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

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice!

 

[stormking]

Excellent!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Your really getting a fantastic early collection of blackhawk midget sets.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

When you haven't been around in awhile, that's what's called a triumphant return!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I built a shelf to display some of my drive sets and vintage tool rolls, etc. I had some spare room over my hot water heater so I figured why not make use of the space! Plus I can also grab the sets easily as I do occasionally use them for light duty clean repairs. I built the end shelves for small items such as 1/4 and 9/32 sets of other vintage automotive things that would fit! Lots of empty spots so I need to get to work filling it up [emoji23] I covered the shelves with cork contact liner to protect the paint on the bottom of the boxes





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[CRTDI]

I built a shelf to display some of my drive sets and vintage tool rolls, etc. I had some spare room over my hot water heater so I figured why not make use of the space! Plus I can also grab the sets easily as I do occasionally use them for light duty clean repairs. I built the end shelves for small items such as 1/4 and 9/32 sets of other vintage automotive things that would fit! Lots of empty spots so I need to get to work filling it up [emoji23] I covered the shelves with cork contact liner to protect the paint on the bottom of the boxes

I really like the shelving idea for your sets. They make a cool display...

 

[Smokeshow69]

I really like the shelving idea for your sets. They make a cool display...

Thanks! I built them to be easy to use but to also be useful! I had fun building the shelf with salvaged old growth wood !


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[Oldtuleguy]

when we all build display shelves and get yelled at it will be your fault

 

[Smokeshow69]

when we all build display shelves and get yelled at it will be your fault

I didn’t know if my wife would think it was dumb/nerdy or cool but she thought it was cool !


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[bmwrd0]

I don't know Smoke, you have seen my vintage Multimeter collection and my wife doesn't mind that, she kinda likes them!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I don't know Smoke, you have seen my vintage Multimeter collection and my wife doesn't mind that, she kinda likes them!

Plus your collection is in a cool display case!


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[JoCoSawdust]

I built a shelf to display some of my drive sets and vintage tool rolls, etc. I had some spare room over my hot water heater so I figured why not make use of the space! Plus I can also grab the sets easily as I do occasionally use them for light duty clean repairs. I built the end shelves for small items such as 1/4 and 9/32 sets of other vintage automotive things that would fit! Lots of empty spots so I need to get to work filling it up [emoji23] I covered the shelves with cork contact liner to protect the paint on the bottom of the boxes





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Very cool Smoke. I'm in the process of taking a break from the hunt and organizing some of my stuff on display so I can actually see it. Great idea with the shelves.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a midget set from the insuline corporation of america, a manufacturer of radio tubes, antennas, crystal radio sets and such.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are my 1/4” drive Craftsman sets. Two of the BE sets on the left are works in progress. The upper right set is a Circle H. The second picture is the ‘42 configuration.
-Don

 

[JoCoSawdust]

That's a drool-worthy line up Don!

 

[Smokeshow69]

That's a drool-worthy line up Don!

Heck yeah! D42 has perhaps the best 1/4 drive collection of the good brands I like... plomb, craftsman, sk...

D42- do you go into Proto collecting at all?


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[d42jeep]

Heck yeah! D42 has perhaps the best 1/4 drive collection of the good brands I like... plomb, craftsman, sk...

D42- do you go into Proto collecting at all?


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Not on purpose but I pick them up when I see them. They are great quality tools. I usually move them along, eventually. I have traded quite a few to other collectors.
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

Not on purpose but I pick them up when I see them. They are great quality tools. I usually move them along, eventually. I have traded quite a few to other collectors.

-Don

Makes sense. Your collection is primarily war time or pre war if I am understanding correctly and each person has their own niche they like


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[Private Lugnutz]

Thrilled to announce that I have recently acquired this Navy NAF 1108-1 wartime midget set, made by the Philadelphia Manufacturing Company, in a long-distance international trade.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The backstory on this set is a classic GJ saga.

For those with short memories, I found an unusual spinner and sliding tee back in 2018. They were extra chunky, from much bigger stock than any midget set tools I had ever seen before, and unmarked. They were soon ID’d by Odes as Phila. Mfg Co., but nobody, including me, paid any attention to the rest of the decal in the fuzzy photos he posted of his set.

A few months later, OTG bought “a weird set” on eBay, linked here, apparently not remembering that earlier discussion and not making the connection to my orphans and the ID of them as Phila. Mfg. Co. His photos were clearer and the label was unmistakable. It was a partial NAF 1108-1 set, missing only one socket and the extension. A little research by me uncovered all of their WWII contracts…

…and photos of the set list in the Navy ASO catalog Class 41...

...and Don’s Plomb and UNAIU’s Williams NAF 1108-1 sets, respectively, demonstrated the exact same labels.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This set is perfectly complete. That near-white stuff on the sockets is a phosphate finish, and it can also be seen on the handles, just less of it remaining. They were milled, not forged, and cold-broached, without being finished inside to remove the thin leftover broaching fragments.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It looks like the box may have been badly rusted on the outside, now completely stripped down to steel, and the PO was in the process of fixing the hinge. I may have to finish the job and repaint the same flat black as on the inside.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Coincidentally, someone on another forum just pointed me to an NAF 1156-1 Fastener Kit box for sale near me.

I already have one, complete with the fasteners, linked here, but note the OEM on the decal! Philadelphia Manufacturing Company!

Now check out those WWII contracts again. See the third contract down? 288 XSA23499. That is a Navy contract, XSA is a Navy bureau, and the “A” is for Aeronautics. Guess what reproduction decal I am putting on my refinished NAF 1156-1 chest!

 

[d42jeep]

Here is another set that belongs to our friend in Wales, U.K.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I've seen Len's set before. I forget if it came that way to him (missing the sliding tee, but an extra extension, and an extra 1/4" 8-pointer) or if those were orphans. I'll have to ask him.

 

[Username already in use]

Nice midget set, Lugz. There’s just something cool about the Beefiness of those sockets.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, and agreed. They didn't bother with tapering or skinny dies. They were machined out of cold round steel stock then taken down around the top to accommodate boring for various service opening sizes and then broached. It's most noticeable on the smaller (3/16", 1/4", 9/32" and 5/16" 6-pointer) sockets. But they were all made that way. (EDIT: It gives them the same look that cheap-o G.M. Co sockets had in the 50's, but these are legit, serious, well-made tools.) Same approach on the spinner shank and extension, which are visibly fatter than any other midget tools I have ever seen. They step down drastically to the 1/4-inch drive stud only right at the end.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Thanks, and agreed. They didn't bother with tapering or skinny dies. They were machined out of cold round steel stock then taken down around the top to accommodate boring for various service opening sizes and then broached. It's most noticeable on the smaller (3/16", 1/4", 9/32" and 5/16" 6-pointer) sockets. But they were all made that way. (EDIT: It gives them the same look that cheap-o G.M. Co sockets had in the 50's, but these are legit, serious, well-made tools.) Same approach on the spinner shank and extension, which are visibly fatter than any other midget tools I have ever seen. They step down drastically to the 1/4-inch drive stud only right at the end.

Lugz this set is amazing given its provenance and also how overbuilt it is! It is really in great shape as well. I really like the fasteners cabinet you found! I really like that style of fastener


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[Oldtuleguy]

They are beefy! Here is a p&c set that caught my eye on ebay.

 

[d42jeep]

I was watching that set. It didn’t have to travel far to get to you. Great pick up!
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes a retired fellow up in sun city had it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You got a great deal! Only $7.50!

Funny how important a brand name is. Big difference between G.M.Co or Oxwall or HI-TEST in a cardboard box, and P&C. Nice acquisition.

 

[Catfishdan]

They are beefy! Here is a p&c set that caught my eye on ebay.

Very nice. It’s amazing the cardboard survived all these years.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yes the cardboard box was a surprise. I wonder how many other manufacturers sold sets in this format. I have seen a number of the bargain brand versions such as oxwall.

 

[outofbounds]

A partial 1/4 Drive Bonney VM5B set I found on FB Marketplace. Inside of the box is better than the outside but all intact. Tools are in really nice shape. Off in search of the wrenches and a few bits to tidy this up complete.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here it is in catalog. I posted a similar one back at post 1181

 

[Smokeshow69]

Yes the cardboard box was a surprise. I wonder how many other manufacturers sold sets in this format. I have seen a number of the bargain brand versions such as oxwall.

I am glad you ended up with that set! I was watching it but knew it would climb out of my budget quickly! I loved the cardboard box. Hopefully you will post that on the p&c thread? I know guys on there would love to see it


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[Oldtuleguy]

Thanks smoke posted on p&c thread.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a snap on no. 58 radio set i have been collecting for years. Wood box is missing but seems unlikely I will locate one.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Here is a snap on no. 58 radio set i have been collecting for years. Wood box is missing but seems unlikely I will locate one.

What year is this? Early 30’s?


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