Mustang sockets ?

[mtwaterguy]

Picked up three containers of sockets this weekend at an auction. Lot's of s & k, craftsman, and even a couple snapon. There was two I've never heard of, not that I'm a tool expert. Anybody know about Mustang, made in USA sockets?

 

[CatfishXpress]

There is some sockets and wrenches labeled Mustang USA in my dad's old stuff.

I don't know anything about them, but the sockets and wrenches both look a lot like older Proto to me.

 

[wrenchr]

I think they were made by indestro, not sure on that though.

 

[philw]

Mustang tools were made by New Britain. They were the economy line. I think NAPA sold them but not totally sure on that. They were phased out. I have a New Britain 1974 Napa catalog and they do not mention them.
Sparta was another brand that NAPA sold as an economy line at one point. I also believed they were made by N.B.

The Mustang tools seem to be from the 50's-60's and the Sparta stuff seems to be 70's-early 80's vintage.

Napa sold N.B. until N.B. shut down sometime around 1984.

 

[wrenchr]

Uh huh like I thought, I was not even close.

 

[billymade]

Here is a little "blurb" about the New Britain and Mustang tools historical connection: http://alloy-artifacts.com/craftsman-be-hcircle.html#NB

 

[Lightning]

How is the quality of New Britain tools? I have a New Britain extension that I rarely use.

 

[philw]

New Britain produced high quality tools. I think they were one of the best mechanics tools manufacturers. From the 30's-early 60's era I like Snap-on, Bonney, and New Britain the best followed by Plomb/Proto, Duro/Indestro, SK, and Williams. Herbrand was good at times as well as Cornwell.
The absolute most overated tool comany from the time was MAC. I'm guessing they were a substantial amount less expensive than Snap-on at the time because I can't imagine someone buying them in place of Snap-On. I have a MAC set I inherited from my uncle. He purchased them when he worked at a Chevy garage in the late 40's-early 50's. As far as I'm concerned there is a night and day difference between the two brands at that period in time.
I would rank Duro, SK, and most others above them in that time period.

 

[eschoendorff]

New Britain produced high quality tools. I think they were one of the best mechanics tools manufacturers. From the 30's-early 60's era I like Snap-on, Bonney, and New Britain the best followed by Plomb/Proto, Duro/Indestro, SK, and Williams. Herbrand was good at times as well as Cornwell.
The absolute most overated tool comany from the time was MAC. I'm guessing they were a substantial amount less expensive than Snap-on at the time because I can't imagine someone buying them in place of Snap-On. I have a MAC set I inherited from my uncle. He purchased them when he worked at a Chevy garage in the late 40's-early 50's. As far as I'm concerned there is a night and day difference between the two brands at that period in time.
I would rank Duro, SK, and most others above them in that time period.

They still are...

 

[wrenchr]

They still are...

Opinions are like *******'s everyone has one!!!

 

[DadsTools]

I agree about the quality of New Britain. The more old tools I see, the more I grow to appreciate their tools, and the more saddened that they are no longer around.

Now you knew that the hierarchical grading of brands along with the MAC-stingers were going to hijack this thread, right?

 

[vssjim]

NAPA had New Britain and Sparta as there toll brands and Blackhawk was sold to non Napa vendors then Litton Tool industries when under and Stanley got the Blackhawk name. I bought alot of New Britain when I worked at NAPA and still have it.

 

[6PTsocket]

Opinions are like *******'s everyone has one!!![emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti[emoji38]_hitti

Also, never argue with an idiot. A passer by will not be able to tell which of you is the idiot.

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[Al Borland]

Asking for a friend, can I use Mustang sockets on my Camaro?

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

Only if you tape over the brand name so that the car cannot see the tool working on it. Sorry about that, but I worked at New Britain Machine Co in the late 70's - early 80's and was there when the Tool Division was liquidated under the Litton Industries regime. I picked up a bunch of great stuff: VACO line wrenches, New Britain / Blackhawk / Husky / Craftsman sockets, ratchets, extensions, etc.

 

[shanny19]

Asking for a friend, can I use Mustang sockets on my Camaro?

I'm a die-hard Blues fan and own a handful of Blackhawk stuff, I just don't talk about it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Mustang tools were made by New Britain...[ ]...Sparta was another brand that NAPA sold as an economy line at one point. I also believed they were made by N.B.

Correct on both counts. New Britain also made the Precision-Bilt line in the 1950's. I have a Precision-Bilt midget set that had two extra MUSTANG sockets in it. Except for the finish, they are indistinguishable. Link to GJ thread here. I also have a MUSTANG 1/2-inch drive speeder if you're interested in starting a set out of your sockets, mtwaterguy. And of course from the late 1930's to 1947, New Britain famously made all Craftsman BE, Craftsman Circle-H, and Husky.

How is the quality of New Britain tools?

New Britain produced high quality tools.

Indeed. Top of the line in its heyday.

 

[MShaw]

New Britain had the Blackhawk line long before Stanley. They made Blackhawk when I worked for them in the early 1970s.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I have a couple of Mustang spark plug sockets in my collection. I would say, they are very well made. Broaching is well done, chrome is very well done since mine are still in fantastic shape, and my grandfather probably bought these in the 1960's.

If I found a set of Mustang sockets, I would grab them if the price was right.

 

[DadsTools]

I recently found this 1/2" Mustang set, 7/16" to 1" in 16th increments including the infamous 19/32 and 25/32 plus three deepwells 5/8 11/16 & 13/16 in what appears to be the original toolbox (have no reason to believe otherwise). I just about passed out when I saw there were no missing sockets! Tried very hard not to show any reaction. Looks like it may be missing an extension (if it ever had one). Other than that, everything is there, working, and correctly marked. Nice to have the big breaker in it. Used but not abused. They looked older to me and of high quality, so I bought it along with some other stuff. Ratchet is one of those old school coarse-tooth affairs with an open oil port at the top, never cared much for these but hey, that's what they made back in the day. Looks to be top-shelf, but as is often the case, the older "budget" tools are often better than the alleged top-line stuff made today. May be satin chrome or nickel, but may also be bare metal finish--I find it hard to tell sometimes with the older stuff. The fellow was asking $20, but with the bundle deal on the whole lot I gave about $17 for it. Anyone have an idea how old they are? I was thinking late 1940s to 1950s.

 

[HanShotFirst]

WOW, that's some vintage American iron; cool! Yeah, my Mustang sockets look very similar, but mine have no rust. The 13/16 spark plug socket I have is the longest one in my tool box, and I prize that thing.

WHAT A GREAT DEAL... Last thing I need is more sockets and ratchets, but I wouldn't have passed that up...I would have bought them, cleaned them up and then give them to someone who needs them (I'm the tool "dealer" ... First one's free man!!! )

Little rust cleaning and you have some solid tools there.

I love old steel tool boxes; that one's a keeper. I think I would clean it up and re-paint it, and it would be ready for the next 40-50 years of use. Old tools are cool.

And while the Mustang stuff may not have been top of the line, they were quality tools. Honestly though, that's the first actual SET of Mustang tools I've ever seen. You always find the sockets onesey-twosey, almost never in a set...so seeing that is just cool.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Anyone have an idea how old they are? I was thinking late 1940s to 1950s.

Concur. And holy ****, Dads, that's a wonderful find. That would be cleaned up and retired in a high and dry spot in the New Britain wing of the Lugzsonian if it was me. But you already knew that.

including the infamous 19/32 and 25/32

Why infamous? Those are the only two size service openings on a socket (or a DOE or DBE wrench) that would turn a 5/16" and 9/16" U.S.S. nut or bolt, respectively.

 

[DadsTools]

Concur. And holy ****, Dads, that's a wonderful find. That would be cleaned up and retired in a high and dry spot in the New Britain wing of the Lugzsonian if it was me. But you already knew that.


Why infamous? Those are the only two size service openings on a socket (or a DOE or DBE wrench) that would turn a 5/16" and 9/16" U.S.S. nut or bolt, respectively.

Thanks. Lugz. It's hard to find good stuff like that down here. I hope to get to cleaning them up someday, just got all other kinds of projects going. For now, I think I'll store it next to the copper Danielson (oh no, not THAT again!).

Perhaps I should have said 'notorious' rather than infamous.

I can't even imagine what the Lugzonian looks like. I think were I ever to conjure a clear mental picture of it in my head by remote viewing or some other supernatural mechanism, I would probably vanish from view as I was spontaneously transmuted into the Positive Absolute.

 

[DadsTools]

Thinking this should really be in the Vintage section, I started a new thread there with this set as the lead-in so folks have a place to "Show em" their Mustangs. Apparently the set is worthy enough to anchor such a thread. Should be fun to see what the GJ members come up with. Who knows, there might be all kinds of different tools like screwdrivers, end wrenches, etc.

Let's see em!

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

Came across this Mustang speeder today.




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[alton1911]

I like the ones I have found. I have two different styles of sockets marked mustang. One style is with a ring around the bottom, like the ones pictured. The other style is smooth. I just assumed the smooth style were later production.
Thanks
alton1911

 

[d42jeep]

Other than the crack, this one is okay.
-Don

 

[5lugnuts]

Don't mess it up.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Mustang Brand Sockets are great I bought a bunch of them at pawn shops I just fill up a box and then throw a $10 on the counter and they take it. I believe they were made by New Britain as stated here they are amazing tools I use some still to this day as a professional mechanic and I don’t let anyone borrow them they always ask me about them and everything and I tell them. It’s a shame New Britain was closed and discontinued.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have some 1/4 inch stuff