[emoji1]That socket is bad luck, someone put a hex on it!
Could be a square to hex adapter with that ball.
What’s the brand and the sizes?
Hello, It's a socket for allen head bolts.
Ok, it measures for a 3/8 inch ratchet to 1/2 inch hex socket. Thanks for the replies. On my shelf of interesting stuff it goes.
That socket is bad luck, someone put a hex on it!
To attach a box wrench to a ratchet for more leverage?
It's for pipe plugs.
So you don't lose the plug?Why the detent, then?
Where would the socket go?To attach a box wrench to a ratchet for more leverage?
I'm with you guysWhy the detent, then? I'm on the adapter to old timey sockets bandwagon.
So you don't lose the plug?

You should apply for the patent on that, no more dropping the sump plug in the drain can![]()
Pics.![]()
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I think the set is only missing one piece that was a socket with a 1/2 hex on both ends to connect the 1/2 hex handle to the 1/2 hex straight blade screwdriver tool/short extension. 20 mm through 13 mm.

New or used? While Indestro, and cheaper outfits like Oxwall and maybe a few others made hex drive well into to 50's, it's unusual. Also, I don't know if your adapter has it, but you see those flakes at the bottom of the square opening of the OP's socket? That is from cold-broaching, which was replaced by hot-broaching in the 40's. Usually those flaky residuals were knocked out or jammed up against the inside with a punch pin during the manufacturing process, but you often see that step skipped.I bought these in 1967 from a local motorcycle shop.
New or used?
...Also, I don't know if your adapter has it, but you see those flakes at the bottom of the square opening of the OP's socket? That is from cold-broaching, which was replaced by hot-broaching in the 40's. Usually those flaky residuals were knocked out or jammed up against the inside with a punch pin during the manufacturing process, but you often see that step skipped.
Maybe the 1/2 hex straight blade screwdriver tool/short extension is intended to fit one of the sockets?![]()
New or used? While Indestro, and cheaper outfits like Oxwall and maybe a few others made hex drive well into to 50's, it's unusual. Also, I don't know if your adapter has it, but you see those flakes at the bottom of the square opening of the OP's socket? That is from cold-broaching, which was replaced by hot-broaching in the 40's. Usually those flaky residuals were knocked out or jammed up against the inside with a punch pin during the manufacturing process, but you often see that step skipped.
Where would the socket go?
I'm with you guysNot that I have any real educated reason..lol
To attach a box wrench to a ratchet for more leverage?
Where would the socket go?
A double box ended wrench. A variation on the old '2 wrench' cheat.



Pics.
This tool was correctly identified in post #3, then redundantly correctly identified in post #'s 8, 9, 13, and confirmed in posts #12 and #24. It is a hex-to-square drive adaptor. The 3/8-inch drive female square opening goes on the end of a 3/8-inch square drive ratchet. That leaves the 1/2-inch hex drive end to be inserted into the 1/2-inch hex drive sockets for turning.
...what a buzz kill. 
This tool was correctly identified in post #3, then redundantly correctly identified in post #'s 8, 9, 13, and confirmed in posts #12 and #24. It is a hex-to-square drive adaptor. The 3/8-inch drive female square opening goes on the end of a 3/8-inch square drive ratchet. That leaves the 1/2-inch hex drive end to be inserted into the 1/2-inch hex drive sockets for turning.
In that case, it's a flux capacitor. (And I need to recalibrate my sarcasmometer...)...dude we were trippin'
Agreed. Sorry for lumping you in with the redundancy!Post 9 did not “redundantly correctly identify” the item. It AGREED with post 3 correctly identifying it.
In that case, it's a flux capacitor. (And I need to recalibrate my sarcasmometer...)
Agreed. Sorry for lumping you in with the redundancy!![]()