Good deal on SK/Kraeuter 1/2 9pc 12pt Deep Socket Set

pauls_workshop · Dec 24, 2014

Hey guys, a while back a newbie posted his link to this set:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-S-K...rg=20131230161411&rk=3&rkt=10&sd=161463270520

This is a new old stock 1/2 drive, SAE 12 pt, 9 pc deep set made by SK for their Kraeter division back in the day. I ended up checking this out and got a deal on this and another set the seller had. Long story short, this is the real deal. 4 of the 9 sockets say SK on them and are the same as SK from this era (when Dresser owned SK). The other 5 say Kraeuter on them and have slightly different socket details on the OD, but obviously also made by SK to the same level as normal SK. Internals look identical. If anyone needed a 1/2 sae deep set, this is a good one and at $26 with free shipping right now, a good value too.

The same seller also has an older US made 13 pc 1/2 drive SAE Impact Normal Size socket set made by Stevens Walden, again back in the day for $38. This is also very high quailty for an impact set. Check them out if you have an interest. It is kind of rare these days to find NOS sets reasonable on good US tools like this. - Paul

nmantas · Dec 24, 2014

I was impressed that the guy had such a massive inventory of those sets.....much more than just a hardware store that closed in the seventies(maybe the warehouse for a chain of stores?). I would be in on both if they were metric.

pauls_workshop · Dec 24, 2014

nmantas said:
I was impressed that the guy had such a massive inventory of those sets.....much more than just a hardware store that closed in the seventies(maybe the warehouse for a chain of stores?). I would be in on both if they were metric.

Right, not metric, but some good stuff if anyone needed 1/2 SAE. Thought I'd share. I have no idea how many of what the guy has but clearly quite a few. - Paul

jonathan75 · Dec 25, 2014

What year is that set from? The very long history description does not really say.

LXCam · Dec 25, 2014

Thanks OP, I picked up the 1/2" deep set. Recently I bought a bunch of individual SK 12 points from some place closing out their individual sockets for 20-30 cents on the dollar. Even though I was able to piece together almost complete sets, some of the normal sizes that everyone uses all the time were out of stock. This should fill those gaps nicely with room for breakage.

Tellingthem · Dec 25, 2014

jonathan75 said:
What year is that set from? The very long history description does not really say.

Probably 1970's to early 1980's.

From AA:

In the late 1960s Symington-Wayne was purchased by Dresser Industries, a large conglomerate, and S-K Tools became a division of Dresser. As a side note, Dresser Industries had previously purchased the Kraeuter Company, a well known maker of pliers and other tools. At some point Dresser decided to introduce a Kraeuter brand of sockets and drive tools, and these were presumably made by the S-K Tools division, based on the similarities in design and construction.

In 1985 S-K was purchased by FACOM, a French conglomerate, and operated as a division of that company for a number of years.

pauls_workshop · Dec 25, 2014

LXCam said:
Thanks OP, I picked up the 1/2" deep set. Recently I bought a bunch of individual SK 12 points from some place closing out their individual sockets for 20-30 cents on the dollar. Even though I was able to piece together almost complete sets, some of the normal sizes that everyone uses all the time were out of stock. This should fill those gaps nicely with room for breakage.

Glad to hear it helped a GJer out Cam! This one was for you!

Mine came in wrapped in the plastic, no corrosion of any kind on them, from the 80's likely but as good as new. SK chrome is always among the best and these show it well.

The 1/2 impact set also is very high quality. I have a set of 3/8 Walden normal sockets I've used for about 30 years. They are very good, about like US Craftsman sockets, so I wasn't afraid of getting these. They are very nice. I needed 1/2 sae and metric impacts which I've never had. I got a deal getting both from the fellow - he is easy to work with. Might chat with him. Also, for those interested, has a larger 1/4 Kraeuter set. That one is NOT normal SK, but is all made in Japan parts in it. Does have the universal flex metric there, normal set, and deeps, so a pretty complete 1/4 set. - Paul

LXCam · Dec 25, 2014

Thanks for the info Paul, much appreciated!.

bobbycos · Dec 25, 2014

just pulled the trigger on the sellers 1/2" driver swivel impact set for $20 w/free shipping

pauls_workshop · Dec 25, 2014

bobbycos said:
just pulled the trigger on the sellers 1/2" driver swivel impact set for $20 w/free shipping

Let me know please what you think of those once you get them! I didn't get those but was eying them. Made in Japan set so should be pretty good. - Paul

hickfied · Dec 25, 2014

Those impacts swivel sockets are a good deal. Thats what a HF set would cost before tax using a 25% coupon.

bobbycos · Dec 25, 2014

pauls_workshop said:
Let me know please what you think of those once you get them! I didn't get those but was eying them. Made in Japan set so should be pretty good. - Paul

will do

pauls_workshop · Dec 25, 2014

hickfied said:
Those impacts swivel sockets are a good deal. Thats what a HF set would cost before tax using a 25% coupon.

Right, but never heard of that manufacturer. Was that an HF set in the day? Anyone know anything about them?!

Doing a little more research, absolutely nothing comes up on CI Industrial company on Google. A modern HF Taiwan 7 pc 1/2 impact swivel set with coupon is about $22 or so vs. these at $20. So the question is how good these are vs. say a modern HF set. These have the potential to be much better, but don't know. -Paul

3baygarage · Dec 25, 2014

Good deal OP. I ran across this set on Ebay a little while back. Surprising that the sets are mixed SK/Kraueter. I know they are identical but I wonder if these were packaged for the military or something, or maybe just the end of a production run.

pauls_workshop · Dec 25, 2014

Yes, what I'm understanding about Kraeuter is that it wasn't hugely popular as a subsidiary of SK. The fact this set was mixed with SK labelled and Kraeuter labelled but in an SK box! tells me that SK made some special labelled Kraeuter stuff but also just sold their own SK label stuff when it served them! Eventually Kraeuter died off and we are left with the residuals here to evaluate... I think it is a great deal for anyone that can use them. I just love SK sockets whatever name is stamped on them. Take a look at this one too! Can you tell who made the old Craftsman sockets here? Any reason you wouldn't want to use those, even though not "true" SK?

- Paul

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-20-V...1537417655&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

hickfied · Dec 27, 2014

I was messaging the seller and he ended up combining the Walden set with the swivel impacts in one auction for just under $50

priceman1414 · Dec 29, 2014

A question for anyone who bought the set.... what sizes are included?

It says 9 piece, but if the set is 1/2 to 15/16 as the description states, wouldn't it be 8 pieces? 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16.... and the picture shows 8 sockets in the case... although I found another ebay auction from a different seller with the exact same photos, so someone 'borrowed' another listing's photos, but that auction also lists a 9 piece set, but shows 8 in the picture.

MadMark · Dec 29, 2014

the 9 piece is the case, I guess

CatSplat · Dec 29, 2014

priceman1414 said:
A question for anyone who bought the set.... what sizes are included?

It says 9 piece, but if the set is 1/2 to 15/16 as the description states, wouldn't it be 8 pieces? 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16.... and the picture shows 8 sockets in the case... although I found another ebay auction from a different seller with the exact same photos, so someone 'borrowed' another listing's photos, but that auction also lists a 9 piece set, but shows 8 in the picture.

9-piece set = 8 sockets plus the case. A bit of a cheesy way to count "pieces" but what can you do.

bobbycos · Dec 29, 2014

pauls_workshop said:
Let me know please what you think of those once you get them! I didn't get those but was eying them. Made in Japan set so should be pretty good. - Paul

Got them in the mail today and they look good so far, will take pics asap

I am on my tablet right now

pauls_workshop · Dec 30, 2014

MadMark said:
the 9 piece is the case, I guess

Yes, never thought about that but it would be the case. The sockets are just like the photo he has listed. Still a good deal! - Paul

nicksnothereman · Dec 30, 2014

pauls_workshop said:
Hey guys, a while back a newbie posted his link to this set:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-S-K...rg=20131230161411&rk=3&rkt=10&sd=161463270520

This is a new old stock 1/2 drive, SAE 12 pt, 9 pc deep set made by SK for their Kraeter division back in the day. I ended up checking this out and got a deal on this and another set the seller had. Long story short, this is the real deal. 4 of the 9 sockets say SK on them and are the same as SK from this era (when Dresser owned SK). The other 5 say Kraeuter on them and have slightly different socket details on the OD, but obviously also made by SK to the same level as normal SK. Internals look identical. If anyone needed a 1/2 sae deep set, this is a good one and at $26 with free shipping right now, a good value too.

The same seller also has an older US made 13 pc 1/2 drive SAE Impact Normal Size socket set made by Stevens Walden, again back in the day for $38. This is also very high quailty for an impact set. Check them out if you have an interest. It is kind of rare these days to find NOS sets reasonable on good US tools like this. - Paul

Look beautiful...suspiciously beautiful for vintage even in storage. :dunno:

thor · Dec 30, 2014

nicksnothereman said:
Look beautiful...suspiciously beautiful for vintage even in storage.

I got a set from them, real deal, pulled off the original plastic wrap. :thumbup:

pauls_workshop · Dec 30, 2014

thor said:
I got a set from them, real deal, pulled off the original plastic wrap.

Glad you like them Thor! They do look great, but see, this is the high quality SK chrome finish. It will last 30 years easy, and wrapped up, literally good as new. Nick isn't used to this because nobody else has chrome like SK!!! Some really really old SK can still rust, but if treated well, they will last a lifetime. - Paul

nicksnothereman · Dec 30, 2014

pauls_workshop said:
Glad you like them Thor! They do look great, but see, this is the high quality SK chrome finish. It will last 30 years easy, and wrapped up, literally good as new. Nick isn't used to this because nobody else has chrome like SK!!! Some really really old SK can still rust, but if treated well, they will last a lifetime. - Paul

You're right. I'm that cheap. :lol:

pauls_workshop · Dec 30, 2014

nicksnothereman said:
You're right. I'm that cheap.

Actually, I'm much cheaper! :lol_hitti

That is why I'm good at hunting down the good bargains! Growing up really dirt poor helps one to find them throughout life!

Glad you guys are liking these. Wish they were metric set too but take what we can get here! - Paul

scarecrow505 · Feb 6, 2015

What are the sizes on this set?

priceman1414 · Mar 6, 2015

The seller still had a bunch for sale so I got a set for myself. It's the real deal, as others said. Came in an old SK box, a nice metal case, with the sockets still wrapped in plastic. There was also some black sticky strips on the cardboard in the case that left some residue on the sockets, but it comes off easily.

Cazz · Mar 11, 2015

I ordered a set of the 9pc sockets and got them today.
They look great.

purosananto · Mar 12, 2015

I bought this set based on this thread and got them today. They look great. I also got an "NOS" Japanese 1/4 drive SAE set from the same seller for $40 that also looks great.

pauls_workshop · Mar 12, 2015

purosananto said:
I bought this set based on this thread and got them today. They look great. I also got an "NOS" Japanese 1/4 drive SAE set from the same seller for $40 that also looks great.

It would be interesting if we knew who made the 1/4" set for Kreauter as it is Japanese sourced. Not sure who SK would have had a relationship with from Japan in those days. I ended up getting one of those sets too. Targeted more like a starter type set, but the flex bits alone could come to about $40. A good deal, and seems to be good quality too, if not US SK for those. - Paul

Good deal on SK/Kraeuter 1/2 9pc 12pt Deep Socket Set

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