Found my oldest Snap-on to date

[Rusty Musket]

I dug through a box of rusty sockets at a garage sale on saturday and came up with these. If I am not mistaken, these are some of the first marked SO sockets from the 1920s (photos 1 & 2).

I found a couple of other oldies at the same sale but I haven't identified the logos yet (photos 3-5).

This 12mm proto wrench seems to have a partial polish and chevrons that I have not seen before (photo 6&7).

 

[FJ 432]

The sockets are cool but I'm intrigued by the wrench in metric. Cool stuff.

 

[maddawg308]

Pic 3 are sockets made by Duro, a name brand of Indestro.

 

[lbgradwell]

3) Duro

4 & 5) Fairmount Tool & Forge

6) You will sometimes see those Protos with 3 stars instead of the chevron

 

[WWIIjeep]

6 & 7 are '70s-vintage Proto. 9/16" shown below in both that style and the style that replaced them:

 

[chopper1]

4 & 5) Fairmount Tool & Forge

Right.
I have a fair amount of Fairmount tools, stepdad having worked at the foundry. But, I've never seen that logo on any tools before, only on their tool rolls and literature.
Anyone have any idea of the years of those wrenches?

 

[2oolhound]

Great finds! Thanks for sharing!

 

[lbgradwell]

Anyone have any idea of the years of those wrenches?

No, Mike, but it's old enough to use Industry-Standard Numbers so I'd guess the 1930s at the latest...

 

[chopper1]

No, Mike, but it's old enough to use Industry-Standard Numbers so I'd guess the 1930s at the latest...

Thanks, LG. But weren't those numbers used thru the 40's [and later] on the Jeep tool kit wrenches?

 

[lbgradwell]

Thanks, LG. But weren't those numbers used thru the 40's [and later] on the Jeep tool kit wrenches?

You might very well be right, but if so it's news to me! I was under the impression that the current "across-the-flats" sizes were in use by the 1930s and the ISNs just went away...

 

[Rusty Musket]

Thanks for all the comments and images guys. I learn something new with every post!

 

[Ironhorse]

Did you see this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-sna...290?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec1dd0dca

 

[camarotoolman]

I had some s o sockets so old they were 5/8 drive.

 

[930dreamer]

Check to see if the Overstrike Snap On sockets are 5/8" drive.

 

[chopper1]

You might very well be right, but if so it's news to me! I was under the impression that the current "across-the-flats" sizes were in use by the 1930s and the ISNs just went away...

I don't believe the number shown are "across the flats" sizes, I believe that its a series number.But I could be wrong.
See my pics.

 

[Murphy4570]

I had some s o sockets so old they were 5/8 drive.

That's what I have that is my oldest Snap-On. Date to late 1920's. I thought they were 3/4" drive when I bought them. Found out they are 5/8" drive. Now they sit in my toolbox, as filler in a drawer lol.

 

[lbgradwell]

I don't believe the number shown are "across the flats" sizes, I believe that its a series number. But I could be wrong.
See my pics.

Yes a 28S is the old Industry-Standard Number for a DOE wrench with "across the flat" openings of 5/8" x 25/32".

So your wrench would seem to be from the transition period as it mentions both the old ISN and then specifies what the milled opening sizes actually are.

 

[chopper1]

Yes a 28S is the old Industry-Standard Number for a DOE wrench with "across the flat" openings of 5/8" x 25/32".

So your wrench would seem to be from the transition period as it mentions both the old ISN and then specifies what the milled opening sizes actually are.

Ah, thanks LG, that makes a lot of sense and furthered my education of tool history. Is there anywhere on the net that gives a breakdown of the old ISN codes and what they stand for?

And, I'm sorry for highjacking rusty muskets thread.

 

[lbgradwell]

Is there anywhere on the net that gives a breakdown of the old ISN codes and what they stand for?

There is.

 

[Rusty Musket]

Ah, thanks LG, that makes a lot of sense and furthered my education of tool history. Is there anywhere on the net that gives a breakdown of the old ISN codes and what they stand for?

And, I'm sorry for highjacking rusty muskets thread.

No worries! All tools, brands, & knowledge sharing welcome here. Keep it going. Would love to learn more about ISN codes.