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

[d42jeep]

G.M. Manufacturing Company 1/4" square drive SAE socket set in plastic box

G.M Mfg. Co., 1308 43rd Ave., Long Island City, N.Y. / http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2014/02/vanished-tool-makers-gm-co.html

This set (and the sets in the Ebay photos just below) should answer the question of who made the strange 1/4" drive "Frankenstein" ratchet. Note that there was also an Asian-made knock-off very similar to the U.S. made model by G.M. Mfg. Co., but every example I have seen is a two-piece design in which the shank unscrews just below the drive head.



(* The two photos below are from other Ebay listings and are only to show examples of the "Frankenstein" ratchet *)

I believe this font is the same as some of the BE sets of the mid to late 1930's

See post #16 for a look at the ratchet.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Sylvania socket set with accompanying tune up pliers and wrenches, supplied by meteor

 

[mritchie77]

Picked up this set today on fleabay. Didn't have a S-W set yet and for $22 I really couldn't complain. Ad said everything appeared to be zinc plated, but it looks like cad plating to me. We shall see when it comes in. Don't really know what the date would be, but didn't the cases turn red after the war?

 

[d42jeep]

Nice grab. Looks cad plated to me. Generally the postwar tools are chrome plated and in red boxes
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

This mixed Walden set arrived in the mail today. Although missing some pieces it looked like most of a late war set with all 6 and 8 point sockets, a dark finish spinner and flex handle. It also contained some post war tools plus one New Britain 8 point socket. I added some tools on hand and put the postwar tools into a matching partial set.
Set as received
Dark finish late war correct tools
Postwar toolsAdded the postwar tools to a partial set on hand plus added some dark sockets to that set
Just a few pieces missing, mostly 8 point sockets and a few others

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I've seen a few black oxide sets in green boxes!

 

[d42jeep]

Me too although I’ve seen cad sets in green boxes as well. It seems that the grey color boxes were earlier and most came with cad plated sets.
-Don

 

[mritchie77]

Me too although I’ve seen cad sets in green boxes as well. It seems that the grey color boxes were earlier and most came with cad plated sets.
-Don

Don, ever seen a light green like the one I posted above? The color is suspect as all the greens I've seen are darker than that one.

 

[d42jeep]

I suspect that your box has been repainted. If you look at my green sets they are all the same exact color. Yours is not a bad color though. I’ve been known to paint mine with the Midwest Military olive green when the original paint is too far gone. It will be interesting to see the color in person on your box. Sometimes the photographs make colors look different than they really are.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have not seen that shade before, but who knows? Maybe that's the only paint they had that day!

 

[d42jeep]

Here is one I repainted because it had been previously repainted with a color I wasn’t crazy about.
-Don

 

[Farmer J.]

I have not seen that shade before, but who knows? Maybe that's the only paint they had that day!

That bright light green looks like John Deere green to me, maybe the previous owner painted it to match? Probably had a handy can of that on the shelf, like me!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The color is suspect as all the greens I've seen are darker than that one.

Agreed. That's a kelly green. The SW was straight up green or something leaning forest/hunter.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Powrkraft Frankenstein set

 

[d42jeep]

Nice. First Powr-Kraft Frankenstein I’ve seen. Looks like it was made by Wright, judging by the part number.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Yup here's the wright version and a wardsmastr. I think I have a crescent and a speedmaster somewhere

 

[Smokeshow69]

I stumbled on this late
P&C plastic case 1/4 drive set on fb marketplace and got this for $24 shipped so I think I did ok. Missing a few sockets but for the most part the tools are not used or showing very slight use. The wrenches still have the price tags visible! Some owners markings but still super cool

 

[Username already in use]

I brought home this empty Signal Corps socket box. I could barely make out the TL-xxxx number at the flea.
The box looks like an early Proto empire box to me?
The numbers only partially remain. I think I see TL-483/0.

 

[Mintgrun]

I think I see TL-483/0.

The color and shape remind me of an old Challenger box I have.

I tried searching TL-483/U and found some photos, but it won't let me upload the second one. Says "oops we ran into some problems." I hate it when that happens (repeatedly). Tom

 

[Username already in use]

@Mintgrun you nailed it. Thanks! Looks there there are a couple other boxes that have been posted in this forum.

 

[d42jeep]

I upgraded the spinner in this Giller set today.
-Don

 

[wrenchr]

Been meaning to post some of mine. I know I have a SK Frankenstein set and of course new er stuff.

 

[Straightgrain]

Here are most of mine.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

A late 40s new britain set with the elusive nm42 ratchet

 

[d42jeep]

This cad plated Walden set arrived recently and is a match to the ‘42 ad. It came with a flex extension marked Boyd that I haven’t seen before.
-Don

 

[Targa68]

A nice 1/4 Duro-Chrome set.
I believe it has been a No. 4504 or a No. 4502, but unfortunately from the decal is not possible to read.
There is a mix of 6, 8 and 12 points sockets, all seem to be chromed.
Am I right assuming this to be from the -30's?

7/16 - 12 points
3/8 - 12 points and 8 points
11/32 - 12 points
5/16 - 8 points and 6 points
9/32 - 12 points
1/4 - 8 points and 6 points
A 4533 6" extension
A 4550 hinge handle
A 4535 sliding T-bar

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Prewar likely. War finish was cad or plain steel

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a partial 4502.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

I think this one is close but it came in the wrong box

Duro Chrome 1/4" drive SAE socket set in a New Britain box

Duro Chrome 1/4" drive SAE socket set in a New Britain box

Duro Chrome 1/4" drive SAE socket set in a New Britain box

Duro Chrome 4502 4504 1/4" drive SAE socket set 1939 Duro Chrome catalog pp 15

* there were also the (presumably war vintage) sets that came in the gigantic oversize boxes. (below)

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's one I threw some stuff in. Don probably knows exactly what came in there.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a wartime photo showing a Duro/D-I 1/4” drive set.
-Don



One of my sets.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Every one of those yellow spinners I find is disintegrated

 

[four.cycle]

^ I've never bothered even trying to acquire any for that reason.
I do have a few yellow-handled 136 pocket screwdrivers, though... not sure how I managed that one.

 

[Targa68]

Thank you all for the feedback!
From the add posted by four.cycle I will assume my set is a No. 4504 14pcs Midget Set (based on the fact it has the 6" extension).
The 6 points 9/32 socket have been replaced by a 12 points (not a big thing I guess...), and I am missing the reversible ratchet, the crossbar and the 3" DuroLite screwdriver.

 

[d42jeep]

Every one of those yellow spinners I find is disintegrated

Photo provided by Tin Medic.
-Don

 

[Farmer J.]

Every one of those yellow spinners I find is disintegrat

Every one of those yellow spinners I find is disintegrated

Wood is nicer, and it just grows on trees.

 

[bryanrj]

In a New Britain set No. 1640 (catalog reference anyone) was this unusual ratchet with side push buttons to switch ratchet direction. Been searching patents and other photos for a match. Any suggestions? No external markings. There is one on Ebay now as well.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thats funny that ratchet was just discussed see post 1640

 

[four.cycle]

Can't tell you much about that socket set without seeing what's in it.
Your ratchet was manufactured by G.M. Manufacturing in Long Island City, New York:
G.M / G.M Mfg. Co., 1308 43rd Ave., Long Island City, NY / http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2014/02/vanished-tool-makers-gm-co.html

 

[bryanrj]

Thanks four.cycle. I have been searching GJ, patents, and ebay for much of the evening. I will post a picture of interior of the New Britain set soon. Did not find that set 1640 in the catalogs on Internet Archive.