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

[RubiconJK]

It may not qualify as true blue "vintage", but here is my Snappy set from the late 70's that I think I've shared before elsewhere.

 

[shanny19]

CRT, that SO set is awesome.

OTG and Lugz, thanks for the BH pics and catalog work, I knew I wasn’t crazy
BTW, I’d trade my blue-collar Walden for one of those ****-*** art deco Blackhawks any day!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

3rd pic in post #1 shows a supposed factory handle extension, not sure of the model no. for this one.

Thanks for posting that, CRTDI. In the 1953 catalog, the bar to be inserted into the counter bored hole in the end of the 1/2" and 3/4" ratchets and hinge handles is the same bar for the typical cross-drilled holes in the same tools. It's called a Handle Bar in the cat. The 49986 (1/2" dr) is 10-1/2", the 69996 (3/4" dr) is 17-1/2", and the 89997 (1" dr) is 23". I don't see any Handle Bars (or any other bars) as long as that bar looks for the 1/2" drive ratchet and hinge handle. Also, all the cross bars (Handle Bars) in every drive size have a groove in the middle. The bar the OP claims as factory does not.

 

[RubiconJK]

Nice wf set. Is there a pat number on wf6?

Crtdi that walden ratchet adapter is a clunker!

Thanks OTG. No pat number on WF6. Here is a pic side by side with my Williams NM-110.

 

[shanny19]

A recent find, looks to be gently used and missing the spinner handle.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Aj foyt! That's a coool set

 

[Username already in use]

Apologies in advance for the continued derailment of this thread...

Over on the Blackhawk thead there are a bunch of ratchets pictured now that have handles that are bored in the end.

I thought I would add that in addition to Blackhawk, Bonney was making ratchets in he 40s that had a round bore at the end of the handle. Here's 2 #4097 ZENEL ratchets and a standard Bonney #4098 next to a Blackhawk.

 

[r_olson_06]

Reposting simply to add my 4769 driver that I forgot to include earlier.

That is a nice 4766. Rare piece there.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrenches 3061, 3070,

 

[Oldtuleguy]

That is interesting. I suspect weight reduction, thus lower shipping cost was a factor as well. The ability to use an extender may have been a bonus.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I use cheater bars, But I can't recall ever doing so on 1/4" hardware.
Urrea(Mexican Proto) rate a 1/4" breaker at 33 ft/lb. I think most adults can pretty readily achieve that on a 6" handle. Just chose Urrea because they publish a spec.

 

[RubiconJK]

That is a nice 4766. Rare piece there.

Thanks Roy. Was surprised when I found that one!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here's 2 #4097 ZENEL ratchets and a standard Bonney #4098 next to a Blackhawk.

That's interesting, Unaiu. It sent me scurrying down the basement to see if I was asleep at the wheel or what. Sure enough, my Bonney Zenel 4098 has a bore in the end of the handle that never even registered with me. It's actually a two-step bore 3" deep in total. The first bore is 2-1/4" deep, then it narrows for another 3/4". I also mic'd the I.D. of the bore at 9/16". What's interesting about that it is that the Bonney 4092 cross-bar is 3/8" O.D., and the cross-bar hole in the 4096 Hinge Handle is 3/8" I.D. The 4092 bar will fit in the end of the ratchet, but not well. It rattles around and would, if used as a "cheater," create focused stress points against the wall deep inside the bore and the lip of the bore at the top.

 

[oldmantaylor]

Reposting simply to add my 4769 driver that I forgot to include earlier.

Love the 4766!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Does anyone have a 1940's era New Britain NM-38 flexible spinner?

I have this New Britain set with part of one in it...

But as you can see, the handle has disintegrated.

It was probably made of Pyroxalin, which is very temperamental in certain climates and environmental conditions.

As a winter project, I would like to find and re-handle it with something relatively close. But all I have is this 1940 catalog image, it's an artist's rendering, and I'm not sure what color it is, and whether it's supposed to be opaque or translucent. I left the black wood-handled square-shank spinner in the pic as a context reference.

 

[shanny19]

Lugz I’ve got a NB P-155 slide hammer whose handle looks just like that flex spinner handle and it’s bright red FWIW.

Off-topic, its a space taker only as it has 1/2-13 threads as opposed to the 5/8-18 that all the attachments i’ve accumulated have.

 

[Username already in use]

Does anyone have a 1940's era New Britain NM-38 flexible spinner?...
As a winter project, I would like to find and re-handle it with something relatively close.
...I'm not sure what color it is, and whether it's supposed to be opaque or translucent.

I've got the Craftsman BE equivalent. It's a yellow handle. Mine is only in marginally better shape than yours. I handle it very carefully.

Here's a pic of the Craftsman (top) next to a no name flex spinner. I can send you the generic one if you want to try and use its handle for your project. Slightly darker in color but right at about the same length.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Unaiu! I didn't think about the Craftsman BE/(H) production. Great idea. You keep that stand-in. I would hate to cannibalize an otherwise intact flex spinner. (And by the looks of your Craftsman version, you may need it! ) I will see if I can find something close (perhaps even an old screwdriver handle) now that I have a good model.

 

[Username already in use]

I would hate to cannibalize an otherwise intact flex spinner. (And by the looks of your Craftsman version, you may need it! )

I've got 2 of those generic/unbranded flex spinners, so if you change your mind, Lemme know.
I pick up every one that I find in hopes that it'll be either New Britain made, or Duro/Indestro.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Apologies in advance for the continued derailment of this thread...



I thought I would add that in addition to Blackhawk, Bonney was making ratchets in he 40s that had a round bore at the end of the handle. Here's 2 #4097 ZENEL ratchets and a standard Bonney #4098 next to a Blackhawk.

Just to further muddle things, the 39986 bar that came with my early nugget stuff fits it's long extension and ratchet, but the holes in all of the other nugget stuff are smaller

 

[Oldtuleguy]

More williams stuff....

 

[Oldtuleguy]

My little plomb 1/4 collection

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

OTG, is that shiny WF-8 1/4 drive with a bat wing selector lever?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It is a shiny one

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

interestingly similar and different to the one I posted in the Plomb thread.
That raised ring in particular I have not seen before.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I see that. Never really thought about it but it is odd

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Mine is not stamped wf8 either. Perhaps later production?

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I think so, and i have one I think is like yours but not shiny, has the old selector, it's name's been ground, and it was filed down from 9/32.

I'm pretty much guessing, but based on pictures I've seen and the somewhat contradictory theories the production is simplified and designs are improved over time, my theory is;
early =>late
flat racetrack plate w/domed screw
dimpled racetrack plate w/domed screw
dimpled oval plate w/domed screw
dimpled oval plate w/countersunk screw
and our flat oval plate w/countersunk screw and batwing selector

But, there are flat plate early selector w/domed screw out there to mess with me.
And I haven't thought much about the lettering yet.

Example of dimpled plate ( I don't have any of these)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes, why alter the lettering? Is it not part of the wf contract?

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

There are quite a few variations, and possibly multiple factories.

 

[RubiconJK]

My little plomb 1/4 collection

Nice! I like also like the cork lining in the boxes.

 

[Username already in use]

Not as vintage as some, but here's a nice midget Easco set with the NSN contents list mostly in tact.

 

[CRTDI]

Action set.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have that exact same NSN kit in KAL, Thorsen, and JS Technology - I wasn't aware they also bought it from EASCO! There must be millions of those sets out there!
Looks like it's in great shape!

 

[shanny19]

^ you can add K-D to that list as well

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Always liked the action stuff. Nice example.

 

[CRTDI]

New Britain

 

[bonneyman]

Man, the selector star is really protruding on that ratchet, CRTDI. Was that on purpose or is yours a mis-stamp?

 

[CRTDI]

I noticed that as well. Looks like a factory anomaly to me.

 

[3baygarage]

That’s a nice one, hard to find that little ******.

 

[four.cycle]

Man, the selector star is really protruding on that ratchet, CRTDI. Was that on purpose or is yours a mis-stamp?

they wanted to make sure you couldn't miss.