in todays crowded engine bays.
marty_p
Well-known member
Thanks for sharing, Ryan!
The 'good old days' are named that for a reason!
The 'good old days' are named that for a reason!
3baygarage
Well-known member
Nice to see that Ryan. The majority of that set would have lasted till today.
joel63
Well-known member
In the early 60's I was a fan of Williams, which were in my machine shop class, but I was nowhere in a position to buy tools.
Thanks Mr. Ryan for the little look into yesteryear.
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Scout Driver
Well-known member
That was a fun read!
Scott
Scott
Was there in '57, and I can assure you most mechanics of the day were always working on a collection like that. DIY-ers like me, had a whole lot less. More like a hammer, screw driver and a pair of pliers. Tool choices were very limited then and Expensive, If guys like Canadian Tire and Princess Auto had a been around then with their current offerings...........history would look a lot different!!
ZRX61
Well-known member
.. & when was the last time a JC Whitney catalog ran to 228 pages??
littlebritishcar
Well-known member
Pretty cool. It said that most pros have about $1,000 dollars invested in their tools. That is $8,409 when adjusted by the annual consumer price index from 1957 to 2012.
My dad and grandfather always told me, "home mechanics but Craftsman and Pros buy Snap-On or Proto but no self-respecting man buys cheap Japanese ****." I guess Japanese **** has been replaced with Chinese junk.
My dad and grandfather always told me, "home mechanics but Craftsman and Pros buy Snap-On or Proto but no self-respecting man buys cheap Japanese ****." I guess Japanese **** has been replaced with Chinese junk.
trainer
Well-known member
I agree!
As far as tools go, Right now is the "good old days"
You can buy lifetime- guaranteed tools in just about any price range.
The used market is more accessible than ever because of ebay and craigslist.
Even some of the cheap stuff can be quite servicable if you dont abuse it.
Nader
Well-known member
I have a similar kit of vintage Snap-On tools that I picked up at a garage sale. Lately, I've been using it exclusively to make repairs on my older cars, and have rarely had to go to my bigger box of tools. Old, simple cars are nice that way. Ignore that newer, reliable 4-Runner in the background.
Attachments
Considering how Snap-On tools has gained weight and thickness over the years, this is a really funny comment:
"The cheap wrench will be thicker and heavier than better ones. This extra thickness will make the wrench unusable in many parts of the car"
Now a days the thickness of the open end of a 17mm Snap-On combination wrench is 8mm (5/16") making it impossible to do a proper brake job on GM Lucas brakes. They used to be 7,5mm (19/64")
All the top tier brands 16mm 1/2" sockets measures between 22,1 and 22,8 mm a cross the socket end - that includes Craftsman!
A Snap-On shallow chrome 16mm 1/2" socket is a whopping 23,8 mm (15/16") - rendering it useless on BMW M43 engines. To put that in perspective a Nepros 17mm(!) 1/2" socket comes in at only 23,3 mm!
In the good old days the Snap-On 16mm socket was 23,0mm (29/32")
It is like Snap-On used to make tools for the mechanics (like the other brands) - now Snap-On make tools for the share-holders - overbuild tools they never have to warrant
I totally agree with the comment above that "the good old days" for tools are right now - but for Snap-On "the good old days" really seems to be the good old days - decades ago.
So Nader, hold on to your beautiful vintage Snap-On set - it's the best Snap-On will ever make.
"The cheap wrench will be thicker and heavier than better ones. This extra thickness will make the wrench unusable in many parts of the car"
Now a days the thickness of the open end of a 17mm Snap-On combination wrench is 8mm (5/16") making it impossible to do a proper brake job on GM Lucas brakes. They used to be 7,5mm (19/64")
All the top tier brands 16mm 1/2" sockets measures between 22,1 and 22,8 mm a cross the socket end - that includes Craftsman!
A Snap-On shallow chrome 16mm 1/2" socket is a whopping 23,8 mm (15/16") - rendering it useless on BMW M43 engines. To put that in perspective a Nepros 17mm(!) 1/2" socket comes in at only 23,3 mm!
In the good old days the Snap-On 16mm socket was 23,0mm (29/32")
It is like Snap-On used to make tools for the mechanics (like the other brands) - now Snap-On make tools for the share-holders - overbuild tools they never have to warrant
I totally agree with the comment above that "the good old days" for tools are right now - but for Snap-On "the good old days" really seems to be the good old days - decades ago.
So Nader, hold on to your beautiful vintage Snap-On set - it's the best Snap-On will ever make.
I only use snap ons special brake wrenches, those things that look like pocket knives.
I served my Apprenticeship in the early 1970's and tools back then were seriously expensive. Even so we were paid a tool allowance by the company as part of our "contract" as Apprentices. We were expected to show our tool collection on occasion to show we were actually buying tools,not spending it on booze,women etc. I still have all of the tools i bought back then with brands such as Stahlwille and Hazet. But we also made a lot of things,most of which i still use today ,such as drill jigs,depth gauge sets,etc etc . A premium paid back then served me well for all these years.
A good source of tools has been estate sales where i have come across some really nice gear and i feel sad the former owners descendants place so little value on them ,especailly as these same tools probably helped clothe and feed them.
I served my Apprenticeship in the early 1970's and tools back then were seriously expensive. Even so we were paid a tool allowance by the company as part of our "contract" as Apprentices. We were expected to show our tool collection on occasion to show we were actually buying tools,not spending it on booze,women etc. I still have all of the tools i bought back then with brands such as Stahlwille and Hazet. But we also made a lot of things,most of which i still use today ,such as drill jigs,depth gauge sets,etc etc . A premium paid back then served me well for all these years.
A good source of tools has been estate sales where i have come across some really nice gear and i feel sad the former owners descendants place so little value on them ,especailly as these same tools probably helped clothe and feed them.
jkwilson
Well-known member
You pop the hood and it was as if the engine were on a stand waiting for you. Large engine compartments, basic technology, easy access to everything as if designed with the mechanic in mind. Now, pop the hood and…. Oh ****, just a big plastic box, plastic covers, shrouding, disguises, where the hell is the engine? Can’t even slip a piece of paper between the fender well and engine anymore….
I remember rebuilding the carburetor on my dad's 77 GMC truck with a straight six. I was able to stand on the ground next to the engine to do most of the work.
Now you drop a socket and hope it somehow finds its way through to the floor and doesn't get stuck on some kind of shield.
n8n
Well-known member
I had to chuckle at that as well, as I'm more of an "Advanced hobbyist" The shop foreman at my friend's shop is a total Snap-On snob, and I love me some SK. Some things never change.
Recently seeking similar advise, I turned to the web pages of community colleges and vo-tech schools. Their automotive programs often specify tools required for their classes. Here in the US, the requirement is still full sets of sockets and wrenches in inch and metric sizes.
Modern car makers are using an ever increasing variety of screw heads. Most schools recommend full sets of torx, allen, and inverse torx sockets. Of course we know there are other types of torx as well as "secure" versions of torx and allen.
Styling, and aero reqts have driven car bodies to the point that some fasteners are no longer readily accessible. It seems to me no self respecting shade tree mechanic should be without swivel sockets, ratcheting box wrenches, and wobble extensions. I have short and long versions of just about every tool I own to aid accessibility.
No question cars are more complicated today than they were 50 years ago. They are much better performing, longer lasting, and safer as well. But I would be loathe to offer this same advice to "hot rodders" today or even pro mechanics today. A good first set of "basic" tools seems to be EVERYTHING. Then add more when car makers reinvent the hex head bolt again, or come up with a way to form sheetmetal around the engine and call it a body.
Modern car makers are using an ever increasing variety of screw heads. Most schools recommend full sets of torx, allen, and inverse torx sockets. Of course we know there are other types of torx as well as "secure" versions of torx and allen.
Styling, and aero reqts have driven car bodies to the point that some fasteners are no longer readily accessible. It seems to me no self respecting shade tree mechanic should be without swivel sockets, ratcheting box wrenches, and wobble extensions. I have short and long versions of just about every tool I own to aid accessibility.
No question cars are more complicated today than they were 50 years ago. They are much better performing, longer lasting, and safer as well. But I would be loathe to offer this same advice to "hot rodders" today or even pro mechanics today. A good first set of "basic" tools seems to be EVERYTHING. Then add more when car makers reinvent the hex head bolt again, or come up with a way to form sheetmetal around the engine and call it a body.
2jz4me
Well-known member
Sweet, I'm going to print that coupon and get 50% off at JC Whitney!
I will of course send the $.25 to cover part of the shipping for the catalog.
I will of course send the $.25 to cover part of the shipping for the catalog.
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wfopete
Well-known member
I wonder what Jerry Titus (the Author) is doing today?
Pushing up daisy's or ?
Pushing up daisy's or ?
jkwilson
Well-known member
I wonder if it was this Jerry Titus? http://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/jerry-titus.html#bio He was a writer as well as racer.
If so, he died as a result of injuries from a practice crash in 1970. His son, Rick was a racer too, and is well known in automotive journalism.
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Lassen Forge
Well-known member
About the same time I started building my collection and "went to work" - same era --grins--... I had to "make do" with Craftsman for a lot of my gear, but back then they were good quality - they could do most jobs, and not break or bork them up, and I can't tell you the number of their wrenches I've either filed down to a thin-jaw (for brake or euro-spec work) or heated and bent for a specific application... and they kept on working - because I couldn't afford Snap-on (I still have a lot of those, and they still work well)... Of course now, I wouldn't buy or trust the Sears Crapshoot brand with a 10 foot pole on anything I work on...
It is pretty amazing how few tools a guy needed back then. My Dad was a grease jockey in HS, an airplane mechanic in the Navy and employed as a repairman from '59-62. His sole ratchet set from '59-76 was a Williams 3/8ths. In '76 he needed to do a head job on a '67 Belvedere and bought a SK 1/2" set. I doubt he ever touched the 1/2" set again. Not needed to wrench on lawn mowers, etc the rest of his life. He gave me the SK set two years ago, it's like new.
chicane
Well-known member
I have used Craftsman's Professional line hand tools for years. I have a Craftsman's Professional chest as well, it was so heavy it nearly destroyed my truck taking it home. Craftsman's Professional are excellent quality and I would put them up against ****-On or any of that over priced BS.
Steinmetz
Well-known member
"…Since most rodders are fairly unpredictable characters…".
413dan
Well-known member
thanks for sharing, enjoyed the read
LifeLongWNYer
Well-known member
Two comments from me.
First of all, the needs for wrenches is now doubled since America has coddled those who want to convert us to metric sizes. Now we need to have a full set of metric tools.
My uncle sold farm machinery when I was just a kid and he gave me a SK 1/4" ratchet set for Christmas one year. Except for a socket that I left under a girlfriends hood years ago, I still have it and think of Uncle Harry every time that I use it. Some of you guys mentioned SK, are they still in business, and if so, who carries the line now?
Great post, thanks!
.
First of all, the needs for wrenches is now doubled since America has coddled those who want to convert us to metric sizes. Now we need to have a full set of metric tools.
My uncle sold farm machinery when I was just a kid and he gave me a SK 1/4" ratchet set for Christmas one year. Except for a socket that I left under a girlfriends hood years ago, I still have it and think of Uncle Harry every time that I use it. Some of you guys mentioned SK, are they still in business, and if so, who carries the line now?
Great post, thanks!
.
n8n
Well-known member
Yes, and pretty much you have to buy online... they have a 'dealer locator' on their web site but it's returned nothing but Grainger anywhere I've tried. Amazon and Tooltopia usually have OK pricing however.
metlmunchr
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2011
- Messages
- 1,278
Snap on pricing is past insane. Working on my wife's car recently and needed a 7mm 1/4" drive flex socket to get to one of the screws that holds the cover over the coil packs and plugs.
Checked at the local NAPA, O'Reilly, and Advance and none of them had it. Sears site showed they had a couple of them in stock at about $7 Sears is 15 miles from my house and there's a Snap on peddler who lives a couple miles away. Looked up online to check the Snappy price, figuring if it was anywhere near reasonable I'd get one from him rather than waste an hour going to Sears. $40 for that socket from Snap on, and if you'd like a set of them covering 5.5 mm to 15 mm that's only $460. Went to Sears for the $7 socket which was made in the US.
Between hand tools, power tools, measuring tools, and machine tools I've got north of $300,000 worth of tools I use to make a living. But, other than for bragging rights, the logic of buying 1/4' drive sockets at 40 bucks apiece just goes right over my head.
Checked at the local NAPA, O'Reilly, and Advance and none of them had it. Sears site showed they had a couple of them in stock at about $7 Sears is 15 miles from my house and there's a Snap on peddler who lives a couple miles away. Looked up online to check the Snappy price, figuring if it was anywhere near reasonable I'd get one from him rather than waste an hour going to Sears. $40 for that socket from Snap on, and if you'd like a set of them covering 5.5 mm to 15 mm that's only $460. Went to Sears for the $7 socket which was made in the US.
Between hand tools, power tools, measuring tools, and machine tools I've got north of $300,000 worth of tools I use to make a living. But, other than for bragging rights, the logic of buying 1/4' drive sockets at 40 bucks apiece just goes right over my head.