Old "Japan" Socket Set, Worth Anything?

[Gregg33]

I got this socket set as part of a lot of tools I bought. I was hoping it was U.S. Husky or Gray but unfortunately it's just labelled "Japan". I was wondering what make it is and what retailer sold it. Would anyone even buy it for more than a few $, considering you can get a whole Mastercrap 233 piece tool set for $80 on sale? I'm listing it on Kijiji for $15 and getting no responses. As the pics show it's in pretty good shape for an older set and has no missing sockets, but it is missing the ratchet. I only wish I had a full set of Snap Ons or Grays as I only have incomplete sets of those.

 

[dirtrider]

Yeah my dad had this exact same kit from when he was a kid , back then if it said Made in Japan it was junk.Now maybe it's possible some collector or someone else would wan't it, but since the tools are not good quality I would not think there worth hardly anything.

 

[r07d24]

I just recently had success selling something similar on CL, but they were the newer Master Mechanic, Made in Tawain.
What I would do with that is (and what I did with mine)...
Get rid of the foam tray insert.
Do a quick clean and sand of the tool box, polish up the hardware with some super fine steel wool.
Get some RustOleum Hammered paint, and tape off the hardware really good.
Polish up the tools and get some .99cent socket rails at H.Freight.
Go to the dollar store and get a roll of rubberized drawer liners.
Find a few other sockets,wrenches, whatever that you don't want and throw in there also.

Materials (paint,rails,liners) = $10
cost of tools/box @ garage sale??= maybe $10
1 hour of time

Sold for $50

Also... good pics really help. With what you got there, if you clean & paint the box and with the tools, I would list it for at least $40.

 

[woody 73]

Just a thought,I realize you want to sell it,but have you ever considered putting that set in your car ; it is a wonderful set to take to a junk yard and if you should lose a part,then it will not be a big deal.

Woody

 

[stricht8]

I don't think anyone is going to pay $40 for that!

 

[SocketDeviler]

Not sure who sold those sets (most likely hardware stores) but they sure are common around here. I can't imagine you'd get much more than $10-12.00 at a garage sale. At least then you have the hands-on impulse buy on your side. As stated the set would be a good trunk kit or perhaps you could give them to someone with little to no tools.

 

[Gregg33]

If I could get more than $10 I'd be happy. I realize if I clean it up (or find a ratchet for the set) I could get more, but I've already got 2 boxes of tools to clean up (that I want to keep) mostly Snap On, Mossberg and some old hammers and screw drivers. Also I don't have much $ into them. I guess in a worse case scenario I could donate them to one of my buddies. I don't have much use for them myself as I already have three 1/2" sets.

 

[dirtrider]

Yeah I wouldn't even bother selling them, just keep it for a roadside kit or give them to someone. Sometimes it's handy to have tools that you don't mind breaking or to fabricate into a "special tool" for a specialized use.

 

[matthew]

That label on the 13/16" plug socket looks a lot like the one half peeled off an Indestro socket my father has. If that's the case, you might offer it around here to anyone looking to complete an Indestro set - not really worth more than a buck or two...

 

[Busted Bolts]

You gotta laugh at those paper thin combo wrenches, also it seemed that the gold sticker on the plug socket was universal to all plug sockets at the time for over seas stuff.

 

[Gregg33]

You gotta laugh at those paper thin combo wrenches, also it seemed that the gold sticker on the plug socket was universal to all plug sockets at the time for over seas stuff.

Yeah, those wrenches look like they came with something, either to be used as an emergency tool kit or to assemble something. I highly doubt they came with the set.

Re. the spark plug socket, I had another one with that same decal in another lot of sockets I sold. Between my own stuff and sockets I've sold, I've come across about 10 spark plug sockets, but no 3/4" (which some of my power equipment use). I looked at Lowe's and I need to buy a whole set (worth like $20 or $30) to get that size.

 

[Gregg33]

Sold this set for $8 to a guy who bought some other stuff from me. Not exactly what I wanted for them, but didn't feel like responding to emails, calling people etc. to get a few more $, plus I got the whole lot of stuff for $45 and I was only looking to offset my costs.

 

[r07d24]

Sometimes, you just gotta keep the money flowin'

As my Dad always use to say... "cash flow is the key"

 

[chewy7]

nope lol

 

[Gregg33]

Sometimes, you just gotta keep the money flowin'

As my Dad always use to say... "cash flow is the key"

lol