Older Snap-On Slip Joint Pliers

[OilyRascal]

Hello members - I'm new to the forum, and reading a thread prompted a question I've had long standing. I have a set of Snap-On slip joint pliers that are about 8" long, have cutters, three rows of vacuum grips on the handles, and markings of "Snap-On 137 USA" on the inside of both handles. I've been unable to find a date code anywhere on the pliers.

I can find information on a two row vacuum grip slip joint 137 pliers made in the 1950s, but no information otherwise. Does anyone have information on the 137 series with 3 rows on the handle?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[fordbroncodave]

i do not believe they stamped pliers with date codes. you could look at pictures out of a snap on catalog before the 1950's and after the 1950's and see if you can compare.

 

[billymade]

These three pages might help: the Forged Steel Products Company actually made Snapon's stuff earlier, this maybe why they didn't have date codes. Snapon later acquired the Forged Steel Products Company but continued to make the tools there..

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/snapon-bluepoint-tools-p4.html#pliers

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/forged-steel-products.html

You can look at old snapon cats here and try the pliers section too for more possible info: www.collectingsnapon.com

 

[OilyRascal]

The pliers do not have "vacuum grip" written on them anywhere. The only markings are inside the handles, and both handles are marked the same with "snap-on 137 usa".

I had read the Alloy Artifacts website this morning, although I did not see the "products" specific page. I do now see three row handles the descriptions there, but none of the same markings on the pliers.

I don't know how to attach a picture directly to the post, so I've posted them in an album online - https://plus.google.com/photos/114330698892254586396/albums/5692774259259487441?authkey=CPmj-N_Pybz9_QE

Thanks for the information/leads.

 

[OilyRascal]

The 1950 Catalog has a pair of that looks like them, but then again so do earlier catalog pictures. I can't see any markings on the pictures within the catalogs, and the 137 product appears to have been produced for decades.

pic in 1950 http://www.collectingsnapon.com/catalogs/catalogs.php?loggedin=0&catalogPage=1208catalog -

 

[lbgradwell]

...the 137 product appears to have been produced for decades.

Yes. From 1926 to 1970 in fact...

that are about 8" long..

How long are they exactly?

 

[OilyRascal]

They are exactly 7-3/8 inches long.

 

[lbgradwell]

Sometime after 1950, the 137 model changed from 7" to 7-1/2". The change was in place by 1953.

It's not much help, but your date range is narrowed to 1951-1970.