Help Identify S-K sockets

[ibzepfan]

I recently bought this S-K socket set on eBay for next to nothing.I don't really need them but figured I'd throw them in the bottom of my roll-away and look at them every so often.Anyway,I've searched quite a bit online but can't seem to find out how old (or new) they are.The sockets have the same logo as on the packaging and the size of course,but no part numbers.The package has a barcode on the back,so they can't be all that old.I'm thinking Facom era.Are there any S-K experts that can weigh in?

 

[bonneyman]

The S big dot K logo started when FACOM bought them out in 1985. When SK went independent again in 2005, they kept that same style of logo.
I know that doesn't nail it down very well, but I hope this helps.

 

[ibzepfan]

The gentleman that I bought the set from stated that they belonged to his late father,who passed away 12 years ago.So Facom does sound about right.Thought it was kind of strange that the sockets have no part numbers on them.I'm going to try to find a 16 and 19mm with the same logo to make a basic "complete set".I don't like the skips,even if they're sizes that would probably never get used.Thanks for the info.

 

[sk farmer]

i can help. that set is not facom. as can be seen on the label it is part of the custom line. it was also sometimes referred to as "peg pack" because most tools had some sort of packaging that could be hung on a peg or hook on a peg board display just like yours package. the line was most often seen in auto parts stores where tools are often hung on a peg board display. i have never seen these tools in a normal catalog so i have no idea how they were distributed. i would date them to late 70's - late 80's, give or take a few years.

i would bet money your sockets have the s dot k inside a diamond shape. they look very similar in size and shape to a normal sk socket but don't have the 3 grooves around the base of the socket like a normal sk metric socket. none of my sockets, wrench or frankenstein ratchets have part numbers either.

below is a couple pictures of tools from that line. first off are the 3/8 and 1/2 drive frankenstein ratchets. they are from the custom line. second is the 11 mm wrench. it has a satin finish like the normal raised panel without a raised panel. i have a couple sockets laying around maybe i can find a pic of them to put up later. i would consider them well made, no frill tools marketed to a lower price point.

 

[ibzepfan]

That's very interesting.Half the fun of buying them was going online for 3 or 4 hours trying to find what era they are from.And yes,they do have that same logo.So the time frame that your suggesting,S-K would have been owned by Dresser,correct?I found 3 or so of the same sockets on eBay still in the packaging,but not sizes I need.Thank you for the info.This site is by far the most informative that I've found.

 

[3baygarage]

I would say that is from the Dresser era with that logo. There were also ratchets stamped "Custom" like it says on your socket pack.

 

[sk farmer]

I would say that is from the Dresser era with that logo. There were also ratchets stamped "Custom" like it says on your socket pack.

i have seen a ratchet marked custom. it was a 1/4 drive roundhead nearly identical to the normal ones. what made it different was the custom stamp and having a non plated black direction cap. that made it look similar to the frankenstein ratchets which also have a black center. i have never seen a 3/8 or 1/2 marked custom. doesn't mean they don't exist, i have just never seen one.

sk was acquired by facom in 1985 so i bet my date range is a little off. they could very well have been on shelves for some time after that but i would put bets on that line not making the facom transition. i think dresser period is correct.

 

[sk farmer]

That's very interesting.Half the fun of buying them was going online for 3 or 4 hours trying to find what era they are from.And yes,they do have that same logo.So the time frame that your suggesting,S-K would have been owned by Dresser,correct?I found 3 or so of the same sockets on eBay still in the packaging,but not sizes I need.Thank you for the info.This site is by far the most informative that I've found.

i suspect it would be very difficult find those missing sizes. that line was short lived and was not really very popular. i don't recall it being a lot cheaper and most people sprung for the "real" sk. it is hard to say but with out having a catalog for reference it is hard to say of those may have ever been made in the missing sizes. the line was not even close to being as comprehensive as the normal line. the only items i recall are ratchets, socket, extensions and combo wrenches in basic sae and metric sizes.

i do have a red handled multi bit screwdriver with a white cap that has that same logo. i don't recall if there were ever any other screwdriver but i have seen red handled 1/4 drive spinner handles marked the same way.

be advised that anything i have said is from memory and from actual items i have. i have never seen or heard of an sk custom catalog. i just remember a few stores that sold them back at that time.

 

[bonneyman]

I would like to see what date actually turns out to be true.
The S-K tools I bought in 1980 were S hyphen K. That S big dot K seemed to come about when FACOM acquired them. I've seen lots of those green plastic boxes with that type of logo on it.
Also, the S-K Tuff 1 rats were (I think) a cross-over design from the French once FACOM took them over. And every one of those Tuff 1 rats that I've seen has that S circle K in a partial diamond logo.

My research has led me to think that S hyphen K is pre-1985
S dot K or S circle K is FACOM and later (1985 on)

 

[3baygarage]

Well I'm no expert on S-K. This looks like the OP'S set here that was on Ebay, with a little help from Google:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SK-Metric-Sockets-29238-3-8-Drive-6-Point-10-11-12-13-14-15-17-18-/271426803033?nma=true&si=I%252BaTezvuNn9KAUyNnqfAuPI9d4Y%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[davethorik]

I agree with the above, here is a pic of the original cardboard box for my sk set. it is dresser and it is S-K not SdotK.

 

[3baygarage]

Thanks for the pic dave. That clears things up a bit. The Facom partnership was earlier than I thought too, as bonneyman stated.
I've looked at so many tools I'm getting mixed up.

 

[Onedivinehammer]

The S big dot K logo started when FACOM bought them out in 1985. When SK went independent again in 2005, they kept that same style of logo.

I would say that is from the Dresser era with that logo.

That line was short lived and was not really very popular.

I would like to see what date actually turns out to be true. ... That S big dot K seemed to come about when FACOM acquired them. ... My research has led me to think that S hyphen K is pre-1985 S dot K or S circle K is FACOM and later (1985 on)

So, I want to bring this thread back to life. Recently, at an estate sale, I came across a few unopened NOS SK items in a style of which I was not familiar with. I, too, had for some time thought that the SK dot was a FACOM product. However, my recent acquisition will negate that thinking. These packages are clearly stated Dresser Industries, and thus, they are pre-1985. I feel, as SK Farmer has mentioned, that this style, "peg pack," was short lived. The sockets have somewhat a generic look to them, and, while a noble idea, I can't imagine buying just three sockets to hang on a peg board. It almost looks like an economy line.

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[Art From De Leon]

Dresser, as in Dresser-Atlas, Dresser-Guiberson, Dresser Magcobar, and their oilfield services, heavy industrial business lines? Very interesting indeed, as Halliburton aquired them at some point (late 80's, early 90's), as well as their asbestos related lawsuits and claims. Dresser Industries, in the oilfield services, at least was identifiable by their Orange and White color scheme.