Cool Tool, Stanley HEX-A-MATIC

I haven't seen one of these before, adjustable nut driver, works great & holds the head securely.

That is pretty neat and it works great. I've never seen nor heard of an adjustable nut driver.

I'm not sure how I feel about them, I have a Stanley and Klein version, I like the idea, there could be clearance issue on smaller size heads. I've had them for several years and haven't used them much at all, I'm going to toss one in a tool box I use a lot and see what happens.

I have the Klein one. I have never liked it for my needs. I think it would be helpful to electricians so they don't need to go back to their truck to get a different size all of the time.

What is the approximate year? Did these come out before the Gator Grips?

bchee said:

What is the approximate year? Did these come out before the Gator Grips?

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I would guess the Stanley HEX-A-MATIC was first but I don't know what year the Gartor Grip was invented or came out, here's a Stanley HEX-A-MATIC ad from 1967 saying that it's new.

bchee said:

What is the approximate year? Did these come out before the Gator Grips?

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Reminds me more of the Bionic Wrench. I've gotta say, these novelty tools are a lot cooler after forty years when they become historical curiosities.

Mickey, that's some killer ad copy:

"Who says they don't make tools like they used to anymore?"

"Stanley makes tools like they used to anymore."

I recently picked one up in a 2nd hand tool store in Denver. I knew GarageJournal would tell me what it was when I got home. Thanks!

BTW, it was $8.

"STANLEY MAKES TOOLS LIKE THEY USED TO ANYMORE"

wtf?

Is that even grammatically correct?

bchee said:

"STANLEY MAKES TOOLS LIKE THEY USED TO ANYMORE"

wtf?

Is that even grammatically correct?

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No, not in the least..

I came across this year old thread while searching for something else.
I was looking again at the ad that Mickey O posted.
It says "stanley's nut driver has 15 heads..... THIS IS THEM"

English was weird in 1967.

bchee said:

English was weird in 1967.

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They were just preparing for their future move overseas.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Like it was poorly translated for some foreign magazine.

Somebody sold one of those in the Classifieds a while back. I wish I'd have bought it. Cool tool.

Reminds me of these

jcfields said:

Reminds me more of the Bionic Wrench. I've gotta say, these novelty tools are a lot cooler after forty years when they become historical curiosities.

Mickey, that's some killer ad copy:

"Who says they don't make tools like they used to anymore?"

"Stanley makes tools like they used to anymore."

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I wish Stanley made tools like they used to , the newer stuff they make is garbage.

diesel research said:

Reminds me of these

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^ what are they called and where can you buy them? I'd like a to buy a couple for my tool box and bag when stripping rusty bolts on cars in the bush.
cheers

tylerae40 said:

^ what are they called and where can you buy them? I'd like a to buy a couple for my tool box and bag when stripping rusty bolts on cars in the bush.
cheers

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Called "triple lock socket". Does 7-19mm. Has smooth jaw and serrated jaw that are swappable. 3/8 drive.

Where can you buy one? You CAN'T.

http://triplelocksocket.com/main/page_help_us_help_you.html

While the Triple-Lock Socket is not yet in production-

You can help us to get it there -by just expressing your interest and telling friends about the site.

Here is why- There exists this paradox for small inventors when trying to bring a new, better product to market. It's very hard to get an investor if you don't have a thousand or so sold. However, it is not possible to get a thousand or so made without investor capital -You see the problem here.

That is why I am letting people get a discount if they simply let me know they would be interested in purchasing one when we get them made- If enough people sign up it will help me to get capital investment and get these on the market so America can start using them.

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Isn't there a triple lock socket rep that is a member on here?
I thought I remember someone posting about that.

sawatch said:

I haven't seen one of these before, adjustable nut driver, works great & holds the head securely.

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But wait, there's more! If you call within the next ten minutes, we'll send you TWO Hex-a-Matics for the price of one. You just pay the handling charge.

I used a Stanley one for ages, I received it as a gift. It lived in the tractor tool box until it's moving parts stopped moving. I didn't know that there was a Klein version.

Most all of the "new and improved", "bionic", "universal", "fits all", "digital", and "as seen on TV" type tools that I've ended up with over the years from well meaning friends and relatives ended up spending their declining years returning to the elements, from wince they came, on Das Traktor.

It not like I did daily commutes on the tractor or took road trips to Tijuana or anything. As a result, tool quality wasn't the primary requirement.

WoD

bchee said:

Isn't there a triple lock socket rep that is a member on here?
I thought I remember someone posting about that.

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Ya, the owner.

http://triplelocksocket.com/main/page_about_us.html

Sorry, but I have a totally different take on the Stanley Hex-A-matic.
I got mine from my father when I was just a kid. I was messing around with something or other, dealing with hex nuts smaller than those on my bicycle, and using an adjustable wrench to match several different sizes. He did not say a word, just handed it to me. I took it from him, moved the collar in and out, clocked what it was all about and commenced using it. After I loosened a couple of DIFFERENT size nuts, I turned to him and said WOW. He cracked the biggest smile and indicated that it was MINE!
Fact, thirty years later I was an electronic emergency repair technician servicing broadcast and recording studios in the NYC metropolitan area. First let's define the word "emergency."
Nobody's life was ever at stake. BUT if it was a recording studio, the clock had stopped meaning NO MONEY WAS BEING CHARGED! If it was a broadcast facility, and they were "off the air" it meant all the commercials that should be airing were not, therefore income was ZERO. So, for Managers, Chief-Technicians, Vice Presidents and OWNERS, believe me, it WAS an EMERGENCY.
I was paid to be FAST in terms of figuring out the problem, getting to the root, and rectifying the situation as fast as "yesterday."
Picture this; multiple racks of equipment and literally miles of interface cabling. The electronic signal processing equipment was not uniform. It could have been manufactured Stateside, or (this is pre-China) Europe. Who knew? Inch, metric, or Japanese standards could apply.
All the rack equipment would be held in place by a single type of fastener, but everything else was up in the air! Here you'd find yourself behind a wall of racks removing connector panels, probing the inside of switchers and diving into anything that you had to get the place "up and running." Additionally, I had a reputation to uphold, I was THE go-to guy! That hex-o-matic saved my **** countless times.
I think I know why it was both discontinued and how it got its BAD reputation. At one point Stanley manufactured the Hex-o-matic as a BIT TO BE PLACED IN COMMON HAND DRILLS!!!!!!
Look at the tool, understand how it functioned and you will understand THAT option is a flat out TRAGETY in the making! I don't know how many lawsuits it took, but it was so bad that Stanley not only dropped the "Hex-o-matic DRILL BIT" but the hand operated Hex-o-matic as well.
I got mine. If you deal with multiple medium small hex nuts and get a chance to pick one up, I say "JUMP ON IT!"

Threadsurrection!

Good story for a first post though.