3/8" Socket Spinners!

[bmwrd0]

It came up in discussion that, while I have a few of these, not everyone does. I find them to be quite handy, as a lot of what I work on mechanically is more than adequetly served by what is essentially a nut driver. Now, I love nut drivers and tend to use them much more than any 1/4" socket set, and while I have nut drivers up to 3/4" these are the tools I reach for the most:

Top is a New Britain era Husky, below that is the instantly recognizable Proto, all of which is a custom, perfect handle model. No manufacturer on that, but it is my favorite. I have others but as my shop is in such disarray right now I am not sure where they are. As i find them, I will post them up! Now, post yours.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Interesting topic, Beemer. I followed you here from the discussion at the tail end of the Plomb thread, where I was admittedly already a little befuddled.

I don't have any 3/8-drive spinners, and, to be frank, I didn't think there were any. Honestly, I didn't think they were manufactured. Forced to confront that thought now by your thread and its two factory examples, I guess I have to admit I thought that mainly because the low end of the 3/8-drive socket range is covered by the high end of the 1/4-drive range, where spinner handles were of course quite common, and the high end of the 3/8-drive range has some fairly large openings to be turning with a twist of your wrist. Which is the same reason I am pretty sure they don't exist in standard 1/2-inch drive. Like @Outlawmws, I have also never seen a 3/8-drive spinner in the wild, and I guess I have tended to think their lack of manufacture was the reason they show up here occasionally in shop-made condition, like his oddball or your third example above.

I am realizing now that my admittedly false impression has also been jaded by my predilection for wartime or earlier vintage tools. I can't think of a single mfgr who was making a 3/8-drive spinner in those days. Not as a routine and routinely advertised practice, anyway.

But I have no idea when they were introduced or how prevalent they were later.

So, with that blind spot fully revealed, I am good for nothing on this topic except questions.

What is the model number on the NB Husky? And when was it made?

EDIT: Likewise, when did Pendleton start making them?

 

[Farmer J.]

Hmmm. I wonder when Snap On began making their F40 spinner handles..

I've found a 3/8" spinner handle more and more useful as my fingers have aged. It's nice for turning even big nuts on a stiff thread, just to run them up and down where there isn't space to use a speeder crank handle.

 

[mike93lx]

Everyone doesn't have one of these? I use mine all the time, but it's far from vintage unless you consider late 90's as vintage

 

[Farmer J.]

Here's mine. It was a Snap On F40, until I changed the handle for a home made wooden one, which feels and smells a lot better than plastic.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hmmm. I wonder when Snap On began making their F40 spinner handles...

Much to my dismay...looks like EDIT: 1941! I just checked. Maybe it is just my blind spot. I'll have to make some time to check some of the other major mfgrs now. Thanks.

 

[four.cycle]

Walden made one. I do not own one, but I have seen several listed on ebay. Wonder if Don or OTG has one?

 

[Mintgrun]

Walden made one.

Here is the one I have, along with a Blue Point F-40-2 (no visible markings). It is marked STEVENS WALDEN, INC. 4030 SPINTITE 3-8. I shared the BP example in the Snap-on thread and Snapmom provided the part number. (I posted it in post # 3,031 and hers was post 3,033, in which she also shared a photo of the smaller F40).





EDIT-- Here is a link to the post showing an F-40-2 next to the F-40.

Lets make an all vintage Snap-on tool picture thread!

Especially with smaller outfits. Oral history has always been vital, but, alas, less trustworthy, and it also tends to go unrecorded. The term "A LOT" is subjective, though, and relative. I have been very fortunate to be apart of some major research projects, such as the 50-page Willys MB...

www.garagejournal.com

Tom

 

[Oldsnapper]

I have a Snap On F40 with a date code of 1953.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Walden made one.

Thanks. I see it in the 1941 catalog. I already shocked myself by unexpectedly finding one in the 1941 Bonney catalog. I'm pretty sure they weren't in Williams, Plomb, or SK sets, so, not all personal blind spot, but at this point I am hedging everything I say on this topic! I may have to put this on the '23 'to do' list for research. It still seems uncommon to me in that drive size, and I guess they were to some extent, since their apparent scarcity is the premise of Beemer's thread. But now I'm more curious than ever.

 

[bonneyman]

I don't use drivers handles often, but I should probably follow Beemers example and make a Proto Yellow handle version for myself.

 

[d42jeep]

Walden made one. I do not own one, but I have seen several listed on ebay. Wonder if Don or OTG has one?

I don’t have one but I want one!
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

I'm pretty sure they weren't in Williams, Plomb, or SK sets.

Nothing wrong with your powers of observation.
Walden is the only one I knew of before last night when bmwrd0 started this thread.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I should probably follow Beemers example and make a Proto Yellow handle version for myself.

Are you thinking his is custom or factory? I was thinking he meant it was factory. I thought the custom handle he was referring to was the Perfect Handle type copy. But now I'm not so sure. In trying to answer my own question...

Likewise, when did Pendleton start making them?

...I can't find them in any catalog between 1949 and 1962. That is the latest Proto catalog on IA/ITCL. Only 1/4-drive.

I also tried to find the NB Husky he posted, prompting these questions...

What is the model number on the NB Husky? And when was it made?

...and discovered it had to have been after 1958. The 1958 NB Husky catalog is on IA/ITCL and there is no 3/8-drive spinner. Only 1/4-drive.

Walden is the only one I knew of before last night when bmwrd0 started this thread.

It's one more than I knew of!

I don’t have one but I want one!

Do you have Walden 3/8-drive sockets?

 

[Username already in use]

Here’s my Bonney #T-42
A stout little buggar.

 

[Mintgrun]

Here is another Walden example that sold on eBay recently. The photos are terrible, buy you can at least see that the shank is smaller than the one I have.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Thanks, Mintgrun - I went back and could NOT find that picture!

Do you have Walden 3/8-drive sockets?

I know your question was directed at Don, but: I do own several Walden 3/8" drive sets. (More than I was aware of before I went out into the garage on a search mission several days ago.) None of them contain a 3/8" spinner. The model PM21 set did contain the 3118 1/4" drive spinner.

 

[bmwrd0]

OK, here is one more, an APEX:

And I have, tuck into the various nooks and cranies of my work spaces, three more. One is the previouly mentioned Snap-on F40, which I am quite surprised no one has posted on of yet, but as I find the other two I will let you know who they are.

I don't use drivers handles often, but I should probably follow Beemers example and make a Proto Yellow handle version for myself.

None of these are homemade. Granted, the perfect handle is a very small batch type, but all were produced in factories of some sort.

as you can see, the part number on the Proto is in the correct series for 3/8" drive tools. Also, you can see the markings on the Husky a little better. I would not be surprised if the majority of these are not found in normal line catalogs, as I would guess that they are special order type objects. So dating them could be a little difficult.

I am rearranging my shop, so the lighting has not been figured out quite yet.

 

[d42jeep]

Do you have Walden 3/8-drive sockets?

More than a few. Maybe more than four.cycle.

-Don

 

[four.cycle]

good grief, Don! I came across two PM21s and another 3/8" drive set I didn't recognize the other night, but not nearly THAT many!

 

[d42jeep]

OK, here is one more, an APEX:

And I have, tuck into the various nooks and cranies of my work spaces, three more. One is the previouly mentioned Snap-on F40, which I am quite surprised no one has posted on of yet, but as I find the other two I will let you know who they are.

None of these are homemade. Granted, the perfect handle is a very small batch type, but all were produced in factories of some sort.

as you can see, the part number on the Proto is in the correct series for 3/8" drive tools. Also, you can see the markings on the Husky a little better. I would not be surprised if the majority of these are not found in normal line catalogs, as I would guess that they are special order type objects. So dating them could be a little difficult.

I am rearranging my shop, so the lighting has not been figured out quite yet.

Occasional GJ contributor sockets of 9/32” set fame has a couple of Snap-on made examples listed on eBay for a mere $500.00.

Lot of Two Different Rare Vintage Blue point F40 Driver (By Snap On) 3/8” Dr | eBay

Bluepoint by snap on. Socket driver. Yellow handle. Made in USA.

www.ebay.com

BK, my Walden 3/8” sets were all found in the wild at garage sale prices.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

More than a few.

Thanks. Do you have any Walden 3/8-drive ONLY sets that actually require/include a 3/8-drive spinner in their contents?

Occasional GJ contributor sockets of 9/32” set fame has a couple of Snap-on made examples listed on eBay for a mere $500.00.

Snerk. So, relatively speaking, he was giving those away.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

One is the previouly mentioned Snap-on F40, which I am quite surprised no one has posted on of yet,

@Mintgrun posted one (post #8).

as you can see, the part number on the Proto is in the correct series for 3/8" drive tools. Also, you can see the markings on the Husky a little better.

Thanks for the close-ups.

I would not be surprised if the majority of these are not found in normal line catalogs, as I would guess that they are special order type objects. So dating them could be a little difficult.

Maybe. Or maybe just later than 1962 and 1958, respectively.

None of these are homemade. Granted, the perfect handle is a very small batch type, but all were produced in factories of some sort.

What did you mean by "custom" in this part of your post #1...?

all of which is a custom, perfect handle model.

 

[bmwrd0]

By custom I simply ment a very small batch was produced by someone who doen't make professional tools. Here is the listing:

Hand Tool Rescue

Wrenches and other products sold here.

www.handtoolrescue.com

And I dug out another one, which Don will find most interesting:

no part number on this one, but it was the first of them I found.

And by no Snap-on, I didn't count the Blue point shown above, as it isn't as common, nor has the same part number. And by the way, you can still get these from Snap-on, albeit with different, modern grips and various shaft lengths.

 

[RTM]

By custom I simply ment a very small batch was produced by someone who doen't make professional tools. Here is the listing:

Hand Tool Rescue

Wrenches and other products sold here.

www.handtoolrescue.com

:
.
.

I knew another guy who converted some back in the day. Nothing like that tho, very nice.

 

[alinc100]

I went and looked,I only have one, nowhere near as vintage as those posted here.MAC X6S

 

[Leviton]

I have a black-handled "Walden 403" that is a 3/8" drive and 4.8" long. That is all that it says - it has no "Made In U.SA." or any other markings. Did Walden ever sell imported stuff?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That looks similar to an octogrip

 

[snapmom]

Blue Point F40 , F40A, unmarked flex 3/8 dr.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here’s my Bonney #T-42
A stout little buggar.

If you have a V22 (1/4-drive), I'd be curious to see if it's the same handle, dimensionally.

 

[3baygarage]

Found a few to play.
older Mac X6S
Snap-On F-40 1954 date
Snap-On F-40 1962 date
Bonney T-42
Blackhawk 34976



I keep the older Snap-On in my user tools. It was the first one I found.

Somewhere there are 3 Carburetor all steel spinners!

 

[RJMadigan]

I have two 3/8" handles. One is of unknown, Japanese origin that I acquired from a guy selling tools out of the trunk of his car back in '78. The other is , I thought, a very old Craftsman based on handle design and what's left of the coloring. It, unfortunately, got soaked in Skydrol, which is large aircraft fire resistant hydraulic fluid that pretty much dissolves nearly any plastic. No more colors or legible markings on it so I don't know what it really might be. Any Craftsman gurus out there know if they ever produced one?

 

[3baygarage]

I don't think Craftsman did. What color is it?

 

[RJMadigan]

I don't think Craftsman did. What color is it?

originally it was the clear, blue, red of a Craftsman driver and the handle was the classic shape. As I said, though, the Skydrol took most of the coloring off of it along with the markings that were in the handle so it's probably not a Craftsman. I had assumed it was, not paying any attention to that back in the day. It was a tool, did its' job, helped me make money. I only in the past few years got into some of the "history" of what's in my box. After I melted the handle I almost bought one off of the Snap-On truck but decided that what I had still did the job so I spent that money on something else. Like always... rarely walked off empty handed.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Blackhawk 34976

Very nice. When do you think that was made, 3bay? According to the 1941 cat, Blackhawk made an all-steel 3/8-drive spinner with a female opening in the **** end, for an extension, No. 34997, but there is no image of it. And they made the 7/16-drive Nugget version No. 39976. But I can't find that 34976 in any cats. Not in 1941, 1943, or 1948.

Somewhere there are 3 Carburetor all steel spinners!

I have one. T109-51. (I know I said I didn't have any, but I was referring to major OEM's in regular sets.)

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have to wonder who made those for Carter. They had casting facilities at the plant in St. Louis (for aluminum AND cast iron (at one time) but I do not recall seeing any forging going on there.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Agreed, but no idea.

I'll have to make some time to check some of the other major mfgrs now.

This is by no means definitive, but this is what a quick catalog sweep looks like...

BONNEY | YES, first introduced in 1941, offered through at least 1957
Blackhawk | YES, first introduced in EDIT: 1937, No. 34997, steel handle, no photo
Blackhawk (cont'd) | NONE listed in 1943, 1948, and 1953 (Note: They did offer it in the 7/16-drive Nugget size, No. 39976, in 1948)
Cornwell | NONE listed in 1946
Duro | NONE listed in 1935, 1940, 1946
Herbrand | NONE listed in 1937, 1942, 1948
MAC | NONE listed in 1946, 1947, 1951, 1952
New Britain | NONE listed in 1940, 1953, 1955, 1958 (Husky)
Plomb | NONE listedin 1933, 1935, 1939, 1941, 1949
Proto | NONE listed in 1952, 1956, 1962
SK | NONE listed in 1943
Snap-on | YES, first introduced in 1941
Thorsen | NONE listed in 1935
Walden | YES, first introduced in 1941
Williams | NONE listed in 1937, 1941, 1947

 

[3baygarage]

I knew it wouldn't be long before a Carter appeared.
I don't remember doing research on the Blackhawk. If I did it was just what cats are available to the public, so no, not sure on a date.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks. Do you have any Walden 3/8-drive ONLY sets that actually require/include a 3/8-drive spinner in their contents?

No, I don’t.
I want the wood handled 4030 shown at the top of the page. Might be kind of hard to find.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I want the wood handled 4030 shown at the top of the page

That would be a beaut!