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

[bryanrj]

Label says 1640 or 1610 set. Rounded corner box. Yellow bin has some of my extra NB sockets and a driver. I have a ratchet that may be correct, but still need a good catalog reference. Cat A48 has a set 1610X but the box does not appear to be with rounded corners, but is close. My spare handle is the correct NM-64. And an NM-614 completes the set. Of interest, the label is on the outside of the box while catalog illustrations show in on the inside.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I'm not sure we're going to be able to find a "catalog reference" for this per se.

A 1953 trade journal advertisement shows a socket set (on the left on page 24) with square corners, and way up at the upper right (on page 25) a socket set with rounded corners (like yours.)


1952 Hardware Age New Britain Machine ad pp 24



1953 Hardware Age New Britain Machine ad pp 25


The 1948 New Britain "None Better" catalog No. A48 shows all 1/4" drive SAE socket sets in square boxes:


1948 New Britain None Better catalog No. A48 pp 15

The 1953 New Britain catalog No. 58M also shows 1/4" drive SAE socket sets as coming in square boxes on the larger sets, but note that the smaller 10-piece 1610 set appears to be in a box with rounded corners:


1953 New Britain catalog No. 58M pp 22

If a 1610 is a ten-piece set, and a 1617 is a seventeen-piece set, and a 1634 is a thirty-four piece set, it would logically follow that a 1640 would be a forty-piece set.
(The 1959 New Britain catalog No. 59M shows the same 1610 and 1617 sets, but the 1634 was downsized and appears as a thirty-three piece model 1633.)

So your box is probably around the 1953 period... but you have something of a hodge-podge of sockets there.
I may well be mistaken - correct me if I am, gentlemen - but my understanding is that the single crosshatch band is earlier than the double knurled band and both are earlier than the no band design.

When I went through this on a couple sets, the closest ratchet which appeared to be period-correct to the set was the model NM43 (shown below), but I shipped that one down to 3bay in Florida.

I believe the appropriate spinner is the yellow-handled NM64. Again, I could me mistaken. (my work sheet is attached below - *.txt format - I was trying to complete two different sets here. BK)

 

[four.cycle]

CAVEAT:

Somewhere on this website you will find a lengthy discussion about "artist renditions" which appear in older tool catalogs.
Artists take liberties. Details may or may not match what the actual product looks like. This has been shown to be the case particularly when it comes to little nuances on the boxes. Did it have round or square corners? What kind of latch? Where were the dividers placed for the sockets? On the left? On the right? In the middle? What kind of handle was really on the box? On and on and on.
Bottom line: not too many "artist rendition" illustrations that can be taken at face value - the old "trust, but verify" thing.

The first catalog illustration I posted above was for the New Britain None Better catalog. Note they use a different part number.
It's entirely possible they may have been using different boxes, for all we know. Unfortunately there is a dearth of New Britain/None Better catalogs (otherwise I would have trashed that out-of-focus screenshot of the 1953 ad above.) What you see above is everything we've got for New Britain/None Better for that time period, which is why I said we're not going to get a "catalog reference" per se - it's going to be more of a "best guess based on what we know".

On that note: I will unapologetically ask you all again to consider making a donation to International Tool Catalog Library while they are able to get 2 for 1 matching funds. Thanks! BK

 

[d42jeep]

I have noticed that there are many differences between the New Britain and None Better branded product lines. For example, New Britain came out with their sockets with two knurled bands while None Better (and Husky) continued to have only a single knurled band. The lack of availability of New Britain catalogs makes determining exactly which tools should be in which sets almost impossible.
I was very happy to see the 1951 ad that four.cycle posted showing the 1/2” drive set. That confirmed that my set was earlier since it doesn’t have the newer ratchet.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ I make no apologies for grabbing every screenshot I can find if I think there may be a use for it at some point - even the stuff that's out-of-focus (a favorite trick of a few ebay catalog peddlers.)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The lack of availability of New Britain catalogs makes determining exactly which tools should be in which sets almost impossible.

No argument on exactness. For contents the only thing we can do in cases like this is look at the set numbers or very similar types of sets in the 1940 New Britain cat and then in the 1951 New Britain cat, with the 1948 NONE BETTER in between for a little help, and reason that they took similar approaches in the intervening years. Sure, it can get dicey with respect to configurations (6- or 12-point, etc). But that's what we have to do for several other mfgrs with prewar to postwar catalog gaps, including Bonney (41, 46), Vlchek, (41, 49), and Duro/Indestro (40, 48), off the top of my head. And, until we see tin medic's entire 44 Walden catalog on IA/ITCL, same story for Walden (40, 48). Granted, much different story with Plomb (41, 43, 44, 45), Snap-on (42, 45), Blackhawk (41, 43), and Williams (41, 43, 45), and Herbrand (42). But NB is not alone in its wartime gap.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I JUST posted 1944 and 1946 NB ads in the NB thread. The 1944 ad shows a ratchet which you guys will be able to identify (I don't know the line well enough) and a single crosshatch band socket, which is a definite tell.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ads can be good gap fillers. Manuals, too. Thanks, as always.

 

[bryanrj]

^ I'm not sure we're going to be able to find a "catalog reference" for this per se.

A 1953 trade journal advertisement shows a socket set (on the left on page 24) with square corners, and way up at the upper right (on page 25) a socket set with rounded corners (like yours.)


1952 Hardware Age New Britain Machine ad pp 24



1953 Hardware Age New Britain Machine ad pp 25


The 1948 New Britain "None Better" catalog No. A48 shows all 1/4" drive SAE socket sets in square boxes:


1948 New Britain None Better catalog No. A48 pp 15

The 1953 New Britain catalog No. 58M also shows 1/4" drive SAE socket sets as coming in square boxes on the larger sets, but note that the smaller 10-piece 1610 set appears to be in a box with rounded corners:


1953 New Britain catalog No. 58M pp 22

If a 1610 is a ten-piece set, and a 1617 is a seventeen-piece set, and a 1634 is a thirty-four piece set, it would logically follow that a 1640 would be a forty-piece set.
(The 1959 New Britain catalog No. 59M shows the same 1610 and 1617 sets, but the 1634 was downsized and appears as a thirty-three piece model 1633.)

So your box is probably around the 1953 period... but you have something of a hodge-podge of sockets there.
I may well be mistaken - correct me if I am, gentlemen - but my understanding is that the single crosshatch band is earlier than the double knurled band and both are earlier than the no band design.

When I went through this on a couple sets, the closest ratchet which appeared to be period-correct to the set was the model NM43 (shown below), but I shipped that one down to 3bay in Florida.

I believe the appropriate spinner is the yellow-handled NM64. Again, I could me mistaken. (my work sheet is attached below - *.txt format - I was trying to complete two different sets here. BK)

Thanks for the update and hardware pages showing the NB round corners. And good eye on spotting that stray Duro-Chrome socket. It has a different home and must have been visiting his friends. I don't think there was ever a 1640 set, I just misread the label at first. There is no way 40 tools would ever have fit into that size box.

So for my 1610 set, which knurl should be in it assuming 1953? Most are double knurled. The three smallest are single knurl, and the NM66 screwdriver blade has thin double lines with no cross hatching or knurl.

 

[d42jeep]

By 1953 I would expect double knurled from New Britain, single knurled from None Better and Husky.
-Don
Set in progress

 

[four.cycle]

New Britain 1/4" drive SAE socket set currently on ebay contains NM53 wood-handled spinner and sockets with single crosshatch band

New Britain 1/4" drive SAE socket set currently on ebay contains NM63 wood-handled spinner and sockets with single crosshatch band

comparisons like this is what led to my "theory" above

 

[Targa68]

Hi.
I am showing this before cleaned, as I am quite sure both sticker and paint will disappear in the process.....
Probably just another cheap Asian set, but the "CTC" made me curious.
No markings....sockets are metric, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21 and 23. The drive plug doubles as a drag link driver
Missing the small "L" an all the small sockets.

Is this anything?



Thank you!

 

[d42jeep]

It has a bit of an Indestro look about it. I would try to preserve the markings. Maybe California Tool Company?
Here is one Indestro made for Western Auto.
-Don
Here is an Indestro set owed by Username
And an imported copy owned by Mintgrun
so it’s hard to be certain.

 

[MR.X]

Hi.
I am showing this before cleaned, as I am quite sure both sticker and paint will disappear in the process.....
Probably just another cheap Asian set, but the "CTC" made me curious.
No markings....sockets are metric, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21 and 23. The drive plug doubles as a drag link driver
Missing the small "L" an all the small sockets.

Is this anything?



Thank you!

look up "ETC" Japan if you're really interested.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Canadian tire company

 

[d42jeep]

I think Mr. X nailed it. I didn’t notice that the first letter was a stylized E.
-Don

 

[Targa68]

Ahh, also didn't realize the E.

Thank you!

 

[four.cycle]

@Targa68

Century.
Japan-made knock-off of an older New Britain set. (note shape of profile on ratchet.)
Sockets are probably going to be indistinguishable from others (Duro/Indestro, NB, G.M. Mfg.)

"CTC" Century Tool Company - may or may not be the same "Century" as that which was acquired by Steelcraft. I don't have a timeline on that and I don't have a sample photo image to compare with.

 

[four.cycle]

@d42jeep -
RE: "CTC" California Tool Company -
I sent Mark a catalog some time ago, but because of the size of the volume he hasn't gotten to scanning and uploading it yet.
Apparently they remained in business for some time peddling off remaining inventories of stuff like Plomb, Thorsen, and P&C.
I made a request that he consider scanning it.

 

[Mintgrun]

Speaking of ETC and 1/4" sets made in Japan, here are two boxes that I've found. The KAL set is complete and the ETC box was completely empty, sitting in the scrap metal bin. Most of what is in there now was made in Taiwan. The hinge handle was made in Japan for Globemaster. Uninspiring tools, but they sure are shiny!

 

[four.cycle]

^ in the scrap metal bin?!?!?!?

say it ain't so!!!

 

[Mintgrun]

My favorite place to shop! At St. Vinnie's anything in the bin is $.25. At Habitat, they seem to price the items I rescue the same as if they were on the shelf. I haven't complained yet... since their prices are cheap enough and the money goes to a good cause. (For example, the KAL set was $5).

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Ok ETC, thought that was a c

 

[four.cycle]

You all saw this set of Craftsman "Circle H" 1/4" sockets, right? So I don't need to post them in the "Ebay hot deal" thread. I checked and I do not need these.

Time to get this thread back on track here, even if my choices seem a bit sketchy:


NoName (China PRC) 40-pc 1/4" drive Metric and SAE socket and bit kit

NoName (China PRC) 40-pc 1/4" drive Metric and SAE socket and bit kit

This is the one I take with me on calls where I know for sure I will not need tools. Invariably I end up opening up this thing and actually using it. Cheap as cheap gets: $12 bucks including shipping for the entire kit.
I can leave it on the dashboard of the truck, opened, with the windows rolled down, and nobody will steal it.


Rosewill (China PRC) 1/4" drive SAE socket & bit set

Rosewill (China PRC) 1/4" drive SAE socket & bit set

Rosewill (China PRC) 1/4" drive SAE socket & bit set

This was a recent acquisition. I was intrigued by the box, which has some rather unique latches on it. The foam "nests" that all the pieces fit into keeps it from rattling, which is a bonus.
For reasons I'm not sure I understand (or care to) the set includes sockets in sizes 5/32", 13/32", and 15/32". I'm thinking perhaps there might have been some snags in translation somewhere along the way.
The pieces are pretty nicely finished, with the exception of the 3/8" socket, which should have never gotten past "QC" (if such a thing exists in the land where this came from.) They have a satin finish.
Interestingly, they've employed the sliding "T-bar" to serve double-duty as a 6-inch extension, which causes me to wonder why I haven't seen this before.
The ratchet, with the handle design borrowed from a little "Tekton" unit I bought just a few weeks ago, is a quick-release model, which annoyingly requires one to depress the QR button to put a socket ON or take a socket OFF. I don't work on aircraft so I really don't need that feature.
(Tekton photo for comparison purposes.)

 

[four.cycle]

^ check the post above if you didn't already.


Proxxon (Germany) 1/4" drive Metric socket set

Proxxon (Germany) 1/4" drive Metric socket set

Proxxon (Germany) 1/4" drive Metric socket set

Proxxon / Proxxon GmbH, Dieselstrasse 3-7, 54343 Fohren, Germany / https://www.proxxon.com/ / est. 1977 /

I grabbed this set recently because I was intrigued by the "Wurth" brand ratchet that replaced the original ratchet from the set. It did require some serious cleaning, but after giving it a proper bath and putting some really slippery stuff in the business end of it, it's working flawlessly.
The sockets are 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13mm. No 12 mm. All of the sockets and the other original drive pieces are stamped "Chrome Vanadium". The sockets are also marked with a tiny "H". (not a clue
A newer Craftsman ("H") and an old Herbrand M23 extension have been added to the set.

If you're a Herbrand collector and you're looking for that extension let me know.

 

[3baygarage]

I like the Wurth ratchet. I think it might be a Facom in disguise. The rest of the original kit looks Asian import.

 

[Provincial]

You all saw this set of Craftsman "Circle H" 1/4" sockets, right? So I don't need to post them in the "Ebay hot deal" thread. I checked and I do not need these.

Time to get this thread back on track here, even if my choices seem a bit sketchy:


NoName (China PRC) 40-pc 1/4" drive Metric and SAE socket and bit kit

NoName (China PRC) 40-pc 1/4" drive Metric and SAE socket and bit kit

This is the one I take with me on calls where I know for sure I will not need tools. Invariably I end up opening up this thing and actually using it. Cheap as cheap gets: $12 bucks including shipping for the entire kit.
I can leave it on the dashboard of the truck, opened, with the windows rolled down, and nobody will steal it.


Rosewill (China PRC) 1/4" drive SAE socket & bit set

Rosewill (China PRC) 1/4" drive SAE socket & bit set

Rosewill (China PRC) 1/4" drive SAE socket & bit set

This was a recent acquisition. I was intrigued by the box, which has some rather unique latches on it. The foam "nests" that all the pieces fit into keeps it from rattling, which is a bonus.
For reasons I'm not sure I understand (or care to) the set includes sockets in sizes 5/32", 13/32", and 15/32". I'm thinking perhaps there might have been some snags in translation somewhere along the way.
The pieces are pretty nicely finished, with the exception of the 3/8" socket, which should have never gotten past "QC" (if such a thing exists in the land where this came from.) They have a satin finish.
Interestingly, they've employed the sliding "T-bar" to serve double-duty as a 6-inch extension, which causes me to wonder why I haven't seen this before.
The ratchet, with the handle design borrowed from a little "Tekton" unit I bought just a few weeks ago, is a quick-release model, which annoyingly requires one to depress the QR button to put a socket ON or take a socket OFF. I don't work on aircraft so I really don't need that feature.
(Tekton photo for comparison purposes.)

"For reasons I'm not sure I understand (or care to) the set includes sockets in sizes 5/32", 13/32", and 15/32"."

5/32" is .003" smaller than 4mm. 13/32" is .009" larger than 10mm. 15/32" is .004 smaller than 12mm. I bet that those sockets will fit on the corresponding Metric fasteners.

 

[stormking]

I find my sets at garage an estate sales. The last few years they have really dried up as a source. I only found two sets all of last year. This nice little Armstrong set was found in the fall. I think these are somewhat uncommon, probably due to the fragile decal on the outside.
https://flic.kr/p/2ochcWR https://flic.kr/p/2ocgZKJ

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's a cool decal. My Armstrong sets have the yellow decals on metallic finish boxes. Late 40s or 50s vintage. I think yours might be older. I wonder if it had a ratchet.

What's the story with the extension? I'm assuming its 1/2-inch drive, but why is it marked 'SPECIAL'?

 

[bmwrd0]

I have one of the Armstrong sets from that period, Bog made ratchet and all is in 9/32". One of my favorites. That one has a great decal.

 

[stormking]

Hey Lugz, I'm not sure but I don't believe this set came with a ratchet, most likely could've had a spinner. The extension is 1/4" and fairly certain came with the set, all the tools are marked with a # M-*** (m for midget?) haven't a clue why the "special". BMW, only a few Armstrong sets of this vintage have been posted, coincidently by you, me and Riley. So all of them from the northern Willamette Valley, kind of strange.

 

[CoogarXR]

Let me ask you 1/4" drive gurus a question-

I found this Oxwall breaker/spinner the other day. It's a neat idea that was poorly executed. Are you guys aware of a CAB-handled breaker/spinner combo that's made a little beefier? I know a few brands make all-metal breakers with the folding end, but I'd like to find one with a nice translucent handle. Basically everything this Oxwall is, but built better:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Are you guys aware of a CAB-handled breaker/spinner combo that's made a little beefier? I know a few brands make all-metal breakers with the folding end, but I'd like to find one with a nice translucent handle. Basically everything this Oxwall is, but built better:

Not that I am aware of.

As you alluded to, midget hinge or flex head handles (all steel) can be used as spinners when the hinge or flex head is in the straight (not in the hinged/offset) position.

Standard Pressed Steel made a whole series of serious multi-bits tools that I consider more than a few steps above Oxwall in quality and probably just below the major OEM's. They branded them Hallowell and bits were storied inside the handle. Most of them were screwdriver bits and awls and such, but it included this 3/8-drive socket set. It flexes two ways (45* and 90*) on either side or straight like a spinner. I don't know if they made a 1/4-drive version.

But if I am understanding you, that's what you're wondering about. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I have a herbrand and a cornwell I can check on them later

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have a herbrand and a cornwell I can check on them later

I found the Cornwell way upthread using the Search tool. Executed like the Oxwall, pinned, with the hinge head on the outside of the square shank, linked here. Cool.

 

[four.cycle]

"...I don't know if they made a 1/4-drive version...."

Apparently they did. Model 75, shown in the instruction sheet in this screen shot of a model 100 set (like yours.)

HallOWell model 75 1/4" drive socket set $25.00 + shipping

Hallowell Socket Wrench Kit no 75 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hallowell Socket Wrench Kit no 75 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Not sure what "CAB" refers to, but I am not finding a 1/4" breaker with a plastic handle in G.M. Mfg. Co. or Meteor, which is where I would have expected it to show up if anywhere.

Looks like Private Lugnutz spotted one made by Cornwell.

 

[CoogarXR]

Nice find on the Cornwell. Thanks guys.

"CAB" is the fancy name for those unbreakable plastic handles. Cellulose Acetate-Butyrate (CAB for short) is the technical name for it. AKA- the stinky plastic used in Craftsman, Xcelite, Vaco, etc. handles.

 

[four.cycle]

ahh! that stuff! not sure if I have any of that around here.... I had some stinky Craftsman acetate-handled screwdrivers gifted to me but I gave them away last summer during a house-cleaning rampage.

I don't believe I've seen that many 1/4" drive breakers (or "flex handles") that are built that way - irrespective of handles. Most all of them I see on ebay are the conventional "yoke" style.
One more thing to watch for, I guess.

 

[Targa68]

Here is a very nice New Britain made Husky set.

Label read: HUSKY, American Standard, ALLOY HAND TOOLS, HUSKY TOOL DIVISION, NEW BRITAIN. CONN. U.S.A

Ratchet, H5126
Breaker bar, H4598
T-bar, unmarked
8 Sockets; 7/16 H3605 6p. 3/8 H3604 6p. 3/8 H3608 8p. 11/32 H3603 6p. 5/16 H3602 6p. 5/16 H3607 8p. 9/32 H3601 6p. 1/4 H3600 6p

 

[Old Radar]

^^^ Very Clean!