NOS Stevens Walden 3/4" drive socket set

[arnwoodwheels]

A couple of weeks ago I went to estate sale/auction of a gentlemen that owned a tool store. From what I was told he closed up many years ago due to poor health and now the estate is selling every thing. I was amazed at the amount of new tools he had. Anyway I came home with a quite a few items.
Including a NOS Stevens Walden 3/4” drive socket set. My first socket set was a Stevens Walden that got when I was about 10 years old so I kind of have a soft spot for them.
I needed a 3/4” drive set so I got the set.
Now after getting it home and looking at it I am thinking it should go to a collector?
The cool thing is it has the newspaper it was packed in at the Worcester factory dated Sept. 19 1974.
Has a ratchet, 2 double male extensions, female to female adapter, breaker bar and 18 sockets sized 1” to 2 1/4”
What do you guys think. Too rare to use?

 

[lbgradwell]

I think it's a cool set that you should use and care for.

 

[rallenc]

Very nice looking set.

You may want to put it on eBay with a price of 200-300-400 or best offer and see what happens. Worst thing is it does not sell, then you use it. Let the "market" tell you if it's collectible.

Good luck!

 

[devoncoolman]

Awesome set. Personally i say use it. For what it will cost you to replace it with a new quality set of that size. You couldn't possibly get enough money for it.

 

[56FordGuy]

I would use it.

The eBay idea isn't bad, but just because it sold wouldn't mean it was going to a collector. If I were in the market for another 3/4 drive set, I'd spend 2-300 for that and put it in the work truck.

 

[littletoes]

Collector???? WHY???? What a waste....

Tools were made for ONE reason, to USE.

Use 'em, and enjoy them. That's what I do.

 

[ganymede]

Your acknowledging them as potentially collectable is important. If everyone used everything until it disintegrated then there would be nothing left for history types to study.
I don't think your socket set is at that point though.
Use it but don't abuse it. If used right they'll still be in good shape and collectable when you're old and ready to pass them on.

 

[littletoes]

I say use 'em till they disintegrate.....

I hope nobody ever buys my a tool to "collect".....I want tools to use.

 

[3baygarage]

Great set. Thanks for sharing. They would fetch a good dollar, however I have the feeling you may be just the right guy to own them.

 

[Hiball]

I say use 'em till they disintegrate.....

I hope nobody ever buys my a tool to "collect".....I want tools to use.

We get it...


OP.. Nothing wrong with preserving vintage stuff, and that set definitely qualifies as a excellent set. I don't see a large $$$ demand for Steven Waldens stuff so if you don't already have a 3/4 set, I say use it if the need arises.

Nice find..

 

[Bull]

I vote for: too nice to use.

There are ample 3/4 drive sets to be had for cheap if you just need a set for occasional wrenching. That set has survived all these years in original condition. It will never be that way again.

Just because it was made to be used, doesn't mean it must be used.

 

[619DioFan]

That is a very nice set. I am curious as to the reason for a double male extension and double female adapter set up verses a traditional male/female extension . any idea as to why that set was made that way ?

 

[Mike007]

Thats really cool.

 

[woody 73]

As a collector and a user I say put that set away, no more sets will ever be made from that great company ever; If it was a set from a company that was still in business then use it.

If you do use it then take good care of it for the next generation to enjoy!

 

[Tellingthem]

I personally wouldn't use it. I would proudly display it untouched. But I like that kind of thing and get a kick out of it.

 

[ganymede]

We get it..
.

That's it? C'mon, he was looking for a little more attention than that.

 

[Hiball]

That's it? C'mon, he was looking for a little more attention than that.

I was going to use Bold letters but i thought it would be a little cliche.

 

[ganymede]

I was going to use Bold letters but i thought it would be a little cliche.

..

 

[airdale]

There is rare, and there is collectable. Not necessarily the same. Some things are so rare that few or nobody collects them. Looks like a really nice set - I would use it unless it is worth more than a new quality set.

 

[AV tinker er]

Not trying to add fuel to the fire but I use my tools and care for them. Sure they get a little greasy/dirty, but nothing a quick wipe won't fix. If eBay doesn't turn a good profit, put them in you box and they will be handed down to your grandchildren.

 

[neophyte]

That is a very nice set. I am curious as to the reason for a double male extension and double female adapter set up verses a traditional male/female extension . any idea as to why that set was made that way ?

It might have been less expensive to manufacture.

With the regular extensions that are common nowadays the square socket would either have to be forged, which may not have been as accurate, or the socket would have to be blind broached, which would require separate tooling. The double square socket adapter on the other hand, could be broached with the same 3/4" square thru broach that was used for the sockets.

This is just a guess.

 

[Bobdog]

Use it and hand it down to your heirs.

They don't make 'em like that anymore.

 

[littletoes]

I was going to use Bold letters but i thought it would be a little cliche.

can't help myself!!!

if your a "collector", please don't be offended by me! Just put me in the "user" category.

I've some 3/4" Plvmb tools I enjoy using, yeah I know some of you guys would just cringe, but they are good tools, and work well. Amazing how well they were designed and built, so long ago.

 

[Bull]

can't help myself!!!

if your a "collector", please don't be offended by me! Just put me in the "user" category.

I've some 3/4" Plvmb tools I enjoy using, yeah I know some of you guys would just cringe, but they are good tools, and work well. Amazing how well they were designed and built, so long ago.

I think that using vintage tools is fine. But taking a pristine set that has survived as an example of times past for forty years and flogging it? No way.

 

[littletoes]

I think that using vintage tools is fine. But taking a pristine set that has survived as an example of times past for forty years and flogging it? No way.

Flogging it??? by that do you mean abusing them??? No way...I don't believe in abusing any quality tools.

I'm a tool user, not a tool abuser-not good tools that is. But I do believe in using them.

How many sets must be "set-aside" out there????? Everyone that has a tool that is 40 years old should just "set it aside", regardless of condition?? Especially if its in great shape??? When I buy a new Snappy tool, they are usually in GREAT shape...but I use them, and on occasion I break a tool....but it was used as designed, not babied.

I want nothing to do with a tool that needs babied.

(You have no idea how hard it was for me to NOT "bold" that last sentence!!!).

 

[Bull]

Flogging it??? by that do you mean abusing them??? No way...I don't believe in abusing any quality tools.

I'm a tool user, not a tool abuser-not good tools that is. But I do believe in using them.

How many sets must be "set-aside" out there????? Everyone that has a tool that is 40 years old should just "set it aside", regardless of condition?? Especially if its in great shape??? When I buy a new Snappy tool, they are usually in GREAT shape...but I use them, and on occasion I break a tool....but it was used as designed, not babied.

I want nothing to do with a tool that needs babied.

(You have no idea how hard it was for me to NOT "bold" that last sentence!!!).

I'll adjust it: even to USE a pristine and virgin set of this kind would be a mistake IMO. There are no end of tools to be used; survivor sets should be spared.

This set isn't just "forty years old" or anything. It looks NOS. NOS is different from just plain old. I doubt there are many NOS 3/4 drive SW sets waiting for our discovery.

You probably liked it when that parking garage attendant took Cameron's dad's pristine low mileage Ferrari for an epic joy ride on the dity streets, didn't you?

 

[B17E1943]

You probably liked it when that parking garage attendant took Cameron's dad's pristine low mileage Ferrari for an epic joy ride on the dity streets, didn't you?

I'm in the "preserve it" camp. How many of these sets can still be out there in unused, NOS condition?

NICE set!

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I've seen good used Proto 3/4 sets at the swap meet for $150.

Me personally, I'd have to sell the Walden set for $300, so I could buy a good used set (like the aforementioned Proto) and then still have $ left over to invest in other tools. No reason to sell it if you can't replace it and come out ahead.

I'd throw it on eBay for $300+, and maybe there is a Walden collector who would LOVE to have it for $300+. It only takes one. He's happy, you're happy. Win Win. If it doesn't sell, no love lost. Cool set to have and if you're not wrenching Caterpillars daily, you can still take damn good care of it during use.

Just my 2 pennies.

 

[littletoes]

I'll adjust it: even to USE a pristine and virgin set of this kind would be a mistake IMO. There are no end of tools to be used; survivor sets should be spared.

This set isn't just "forty years old" or anything. It looks NOS. NOS is different from just plain old. I doubt there are many NOS 3/4 drive SW sets waiting for our discovery.

You probably liked it when that parking garage attendant took Cameron's dad's pristine low mileage Ferrari for an epic joy ride on the dity streets, didn't you?

I'm lost....who is Cameron, and "what" garage attendant???



But no....that socket set isn't a Ferrari!!! But if I DID have a pristine Ferrari, I'd DRIVE IT!!! Without a doubt.




PS-I am going to add! I've fired a $40,000.00 rifle....yes, it needed to be fired, not sit on a shelf....you don't want to know what I think about a beautiful woman....ask my wife, She's a beauty!!! You guys put 'em on a shelf!!! HAHAHAHA!

 

[Farmall450]

I vote for: too nice to use.

There are ample 3/4 drive sets to be had for cheap if you just need a set for occasional wrenching. That set has survived all these years in original condition. It will never be that way again.

Just because it was made to be used, doesn't mean it must be used.

I might have to agree, that's an amazing set...wish I found stuff like that!

Or use it lightly if you do.

 

[ganymede]

You know, I was of the 'use it but take care of it' camp but thinking more now, Bull and others are right. There are millions of already lightly used vintage socket sets and brand new current production sets to use .
Set that pristine Walden aside.

 

[Gregg33]

It depends what you mean by "use"? If it's in a shop environment or you use 3/4" drive a lot it probably wouldn't be my go to set. But if you only need 3/4 drive the odd time I don't see any reason not to. I don't abuse my tools, but other than a NOS Gray socket set I bought that's still sealed up, I would use every tool I own if I needed to. Like others indicated you can clean them up afterwards and relatively speaking that set probably isn't that valuable. Regardless that's really neat find!

 

[srmofo]

no one wants that junk, scrap 'em...

 

[nicksnothereman]

A couple of weeks ago I went to estate sale/auction of a gentlemen that owned a tool store. From what I was told he closed up many years ago due to poor health and now the estate is selling every thing. I was amazed at the amount of new tools he had. Anyway I came home with a quite a few items.
Including a NOS Stevens Walden 3/4” drive socket set. My first socket set was a Stevens Walden that got when I was about 10 years old so I kind of have a soft spot for them.
I needed a 3/4” drive set so I got the set.
Now after getting it home and looking at it I am thinking it should go to a collector?
The cool thing is it has the newspaper it was packed in at the Worcester factory dated Sept. 19 1974.
Has a ratchet, 2 double male extensions, female to female adapter, breaker bar and 18 sockets sized 1” to 2 1/4”
What do you guys think. Too rare to use?

Well...you bought it to use so...you could sell the set get the money and buy another set or you could just use them. I'm not a collector so I would just use these unless they're worth a WHOLE lot.

I don't think walden stuff is worth that much. It's decent though.

 

[airdale]

So how about someone from the "Preserve It" camp puts up an offer to the OP to trade for a new comparable set? Hmmm?