My Small But Growing 1/4" drive Socket Set Collection

[Capt. Spaulding]

Saw this weird set on ebay and decided to snag it. No idea who made it.....

I saw that set as well and was going to bid on it but there was another set I bid on instead. Congrats!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I don’t picture of the outside of the box and there no label on the outside but all the paint is gone to it is the same set I have no doubts

Thanks, Odes.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Odes, Otg,

Here's an excerpt from my War Production Board Major War Supply Contracts books that you guys may enjoy... All Navy contracts, including the first one in 1943, for 'TOOLS'.

 

[four.cycle]

So..... what are the odds that Philadelphia Mfg. Co. was an entity along the lines of RTEC - managing to secure a wartime military contract and filling it with (most likely) outsourced product?

Is there anything that be tracked on the company past the FSN number?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It's pretty crude stuff. Don't know who made it but seems on the level of oxwall or gm.

 

[notlob]

I picked up this 1/4" set at the flea last week. As can be barely seen in the last pic, it appears to be set no. 601. The pieces are pristine; I would like to determine what is missing. Came with 1 Blackhawk socket.

 

[3baygarage]

Nice one.

 

[four.cycle]

I would like to determine what is missing.

* The 1948 None Better catalog No. A48 shows essentially the same sets, but with slightly different part numbers.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I picked up this 1/4" set at the flea last week.

Wow. That is gorgeous, notlob! Congrats! I LOVE that kelly green case. And I am a huge fan of the Fors pattern ratchets. Toggle back and forth between your set and the NB-built Precision-Bilt set here for a smile.

 

[RubiconJK]

I picked up this 1/4" set at the flea last week. As can be barely seen in the last pic, it appears to be set no. 601. The pieces are pristine; I would like to determine what is missing. Came with 1 Blackhawk socket.

Beautiful! Congrats.

 

[d42jeep]

I picked up this 1/4" set at the flea last week. As can be barely seen in the last pic, it appears to be set no. 601. The pieces are pristine; I would like to determine what is missing. Came with 1 Blackhawk socket.

Was that at the Concord flea? Looks great! I have a rusty version of that box but it’s empty.
-Don

 

[CRTDI]

I picked up this 1/4" set at the flea last week. As can be barely seen in the last pic, it appears to be set no. 601. The pieces are pristine; I would like to determine what is missing. Came with 1 Blackhawk socket.[/IMG]

Nice looking set... I posted a no. 600 set in post #347 within this thread. Maybe, the difference is the ratchet...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I must've missed that set, CRTDI. It could be the light, I suppose, but your box is the exact same color as my Precision-Bilt box, with more blue in it. Notlob's is clearly more kelly green. I wonder if the difference is a function of different suppliers or same supplier different batch.

 

[CRTDI]

Matco set...maybe 1980s vintage?

The Stevens Walden ratchet adapter resides here since this is the only 1/4" box I own that has enough space to accommodate it.

With the exception of the ratchet adapter and one of the extensions, this set contains all Matco pieces with a mix of S.A.E. and metric sizes.

I really like the ratchet in this set. Nice fine tooth action and a detent positioned flex head. I believe it's sourced from Wright.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Matco set...maybe 1980s vintage?

The Stevens Walden ratchet adapter resides here since this is the only 1/4" box I own that has enough space to accommodate it.

With the exception of the ratchet adapter and one of the extensions, this set contains all Matco pieces with a mix of S.A.E. and metric sizes.

I really like the ratchet in this set. Nice fine tooth action and a detent positioned flex head. I believed it's sourced from Wright.

What a nice set ! I am not a Matco guy but I really like the variety and completeness of that set ! That ratchet looks very nice as well!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Leon b. Miller 1/4 hex drive set

 

[four.cycle]

^ anything stamped on any of the pieces other than size and "USA" ??

 

[Oldtuleguy]

No other markings . Some have only size, others size and made in usa.

 

[CRTDI]

Leon b. Miller 1/4 hex drive set

Cool set... Never heard of that manufacturer before.



A Craftsman 1/4" BE set with an elusive amber handled breaker bar.

 

[shanny19]

FC, just wanted to say thanks for starting this thread, it’s become one of my favorites.

For some reason, I suspect a similar 3/8 drive thread would yield nowhere near the pristine, vintage, complete stuff we’re seeing. Maybe 1/4 was viewed as dainty, special job, and kept for rare occasions by some.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I don't know, i suspect there are some pretty cool 3/8 sets here on the forum....

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

I have a Craftsman 1/4 drive set with a butterfly ratchet that is all original except for a couple sockets that Dad broke or lost and replaced. Its only missing the little cross bar t-handle for the breaker bar..

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

Here it is with an extra u joint and an adapter thrown in the box.

 

[d42jeep]

I don't know, i suspect there are some pretty cool 3/8 sets here on the forum....

I agree. I’m sure that alongside their 1/4” drive sets, members have some equally nice 3/8” drive sets.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have one be set...

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Hinsdale 9/32 reefer set. Got into a small ebay bidding war for this one!

 

[d42jeep]

I got all of my growing collection of Plomb sets out yesterday. The ‘45 set on the lower right is still in progress.
-Don

 

[CRTDI]

Giller

 

[evacovsky]

And here's a work in progress. Yet another =v= era set, but this one is metric. Needs a 6" extension, a cross bar, a 10mm =v= socket and the correct ratchet before it's complete. Owning Japanese cars, I find it quite lame that older craftsman sets stop at 11mm.

Do you still have this set? Willing to part with it or are you working on filling the gaps? I have an extra=v= 10MM socket and possibly more if you need for the set...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Giller

I posted a Giller set earlier in this thread here, CRTDI, that came in a box with the same exact embossing on the lid, but it opens from the side/end. And the spinner has a yellow composite handle. I'd be curious to know the model numbers in your set. I didn't post the model numbers here, either, but I did post them when I posted the set in the Thorsen thread, here.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have Giller 1/4" drive sets in both styles of box: hinged at the back and at the end. As I recall, those with the hinge at the back (I think there are two) are blue, and there's one right behind me here that hinges at the end that is silver.
Handles on the 80M 1/4" spinner handle were clear yellow or gray (as shown in CRTDI's set above.) Not sure if there were other colors.
Part numbers of components should be the same as Thorsen:
6-point sockets: 6M - 3/16, 7M 7/32, 8M 1/4, 9M 9/32, 10M 5/16, 11M 11/32, 12M 3/8, 14M 7/16, and 16M 1/2.
8-point sockets: 8MS 1/4, 10MS 5/16, and 12MS 3/8
ratchet (closed head) 77MC, sliding T bar 42M, breaker 18M, 6-inch extension 53M, 2-inch extension 50M

Funny you should ask the question this morning. I was about three hours late on a Thorsen 1/4" drive set that just sold this morning because I was waiting for a reply from the seller about the contents.
The reply I got listed part numbers I've never seen before:

Thanks for your inquiry. Some marking are not bold, so I think this is what I have:
six-point sockets: 6MX 3/16, 7MX 7/32, 8MX 1/4, 9M 9/32, 10M 5/16, 11M 11/32, 12M 3/8, 14MX 7/16, and 16MX 1/2

URL for that set: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Thorsen-16-PC-SAE-Socket-Set-1-4-Drive-Metal-Case-/303037012189

And then to add a bit more confusion, as I just swung around here in my chair to get another cup of tea, I noticed a Giller yellow-handled 80M spinner laying on top of a pile with a model 14T 1/4" drive 7/16" 12-point socket stuck on the end of it.

 

[d42jeep]

I posted this set with the beautiful blue spinner in post #64 of this thread. They seem to have come in many colors.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

a model 14T 1/4" drive 7/16" 12-point socket stuck on the end of it.

All the 12-point sockets in my Giller set have a "T" suffix. I posted a link to my set (and its model numbers) in the Thorsen thread in my post above. Here is the link again.

CRTDI: When you get a chance, please post your model numbers if different, or at least acknowledge if they are the same. Thanks.

 

[CRTDI]

All the 12-point sockets in my Giller set have a "T" suffix. I posted a link to my set (and its model numbers) in the Thorsen thread in my post above. Here is the link again.

CRTDI: When you get a chance, please post your model numbers if different, or at least acknowledge if they are the same. Thanks.

No difference of the model nos. in my set. The 12 pt. sockets have the "T" suffix as well.

My understanding is that Giller had quite a few military contracts and that my particular set might have been Vietnam era surplus. Don't really know for sure though.

 

[four.cycle]

^ What I have been made to understand from various comments here (and elsewhere) is that Giller was pretty much exclusively military/government contract stuff and Thorsen was the brand that was sold through the retail distribution chain.
That may well be incorrect, but all things considered it's the explanation that makes the most sense.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, CRTDI.

That's my ununderstanding, 4.c. I may have some references for that. I'll check.

 

[d42jeep]

That may well be correct, but I have a Thorsen branded 1/2” drive set that Tin Medic sent me that was pretty clearly made for a government contract. I have since added a 3/4” and 5/8” socket and removed one of the 13/16” duplicates.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was only referring to the Giller part, Don. As we both well know, Thorsen had WWII contracts and I don't expect they gave that up after the war. They do seem to have set Giller up almost exclusively for those activities though. Still checking for my notes.

Same part numbers and MFD. markings on that blue spinner set?

 

[d42jeep]

I was only referring to the Giller part, Don. As we both well know, Thorsen had WWII contracts and I don't expect they gave that up after the war. They do seem to have set Giller up almost exclusively for those activities though. Still checking for my notes.

Same part numbers and MFD. markings on that blue spinner set?

They are pretty buried at the moment. I’ll try to check on Thursday. Here is the blue box next to a red box set with mixed Thorsen and Giller tools with maybe some Action thrown in. The ignition wrench set is Giller too, since we are on the subject.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They are pretty buried at the moment. I’ll try to check on Thursday.

No urgency, Don I just think it's helpful for everyone and especially to our collective knowledge base to have a record of model numbers, not just photos, for the sets we post. Especially for off-brands, like Giller, where we have little to no catalogs or ads or other documentation and we are building the knowledge base empirically, not in easy look-ups.

Here is the blue box next to a red box set with mixed Thorsen and Giller tools with maybe some Action thrown in.

My Giller set had one ACTION socket in it, an 8MSA, rather than a Giller 8MS. (I put these anomalies in the same category as mixed BE/(H), etc.)

The ignition wrench set is Giller too, since we are on the subject.

Not to side-track too far, but it's interesting that it's in a leather or leatherette roll-up, a material typically associated with older production than Giller. I have a Giller ignition set one in OD canvas. (<<<< EDIT: Disregard. After looking at it harder and thinking about it, I am assuming that's a repop.)