Fulton Socket Set

[acdeucey]

Awhile ago I dug an old Fulton socket set out of the $2 bin at the Rock River Thresheree flea market. While researching Fulton Tools I didn't have much luck, especially in finding pictures of socket sets like mine. So, figured I'd post pictures on here for the record.

I'm not sure what to do with this set. My first thought was to "restore" it by polishing up the sockets and painting the box. However, I kind of like it the way it is. Anyway, if I did repaint the box I'd have to find a new logo to replace the old one. To me the logo is the most important part.

So, what would you do?

Don

 

[kc-steve]

Keep it as is. The value is the highest when a collector buys something original. Let the buyer decide what to do. Paint it and change the finish and you'll risk losing a sale altogether. We only borrow the tools that we have, sooner or later they end up in someone else's hands.

Fulton tools were part of Sears three-tier marketing system of good, better and best with Fulton being either the good or better while Craftsman was best. Today, Evolve holds that position but those Fulton tools are far better quality than Evolve.

From my website, "The Fulton brand was an early low-priced tool line offered by Sears. Another was the Dunlap brand and it first showed up in a catalog around the beginning of the 1940s. Sears offered the 6-piece open-end wrench sets by Dunlap at $1.49 compared to Craftsman’s comparable “Super-Tuff” set at $3.95 in 1949. (From the 1949 catalog)"

http://junkyardtools.com/tool_history/craftsman

Thanks for sharing,
Steve

 

[acdeucey]

What I forgot to mention...

As you can see there are six sockets. They are 3/8" drive, 12-point. The sizes range from 7/16 to 3/4.

The pieces in this set feel pretty substantial. By look and feel they would appear to be superior to many of today's sockets for strength and durability. Of course, whether they actually are would have to be determined by a metalurgist.

Steve, thanks for the reply. As I wrote, "I kind of like it the way it is" and my preference is to leave the set like it is. Either way, leave it or fix it, I'll most likely never use 'em and they'll end up with my collection of vintage tools.

Anyway, I documented the set and now it's available for the next guy doing a search for "Fulton" tools.

Don