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

[d42jeep]

Username sent me a nice Kraeuter spinner to add to this Kraeuter set. Now I just need the 9/32” deep for a complete set.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Looks good don! Some cornwell goodies

 

[d.mcfarland]

Don't see too many Cornwell boxes these days!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I was happy to find this one, and seemingly complete

 

[bmwrd0]

Here is mine, and it was empty when found. But I had picked up much of this over the years

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice. I like that long extension and the spinner.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some walden I got off ebay

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A little fairmont spinner set

 

[Private Lugnutz]

First Fairmount socket drive tools I've ever seen, in any drive size.

 

[d42jeep]

I was thinking the same thing when I saw them. I see Fairmount wrenches occasionally but don’t remember ever seeing a drive tool.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I highly doubt they made them. The hinge handle and the sockets have a Williams/Armstrong look, and Williams/Armstrong model numbers.

 

[d42jeep]

I noticed the NM part number on the little breaker.
-Don

 

[Zrxrunner]

Only way I really can confidently say this is because of the little new britain incomplete set I just came across...the NM numbers in that fairmount set tell me new britain made, maybe? I'll add some pics of it after work
And the little box matches the new britain, just sockets dont have the distinctive knurling

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's possible I suppose. Several mfgrs used the same scheme. Prior to the advent of 1/4-inch drive, the "M" signified "Midget" and usually 9/32-inch drive. When 1/4-inch drive came along, they added the "N" (probably signifying "new") to distinguish it. As for the numbering scheme on the sockets, the "6" is the number of points, and the "06", "07", etc is the AF size of the service opening in 32/nds.

But, a New Britain hinge handle was NM-51. Williams and Armstrong hinge handles were NM-42, like the hinge handle in the Fairmount set.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I compared the sockets and breaker to some in my other sets and they are a match to wright and crescent sockets and breakers. Wright supplied crescent for a time, so I would say made by them.

 

[misterbill]

Let me muddy the water a little. I think the Fairmount is a Wright-made set. Here's a Williams, New Britain, and Wright breaker side by side for comparison. FWIW, the breaker looks more like the Wright one in design to me.

EDIT: Posted at the same time as OTG. Great minds and all...

Bill

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Indeed MB! Spotted this ratchet on eBay that also seems to support Wright as the maker.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Well done, guys. That stubby hinge handle with the elongated hinge head is spot on. Very odd that Fairmount chose the exact same numbering scheme as Williams, but Wright makes more proximal Ahian sense, too.

Moving on to when these may have been made, there are no socket drive tools in the excerpts of a Fairmount 1941 and 1955 catalog that have been shared on G503.com. Fairmount's 1957 Anatomy of Tools does include them. This wasn't a catalog, but a sort of ode to toolmaking. I suppose the ratchet does have a sort of Wright look. Almost Fors-ish, too, but with a round handle. None of the tools shown are necessarily an illustration of their production.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I would speculate late 50s

 

[3baygarage]

New Britain, Wright, and Thorsen all made Fairmount drive tools. Don't ask me the order or what overlapped because I haven't a clue.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have seen a thorsen ratchet marked fairmont. I suspect the order ran new britain, wright then thorsen.

 

[3baygarage]

That's what I would think. The Fors coming first, being an older design.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Spotted a ratchet for the fairmount set on ebay.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some easco stuff. Was surprised to find this with the tray intact.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some proto la

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some speedmaster stuff I am posting for smoke

 

[Smokeshow69]

Some speedmaster stuff I am posting for smoke

Thanks! Now I know what a complete set looks like! They are not common


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[bmwrd0]

I think I might have a box for them somewhere Smoke, I will through it in your pile.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I think I might have a box for them somewhere Smoke, I will through it in your pile.

That would be awesome! I need a box and any sockets or extensions you may have. I really want to find a catalog picture but don’t know a resource for wards catalogs without buying them


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[CRTDI]

Crescent LMB14 and CMB16 sets.

 

[CRTDI]

Some vintage Bonney mash-up.

 

[CRTDI]

Hinsdale No. 127 mixed reefer set.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Great sets!

 

[CRTDI]

Thanks! I'm digging your Speedmaster stuff...

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some penncraft goodies

 

[d42jeep]

Found an amber spinner on eBay to add to this postwar S-K set.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a walden metric set, apparently unused.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some powrkraft (also posted in pk thread)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Old sk stuff (also in sk thread)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some post war plomb