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

[Etchase]

Acquired these today. Anyone know anything about the push-button model?

Mine has a tremendous amount of backdrag, but is still one of my favorites to look at. I believe a company called GM on Long Island made them IIRC.

Edit: found a link to a previous discussion

Can Anybody Identify This Ratchet

Found this strange ratchet that was left in this house when we moved in. I have never seen one like it. It does measure 1/4" drive and is roughly 5" long. There are no markings anywhere on it.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[RTM]

Mine has a tremendous amount of backdrag, but is still one of my favorites to look at. I believe a company called GM on Long Island made them IIRC.

Edit: found a link to a previous discussion

Can Anybody Identify This Ratchet

Found this strange ratchet that was left in this house when we moved in. I have never seen one like it. It does measure 1/4" drive and is roughly 5" long. There are no markings anywhere on it.

www.garagejournal.com

I ID'd the maker here

G.M Co MFG. INC. 10 Piece 1/4" Drive Socket Set

Don't know much about G.M. MFG., but I found this little 1/4 drive socket set when I was going though some box lots that I bought some time ago. Looks like I'm missing 3 sockets and a 3" extension. Little bit of WD-40, and ratchet works like new. I'm guessing somewhere around 1920's. Sockets are...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[MisterEd]

I believe a company called GM on Long Island made them IIRC.

I ID'd the maker here

Appreciate the information! It is a fine tool and in good condition. One more 1/4 inch for which I'll have to find a place.

 

[ATate028]

Another Hinsdale set with barely a decal remnant, this one is 9/32" drive.

I have one of these with slightly more decal left on it.
-Allen

 

[Old Radar]

Another classically asymmetric decal centering job!

 

[four.cycle]

CALCO California Company, Beverly Hills, California model 501 9-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set

the set includes:

3/16" 6-point
7/32" 6-point
1/4" 6-point
9/32" 6-point
5/16" 12-point
11/32" 12-point * NO MARKINGS *
3/8" 12-point
7/16" 12-point
CO-501 6-inch flex handle (breaker bar)

I have no reason to believe this manufacturer had any connection to

California / California Tool Co., 1929 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA / http://alloy-artifacts.org/other-makers.html#calif-tool /

which makes this set all that more enigmatic. Beverly Hills? Really? Forging sockets? And chrome plating?

What's up with the aircrafty-looking aluminum box and fancy logo? I have only questions.

The pieces are all plated and polished. The 11/32" socket inexplicably has no markings other than three tiny dots.

 

[four.cycle]

Montgomery Ward Speedmaster 12-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set (manufactured by Wright Tool, Barberton, OH)

the set includes:

3/16" 6-point
7/32" 6-point
1/4" 6-point
9/32" 6-point
5/16" 6-point
11/32" 6-point
3/8" 6-point
1/4" 8-point
3/8" 8-point

6-inch extension
sliding "T" bar
RHFT gearless ratchet *

The set is missing the 5/16" 8-point socket, and, judging by CRTDI's set posted above, it appears to be missing the 7/16" 6-point socket as well.
The pieces are stamped with the sizes (on the sockets) and "Speedmaster". There are no part numbers on any of the pieces.

As an interesting coincidence, @Chrome Vanadium Cody dragged one of these odd "gearless" ratchets home earlier this week and brought it back from the dead. His procedure is detailed in that post, and Oldtuleguy's set is just below that post for comparison purposes.)

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a catalog listing showing anything like this set. OTG notes in his post (cited above) these were made for Montgomery Ward by Wright up to about 1950.

 

[four.cycle]

PROTO Challenger 1/4" drive SAE and Metric socket set

1 ea 1005 5/32" 6 pt shallow
2 ea 1006 3/16" "
2 ea 1007 7/32" "
1 ea 1008 1/4" "
1 ea 1009 9/32" "
1 ea 1010 5/16" "
1 ea 1011 11/32" "
1 ea 1012 3/8" "
2 ea 1014 7/16" "
1 ea 1016 1/2" "

1 ea 1008T 1/4" 12 pt shallow
1 ea 1009T 9/32" "
1 ea 1010T 5/16" "
1 ea 1011T 11/32" "
1 ea 1012T 3/8" "
1 ea 1016T 1/2" "

1 ea 1108 1/4" 6 pt deep well
1 ea 1109 9/32" "
1 ea 1110 5/16" "
1 ea 1111 11/32" "
1 ea 1112 3/8" "
1 ea 1114 7/16" "
1 ea 1116 1/2" "

1 ea 1004M 4 mm 6 pt shallow
1 ea 1005M 5 mm "
1 ea 1006M 6 mm "
1 ea 1007M 7 mm 12 pt shallow
1 ea 1008M 8 mm "
1 ea 1009M 9 mm "
1 ea 1010M 10 mm "
1 ea 1011M 11 mm "
1 ea 1012M 12 mm "
1 ea 1013M 13 mm "

1 ea 1060D RHFT ratchet
2 ea 1065 3-inch extension
2 ea 1069 6-in spinner handle
1 ea 1070 6-in flex handle (breaker bar)
1 ea 1080 universal joint

This is part of a larger set which also includes 3/8" drive tools. I will post the full set in the appropriate thread.
This is all relatively late-production, US made, Proto-Challenger, nicely chrome plated and polished and all in pretty good condition.
There is no container for the set, unfortunately. The 1069 spinner handles have alloy bolsters in the bottom ends.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

The speedmaster sets typically include 3/16 to 7/16 plus the three 8 pointers. Mine is missing the 9/32

 

[four.cycle]

^ yeah... I sent you the P/M before I found CRTDI's post way above... I don't imagine finding those oddballs would be easy.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

No probably not. In a pinch you could substitute a powrkraft.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

What's up with the aircrafty-looking aluminum box and fancy logo?

No pic.

 

[four.cycle]

^ only a couple minutes ago I noticed the error I had made over and over again confusing "California Company" with "California Tool Company", and just re-named and re-posted all of the photo images of that set.
here's a couple shots of the lid which show that logo more clearly:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

just re-named and re-posted all of the photo images of that set.

Thanks! Me likey lots!

Beverly Hills? Really? Forging sockets? And chrome plating?

Having the same initial reaction, I wondered if there might have been an older industrial part of the area overshadowed by the glitzy, glamorous, upscale reputation. Some hasty digging revealed that is very likely the case...

"In 1900, a group of investors bought 4,000 acres of land with the intention of developing a new community. The group was led by Burton E. Green, a wealthy oilman, and real estate developer.

Green and his partners formed the Amalgamated Oil Company, which would drill for oil on the land while also developing the area into a new community.

...[ ]...

During World War II, Beverly Hills became a center for the war effort. The city’s factories produced munitions and other war supplies, and the Beverly Hills High School was used as a training center for the Army Air Corps."

Source: https://www.startracktours.com/history-of-beverly-hills/

EDIT: I'm not saying it's wartime. I am suggesting that a wartime production center almost certainly led to postwar production in the initial surge of the Military-Industrial Complex in that area. That surge also included a company exclusively making DOE engineers wrenches with FSN's forged-in very popular with WWII collectors for that reason, located in the seemingly equally preposterous address of Santa Monica. Like CALCO's Beverly Hills, its origins were rooted in oil. The name of the company, Arcturus, was taken from the oil range of the same name just to the northwest of L.A., and the company was started in the tool shack of the oildrillers' equipment yard.

 

[four.cycle]

^ That makes perfect sense.

 

[d42jeep]

This odd mix of tools arrived yesterday from an eBay seller. It was quite inexpensive and I thought that some of the tools might be useful. That turned out to be correct.
I needed an 11/32” Chrome Alloy socket to complete a 1/4” drive Brazil set.

I can always use S-K tools to fill out sets.
A couple of Walden sockets.
Some other trade bait.

 

[Silverhair]

i see lots of 8 point sockets in the older sets. What were those used on?

 

[RTM]

CALCO California Company, Beverly Hills, California model 501 9-pc 1/4" drive SAE socket set

There was one working out of a PO Box in 1956, pushing camera stuff (repairs in US Camera in 1955), wedding Photog in Pop Mech.

Makes me think just a reseller, but the stamped logo on box…? Any clues on 501 besides Levi’s?

Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics inspires, instructs and influences readers to help them master the modern world. Whether it’s practical DIY home-improvement tips, gadgets and digital technology, information on the newest cars or the latest breakthroughs in science -- PM is the ultimate guide to our high-tech...

books.google.com

Advertising in Down Beat magazine in 1955

"CALCO", Beverly Hills, California - Google Search

 

[Oldtuleguy]

i see lots of 8 point sockets in the older sets. What were those used on?

They were used for square head bolts

 

[d42jeep]

And square head pipe plugs.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a set that arrived today from an eBay seller that is quite unusual. I have a more conventional Philadelphia Manufacturing Co. set in progress but this one seems unique. The PM markings look to have been stamped by hand. I have no idea what the two missing DBE wrenches would have looked like
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup those kinda look like d-i sockets. The breaker looks hinsdale. They probably outsourced

 

[d42jeep]

Although they are somewhat similar, they aren’t quite a match for 1/4” drive D-I sockets.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm thinking G.M. Co. In any case, nothing like the heavily machined sockets they supplied during WWII. Interesting acquisition.

 

[four.cycle]

I had a set of Indestro cad D-I 1/4 sockets in my hand a week or so back, but I cannot recall where I set them down. I looked for them earlier today.
Maybe my memory is skewed but I seem to recall the striations on the knurled band as coarser on the Indestro than your sample above.
I'll see if I can remember to look in the garage tomorrow. Very narrow light blue box. Sockets, 2850 breaker, 5/32 cross bar.

 

[burnin53]

I'm very glad to see that Philadelphia set go to a good home.

 

[four.cycle]

"I had a set of Indestro cad D-I 1/4 ..."

right here. post #2755 - 1/4" drive "D - I" cad plated

 

[d42jeep]

I'm thinking G.M. Co. In any case, nothing like the heavily machined sockets they supplied during WWII. Interesting acquisition.

I just went through my orphan US made sockets and I really didn’t see anything close to the sockets in the set.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Walden 1/4” drive set in progress.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

"Mark I" model 1162 16 piece 1/4" drive SAE socket set (marketed by G.L. Company Inc. of Los Angeles)

Of all the ratchets and sockets they could have copied, WHO did they pick?

(Gotta give 'em credit for doing a nice job, though!)

Attach files

looks like I need to dig around and find the correct socket to fill that hole and get rid of that Oxwall piece...

 

[four.cycle]

I ^ I was not able to find the 5/16" 8-point socket (stamped "JAPAN") that "Mark I" set above is missing, so if you have one laying around, please send it my way....

I was able to find my missing RTEC set and unite it with the working spinner and the pliers...


Randolph / RTEC / Randolph Tool Equipment Co., 537 South Second St., Camden, NJ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/rtec-randolph-tool-equipment-co-camden-nj.380506/ /

 

[wrenchguy]

i have a couple 1/4" drive rtec sockets availble.

 

[four.cycle]

New Britain Machine Co., New Britain, CT - 13 piece 1/4" dr. SAE socket set

This set contains:

NM607 7/32" 6-point
NM608 1/4" 6-point
NM609 9/32" 6-point
NM610 5/16" 6-point
NM611 11/32" 6-point
NM612 3/8" 6-point
NM614 3/8" 6-point

NM808 1/4" 8-point
NM810 5/16" 8-point
NM812 3/8" 8-point

NM31 3/16" x 4-1/2" cross bar
NM51 6-inch flex handle (breaker bar)
NM63 6-inch wood handled spinner

* all pieces are stamped "New Britain"
* the box is labeled "None Better"

 

[four.cycle]

New Britain Machine Co., New Britain, CT. - 16 piece 1/4" drive SAE socket set

This set contains:

NM606 3/16" 6-point
NM607 7/32" 6-point
NM608 1/4" 6-point
NM609 9/32" 6-point
NM610 5/16" 6-point
NM611 11/32" 6-point
NM612 3/8" 6-point
NM614 7/16" 6-point

NM808 1/4" 8-point
NM810 5/16" 8-point
NM812 3/8" 8-poing

NM20 6-inch extension
NM31 3/16" x 4-1/2" cross bar
NM51 6-inch flex handle (breaker bar)
NM62 6-inch yellow plastic spinner handle
NM70 sliding "T" bar

* all pieces are stamped "New Britain"

 

[four.cycle]

New Britain Machine Co., New Britain, Connecticut - 8-piece incomplete 1/4" drive SAE socket set

This "set" contains:

NM606 3/16" 6-point
NM607 7/32" 6-point
NM608 1/4" 6-point
NM609 9/32" 6-point

NM611 11/32" 6-point

NM614 7/16" 6-point

NM810 5/16" 8-point
NM812 3/8" 8-point

NM51 6-inch flex handle (breaker bar)
NM62 6-inch yellow plastic spinner handle

* the set is INCOMPLETE and is in the WRONG BOX.
* all pieces show clear evidence of extensive use and improper storage.

 

[four.cycle]

Husky Hand Tools 17 piece 1/4" drive SAE socket set with original box

manufactured by New Britain Machine Co., New Britain, Connecticut (division of Litton Industries)

This set contains:

CM606 3/16" 6-point
CM607 7/32" 6-point (2 each)
CM608 1/4" 6-point
CM609 9/32" 6-point
CM610 5/16" 6-point
CM611 11/32" 6-point
CM612 3/8" 6-point
CM614 7/16" 6-point

CM808 1/4" 8-point
CM810 5/16" 8-point

CM20 6-inch extension
CM32 2-inch extension

CM49 RHFT ratchet
CM50 6-inch flex handle (breaker bar)
CM64 6-inch yellow plastic spinner (with bolster in **** end)

* all pieces are marked "Husky" and "USA"
* the set includes an extra CM607 7/32" 6-point socket
* the CM612 3/8" socket appears to have not been stamped as deeply as the others, but I have no reason to believe it's not original to the set. (see the other drive pieces for comparison.)
* Litton Industries acquired New Britain Machine in 1972, and closed in 1990, so this set dates from that 18-year time period.

 

[four.cycle]

MUSTANG 16-piece 1/4" drive SAE socket set in original box (with add-on RHFT ratchet)

manufactured by New Britain Machine Co., New Britain, Connecticut

this set contains:

NM606 3/6" 6-point
NM607 7/32" 6-point (2 each)
NM608 1/4" 6-point
NM609 9/32" 6-point
NM610 5/16" 6-point
NM611 11/32" 6-point
NM612 3/8" 6-point
NM614 7/16" 6-point

NM808 1/4" 8-point
NM810 5/16" 8-point
NM812 3/8" 8-point

NM70 sliding "T" bar
NM50 6-inch flex handle (breaker bar)
- unmarked 5/32" x 3-inch cross bar

MM43 RHFT ratchet

* the set includes an extra 7/32" socket, which is chrome plated, unlike the other pieces in the set.
* the ratchet is NOT original to the set - it's an add-on, and it does NOT fit inside this box.
* all the pieces are stamped "MUSTANG" and "USA".
* the sockets, and drive tools (other than the ratchet) are either cad or zinc plated, and as such show wear and oxidization commensurate with age.

 

[Nutria]

SK 4098R, complete except for missing crossbar, ~1949??

 

[d42jeep]

We don’t have catalogs for every year but maybe’49 to maybe ‘52. Big crossbar/crossbar hole, 12, 8 and 6 point sockets.
-Don

These two sets have spinners added. They were not included with the sets but were available in open stock.

 

[Nutria]

Don, outstanding, thanks, and that reminds me that I don't have the crossbar in mine. Beautiful, minty set.