Lets make an all vintage Snap-on tool picture thread!

[Private Lugnutz]

This PWA marked push rod adjuster was patented in 1925 but I’m sure it was made around a couple of decades after that.

They have a really interesting evolution, Don. I found one back in 2019, prompting a mini deep dive. Short version is they were patented by a company called ValTul, not Snap-on, typically came with 3 different sockets for 3 different OHV locknut sizes, and this version, which seems to have been made exclusively for PWA, does not show up in any SO catalogs. The in-house SO versions have wide pot metal knobs. They were 1/2-inch hex drive through 1941, when SO switched to 1/2-inch square drive - a smart move that allowed them to use regular 1/2-inch square drive sockets instead of special hex drive sockets. I don't know if that applied to the PWA-28354 model. Hex seems antiquated, but just the quirky kind of thing PWA might could've just spec-stuck with over the years, including through WWII.

More reading in a series of threads starting with #1694 on page 43 linked here, but make sure you scroll through down to post #1705, which is a catalog timeline I did, and there are other examples and posts from snapmom and others in between.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Roy has found quite a few tools lately that are of interest to me. This PWA marked push rod adjuster was patented in 1925 but I’m sure it was made around a couple of decades after that. It’ll be a cool addition to my NAF box.
-Don

The early editions were hex drive and came with three sockets. In the 1930s they changed to 1/2” square drive and didn’t have the extra special hex drive sockets, if that helps date it, absent a date code.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I defer to Lugz.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

No, that's good, because it independently pretty much confirms my understanding, and also leaves the same hint toward dating them that has been unresolved. Mine is hex drive and the only square drive one I have ever seen was snapmom's AT-*** marked Whitworth. I posited back in 2019 that anyone having or seeing a PWA- marked square drive example would immediately date the hex drive PWA- marked versions to prewar, but I don't think that has happened and I'm not sure what to make of the Whitworth. That one seems wartime for sure.

 

[Old Radar]

On the Garage Sale Thread, Private Lugnutz pointed out that there was no dedicated thread for early Vacuum Grip Pliers made by Forged Steel Products Company before their association with Snap-on. Having picked up a fistful of those early pliers this weekend, I took the hint and started the Forged Steel Products Co. Vacuum Grip Pliers Thread--Pre Snap-on here in the Vintage Tool Discussion Forum.

All are welcome to post up their FSP Vacuum Grips there!

 

[RTM]

Here's another PWA marked Snap-on tool, picked up from a storage cleanout in the flight path of our local small airport 2 months ago. Snap on No 1544520 PWA-2835-1 valve adjust tool for Pratt Whitney airplane engines, with hex drive, and PWA 1075-8 12 pt socket 3/4" it appears. The Snap-on info is cast into the web, the PWA is stamped on the right hand end of the first image, one side only.

 

[outofbounds]

Turned up this Snap-On 55908 Handle today at a chance preview of a retirement sale from a Ford Mechanic. He said it was a tool for brake service, but being that my head was on a swivel nabbing other goodies while he was talking (I move fast on my lunch hour) I neglected to gain a better understanding of just how it's used. Any insights are welcome and appreciated.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

brake shoe hold down spring tool

 

[snapmom]

Dash nut tool.

 

[Farmer J.]

No, that's good, because it independently pretty much confirms my understanding, and also leaves the same hint toward dating them that has been unresolved. Mine is hex drive and the only square drive one I have ever seen was snapmom's AT-*** marked Whitworth. I posited back in 2019 that anyone having or seeing a PWA- marked square drive example would immediately date the hex drive PWA- marked versions to prewar, but I don't think that has happened and I'm not sure what to make of the Whitworth. That one seems wartime for sure.

As far as I know, (which isn't very far!) the tools in the Packard built Rolls Royce Merlin kit all have an AT- prefix then a number, and Merlin engines are Whitworth. So maybe it's for that? I bet that ZRX61 chap would likely know..

 

[snapmom]

Yes, the Packard Rolls Royce kit.
not all whitworth, some af and a couple of metric

 

[Old Radar]

Turned up this Snap-On 55908 Handle today at a chance preview of a retirement sale from a Ford Mechanic. He said it was a tool for brake service, but being that my head was on a swivel nabbing other goodies while he was talking (I move fast on my lunch hour) I neglected to gain a better understanding of just how it's used. Any insights are welcome and appreciated.

Dash nut tool.

Snapmom is correct. BTW, that first "5" is actually and "S". I researched a little on the Int'l Tool Catalog Library when I posted mine on ebay. Over the years Snap-on claimed use for Ford, VW and I think Porsche, to remove certain knobs and trim items on the dash of these vehicles. By the end, it was just Ford.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I nabbed this at the flea market this morning. I think I know what it is (a "Mechanic's Helper"), but I am not 100% convinced it's actually a Snap-on tool. The decal is legit, but anyone could've put that on there. It's got some markings on the plastic plug on the **** end that I forgot to take a photo of. 2128347 AW 4. I can't imagine a simpler tool for them to make (and probably had made for them). If you've never seen one before, the upper part slides in and out of that tube. You put the crutch part against the steering wheel and the other end on the brake pedal when you don't have a live body to help you. Or between the wheel and the floor when you're doing an alignment. That spring loaded piece releases it.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I nabbed this at the flea market this morning. I think I know what it is (a "Mechanic's Helper"), but I am not 100% convinced it's actually a Snap-on tool. The decal is legit, but anyone could've put that on there. It's got some markings on the plastic plug on the **** end that I forgot to take a photo of. 2128347 AW 4. I can't imagine a simpler tool for them to make (and probably had made for them). If you've never seen one before, the upper part slides in and out of that tube. You put the crutch part against the steering wheel and the other end on the brake pedal when you don't have a live body to help you. Or between the wheel and the floor when you're doing an alignment. That spring loaded piece releases it.

It is in catalogs. That logo decal might be as late as about 1960. My engraver has a similar logo decal. And no, I have never engraved a tool. Great for pistons, though!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It is in catalogs. That logo decal might be as late as about 1960

Thanks and agreed. I was thinking no older than 1948 and no later than 60ish. I'll page through a few later.

 

[d42jeep]

I used one fairly frequently at the Corvair repair shop. I don’t remember if it was Snap-on or not but the owner had a lot of Snap-On tools.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's the cap. I'm thinking P/N, OEM, and date code but that's just guesswork. I just paged through the 1953 and didn't see it. The new CSO site has no other 50s catalogs loaded, and none of the 60s. It would probably be in the back with all the general misc and sundry. I have to say I miss the old site.

 

[joel63]

Any idea what happened to the old CSO site? It's a complete disaster now, totally useless now.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

No. I'm just speculating that Frank either had to move to a new hosting platform due to expenses or software obsolescence. Maybe it's just me - and I do plan to give it more time before nailing the lid shut on my lament, but the three features that made it THEE (and I mean THEE) best collectors' site on the entire internet, nonpareil, for any tool mfgr, was the exhaustive list of catalogs, the hyperlinkage between the catalogs on part numbers (so you could see the entire range a tool was offered), and the zoom feature. As far as I can tell, none of that was brought forward. There was nothing comparable for any other OEM. It was such a comfort knowing that it was there, that it is now a source of major disappointment.

 

[3baygarage]

What in the fudge hill happened to the site? I was on there about two or three? weeks ago and it was just fine. Looks like it was hacked or something.

 

[3baygarage]

It would appear many things are still there. Just a totally, totally different look, and format. Weird.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It would appear many things are still there.

If you go to catalogs you'll see that most of them have NOT yet been loaded. When those are available, I will feel better, even without the hyperlinks - unless I just haven't figured out how that works yet.

 

[3baygarage]

Maybe it’s still a work in progress. Awful to lose that resource. The tool community has suffered enough blows in recent years.

 

[bmwrd0]

It looks like it is in progress, that he is changing software and updating a few things at the same time. But, that is just a guess. I too would hate to lose the catalogs, no matter that many of them are at ITCL.

 

[joel63]

No. I'm just speculating that Frank either had to move to a new hosting platform due to expenses or software obsolescence. Maybe it's just me - and I do plan to give it more time before nailing the lid shut on my lament, but the three features that made it THEE (and I mean THEE) best collectors' site on the entire internet, nonpareil, for any tool mfgr, was the exhaustive list of catalogs, the hyperlinkage between the catalogs on part numbers (so you could see the entire range a tool was offered), and the zoom feature. As far as I can tell, none of that was brought forward. There was nothing comparable for any other OEM. It was such a comfort knowing that it was there, that it is now a source of major disappointment.

Thanks for getting back.
I think I used it everyday.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Here is a vintage set of pliers 97ACP and vintage wrench from 1969. Not sure on the date of the pliers and I no longer have them as I traded them in for warranty. I will post some more of my vintage ones later. The pliers were superceded by 97ACF so I got the 97ACF as a replacement.

 

[Zdreaming]

Hi everybody, I'm new here and have a question, I have a vintage 1931 snap-on 1/2 inch drive ratchet that was my grandfather's and I was wondering if I should get it powder coated. I know this would probably make some people mad, but I really don't plan on selling it. I would not powder coat the face on either side of the head or the cover plate, but the rest would have a textured black paint on it. The on/off, date stamp and screws would be painted black. My question is should I do it. I have already disassembled, cleaned and had it sandblasted. My grandfather kept his tools in good working order (it still works) and I thought I would make it look and function good. Or should I just buff it. Any thoughts. Thanks to all who reply.

 

[Zdreaming]

After cleaning:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Since you asked, my question would be, why? If your goal is preservation, it has lasted all these years in its original finish without any extraneous treatment, and as long as there is no serious oxidation, which seems to be the case, there really is no threat to that condition.

 

[Username already in use]

A trio of Snap-On garbage that I drug home from the recycling yard last week.
Im not sure who in their right mind takes this stuff for scrap, but I’m glad I found it.
The combo and the giant DOE are dated 1955.
The DOE is Bluepoint #S-4652 with 1-7/16” and 1-5/8” openings.
The combo is 1-1/4” #OEX-40
The DBE is 7/8” and 15/16”

 

[Zdreaming]

Thank you for the reply Private Lugnutz, I don't know, asthetics I guess. Just wanted something he would have been proud to own. Although he wasn't into cosmetic things, he bought it to be used, and it might still be(doubt it though).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Was he proud of his tools in the condition he left them? These are personal, subjective decisions for collectors, even when they're not family heirlooms. I tend to have a light touch. Others like to strip and polish or gussy. There's no objective right or wrong. I would let your own sensibilities be your guide.

 

[Zdreaming]

Thank you, it gives me something to think about

 

[snapmom]

Z, just oil the guts, maybe a light coat of oil on the outside and then a wipe down, just to help to keep the rust down, it should last you for about the same amount of time your grandpa had it, and then you can give it to one of your grandkids.

 

[Zdreaming]

Thanks snapmom, I think I might just do that. Definitely rethinking the powder coating.

 

[JjKk40]

I'm curious what the difference is between these two 9/32 drive flex head breaker bars are? One has no date code that im aware of and it has a detent ball in the crossbar hole. Also it looks to be a different finish on it as well. Very similar length, slight differences but almost exactly the same. Maybe somebody can school me on this?

















* I've also realized it is a 1945 "G" date code!
*Looking for a crossbar to match this flex head. I'd love to trade for one or purchase one! I know they're rare so I'd be lucky to find one.

 

[Ricky Joe]

The chrome one looks like 1942 date code. Good luck on the crossbar!

 

[d42jeep]

It’s likely that the crossbar for the 1942 flex would have a centering groove to work with the ball. I might be able to help you out with a wartime crossbar for the 1945 flex handle.
-Don


I added one of the flex handles and crossbars to my 9/32” set. Why not?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My 1945 dated hinge handle has the detent ball (you can see how they milled and plugged them into the end) and the crossbar is not grooved. Identical finish. Definitely original. 1/4" O.D. I wish I still had my 1943 set. I don't remember if it had a detent ball or not, but I don't recall grooved crossbars. Seems like a groove would defeat the point, no? It squeezes the ball into its spring-loaded recess. Do none of the surplus handles you got from Cliff have detent balls?

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve seen plenty of S-K and Plomb crossbars that are grooved to keep the crossbars centered when their hinge handles have the balls. Sort of the same thing as the grooves in the middle of sliding Tee handles. The SO balls in the hinge handle holes may just be to stop the crossbars from falling out. None of the repack crossbars are grooved. Maybe GJ member “Sockets” will check his hundreds of 9/32” sets and see if any of the crossbars have the groove.
-Don