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

[four.cycle]

Indestro model 7602 1/4" drive SAE set

(* The red box, as I noted somewhere else, dates back to the mid-late 1950s. Prior to that the 1/4" drive sets were packed in a blue box (as shown in the 1948 catalog No. 16.)
This set contains the "unobtainium" 2889 reversible 1/4" male drive pressed-flange chromed ratchet with knurled round handle - a miniature version of the 1/2" drive 3201 (both built under patent number 1902878.) The set is missing the spinner (which in this case would have been the early clear yellow-handled model 2873.)
(* Note that the 3/16" chromed socket is stamped "D I", belying the myth that all Duro / Indestro product stamped "D I" was wartime vintage. *)

(* I had previously thought this set contained the wrong ratchet, but after finding a copy of a 1958 Shapleigh Hardware Co. catalog listing for the 7602 set containing this style ratchet, I believe the ratchet is actually original to the set. There does exist, however, the question as to why it would not have contained the later 2875 round-head-fine-tooth model, which was shown in an early 1950s catalog (Indestro catalog No. 20) being touted as "new", having been patented August 17, 1954. *)

(* Note that (what is believed to be) the 1959 Indestro catalog No. 22 shows the model 7602 set containing the 2875 RHFT ratchet (patent 2686582 *)

 

[d42jeep]

Can I play? Here is a Dunlap hex set. BK, it’s good to see you back on GJ!
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is an early S-K set marked S-K Chrome which would be pre WW2.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a wartime version of the same S-K set with dark finish.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my nicest knurled socket postwar S-K set.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a larger slightly more modern postwar S-K set.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Keeping with the S-K theme, here are a variety of shots of some complete and incomplete wartime S-K sets.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some Duro Indestro D-I sets (or both)
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is my early Walden cad plated set.
-Don

 

[RubiconJK]

Great idea for this thread Four Cycle. As soon as I get my shop unpacked from this move, I'll post some pics of mine.

 

[d42jeep]

Looking forward to seeing them, Rubicon. Here is a late war Walden set from my GMTK.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Since BK gave the okay to 9/32” drive sets here are my almost complete 1/4” and 9/32” Snap-on sets.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a None Better set.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a New Britain set. The sharp eyed will notice the Craftsman sliding tee.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Keeping with the New Britain/Craftsman theme, here is a Craftsman set along with an alternative holder.
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Gotta love those 1/4" drive sets! Great thread BK.
I've got a few to add.

The Bonney is a work in progress. I'm missing one of the smaller sockets in a wartime finish, the V7 I think, as well as the V22 nut driver. The nut spinner in the pic is an unbranded recruit.

 

[Username already in use]

Here's my RTEC set. Sockets are branded RTEC and I think I'm missing one, but I'm unsure which. Came with a Bonney ratchet and unbranded sliding T. The typical RTEC unbranded nut spinner was gifted to me and did not come with the set when purchased.

 

[Username already in use]

Wartime P&C set with paddle style ratchet. I'm missing the sliding T, one socket, and nut spinner, but I'm not really sure what would have come in the box to begin with.

 

[Username already in use]

Cad plated and presumably wartime Indestro set with D-I marked sockets.

 

[d42jeep]

How about some various pictures of Plomb sets?
-Don

 

[Username already in use]

Here's a pair of wartime SK sets. Large and small sets in black oxide finish. Missing a t-bar handle for the small set.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice, Username! Those look familiar. Here are some more Plomb pictures.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some cobbled together Thorsen sets.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Speaking of Thorsen, how about Giller? Gotta love that blue spinner!
-Don

 

[Catfishdan]

Crescent "Give Wings to Work" 1/4" drive SAE set in the original box.

(* Appears to be complete. The re-branded 2400 Wright ratchet is not original to the set - it was an add-on.

Awesome thread! 1/4 inch sets are my favorite thing to collect. Guess I'll be taking some pictures later.

That crescent set is my favorite. Never seen one like it and the slogan is cool.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice, Dan! I’ve never seen a Crescent set before.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Great idea, four.cycle!

As we have often talked about, we do wrenches by type (DOE, DBE, and combo) here, and we do all types of tools by brand here, but we don't do socket drive tools by type for some reason - and the smalls/midgets/mijits are the perfect choice!

At the risk of being schmaltzy, I must add, that after a prolonged and sorely-missed absence (don't do a search on how many times I have referenced your username in discussions while you were on hiatus!), this is quite the re-entrance!

YOU BEEN MODESTLY HOLDIN' OUT ON US ABOUT THE SIZE AND BREADTH OF YOUR COLLECTION, MR. INDESTRO!

I am busy with a bunch of stuff, but I will have some meager sets to contribute next week.

 

[Catfishdan]

Nice, Dan! I’ve never seen a Crescent set before.
-Don

Unfortunately, that picture is quoted from fourcycle's post. Not mine.

 

[d42jeep]

Sorry, Dan, I thought that they were yours. Here is a postwar Walden set I forgot to post.
-Don

 

[Capt. Spaulding]

Love me some 1/4” sets. Thanks for posting!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

We see some of these midget sets posted on brand threads, but they get lost in the shuffle of so many types of tools getting posted at such a quick rate. Seeing them here all in one place will hopefully include not only show but tell, promoting discussions on midget set history, technology, period trends, similarities, differences, private label production, etc, - as a drive size, all with midget set context in common.

And, there are some brands out there that just don't have their own thread. four.cycle's wonderful Crescent set is a great example of that.

Selfishly, that is my main reason for subscribing! Off-brands rule!

 

[WarrenJ]

Craftsman "circle H" (New Britain made) 1/4" drive SAE socket set

Can you post the sizes of the sockets? I have the same set that came from my father. Circa-1950, I'd like to see what I may be missing.
Thanks

 

[PhantomEB]

All I want is a complete Hanson tray in every size drive and both SAE/metric and I be happy. Even if I got to buy the individual ones!

 

[Catfishdan]

Ok. Time to post some of my sets. Here's my Craftsman in order of newest to oldest.

-V- set. This set needs a sliding t and a cross bar to be complete.





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[Catfishdan]

Here's a mid 60's =v= set. This one is catalog complete and correct plus a bunch of =v= extras: a universal, two adapters, a p1 and p2 screwdriver bit, and a flexible extension.





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[Catfishdan]

Here's an early 60's =v= set. This one is catalog correct with the addition of a universal and a flexible extension.





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[Catfishdan]

This one is late 50's =v= and needs a sliding t and a cross bar to be complete.




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[Catfishdan]

Mid 50's =v= set all complete and correct with a universal thrown in. I have a decal for the box and I'm considering painting it since it's wrecked.




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[Catfishdan]

My oldest Craftsman set is a be era one. Did not come with a ratchet originally. It just needs a crossbar and it's finished.




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[Catfishdan]

A post war SK set. I like this one because it came complete. All the pieces have the same owners mark. I did upgrade the box when I found a super clean one.





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