1937 Snap On Value?

[1cargarage]

Is Frank Murch in the house?

For those of you who don't know, Frank Murch runs the site collectingsnapon.com and is, as far as I know, one of the most serious collectors and information goldmines of all things Snap On.

Here's a link to an active ebay listing for a
1937 Snap On 1 1/2" Drive Ratchet Head for $2000 Buy-It-Now

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SNAP-ON-TOOLS-COLLECTABLE-VINTAGE-1937-L-78-1-1-2-Drive-RATCHET-HEAD-VERY-RARE/153285707713?hash=item23b08a47c1:g:QaQAAOSwhwlb2ycs

Anybody know if $2,000 is reasonable for this item? It's in VERY good condition.

Snap On currently doesn't even offer a 1 1/2" ratchet head - only a 1 1/2" drive, 36" OAL sliding T-handle #L55 for $385
The closest thing they do offer is a 1" ratchet head #L873 for $533

According to collectingsnapon.com, the pre-WWII stuff commands a much higher price than post, and pristine condition tools command even higher prices. I'm not interested in this piece - no real need for a 1 1/2" drive ratchet head for me.

I'm always on ebay peeking around. Every now and then something interesting like this pops up.

 

[zkling]

A local guy has had one on craigslist along with a 4.75" socket for half that price and not in as good condition for YEARS. Actually he has a bunch of industrial stuff that has been listed for years. The thing with stuff lile that is, those that NEED one of those aren't shopping on those types of venues. And those that are, typically just want it for cool stuff / bragging rights but aren't going to pay what a user would. The market is extremely small.

 

[DieselSaves]

I’m trying hard to read that “7” under the selector as a 1937 vs a 1997. I’ll have to visit the collecting snap on site and see if that ratchet was offered into the nineties.

 

[DieselSaves]

For what it’s worth, the 1983 catalog shown at collectingsnapon lists a black oxide finish L78 ratchet. I’m of the opinion the ratchet shown is more likely a recent production.

 

[ChevyEFI]

The patent shows application date 1930.

 

[3baygarage]

Definitely not from 1937.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I’m trying hard to read that “7” under the selector as a 1937 vs a 1997. I’ll have to visit the collecting snap on site and see if that ratchet was offered into the nineties.

The current page doesn't load for me. However, the archived page shows:

After 1970 but before 1978 the whole set was replaced with a black oxide set with a totally different numbering scheme.

No 78 1 inch ratchet head and bar (42”) 1941 to 1953, it was relabeled L-78 in 1962

L78 Ratchet and bar 1958 – 1978

The stamp between on and off seems a forward 7 vs. the backward one used in 1977.

But I'm not finding snything supporting 1937.

 

[MattT]

I’ll have to visit the collecting snap on site and see if that ratchet was offered into the nineties.

It's in catalog #600 which was printed in 2001. So 1997 is definitely possible and looks to be the closest match to me.

But I'm not finding anything supporting 1937.

That 1 1/2" page on collectingsnapon looks to be a little off. There is a 78 1 1/2" Drive ratchet in the 1937 industrial catalog. No L prefix but they were making 1 1/2" ratchets in 1937.

http://www.collectingsnapon.com/catalogs/catalogs.php?loggedin=0&catalogPage=3828

 

[1cargarage]

I did a quick patent search for the patent number 1854513 stamped on the ratchet head.

https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=01854513&IDKey=953A1F8DCFAD&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DPALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsrchnum.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3D1854513.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F1854513%2526RS%3DPN%2F1854513

Looks like the patent was approved on April 19, 1932.

Don't know if Snap On would modify dies/tooling to omit the patent number once it expired.

 

[yrly]

Aren’t they stamped with a date code symbol back in the 30s? I think there’s a little clubs like symbol on my 1930s nut spinner set

 

[81turbota]

I’m no expert, but isn’t 1930’s vintage Snap on logo look more like Snap/on instead of Snap-on?

Looks a lot newer than 1937. SO continued to use the underline logo for quite some time, they may still use it on some pieces.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I'm pretty sure that's 80s vintage. They used the 7 symbol many times with very slight variations

 

[1cargarage]

I'm pretty sure that's 80s vintage. They used the 7 symbol many times with very slight variations

Yeah, the 7 glyphs seem to vary the least from decade to decade.

 

[snapmom]

no where close to 37, I have never seen a 1-1/2 from the 30s. Two different ones listed in the 37 supplemental cat.

 

[manwithtools]

If I read the date code chart correctly, that's a 1997 vintage.

It's not characteristic of ratchets of the thirties. I don't believe hardly a word I read in that eBay ad. He even says he's not sure what they year of manufacturer is.

I also see it's been for sale since at least March of last year. I'd offer 50% of the original list price of $731.40 - if you really must have it - about $350.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Apparently he was told after conversating with collecting snapon.com it is 1937. I'm skeptical

 

[930dreamer]

I'd agree on 1997.

 

[manwithtools]

Apparently he was told after conversating with collecting snapon.com it is 1937. I'm skeptical

He's lying

 

[ChrisLS8]

He's lying

Well by skeptical I can tell it's all BS. I was just being nice

 

[manwithtools]

OP, if you still want it, now is your chance. Price reduced to $1750, eBay just messaged me...

 

[ChrisLS8]

Must have found out it's not 80 years old

 

[1cargarage]

I'm not interested in this piece - no real need for a 1 1/2" drive ratchet head for me.

I'm always on ebay peeking around. Every now and then something interesting like this pops up.

OP, if you still want it, now is your chance. Price reduced to $1750, eBay just messaged me...

I got that notification/offer too.
Still no need for 1 1/2" drive stuff here in my one car garage

 

[ChrisLS8]

I got that notification/offer too.
Still no need for 1 1/2" drive stuff here in my one car garage

Reduce it down to 10mm for those tough valve cover bolts

 

[1cargarage]

Reduce it down to 10mm for those tough valve cover bolts

I would need the matching extra long handle to go with it.