Post up your Thorsen tools!

[d42jeep]

This #3034 DOE wrench that was missing from my collection arrived today. It’s 1-1/16” x 1-1/8”.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a dark finish 1/4” drive universal that was included in a partial S-K set.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ interesting, because not many manufacturers offered a 1/4" drive universal joint until fairly late in the game.
is marked TTC?

 

[d42jeep]

It must be a little newer than the TT in a circle vintage.
-Don

 

[Unk]

The label lists the contents of the set.
-Don

Don, I finally bought some card stock and got that label you posted for me last year printed out and put in my father's socket set. Thanks for posting it. I remember using this from the mid-1960s. Dad added the short extension in the 1970s. So I have been using this socket set for around 60 years now.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a partial metric 3/8” drive set I found at a NV yard sale yesterday.
-Don

 

[Snaparxon]

A Thorsen 77JA, 9/16 12pt

 

[d42jeep]

That’s an early one!
Did some cleaning on my Thorsen finds from Saturday.
-Don

 

[2001ZR2]

Took a chance on a FB market place for a Thorsen set. Not many of originals left but did get a S-K ratchet and Breaker Bar from so..The label from the box.

The treasures from the box and a few socket lots of brands. I wound upwith 2 each of 1/2" and 9/16" swivel. Lots of other brands such as Craftsman and KAL Japan




I did get a S-K ratchet and Breaker Bar both 3/8".

 

[2001ZR2]

My previous was getting hard to enter so two posts will have be.


The Ratchet is unmarked but consistent with what I've seen for other Thorsen units.

Also did get some Giller stuff which I am given was a tool provided to the Military.


If you can help me confirm that the flex head is a Thorsen it would be appreciated.

 

[d42jeep]

I don’t believe that your flex head ratchet is Thorsen. All of the Thorsen ratchets I have are marked.
The box and label indicates that set was made for the military since it has an FSN (Federal Stock Number). Here are a couple examples of my FSN marked sets.
-Don

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Five months later and one of my two 1438 RBS sets is complete! I went with this spinner due to my other one's handles being too fat and not allowing the box lid to close.

Thanks to Don (d42jeep) for that label hook up!

 

[four.cycle]

@2001ZR2 - no, that flex-head unit is not Thorsen - at least not U.S. made Thorsen, anyway.

Thorsen's 3/8" drive flex-head ratchet was the 77NR model:

Thorsen 77NR 3.8 dr flex-head ratchet 040124

Yours might be a later offshore-produced "Thorsen II", but without a stamp it's hard to say.

====

These oddballs came out of a box of stuff I picked up last week:


ACTION 80MA 1/4" drive spinner handle
Thorsen 14018 9/16" "V-Groove" combination wrench
Thorsen 322 1/2" dr. x 11/6" 12-pt. shallow socket
Thorsen 11218 3/8" drive 9/16" 6-pt shallow socket

091325

 

[2001ZR2]

Thanks all interesting to learn it was a military set as I got some Giller and KAL Japan sockets.
My pitiful research shows those brands were used by military.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Correct.
Giller was 100% contract production for government/military

American KAL Enterprises was almost all contract production, a huge portion of which was government/military.

Giller / Giller Tool Co., 2527 Willowbrook Road, Dallas, TX 75220 / see also Thorsen / est. 1952 (?) / https://wrenchwiki.com/giller-tool-company/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...-chicago-stamped-1967-anyone-have-one.494167/ / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/giller-socket-set-box.490292/ /

American / American KAL Enterprises Inc., 4265 Puente Ave., Baldwin Park, CA 91706 / est. 1966, incorporated 1990 / military and government contract supplier / parent company of Pro America Premium Tools / see also Pro America Premium Tools / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...terprises-inc-emporium-forging-co-inc.491165/ /

 

[CCaillet]

Anyone have any info on this Thorsen 1/4 drive set?

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Anyone have any info on this Thorsen 1/4 drive set?

Being it doesn't have the plastic insert tray, I'd say late 1970's. Here's the link to the International Tool Catalog Library for the similar 1980 version (and same labeling). https://archive.org/details/ThorsenToolCatalogNo10088/page/n6/mode/1up

 

[CCaillet]

Being it doesn't have the plastic insert tray, I'd say late 1970's. Here's the link to the International Tool Catalog Library for the similar 1980 version (and same labeling). https://archive.org/details/ThorsenToolCatalogNo10088/page/n6/mode/1up

I think what I have is a SET NO. 1414.
I can't find any pictures of a 1414.
It's the same part numbers as the 1416, without the "MS" 8pt sockets.

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

ITCL has a 1975 catalog. It's different labeling and motto. But again only lists a 1411 and 1416 sets. Reviewing the 1960 catalog, again only 1411 and 1416. I looked back at my previous collection data (lost quite a few sets due to Hurricane Helene flood) and don't see anything stating a 1414 set. Fourcycle and D42jeep will chime in on this soon enough. I'd say your set is likely 1978-79 but no catalog available to preview.

 

[d42jeep]

I don’t have any version of that set. I have a 16 piece 1/4” drive set but foam rubber insulation was glued over the label. I did a quick check of available Thorsen catalogs and didn’t see that particular set.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

Curiously, the Thorsen 1414 set appears in the Feb 1 1983 Hardware Dealer Price List on page 5, but does not appear in the 1983 Thorsen catalog 1008-10. Nor does it appear in the 1988 catalog 1008-8.

Suggest retail price $27.69, weight 1.43 pounds.

 

[genog]

Spent a minute or two looking through this thread, trying to figure out what I had picked up today
.....apparently it's a 1438RBS set.

A Seller at the High School Flea Market had this Thorsen 3/8 and 1/4 set for several months now
I passed on it and passed on it AND passed on it....

Since I have my fill of the Corona pruners that I had been buying from him.... he's such a nice guy.....
He gives me cookies from his native country
Croatia...?
or is he from Bosnia.....?
We have nice chats, so I just couldn't leave empty handed

Missing a few sockets here and there
and and it looks like the set is also missing an adapter
Grrr......


Lemme see now.....1438RBS
So...1438 for 1/4" and 3/8"
RBS for Red Box Special

 

[d42jeep]

I found an adapter on eBay for my RBS that isn’t red.
Wrong color.
Fortunately , I have one that’s red.
Let me know what sockets you are missing. I should be back in the Bay Area mid October.
-Don

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

I found an adapter on eBay for my RBS that isn’t red.
Wrong color.
Fortunately , I have one that’s red.
Let me know what sockets you are missing. I should be back in the Bay Area mid October.
-Don

Don- do you think that not-red box is an Action? Gonna look in my shop later, believe I've got an action box that same color and set up the same as my Thorsen RBS...

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Spent a minute or two looking through this thread, trying to figure out what I had picked up today
.....apparently it's a 1438RBS set.

A Seller at the High School Flea Market had this Thorsen 3/8 and 1/4 set for several months now
I passed on it and passed on it AND passed on it....

Since I have my fill of the Corona pruners that I had been buying from him.... he's such a nice guy.....
He gives me cookies from his native country
Croatia...?
or is he from Bosnia.....?
We have nice chats, so I just couldn't leave empty handed

Missing a few sockets here and there
and and it looks like the set is also missing an adapter
Grrr......


Lemme see now.....1438RBS
So...1438 for 1/4" and 3/8"
RBS for Red Box Set

Take a look at my completed set a few posts up from here. Lemme know which sockets you are missing as I probably have multiples and can help you get that box back to its original shape. I don't have an extra adapter but do on the sockets. I'll photo copy the insert that Don sent me onto hard stock and send ya that too. Just PM me...

 

[d42jeep]

I’m pretty sure that the paper red box label was put in that box at the factory. I strongly suspect that quality control slipped up on that set and somebody just grabbed the wrong box. Whether the box was intended for an Action set I don’t know.
-Don

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

I’m pretty sure that the paper red box label was put in that box at the factory. I strongly suspect that quality control slipped up on that set and somebody just grabbed the wrong box. Whether the box was intended for an Action set I don’t know.
-Don

Ha ha, new guy at the Thorsen factory assembly line. One day they ran out of red boxes and that guy needed to finish one more set to qualify for the "most boxes finished in a day prize". He walks over to the Action assembly line and snags a blue box...the rest is history!

 

[d42jeep]

It seems that boxes painted that color were used for both Thorsen and Action sets, Thorsen quality control has always been suspect.
-Don
Note the red divider in the Action set.
Thorsen set colors.
”Red” box special.
-Don

 

[disston]

...

 

[disston]

Bought yesterday for $3.00 at Flea Market at RFK stadium in Washington, DC.

Thorsen 54110

 

[d42jeep]

I find very few Thorsen marked pliers, so I bid on these groove joint pliers. They have been used hard but I don’t mind too much since I’ve never seen another set in person.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

Note the red divider in the Action set.

The "red divider" is covered by patent 3096877 Jul 9 1963 Norman E. Skarsten
(not sure why it's not listed at datamp.org)

I bought two NOS sets of 7-inch Thorsen diagonal cutters from an ebay seller for $7.00 each including shipping. Gave one to my buddy, who was not impressed. Sent the other pair out to a member here - can't remember who. They had dark green dipped handles, like S-K.

 

[2001ZR2]

Found this at an estate sale where they were have a "Sack Attack" so this was in the wrench haul I got.

An 18 mm Thorsen w/o COO

 

[four.cycle]

^ produced in Taiwan (ROC) or China (PRC) - see note below (post #1796)

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a Thorsen raised panel combination wrench. The wrench itself isn’t marked with a COO. I guess Thorsen got around that by marking the packaging.
Thorsen actually sold a few raised panel combination wrenches in the US but they are clearly marked with the COO.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

Thorsen was outsourcing from Taiwan, India, and China (PRC) - and it appears they were using the same 5-digit part numbering system.
My comment above was not entirely accurate.
This is a 22-piece set of "Thorsen" that contains product made in U.S.A., Korea, Taiwan, and India. (List of components and COO here)

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

This Giller 1/4” drive set arrived in the mail yesterday. It seems to just be missing the 1/4” socket and perhaps a spinner.
-Don

Just got this Giller set from Raineman. Has an assortment of 6pt, 12pt and the standard three 8pt sockets. By the time I stock it with the flex handle, ratchet, 6" and 2" extensions I doubt a spinner handle would fit. I know many Thorsen 1/4 drive sets (specifically the 1416) in late 50s through mid 60s didn't include the spinner handle. BTW, what's the model # on your 2" extension?

 

[d42jeep]

Just got this Giller set from Raineman. Has an assortment of 6pt, 12pt and the standard three 8pt sockets. By the time I stock it with the flex handle, ratchet, 6" and 2" extensions I doubt a spinner handle would fit. I know many Thorsen 1/4 drive sets (specifically the 1416) in late 50s through mid 60s didn't include the spinner handle. BTW, what's the model # on your 2" extension?

I believe that the part number is 50.
-Don

 

[INSP380]

Got this in a recent box I purchased, 12J 3/8 Breaker Bar… just about unused…

Steve

 

[four.cycle]

50M (Thorsen or Giller) or 50MA (Action) on the 2-inch extension. Kind of an odd duck - wasn't supplied in most of the sets.

There's one in this set. No idea how it got there.