Bonney new old stock socket set.

[Supertech]

found this at an old electronics store and figured id pick it up. they also had alot of other vintage tools amd i got a few for work. anyhow, any idea what this might be worth? 1/4 drive sae

 

[four.cycle]

^ Only way to ascertain "market value" is by looking at the "Sold" listings on ebay, which can be misleading at times.
Your set is from the "Triangle Era" - still collectible, but not as much in demand as earlier product.

On THAT particular set, however, you're most likely not going to find anything online even close: you've got NOS (New Old Stock) still in the original box - if everything is in cherry condition, that alone will fetch a higher price in the market.

 

[bonneyman]

Nice set! Find the remaining NOS pieces that you need to complete the set and use it with pride.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I already start way too many threads to pose this as a dedicated question to the group, but I do wonder if and when these vintage tools will lose value and the market will collapse.

I can't imagine too many people born in the 80s and 90s and 2000s will be interested in tools from the 1960s and earlier. I think most people when they get into their 40s and 50s get nostalgic for their youth. I can imagine in 30 years there being a huge secondary collectors market for Icon and Quinn HF tools in good unused condition.

There's always some practical value in the old tools, but given they tend to not be in complete sets, and even if they are "complete" they are complete to the 1960s time frame, which doesnt match the needs of today's tool users, and Taiwan tools are getting higher and higher quality at a lower price. That the floor price for these old US made tools (based solely on practical use of them) will become lower than it's worth to list, ship, and sell on eBay.

 

[kngelv]

I already start way too many threads to pose this as a dedicated question to the group, but I do wonder if and when these vintage tools will lose value and the market will collapse.

I can't imagine too many people born in the 80s and 90s and 2000s will be interested in tools from the 1960s and earlier. I think most people when they get into their 40s and 50s get nostalgic for their youth. I can imagine in 30 years there being a huge secondary collectors market for Icon and Quinn HF tools in good unused condition.

There's always some practical value in the old tools, but given they tend to not be in complete sets, and even if they are "complete" they are complete to the 1960s time frame, which doesnt match the needs of today's tool users, and Taiwan tools are getting higher and higher quality at a lower price. That the floor price for these old US made tools (based solely on practical use of them) will become lower than it's worth to list, ship, and sell on eBay.

I agree with these sentiments. I think finding old USA stuff is cool especially in the original packaging. I'd probably put that set on a wall in my garage as a decorative piece alongside or in the box. I've stumbled on some NOS SK, Plomb and Williams stuff recently and you realize that some of the machining is just ok and the same with the plating. I'll be honest and say my mid 70's to mid 90's Craftsman stuff is fairly mediocre as far as sockets. Sometimes I wonder at the rose colored glasses we wear.

James

 

[woody 73]

Sigh... I go ape **** for all those 1960's tools and tool sets. You would think I have enough of those vintage tools but no f-ing way, no sir I pick all those tools every chance I get.

I just picked up today 30 well used and abused screwdrivers, they were proto, sk Wayne, Stanley, Vlchek crescent, plomb, diamond, Williams, Herbrand, Cornwell, and the list goes on.

Old tools you got to love them, if only I could get off all the old gunk on the handles without damaging the plastic.

OP fantastic find

 

[john.k]

Is the big round head the only Bonney ratchet drive?

 

[Dave455]

I already start way too many threads to pose this as a dedicated question to the group, but I do wonder if and when these vintage tools will lose value and the market will collapse.

I can't imagine too many people born in the 80s and 90s and 2000s will be interested in tools from the 1960s and earlier. I think most people when they get into their 40s and 50s get nostalgic for their youth. I can imagine in 30 years there being a huge secondary collectors market for Icon and Quinn HF tools in good unused condition.

There's always some practical value in the old tools, but given they tend to not be in complete sets, and even if they are "complete" they are complete to the 1960s time frame, which doesnt match the needs of today's tool users, and Taiwan tools are getting higher and higher quality at a lower price. That the floor price for these old US made tools (based solely on practical use of them) will become lower than it's worth to list, ship, and sell on eBay.

That’s perfectly logical, but completely the opposite of my experiences here in the U.K.

I keep thinking that the British tools from the 60’s and 70’s must start to get cheap, and although it happens to a degree with tools that are being used (and basically worn out) the good condition tools are more expensive than ever before.

There are a couple of reasons for that. First is that the best tools really were very good quality, comparable with say Snap On or Hazet today, and folks realise that.

Second is that a lot of younger folks get into classic cars, either to drive, or as an investment. Once they do that they want their whole shop fitted out from the same era. Period tools, period garage equipment, period advertising on the walls, even period correct petrol cans and tins of consumables.

This is why I’ve seen comprehensive (and mint condition) Britool socket sets changing hands for thousands of £’s, refurbished Kismet foot pumps for £500, and even petrol cans for hundreds.

We are now at a stage where ”Petrolania” has it’s own dedicated auctions, and prices are way beyond what most users will pay.

It’s the same with anything, doesn’t matter if you are dealing in furniture, camera’s, tools or whatever. The “best” always becomes valuable. Those vintage U.S. tools were of exceptionally high quality so will always be valuable. The current Taiwan or China stuff never will.

 

[bonneyman]

Is the big round head the only Bonney ratchet drive?

The dual pawl round head became the basic ratchet that Bonney made later on. 72 tooth action, fine enough for most applications, a bit clunky action till worn in, but a solid user. Not my favorite but I've got my fair share of them in the stash.

 

[john.k]

Not the action,its the size ..more of a club than a spanner.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

I agree with these sentiments. I think finding old USA stuff is cool especially in the original packaging.

Yes. My Boney Set are the best fitting sockets I own, Including USA Made PROTO. I love when I must use them

 

[BlackVersa2]

I love old 1/4 drive sets in metal boxes, however a lot of older 1/4 sockets don't have detents in the sockets. I won't use them as I have plenty of sockets with detents.
Not sure if that's the case here. Can't tell from the pic.

 

[bonneyman]

They're definitely worth having and using.

Someone somewhere on the thread did a socket engagement test and asked folks to send him a socket for testing. 13mm was the size he tested. I sent him a Bonney 13mm Loc-Rite for him to test. After all was said and done I think the Bonney came out #3 out of all the brands he tested.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

This thread reminds me, a store near me has a nos Bonney 3/8” drive sae socket set for sale. I’ll take a closer look on my next visit.

The triangle era stuff isn’t as collectible as the more antique Bonney stuff (unless it’s metric!) but they are great user tools with a design that was ahead of their time as Bonneyman said. And the triangle era 1/4” drive sockets I’ve used do have detent grooves on the drive end.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Needed a new die for a plumbing project so I swung by the store that has Bonney stuff.


3/8” drive metric set for $99.99. 6 point only despite what the parts list says. Kind of surprised no one has bought this




1/4” drive sae set for $169.95. All 12 point and comes with a larger selection of deep sockets.

So at these prices the people of Oakland have been voting with their wallets that the value of Bonney nos socket sets is somewhere lower than this. For me I’d like to have the 1/4” drive set… but the price is way too high for me to consider