Any Vintage Snap On Experts?

[jbbies]

Today my grandfather (80yr) wanted me to have a 5/8s drive snap on set that my great great grandpa bought new. My grandpa said that he and his dad carried this box of tools in the back of the pickup to the field to work on the farm equipment for years, he then laughed and said you dont know how good you have it.

Well used but definately say something for Snap On. Seems to me anything else would have been gone years ago, Im sure they will be passed on for generations to come.

Can anyone give me any idea about how old these are or any other history.

And what do you think should I clean them up or leave them they way they were gave to me?

B.

 

[Even 11]

Man, Awesome history there!! I'd leave them the way they are, maybe just wipe them down with some degreaser or something, No evaporust or anything. The box looks hand built, probably by your great great Grandfather or some relative anyway. I'm sure Snapmom or Chadster will chime in shortly on the age. They are the resident SO experts. Cool tools man!!

-Dane

 

[chad s]

These are mid 1920's era tools. They are in pretty good shape for their age, above average. I would recommend not cleaning them, leave the patina as-is. The 5/8 drive sockets came out around 1923, these date to around 1923-26 era.

The box is not a Snap on issued box, your great grandfather either purchased them without the snap on metal box, or replaced it with the wood one at some point.

The provenance of being able to document the original owner is also added value. I have very few tools in my collection that I have any knowledge of the original owner.

 

[mrshaun]

most of the time the family junks the old stuff because they do not know the value of good tools, rather monetary or sentimental and they just let it go cheap.
there are a couple of 5/8 drive tools on ebay at the moment. I thought about bidding on them just to see what they actually look like...

 

[jbbies]

When my grandpa gave them to me I could see him remembering the past. There were also three international wrenches and a rivet crimper used for working on combine draper headers in with the set. Its neat knowing my grandpas used them busting their knuckles making a leaving. Not that I would ever sell them but does anyone have any idea on value?

 

[chad s]

When my grandpa gave them to me I could see him remembering the past. There were also three international wrenches and a rivet crimper used for working on combine draper headers in with the set. Its neat knowing my grandpas used them busting their knuckles making a leaving. Not that I would ever sell them but does anyone have any idea on value?

These era 5/8 tools are very common, on this set, with no ratchet or original case, $25-75 depending on who's looking at the time.

 

[jbbies]

I did some research and read that they build this 5/8 drive in 1923 and stopped putting the S over the O in that same year. Which is how these are marked. So Im guessing that means they were built in 1923. Thanks guys...you know your stuff