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How old are these (Snap on sockets)
- Thread starter NECKBONE
- Start date
Wrench97
Well-known member
I have some of them, mid 70's I would think they came out.
RTM
Well-known member
Collecting Snap on has them listed in catalogs from 1971 to 1979. Put FSM171 in the search box and go
Awesome resource, thanks!Collecting Snap on has them listed in catalogs from 1971 to 1979. Put FSM171 in the search box and go
Looks like it, good eye!I have some of them, mid 70's I would think they came out.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I’ve seen that before too. Lots of my older stuff doesn’t have date codes I usually try to type in the patent to get an idea of the time period it could of been from. I don’t understand why they would of not put a date on it when they had date codes then.
Lack of date code on Snap On OFTEN indicates that the tool was made for a Govt. contract.
Some here will argue that. But it is in fact the case.
I've never heard of this, do you have any links supporting this statement?
Ricky Joe
Well-known member
The original purpose of the date code was to identify when their one year warranty started. Sometimes you will find tools with two date codes, because the dealer didn’t sell within the manufacture year and put a new mark on the tool, though I have a two date code ratchet from 1961/62, and have seen double marks in the 1950s.
When Snap-On instigated a lifetime warranty, date codes became superfluous, though they were still used. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Snap-On stopped using date codes. 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1982 dates I have never seen. I do have a 1978 1/4” drive universal, and I have 1983 dated tools. The only real reason for them to continue using date codes is for internal quality control. Considering their dip in quality in the 1960s through the 1980s, that is probably a pretty good idea. When you find undated tools with the patent number, that is probably the era. Government tools were dated, though perhaps not all of them.
When Snap-On instigated a lifetime warranty, date codes became superfluous, though they were still used. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Snap-On stopped using date codes. 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1982 dates I have never seen. I do have a 1978 1/4” drive universal, and I have 1983 dated tools. The only real reason for them to continue using date codes is for internal quality control. Considering their dip in quality in the 1960s through the 1980s, that is probably a pretty good idea. When you find undated tools with the patent number, that is probably the era. Government tools were dated, though perhaps not all of them.
Wrench97
Well-known member
My first purchase on the truck was in 1970 and it was lifetime then, I still have the original 3/8", 1/2" and 13/16" from that set the finish is pretty bad on them at this point but still work well, the rest were warrantied or lost and replaced.When did Snap-On instigate a lifetime warranty?
Also like to hear more about the quality dip...