Bethlehem "Quickway" Socket Sets - Bethlehem Spark Plug Co.

[Private Lugnutz]

Is the function of the “folding blade” still a mystery, or has one come to light somewhere?

The function has never been explained in any documentation and no known example, which might help demonstrate or suggest its function, has ever been found.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I posted this WANTED! poster on the 'Ratchets Only' thread a a few years ago. I don't think I ever posted it here...

That was before I found a "Set C Special" (posted upthread) confirming that it was indeed 7/16-inch drive. So the "Accomplice" has been found. And Otg has another one.

It's the version with the folding implement tucked inside the handle like a blade in a knife that has been eluding capture.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is another D set

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That is probably the most exquisite example we've seen in terms of condition. Very clean with a legible label.

 

[Farmer J.]

Here is another D set

Wow that is a lovely set in great condition. A real time capsule from the 'wood box' era.
Does it have all the little ones within the 'A' Set as well?
Thanks for posting, enjoyed seeing it.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks guys I was surprised to find one with a legible inner lid. The A set is still there as well.

 

[LesserSon]

Astonishing. So clean. I’m particularly excited by the screws on the upper lid for the hooks to grasp. I had assumed the more complex rotating disc type when reconstructing my upper lids.
More like this.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes just screws and hooks

 

[mgreenb561]

I got a Bethlehem Steel Universal Socket Set 'G'. I found this site, but can find NOTHING on internet that even mentions Set G.

There is one extra piece (box is full). I have 22 sockets including 2 slotted and 2 wingnut - (suspecting one of these is extra), universal joint, 3 extensions (there is no box cutout for one) a T handle and ratchet. It is definitely 1/2" hex socket . I am new here cannot post pics yet.

Can anyone shed some light on what I have?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Interesting. Is the box, label, and/or tools marked 'Bethlehem Steel'? Or 'Bethlehem Spark Plug'? Are the tools copper-plated?

If you want to email me the photos, I would be happy to post them for you. I will PM you my email address. It will appear in the upper right hand corner of you screen. Or wait until you have enough posts. I think it's 5, although the restrictions are always mystifying to me. I have seen newbies post pics immediately, perhaps if they use their own service (imgur, etc).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Mgreen,

Looks like Bethlehem Spark Plug Co made a "Set G" that only included the 1/2-inch drive pieces. The "Set D" that a few of us have in a wood or steel box included the 1/2-inch drive tools AND a little spot for the "Set A", which had 3/8-inch drive pieces in it. I found an example of a "Set G" on Worthpoint, linked here, and misidentified by the seller. Looking forward to seeing your photos, as it would be a FOAK here that we were unaware of. Doesn't usually show up in old ad searches and nobody owns one.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice research lugz. I was unaware of the g set.

 

[mgreenb561]

I sent you the pics. This Forum stated that as a newbie, I need to post 5 times before it would allow me to post pics.

I bought a tool chest and this was in it. The ratchet and the universal joint was not in the box...as you'll see in picture the ratchet fit nicely into the box cutout. On the Worthpoint picture, there is no ratchet and they put the universal joint in the cutout where I put the ratchet. Interesting. When I get home, I'll check to see if the universal joint fits as nicely as the ratchet does in the cutout, because it felt like it was perfect for the ratchet (but no room for the universal joint). On the pic on Wentworth, you can read the label a little better than mine and it does indicate both ratchet and univ. joint.

There are traces of copper clad. And it is Bethlehem Spark Plug Company. Happy to send more pics if you need any clarification.

Am I to assume late 20's early 30's?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

These sets started in wood boxes in early twenties and then the metal boxes. Alloy artifacts only states 20s, and I have not seen any ads from them beyond that time period.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Mike,
I got your pics. I will post them here later. I'm on the road home right now. It's an interesting set. Lots of special sockets. One for wingnuts, one for early Alemite (pre-Zerk) grease fittings, and two drag link bits. Assuming original, because the Worthpoint set also has them. Meanwhile, if you want to compare to a contemporary "D" set in a similar steel box, see post #5 on page 1, and post #21 through 23 on page 2.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm getting more and more jealous of the special sockets! I have sets A, C, C Special, D, and F, (see entire collection here), and in my mind I was thinking I was done with BSPCo, but I'm going to have to find one of these G sets now that I see one! So, thanks.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

One more thing to watch for!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

All,

Here are the pics of Mike's Set G.

Mike,

Measure the box, please. I'm curious if it's the Set D box with different contents and decal. And if you get a chance, when you hit 5 posts, please post a photo of the inside of the box without the tools inside.

EDIT: It's unfortunate the decal has deteriorated, but there is enough of the lower right hand corner to identify it as SPLITDORF-BETHLEHEM ELECTRICAL COMPANY, BETHLEHEM, PA. That dates your set to 1925 to 1927, when Spitdorf and Bethlehem Spark Plug had a brief partnership.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some cool sockets in there

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Yup. Besides the 4 that I already drooled over twice, there is a male drain plug. But I'm wondering what's not original. There's gotta be a spot for the universal.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Never saw an ad for g set. Very curious about it.

 

[mgreenb561]

I'm gonna compare to the decal in box on Worthpoint....try to figure between the 2 decals if i can identify which sockets are original. I think universal joint fits lower right and swings south alongside ratchet and t handle

 

[mgreenb561]

Not sure when I'll get to it. If I don't finish my deck before New Years, I might get castrated.

 

[mgreenb561]

But more importantly, this would post #5

lol Not getting castrated is most prob more important. My dog agrees

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Mike,

While you were saving the family jewels, I tried to do some comparisons.

The Worthpoint decal isn't much more legible than yours, but there's enough there between the two of them to ascertain that it should have nineteen (19) sockets and six (6) handles for a total of 25 pieces. You have 26. Something is extra and taking up a hole for the uni joint.

Five (5) of the handles are the same as in the "D" set, with the same model numbers on the decal. A ratchet, two extensions (4" OAL and 1-1/4" OAL), the sliding tee, and the universal joint. I can't make out the number or the description of the sixth handle.

Some but not all of the model numbers for the sockets are legible, and most of them match the "D" set. (With one exception. In the "D" set, #44 is a 15/16" socket. In the G" set it's 11/32".) You're going to see that you have two identical 1/2" sockets. They are #45 and #46 on the decal. One is listed as 1/2" A. (for adaptor). The other is listed as 1/2" Sp. (for Special). But they are interchangeable. #48 through 51 are square openings. Can't read the sizes. #52 is that drain plug socket. Appears to be 1/2" M. (for Male). I can't make out the sizes for #34, but #35 through 41 are 6-point/hex opening sockets 21/32, 11/16, 23/32, 3/4, 25/32, 15/16 and 27/32. #53 and #54 are the Wing Nut and Alemite sockets. #55 are the Drag Link adjusters (Qty 2).

They always use that area under the logo to describe the set. The "D" sets describe the set as a range of wrenches in /32" graduations. Yours says something about S.A.E., mentions the square sockets, and then cites the inclusion of the Wing Nut, Alemite, and Drag Link bits. See Pic.

 

[burnin53]

Got this G set in the mail today.
Maybe it will help to figure out the contents list.

 

[burnin53]

I like this ad.
It gives another reason why 32nd sizes used to. be popular,too.

 

[burnin53]

Here's a couple more,but they're poor quality pictures.

 

[LesserSon]

That’s cool! Interesting, too, that the metal-boxed “car owner” sets were contemporaneous with the wood-boxed D set, which eventually also came in a metal box.
The Tee and speeders...something else to look out for...I wonder how they are marked?

 

[burnin53]

I think I have a speeder and t-handle catalog pic.
I'll see if I can find it.

Edit:No dice. I either dreamed it or didn't save the picture,somehow.

 

[LesserSon]

Yesterday, en route to a different activity, I happened upon a small flea setting up. I stopped and was rewarded by finding a 1/2dr ratchet. At the time, I incorrectly thought it was in better condition, and was a year older than my other two. I was half-right. It (top) is in similar condition (less finish, but also less pitting) to my other JN (center), and much better condition than my JO (bottom). As I had reproduced two wood boxes while reconstructing a lid for my one original box, the new guy is nestled all alone in one of them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice lineup.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thrilled to add a 1927-1929 Splitdorf-Bethlehem (brief merger) Set "G" to my collection this morning with this flea market find.



It's missing one socket and the ratchet and sliding tee.

(Not that anyone else is keeping track, but I now have a Bethlehem "A" (3/8-dr), "C" (7/16-dr), "C Special" (7/16-dr), "D" (1/2-dr and 3/8-dr), and "F" (11/16-dr), and a Splitdorf-Bethlehem "G" (1/2-dr).

You may recall that a 5-post fly-by guy posted one of these sets last December and we were trying to decipher the contents of his set from a terrible decal. This one is in very good shape except that one area on the left.



The box is identical in size, construction, and latch to the "D" set but the tools holder in the compartment area is a different layout. There is no "A" set, so no long slot for the "A" set box. There are fewer hex sockets, but they added four (4) female 4-point sockets and one (1) male 4-point socket, which the "D" set does not have, as well as an Alemite socket (for pre-Zerk fittings), a wingnut socket, and two drag link bits.

A side-by-side comparison is most helpful in seeing the differences.



Note the black corrosion-resistance striping. I have only seen that on my "C" and "C Special" set pieces before.



Here's a close-up of some of the special pieces.



It's unfortunate that the decal on the lid is missing. You can see that the shape of where it was is the same as the decal on the lid of my "D" set. I would've been curious to see if they added the "Splitdorf-" name to that one, too.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice addition!

 

[LesserSon]

Ooo! nice!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, guys. I'm not worried about the ratchet. The ratchets turn up. Sliding offsets, not so much!

 

[four.cycle]

excellent find.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a splitdorf bethlehem H set box, decal unfortunately destroyed. Box came empty so using it to store some random old stuff.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Box came empty...

Speaking of empty boxes, I am betting someone just shrewdly upgraded their wooden "D" set with this absolutely pristine clean but totally empty "D" set box on the 'Bay for the tune of $52 + shipping. Seller says it was used as a sewing box, which explains why it's so immaculate. I didn't bid. A little birdie tipped me off, but I don't have a need. My "D" set is the metal box era. It was fun watching, though. I think I'll save this as yet another example of the market for the next time someone looks down their nose at vintage tool collecting.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Saw that one, but I have a pretty decent d set box.