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

[four.cycle]

I honestly did not think that thing would go that high, or I would have never bothered you about it. Looking at the bid history, it looks like the buyer really wanted it. I have to assume he's got a set in need of a box.

updated list just posted with last addition of "Hargreaves"

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...or I would have never bothered you about it...

I wasn't bothered. Knowing that I don't shop on eBay, I appreciate the tips I get from you and others. I act on them very infrequently, but I have acted on them from time to time when I get impatient or I have determined that the odds of something turning up at my fleas is next next to nil.

I have to assume he's got a set in need of a box.

Or a better box, which is why I used the word "upgrade". On most of the boxes I have seen, with very few exceptions, the labeling is barely legible.

 

[four.cycle]

^ it was THAT part of it that caught me, because I remember the difficulty you had trying to suss out all the numbers and sizes on your "D" set.
I figured at the very least we'd both have a copy of the "contents list" of that set, since no catalog (as such) really exists.

I'd say "crazy", but I seem to recall paying about $25 bucks for an empty steel box for a 1/4" drive set at some point.

 

[LesserSon]

!!!!!
What title was it listed under? I’m trying to view the listing with “sold” selected and don’t see it…

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...because I remember the difficulty you had trying to suss out all the numbers and sizes on your "D" set.

That was me, in the early days of this thread, but it wasn't my box. I have A, C, C Special, D, and F sets, but all metal boxes.

I'd say "crazy", but I seem to recall paying about $25 bucks for an empty steel box for a 1/4" drive set at some point.

I paid at least $50 for an empty Billmont box for my Billmont set. Rare is rare.

What title was it listed under? I’m trying to view the listing with “sold” selected and don’t see it…

Dang! I should've told you, LS. Sorry. If it's any consolation, your self-repaired box with the gorgeous hand-made lid is more handsome. Kind of hard to reproduce a label that looks to be burnt-stamped in though, I guess.

Vintage 1923 Bethlehem Spark Plug Co Socket Set Tool Box Empty, Unused Quickway | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage 1923 Bethlehem Spark Plug Co Socket Set Tool Box Empty, Unused Quickway at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[LesserSon]

Thank you! I could not find it.
I don’t mind missing the opportunity to bid. Mostly interested in the exquisitely preserved detail of the typeface. And the illuminating “blonde” quality of the shellacked chestnut (after putting effort into darkening and distressing my repros).
I see the PO must have removed the original internal dividers to open up the space for the sewing materials.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Yes. Exactly. I sent a P/M to Private Lugnutz about that when I first saw it.
I have done exactly the same thing for a former girlfriend for her sewing/needlepoint/knitting stuff: gutted a perfectly good box so it could be re-purposed. In this particular case, Mama using it only for her sewing notions kept the graphics inside the lid pristine:

Bethlehem Spark Plug Co., Inc. "Set D" box only

I was not aware you were a Bethlehem collector!

 

[Farmer J.]

Thank you! I could not find it.
I don’t mind missing the opportunity to bid. Mostly interested in the exquisitely preserved detail of the typeface. And the illuminating “blonde” quality of the shellacked chestnut (after putting effort into darkening and distressing my repros).
I see the PO must have removed the original internal dividers to open up the space for the sewing materials.

With your woodworking skills and knowledge the reproduction/repair on yours gave excellent results.
But I agree, the lovely golden Chestnut wood does look rather special, it must have been pretty attractive with a brand new set of tools inside it. Also though, very nice as a sewing box. Wonder what happened to the original internal dividers..

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And the illuminating “blonde” quality of the shellacked chestnut (after putting effort into darkening and distressing my repros).

I'll be the open dissenter and admit that I think it almost looks kind of like a box for a cheap 60s or 70s carving set or artists brush set etc. Something about it being so light and showing almost no grain. I don't think 4.c will mind me mentioning that he actually wondered to me in that PM whether it was a reproduction, and I think that bright near grainless almost processed wood look perhaps contributed to that, along with the cleanliness, of course. Compare to OTG's very recent acquisition (page 7, post #243). Probably just grime and age giving his a little darker honey-er hue, but I'd favor that over the perfect 'sewing kit' box, and your darker, distressed finish was beautiful.

Mostly interested in the exquisitely preserved detail of the typeface.

I remember you experimenting with the idea of a printed version, LS, on a yellowish paper, something close to the finish on your lid, but I don't recall if you ever went through with it. I recommend using this mint-y label and finding someone with something like this...

CNC Wood Burner Pyroprinter

CNC Pyroprinter is a simple machine for art wood burning operated by PC with Windows. You can get professional images on wooden surface

pyroprint.com

 

[four.cycle]

^ don't mind at all. I thought it was a fake when I first clicked on the ad until I really looked closely at all the photos after I'd grabbed the screenshots.

 

[LesserSon]

I got as far as printing the paper. Then a surge of other acquisition and conservation buried the project (literally). I will get back to it, but not immediately.
I like the pyrography tool.

 

[four.cycle]

Bonney made Bethlehem ratchet (still shows some copper tint) $7.99 + $9.43 shipping "buy now" (listed 12/08 17:02 PST)

 

[RubiconJK]

I recently acquired these Bethlehem Spark Plug pieces and after browsing through this thread, I believe they belong to set D and the ratchet has the Bonney mark and 1923 date code similar to one Lugz showed in his set. I don't see branding on anything but the ratchet and the sockets are marked 9/16, 19/32, 11/16, 13/16, 27/32, unmarked but appears to be 7/8, and 15/16.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lovely! BSPCo still vies for Top 5 for me in my own internally competing fondnesses in terms of appearance with the construction and the copper coating.

I have never had the head of the sliding offset off like that. I didn't know it was possible!

I don't see branding on anything

Nope. The only branding I have ever seen on anything other than the ratchet were the pieces in my big fat whoppin' (11/16-inch drive!) "F" set.

 

[RubiconJK]

Lovely! BSPCo still vies for Top 5 for me in my own internally competing fondnesses in terms of appearance with the construction and the copper coating.

I had seen this thread back in December and when I unexpectedly found these pieces I understood why you guys were drawn to them.

 

[four.cycle]

02/03/23 16:20 PST

Wood box full of Bethlehem stuff. $40 bucks? or $50 bucks?

same seller also has some old hammer heads, but that's as far as I looked

Seller is RIGHT across the Narrows from me. Maybe a 10-minute drive if traffic is clear. I don't collect Bethlehem.
Shipping it ANYwhere might well be a deal-killer.

Passing this along strictly as an FYI, gentlemen. Bk

 

[RubiconJK]

02/03/23 16:20 PST

Wood box full of Bethlehem stuff. $40 bucks? or $50 bucks?

same seller also has some old hammer heads, but that's as far as I looked

Seller is RIGHT across the Narrows from me. Maybe a 10-minute drive if traffic is clear. I don't collect Bethlehem.
Shipping it ANYwhere might well be a deal-killer.

Passing this along strictly as an FYI, gentlemen. Bk

I'm probably as deep into Bethlehem as I need to get already, but thanks.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a pretty beat up g set

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Did not need another d set but the set contents printing on the lid was so nice I couldn't stop myself...

 

[LesserSon]

Wow! Very clean and legible.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup that's what got me!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

(late production?)

Yes. Brief partnership in the 1925-1927 timeframe. I have a partial "G" set from that era and a few others from that era have been posted as well. During one of your hiatuses perhaps. Searching the thread on 'Splitdorf' will pull them up.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I just noticed that "A" set has both the "ELL" handle and the "TEE" handle but no cross bar.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

O Little Town of Bethlehem...

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Happy holidays!

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Did not need another d set but the set contents printing on the lid was so nice I couldn't stop myself...

Man that’s nice

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I the "All good things come to those who wait!" category, I was just talking to @AntiqueBen about the gaping hole in my "G" set, found at a flea market and shown back in 2021 sans ratchet here, and how I was hoping to run into another ratchet, and, like magic, I found one at the flea market this morning. Not much copper coating remaining, but I am not complaining. The sliding L/T handle will be tougher!

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Recently picked up this quickway set. Looks pretty much unused, has the bonney ratchet.

OTG, I recently rescued this Bonney version of the BSPCo ratchet. It was sitting out in the open air on a table with a massive amount of rust. Old man sold it to me for $1. I just took it out of an Evaporust bath and now can identify it. Question- is it indeed a ratcheting tool. This one is froze up if it is, and I'll have to pursue a method to work it all loose.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Yes, it is by definition a ratchet.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Maybe soak that thing in some atf for a week, see if it breaks loose...

 

[LesserSon]

@Tom "Python" Aycock
If you can get four screws to turn, the insides are really simple. Try “tightening” each a slight bit, to break them loose, first. If they budge at all, they will loosen with less chance of stripping.

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.

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

@Tom "Python" Aycock
If you can get four screws to turn, the insides are really simple. Try “tightening” each a slight bit, to break them loose, first. If they budge at all, they will loosen with less chance of stripping.

Thanks, will do

 

[RTM]

Here is a find from my shop clean out event. I saw it, did not recognize the brand, but realized it might be needed in someone’s set. Looking at the original tool, I thought the inscription was No100, but after looking at all the pix on this thread, realized it a poorly stamped 1-3/8, and the 3/8 stamped poorly and on its side can look like lots of 0s and Os. Even after I measured the size, 1-3/8 did not register (*****)

Thanks to @Private Lugnutz for the pointer here, and the fact it fits the Big Boy F set. Was very confused by the 11/16” at the drive end, but looking thru the first pages, I wasn’t the only one confused at first.

Again, if someone needs this, holler.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Was very confused by the 11/16” at the drive end, but looking thru the first pages, I wasn’t the only one confused at first.

If you mean 'looking thru the first couple posts,' yes, I see what you meanm with all the blank spaces. Maybe we can prevail upon @four.cycle to update his lists with drive sizes. 4.c - see my list in post #4.

Again, if someone needs this, holler.

Takers will likely be as scarce as the "F" sets. As far as I know/recall, I'm the only one on the thread with one (Post #83, page 3) and it's complete.

I wonder what happened to the rest of the set? Is it possible someone grabbed it at that shop closeout before you got there and missed the 1-3/8"? Or did the PO find an orphan a long time ago and it's just been sitting there with other misfits? If so, what did he use it for and how did he turn it? Not expecting answers to those questions. When something that unique pops up in one size, no others, no handles, etc, it just makes you wonder.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They make great doorstops!

 

[RTM]

I wonder what happened to the rest of the set?

Don’t believe it was ever in that building

Is it possible someone grabbed it at that shop closeout before you got there and missed the 1-3/8"?

My buddy was there the first week, amid dove into the socket box on week two with vigor. It was pretty full

Or did the PO find an orphan a long time ago and it's just been sitting there with other misfits?

This is my thought. Like the 4 Mossberg s I posted, I did not see a driver for either. He apparently frequented Urban Ore, a re use recycle yard about 4 miles from his shop. Grabbed orphan wheels to repair things, so orphan sockets would not surprise me either

If so, what did he use it for and how did he turn it?

No clue. I never saw an 11/16” Allen, which would be my backup plan, or a giant 11/16 square drive socket Allen head tool

Not expecting answers to those questions. When something that unique pops up in one size, no others, no handles, etc, it just makes you wonder

Yup, I always wonder at the stuff I see. Maybe he was slowly accumulating misc sets. I’ve grabbed a few 3/4” drive sockets, finally found a sliding Tee, and a 1/2 female to 3/4” male adapter, so I will make people wonder too.

We were wondering about lots of things as we unpacked the shop.

 

[four.cycle]

Bethlehem "Quickway" 9 piece SAE Socket Wrench Set "A" in Original Box

manufactured by Bethlehem Spark Plug Co., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania U.S.A.

this set includes:

9/32" 6 point socket
5/16" 6 point socket
11/32" 6 point socket
3/8" 6 point socket
7/16" 6 point socket
15/32" 6 point socket
1/2" 6 point socket

3/8" Hex "T" Handle
5/32" x 4" cross bar (with no detents)

Steel Box

 

[Provincial]

I didn't realize just how much these sets must be selling for on Ebay. Today I saw this set at an estate sale:

 

[elidas]

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

* Some of the drive sizes noted on the photo images are incorrect. *
The correct drive sizes on these sets are:
Set A = 3/8" hex drive
Set B =
Set C = 7/16" hex drive
Set D = 1/2" hex drive
Set E =
Set F =
Set 10B =








see also:
http://toolarchives.com/node/260
http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers.html#bethlehem

 

[elidas]

Possible unicorn. This is a one inch square drive Bethlehem set. Original box. I originally thought it was a BAT set because of the shape of the sockets. I got this and a original Walden set in the leather case and the wire ratchet for $25