Hol-Set Mfg Co socket set.

[Boringgeoff]

I've got this socket, multi tool made by Hol-Set Mfg Co of Rochester NY between 1923 and 1930. Amazingly it's still got the valve lapping tool and valve lifter on it. The valve lapping tool is held in place by a split pin which is removed to access the sockets of which there are seven between 15/16" to 1/2". The valve lifter is for use on side valve engines where you put the lifter under the valve spring retainer, put the hook on a manifold stud and lever down.
This tool was patented by Joseph Judge in 1928, (US Pat 1662424) on the patent drawing you can see at lower left (Fig 6) he shows a universal joint drive and in Fig 1, he gives an overall drawing of the complete tool.
The tool holder or brace that I've got here is not long enough to hold all the tools in the way Mr Judge shows and I'm wondering if the tool actually ever had the uni' joint? The profile of the crank is round but the sockets and main beam are hexagonal of 1/2" width.
If the uni' joint was part of this tool I'd like to get my hands on one.
Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Outstanding. Fantastic condition with all the pieces. Uni joint may be tough to find.

 

[woody 73]

Very nice good job. By chance any information about the company that made the set ?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's mine. And my previous thread from 2017 with some company history and a period ad is linked here.

 

[Boringgeoff]

Thanks Lugz, I read your 2017 posts three times. Now I think that the advert you posted us does show the uni joint, I don't have the ability to draw arrows on a drawing but lets look at the ad' and in conjunction with the drawing on the patent work through it. Starting from the left on the tool handle we have the hook hanging down, next in descending size 7 sockets. Dangling below is the valve lapper, this is where it gets difficult. Partially above and extending right is the valve spring compressor and finally poking out to the right is the uni joint.
As I said earlier there's not room for the uni joint on there no matter what order you put all the tools back on the bar so perhaps they didn't bother with it. Or did they make another tool handle that was a bit longer? If that was the case then you'd think there'd be a part No on the tool to ID the two models, but there are no numbers that I can find.
Can we assume that the long 15/16" socket is an early Ford spark plug spanner? We're going to a car show next weekend I'll take it along and try to catch up with a few of the Ford boys, see what they think.
Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hi Geoff,

Your thread - especially the patent, which I have not seen before, has been very helpful. For one thing, it helped us figure out how the valve lifter piece works as a valve lifter. Previously, we had considered that perhaps a valve keeper/inserter. Using it as a lifter with the hook, which we had previously considered just merely a hook for hanging, is ingenious, and raised my appreciation level for the kit, which was already fairly high! Your thread has also caused me to re-scrutinize my kit, and I have made a few interesting discoveries.

First off, note that my kit doesn't have the valve lapper. I though it was missing, but in circumspect, now that I see yours and how it works, I'm not so sure that's the case. Because closer inspection of my shank revealed there is no provision for the cotter pin. The hole has been filled in with steel material.

I suppose it's possible that a prior owner did that, but I consider that highly unlikely. Why would they? A hole there wouldn't affect the function of the speeder with the sockets. More likely it came from the factory that way (the HOL-SET folks not wanting customers to wonder what the heck the hole was for...), implying, in my opinion, that there may have been a couple versions of this kit.

Note also that I test-fit a hex drive universal joint on the end of my shank. The uni joint I used is a spare female to female from a Bethlehem Quickway set. While it's not a female to male, and the female end is quite larger, much larger than the Hol-Set uni joint shown in the patent, it serves its purpose for the test-fit, despite its girth, sliding underneath the arms of the valve lifter, which are offset, with ease, just like the patent shows.

Speaking of the patent - where did you find it? Is it on your knob? Or did you find it through research? Reason I ask is my knob says PATS APPL'D FOR. Does yours have the patent number on it?

Note that GJ member twertsy also has a HOL-SET kit, his is also PATS APPL'D FOR model, with 7 sockets, the valve lifter, and no lapping device, just like mine, and I am still waiting to hear from him about the cotter pin hole in the shank. If his doesn't have one, or has one that has been filled in like mine, I think it's safe to assume they abandoned the valve lapper at some point or issued a variant of the kit without it.

 

[Boringgeoff]

Hi Lugz,
I found the patent no at A-A site below.
http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers-p2.html#holset-brace-set
I've got three handles one very poor condition I was given about 6 years ago no accessories with it, the second at car boot a couple of years ago, with all sockets, valve lift fork but no hook. I belong to the Hand Tool Preservation Society of Western Australia (phew what a mouthful HTPSWA) and we were at a car show last weekend I was displaying some automotive tools, valve lappers, wrenches and one of the boys from the sales table drew my attention to it. $45 but knocked down to $40 because I'm a member (US $28)I was real excited because I recognised what the valve lapper on the end was but no idea of the hooks purpose.
In his patent description Judge says "Pin 15 serves also as a stop for the sockets in use" intimating that the pin was to be put back in to stop the socket in use from pushing back up the shaft.
All three of my handles have the hole and all three knobs have PAT"S APPL'D FOR. Funny thing Judge's patent says Application filed December 26, 1922 but wasn't granted until 1928 seems a long time to me.
Sorry gotta go we're having a BBQ, time to get my chefs hat on.
Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

AA must have added the kit and write-up to their collection recently or else I just flat out missed it back when I was initially researching mine. As for the pin, I saw that in the patent, but did you see how close to the detent ball it is? If you've played around with yours, it leaves scant room for the friction ball to catch the wall of the socket. I just don't know why it would be filled in on mine. Perhaps it was a prior owner. I will reserve final judgement on that until I hear from twertsy about his.

 

[Boringgeoff]

The sockets don't have an internal indent to locate on the ball and because the shaft doubles as a tool holder there's no shoulder to stop the socket pushing up too far so I think the pin is essential. Could the filling in your hole be the pin sheared off by a socket forced violently up for instance?
I'll have a look through some hardware catalogues here see if I can find any info. They may well be a one off import and we didn't get an earlier / later model.
Cheers,
Geoff.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Right. It's a typical early friction ball only. As for the material in the hole, I tried to knock it out with a pin punch as soon as I saw it. Won't budge. Edit: still waiting to hear from Twertsy on that point. If his has a hole, I will consider mine an anomaly. Perhaps the pin sheared off.

 

[Boringgeoff]

The earliest McPherson cat' I've got is 1935, no Hol-Set tools in there.

 

[leg17]

I picked up a partial set cheap.
Five sockets, no bells and whistles.
The speeder does have a hole.
Lugz, maybe yours is user modified, or the pin got stuck and simple filed over.
Watching this post for updates.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, leg. It's starting to look that way. Seems like a clean fill to me, but I'll hit it harder next time I am at home. Haha. Meanwhile, I'm still waiting to hear from Todd. It's a beguiling kit, for sure.

 

[Boringgeoff]

My brother in law is currently rebuilding a Ford T, drew my attention to this valve lifting tool associated with that model. Judges patent description doesn't make in any mention of the valve lifter in the actual claim. I wonder if Henry Ford or associate patented this?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My brother in law is currently rebuilding a Ford T, drew my attention to this valve lifting tool associated with that model.

I don't know anything about the two-piece valve lifter you are showing or the diagram showing what appears to be that two-piece valve lifter, but Herbrand used an early forge mark resembling that H in a diamond stamped on the piece inserted under the valve.

 

[Ayrhead]

Hi Everyone: I came across this set today. Almost complete…1/2” to 15/16” sockets going to be added into my portable man cave. The Chevrolet Corvair Rampside Pickup Truck.

 

[Ayrhead]

Hi Everyone: I came across this set today. Almost complete…1/2” to 15/16” sockets going to be added into my portable man cave. The Chevrolet Corvair Rampside Pickup Truck.

If anyone comes across the knuckle attachment please let me know as i would like to complete the set if possible. I’ve attached a picture of what they look like.