Post up your Thorsen tools!

[AC-WC]

I picked up this set of 3/4" maybe 20 yrs ago at an auction for $50. It was a steal then because anything close in price was China can. Lucky for me the other person stopped bidding.
I use the 1 1/8 socket 2x a year changing my tractor hitch. Not sure I've ever used the other sockets. Used the ratchet removing a caliper on the Chrysler solely for the leverage. Money well spent to have the tool when you need it.
The 3/8 extension I don't remember where I got it but it's my preferred ext because it's thinner than my cman.

 

[d42jeep]

I found several Thorsen pieces at this morning’s estate sale.
The partial socket set was 3/8” drive metric. I cleaned up the rack and sockets then went through my spares to get the set closer to full and matching.
The Thorsen tools cleaned up. I cleaned up the 5/8” combo but it didn’t get included in the picture.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

From a sale today. HWI spark plug socket made by Thorsen. Came in a box with mostly Thorsen sockets and this short 3/8 extension.

 

[bonneyman]

I found several Thorsen pieces at this morning’s estate sale.
The Thorsen tools cleaned up. I cleaned up the 5/8” combo but it didn’t get included in the picture.
-Don

I passed on a torque wrench like that because I really don't use them, but the handle just looked so cool.

 

[GemState10ER]

Found this old boy…still works too!

 

[MR.X]

Found this old boy…still works too!

3/8" drive?

 

[GemState10ER]

Yessir 3/8

 

[2001ZR2]

1-1/16" USA made combo wrench for $3.50 @ estate sale but was $10.49 new. The 13/16" socket is 3/8" drive from the bottom of mouse infested craftsman stack I've named the Hanta Hilton.

 

[d42jeep]

A few Thorsen finds at estate sales today.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found this empty box on Saturday at an estate sale. I’m not sure exactly which set it’s for. The usual tag on the end of the box is missing.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ If I had to make a guess, I'd say a set # 1212 - look at the 1956 "catalog" pages.

 

[MisterEd]

Action (Thorsen Manufacturing Company) 77JA 3/8” Ratchet

Generally, I see a ratchet bearing a colored sticker at a yard/garage/tag/estate sale saying $1 and I ignore it, but this one must’ve called to me. Clean. Classically nondescript. Faint muscle memory from having used one back in the however many days.

“Draw a picture of a ratchet.” It’d resemble like that.

So, until something more appealingly nondescript and functionally-basic and sturdy calls to me, I’ll keep it readily accessible.

 

[bonneyman]

Mister Ed, I have that ratchet in the Thorsen variety that I have had since 1981. Still works flawlessly. I think it's going to outlive me!

Solid tool, nice knurling, good balance, head not overly big, nice action. Everything a man wants in a ratchet!

 

[d42jeep]

^ If I had to make a guess, I'd say a set # 1212 - look at the 1956 "catalog" pages.

That is my opinion as well. The 1212 set is pretty rudimentary so I’ve added some extras to this one, mostly from my spares. It seems like an extension, a ratchet, a spark plug socket and a few other pieces would make the set more useful. I used a longer flex handle as well since it fits in the box.
The 1212 set.
My new set missing two sockets which are now on the way
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ Craftsman offered a "bare bones" 1/2" drive set that was only the breaker and sockets. Pretty sure Indestro did as well in the 50s.

Thorsen probably put all that extra space in that box for exactly what you've done to it.

 

[d42jeep]

I since found out that the box was made for the larger set. I had a labeled 1212 box in the basement that I had cobbled into a set with early dark finish tools. I decided to put all the more recent tools into it and make it match the catalogs.
With dark finish tools.
The 1212 labeled box is quite a bit smaller than the new box. Only the shorter flex handle will fit in it
I loaded up the new box with earlier sockets up to 1-1/4”
Extras added to the larger set.

Side by side.
Larger set in the catalog.-Don

 

[3baygarage]

I was happy to pull a partial set from the Habitat socket bin on the cheap yesterday.

Like that old blocky design. The 13/16 must have been upgraded at some point. Kind of neat to see the 1-3/16” there.

 

[82355]

Jealous of that 1-3/16" socket!

Martin

 

[3baygarage]

Jealous of that 1-3/16" socket!

Martin

Oddly, it has the most grease in it. I wouldn't know where to use that size.

 

[82355]

John Deere uses it.

. . . . but if you buy a John Deere wrench set, it skips it . . . .

Martin

 

[Snaparxon]

Oddly, it has the most grease in it. I wouldn't know where to use that size.

1-3/16 is close to 30mm. When I worked on Deere stuff I used 1-3/16 instead of 30mm. Had a Snap on impact that was marked with both too.

 

[d42jeep]

I found out that the box was made for the larger set. I had a labeled 1212 box in the basement that I had cobbled into a set with early dark finish tools. I decided to put all the more recent tools into it and make it match the catalog.
With dark finish tools.
The 1212 labeled box is quite a bit smaller than the new box. Only the shorter flex handle will fit in it
I loaded up the new box with earlier sockets up to 1-1/4”
Extras added to the larger set.

Side by side.
Larger set in the catalog.-Don

The sockets to complete the two 1/2” drive sets arrived in the mail today.
For the 1212 set.
The 1212 set complete
Sockets for the 1215.
The 1215 complete.
Moved them into the basement Thorsen display.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I always keep an eye out for USN marked tools and this Thorsen 3/8” deep socket arrived today.
12 point.
I gathered the others from the Navy box for a family portrait.
Back in the Navy box
-Don

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Purchased this Action 3812A set to help finish up a different set I'm restocking. It came with a smathering of Thorsen sockets too and this, I believe, G.M. Co. 1/4 drive removable head ratchet. My bad in discovering my set I'm restocking is a M3812A (metric set) but happy to have this set to start restocking. Then I noticed the tear to the upper left corner of the advertising label on the inside lid...a closer review yielded the original purchase receipt from 1962...nice bonus! Now it's off to the shop to dig through the Action spares to see how "done" I can get this.

 

[d42jeep]

Some 3/8” drive Action spares. I don’t intentionally collect them but they often are included in Thorsen sets.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Purchased this Action 3812A set to help finish up a different set I'm restocking. It came with a smathering of Thorsen sockets too and this, I believe, G.M. Co. 1/4 drive removable head ratchet. My bad in discovering my set I'm restocking is a M3812A (metric set) but happy to have this set to start restocking. Then I noticed the tear to the upper left corner of the advertising label on the inside lid...a closer review yielded the original purchase receipt from 1962...nice bonus! Now it's off to the shop to dig through the Action spares to see how "done" I can get this.

Love that frankenstein 1/4" ratchet!
Here's a few pics of disassembly for cleaning/lube.

 

[d42jeep]

My few Thorsen finds from yesterday’s tool sale, cleaned up.
The universal is very odd. It looks as if during the assembly process, they were trying to make a 5/8” universal socket but accidentally attached two drive end pieces to one another.
-Don

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

My few Thorsen finds from yesterday’s tool sale, cleaned up.
The universal is very odd. It looks as if during the assembly process, they were trying to make a 5/8” universal socket but accidentally attached two drive end pieces to one another.
-Don

Ummm, yeah. They apparently had some personnel issues working that assembly line at times...this was probably done during the glass top socket box era...

 

[d42jeep]

Emeryville was known for gambling, brothels and bars back in the day. Maybe it was assembled after a 3 martini lunch. That’s probably why Thorsen claimed they were based in Oakland.
-Don

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Emeryville was known for gambling, brothels and bars back in the day. Maybe it was assembled after a 3 martini lunch. That’s probably why Thorsen claimed they were based in Oakland.
-Don

Ahhh, yes, strippers need day jobs too!

 

[MR.X]

Anyone want anything while I’m here?

 

[d42jeep]

I’ll send you a list! Is that the San Francisco sales office? The buildings seem very close together like in the City.
-Don

 

[MR.X]

I’ll send you a list! Is that the San Francisco sales office? The buildings seem very close together like in the City.
-Do

Yep. 1475 Bush St. San Francisco

 

[four.cycle]

great photo. thanks!

 

[bonneyman]

Oh, snap! I wish I had some money!

That store is like a pirates treasure chest.

 

[four.cycle]

Anyone want anything while I’m here?

any idea on YEAR on that photo image?
the vehicle reflected in the window appears to be a 1963 Chrysler

 

[d42jeep]

I think we missed the sale.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

I think we missed the sale.
-Don

If you snooze, you lose!

 

[RMikita]

Hi everyone! I have an early box here, very intriguing......not your usual square base, not sure what to call them, hex, Allen? They are circle TT tools, San Francisco and numbers 6 thru 14 sockets with the 1st and last ones being knurled. A beautiful wood handled driver, here's some photos.

 

[RMikita]

The markings vary, some with circle TT, some with just numbers. 6 thru 9 are 6 point sockets, 10 thru 14 are 12 point