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

[JoCoSawdust]

Yeah I was about to ask the same question on the decal. Looks great whatever it is! Nice sets OTG.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

There is a guy selling some sk decals on ebay. That particular set all but a trace of it was gone so I put a new one. This one was gone as well.

 

[CRTDI]

Belzer Metric set.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I don't know much about the German stuff but they make some nice looking tools.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a walden set I picked up because It looked nos. Still wrapped in grease paper.

 

[d42jeep]

Nice grab! I was watching that set on eBay but I didn’t bid. Any chance of getting a clearer side view of the sockets? It looks like it would be a set used towards the end of WW2, based on the contents. It seems like Walden was mixing up the style of sockets around then. Here is a set I put together as part of a trade with four.cycle that should match the contents of your set.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Four larger sockets are a different style and stamped walden, the rest walden worcester.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

This one is technically 3/8 and 1/4 drive, but I will sneak it in here with my other walden.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Four larger sockets are a different style and stamped walden, the rest walden worcester.

As Don alluded to, not at all uncommon in that late war transition period.

This one is technically 3/8 and 1/4 drive, but I will sneak it in here with my other walden.

I have a 1/2-inch drive set with that identical logo, foil type decal, and color box, and the same torpedo handle ratchet.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I thought that was probably the case. Any pics of your 1/2 set?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Any pics of your 1/2 set?

I'll be happy to snap some tonight. I've actually never seen another set like it in any drive size, so I was excited to see your midget/junior combo set. Not to imply the line was rare, just that I don't follow later Walden stuff so I really didn't know much about it (when it was made, etc).

 

[Catfishdan]

Belzer Metric set.


]

See. I knew you were a Belzer guy!

 

[CRTDI]

Four larger sockets are a different style and stamped walden, the rest walden worcester.

I really like these black industrial finished sets. I assume that this is a black oxide finish.

See. I knew you were a Belzer guy!

Damn enablers....

 

[d42jeep]

I really like these black industrial finished sets. I assume that this is a black oxide finish.

Right, with nice dark traces of cosmoline. After the war restrictions ended they went right back to Chrome plating.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Black oxide was actually created during WWII in direct response to the plating restrictions. One of our colleagues from the UK who I closely collaborated with on an alloy restrictions study dug up a link to STEEL (trade) magazine from the 40's and the group who invented it won an award. I'll see if I can find the article.

 

[Farmer J.]

Black oxide was actually created during WWII in direct response to the plating restrictions. One of our colleagues from the UK who I closely collaborated with on an alloy restrictions study dug up a link to STEEL (trade) magazine from the 40's and the group who invented it won an award. I'll see if I can find the article.

That would be interesting, I wondered what the origin of Black Oxide finish was. Much better finish than chrome, which always flakes off anyway in this climate! I always think that if a black or unfinished tool does become shiny it's a monument to the good honest work it has done..

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'll see if I can find it, J.

Otg: I posted my SW 1/2-inch drive set on a thread 3bay started for a similar though different set. Linked here.

 

[d42jeep]

This one is technically 3/8 and 1/4 drive, but I will sneak it in here with my other walden.

I would be so much happier if my set had come with that cool ratchet but it didn’t happen.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Walden had a brief period, I suspect influenced by blackhawk, of pointy handled ratchets.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That would be interesting, I wondered what the origin of Black Oxide finish was. Much better finish than chrome, which always flakes off anyway in this climate! I always think that if a black or unfinished tool does become shiny it's a monument to the good honest work it has done..

Here ya go, Farmer J!

It's amazing how accurate the author's prediction (see last paragraph) became!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I would be so much happier if my set had come with that cool ratchet but it didn’t happen.
-Don

The pointy handle ratchet progression. The one with the big head is a Gearless clutch type, then the standard head and finally standard head with standard handle. The early ones had very light knurling on handle. All the same part number, 4051.

 

[d42jeep]

OTG,
Thanks. I’ll keep an eye out for one of those. They probably aren’t all that common.
Lugz,
I should be getting royalties on those Black Oxide tools since the author worked for my family business!
-Don Houghton

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz,
I should be getting royalties on those Black Oxide tools since the author worked for my family business!

I was waiting for that!

 

[3baygarage]

The pointy handle ratchet progression. The one with the big head is a Gearless clutch type, then the standard head and finally standard head with standard handle. The early ones had very light knurling on handle. All the same part number, 4051.

Have you opened up that large head rat? It’s been a while since I did, but quite an unusual design. Two sliding pawls from what I remember. I think it was a beast to get back together.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

No it works good so did not mess with it. Any pics from your disassembly?

 

[3baygarage]

I don’t think I took any but should have done a post on it. I was in a hurry to see what was wrong with it. There was a fine sliver jamming up the mech.. Pretty sure it worked fine after.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

If I get ambitious I will pull it apart, but I have plenty of competing projects!

 

[Farmer J.]

Here ya go, Farmer J!

It's amazing how accurate the author's prediction (see last paragraph) became!

Thanks for that Lugz, interesting to see. I don't think I will try the 290 degree alkaline process at home though! J.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks. I was excited to find it. They had dozens of snippets like these for innovations in different categories (Composition, Manufacturing, Finishing, and Handling) in each edition. I read all of Vol 109 (1941) and I was just into 1942 when I found it. In my experience, S-K took advantage of it the most of any mfgr.

 

[twertsy]

Probably went a bit over my usual limits on this set from the bay, but I wanted it. Apologies to whomever I nudged out.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Sweet!

 

[bmwrd0]

I have one of those Mustang sets, but in nowhere near as good of condition. Beautiful!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have two sockets and a hinge handle. Blind squirrel finds.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Very nice. Never saw one with a label before.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Picked up another firestone set, this time with the pebble breaker bar. Looks very similar to the wards speedmaster set.

 

[oldmantaylor]

It looks like they were both made by Plomb. I have two of the Firestone 1/4" sets. One has the pebble breaker bar, and the other has the round one.

 

[d42jeep]

Wow! Multiple Firestone 1/4” drive sets. I’m impressed.
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I keep searching in vain for a Firestone set of any size. I've noticed that the earlier boxes are embossed with Firestone, the later boxes have a metal emblem attached. Any idea when the change was made?

Here's a butterfly rat set from a NOS Basic Mechanics Set I picked up yesterday. I was initially frustrated as it was lacking the T bar but looking at the catalog, this set didn't have T bars for any of the 3 drive sizes. This is assuredly the ONLY set I'll ever own that'll be as clean as CRTDI's beautiful sets.

 

[CRTDI]

Joco, that really is one of the nicest C-man sets I've seen....

And for those you that have a 1/4" Firestone set.....Y'all just ****....

 

[Smokeshow69]

I keep searching in vain for a Firestone set of any size. I've noticed that the earlier boxes are embossed with Firestone, the later boxes have a metal emblem attached. Any idea when the change was made?



Here's a butterfly rat set from a NOS Basic Mechanics Set I picked up yesterday. I was initially frustrated as it was lacking the T bar but looking at the catalog, this set didn't have T bars for any of the 3 drive sizes. This is assuredly the ONLY set I'll ever own that'll be as clean as CRTDI's beautiful sets.

Man that is mint ! I am looking for a user version of that set ! That was such a haul and many you ***** are in order!


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