mystery blackhawk "lock-on" sockets

[Ratchet.]

Bought some blackhawk sockets recently, and these were among them, haven't seen ones like this before, I'm assuming they are Whitworth, as the part number begins with W but the size markings are odd, seem to be in 100ths of an inch, which makes no sense to me.

(far right is the 'normal' kind of blackhawk socket for comparison)


They also aren't polished chrome like the others i have, rather appear to be nickel plated or similar, though the machining style is the same as other 40s and early 50s lock-on sockets I own

There is a possibility they are ex British army, as the guy selling them had a load of other ex MOD tools, they aren't marked with the arrow as most are but not all army tools were (they used to be his dads so he didn't know much about them)

Have looked on alloy artifacts, and there seems to be no mention of this style, unless Ive missed it, and haven't found anything via Google etc

 

[Zrexxer]

Can't help you with sizing, but the plating is Cadmium.

 

[930dreamer]

Here's a good read;

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/blackhawk-innovation-p5.html#lock-on

 

[Ratchet.]

Can't help you with sizing, but the plating is Cadmium.

ah thanks, for some reason i though cadmium plate was more gold colored?

 

[Dave455]

Yep!

Those are Blackhawk Whitworth sockets!

I have 2 sets as well, both owned by my Grandfather, and bought new in the 1930's!

My sockets are identical to yours so I think we can assume that's from when they date!

Decent quality stuff! Don't think there has ever been better!

 

[Ratchet.]

Yep!

Those are Blackhawk Whitworth sockets!

I have 2 sets as well, both owned by my Grandfather, and bought new in the 1930's!

My sockets are identical to yours so I think we can assume that's from when they date!

Decent quality stuff! Don't think there has ever been better!

cool, the way the sizes are marked threw me a bit, wonder why they decided not to use the standard convention, unless it was to differenciate them from the american standards which used the same fractions, didn't think they were as old as that either

I do love blackhawk tools, just so well made, the locking button on the sockets is great too, no expense spared on materials back then (pity they never made them in metric sizes back then as would use them every day otherwise)

 

[Zrexxer]

ah thanks, for some reason i though cadmium plate was more gold colored?

You're thinking of Chromate, which is that weird greenish-gold color like carburetors used to be.

 

[n8n]

Ive seen "yellow cad" on hood latches, hinges, and the like. Then a different color of cadmium plating that looks very much like just slightly dull chrome. I'm not sure what the difference between the two is.

 

[Ratchet.]

You're thinking of Chromate, which is that weird greenish-gold color like carburetors used to be.

Ive seen "yellow cad" on hood latches, hinges, and the like. Then a different color of cadmium plating that looks very much like just slightly dull chrome. I'm not sure what the difference between the two is.

the look was similar but didnt have the green tinge that chromate has, sadly environmental controls (meddling...) mean that cad plate isnt seen much now..

seems yellow cad was mostly used on car parts which is what i had seen before, the type on these sockets etc is a dull silver/grey, similar in look to nickel or unpolished chrome plate

 

[Zrexxer]

OK I went and did some googling on yellow cad, and I'd have to do some research to see what the process differences are. But I've got a wartime Snap On extension that I guarantee is cad plated... and it's got the dull gray finish.