New vintage tools! Oxymoron. Don't know anything about them.

[GTFORZA]

Hey folks I'm pretty new to the forums but not new to the garage. Either way I just purchased a strange set of sockets on ebay. Will be getting them the day after tomorrow. The carrier is red and says ROYAL and below that says Japan. They are standard size and have a very unique 6 point drive. The only reason I purchased them is because recently I purchased a vintage Snap-On compression gauge. In the metal case was the compression gauge kit and a shallow 12 point socket with a 6 point drive. Can anyone shed any light on these tools?

 

[beamrider]

 

[GTFORZA]

Relax it will be in the mail saturday.

 

[GTFORZA]

Here are the pics!

 

[Zeke]

I have a partial set of my dad's hex drive sockets with the angled driver that looks like an allen wrench. Other than Made in the USA they only say, "Patented Dec 31, 1918."

My dad wasn't a mechanic by any means. The cool thing about these is that they will store on the shaft.

 

[PowerDubs]

New vintage is not an oxymoron.

Vintage used correctly should be associated with a date. It is not meant to mean old as common usage has become.

Example- you can have a vintage 2008

 

[Fretters]

Vintage used correctly should be associated with a date.

That's not completely correct. For things like wine etc., then it's common form. Vintage can also be used dateless, however, merely to denote something of notable quality within its class. A vintage car, for example, meaning a make/model of car which was a fine example of good engineering.

It is not meant to mean old as common usage has become.

True. It's just taken as a bit of a thing, I suppose, because how often can we call something produced nowadays quality. Very few things these days are a breed apart.

 

[orca8589]

Here are the pics!

The set you have looks like a Japan-made set along the lines of the old Indestro socket sets. There's one similar to yours on ebay right now.

The following is my opinion only, someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I think that before ratcheting handles came on the scene, these sets were common with just the Allen-type handle. I've got both hex- and square-drive non-ratcheting handles. Even after ratchet-drive handles became common, I think these seats were still available as an economy option. Again, this is speculation on my part.

They're pretty common at the flea markets here, usually rusted and neglected. I'm looking for a carrier like yours - I have a ton of the sockets & Allen handles, but all the carriers I find are in terrible shape.

I have a partial set of my dad's hex drive sockets with the angled driver that looks like an allen wrench. Other than Made in the USA they only say, "Patented Dec 31, 1918."

My dad wasn't a mechanic by any means. The cool thing about these is that they will store on the shaft.

I have that exact kind of setup sitting on my desk as I type this. Do you know what brand yours might be? The "Patented December 31, 1918" is the Sedgley patent, and New Britain made tools under that patent, but my set doesn't exactly match any New Britain tools I can find.

~Chris

 

[Zeke]

The words 'vintage' and 'antique' have lost all meaning.

 

[orca8589]

The words 'vintage' and 'antique' have lost all meaning.

Yup. I find 1990's-era CD's listed as "vintage" on ebay.

~Chris

 

[Zeke]

@Chris, there are no markings or stamps on my tools other than the ones I stated on the shaft. The sockets are mismatched, only one is original to my dad's wrench shaft.
IIRC.

BTW, my dad was born in '22 so who knows where these came from. My grandfather was not a tool guy either. I'm the black sheep.

 

[PowerDubs]

Yup. I find 1990's-era CD's listed as "vintage" on ebay.
~Chris

If you found a CD labeled as vintage 1992, that would be 100% correct.

Proper use of vintage is interchanged with 'year'.

CD for sale, vintage 2008, year 2008, both correct.


Used as a generic term for old, incorrect.

 

[bczygan]

Lately, every rusty, beat up item on my local CL, is "Rare", Vintage", "Collectable", "Antique", "One of a kind" and "Valuable".

 

[theoldwizard1]

The words 'vintage' and 'antique' have lost all meaning.

Yeah. When I go to "antique" stores and see things from my childhood.

I am old, but not ANTIQUE !

 

[monomach]

The words 'vintage' and 'antique' have lost all meaning.

Also, primitive. A 1980s Craftsman electric drill isn't primitive. A hammer made out of a rock, stick, and leather strap would be primitive.

And patina. When rust is bad enough to eat a hole through a tool box, it isn't a "patina."

That stuff is like nails on a chalkboard for me. Basically, every descriptor people use on ebay or Craigslist is a load of bull.

 

[Fretters]

Proper use of vintage is interchanged with 'year'.

That's no more correct now than the first time you said it. You can't complain about incorrect use and then insist on mentioning incomplete usage.

That stuff is like nails on a chalkboard for me. Basically, every descriptor people use on ebay or Craigslist is a load of bull.

Rare would be the one which makes me chuckle most. About as rare as the other ten or so generally listed at the same time....

Generally though, I think the worst offence is the use of the term "lovingly restored". Whacking a **** paint job on something with no prep or such is neither restored nor lovingly done.