Post up your Thorsen tools!

[Oldtuleguy]

Sure looks like it

 

[outofbounds]

Went for a revisit to my local lunchtime "honey hole" where I turned up a SK Lectrolite socket box yesterday, as the nearby estate sale was a bust......Must have overlooked this 1950s Thorsen cutie yesterday. 15" long x 3" wide x 2" tall. Seems as if the socket rail would support a run of conventional 1/2 drive sockets, but it wouldn't leave a ton of room for drive tools on the opposite side, perhaps just a ratchet, and couple of extensions. Can't imagine a breaker bar, or even a sliding tee would fit with a ratchet

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nutspinner set. Probably intended for a hinge handle and cross bar only.

 

[outofbounds]

Nutspinner set. Probably intended for a hinge handle and cross bar only.

Only thing I see online appearing similar (long slender box with full length socket rail) in their 1955 catalog is a Socket Set No. 1215 which features both a ratchet and an 18" Breaker Bar. Only problem is my box is only 15" long

https://archive.org/details/ThorsenSocketSets1955/mode/2up

 

[four.cycle]

I'm going to go with either a 1212 or 1215, depending upon how many sockets you want to jam into that box.
As I recall, the model 77 (open gear) ratchet has a relatively small drive head compared to the later 77C (sealed head) RHFT model.





(* I thought Mark already had all this material uploaded at ITCL. *)

 

[outofbounds]

I'm going to go with either a 1212 or 1215, depending upon how many sockets you want to jam into that box.
As I recall, the model 77 (open gear) ratchet has a relatively small drive head compared to the later 77C (sealed head) RHFT model.





(* I thought Mark already had all this material uploaded at ITCL. *)

I'm 100% on the 1212 now, 4cycle. I completely missed that one! Yes, it would have to be a breaker bar/flex that is only 15" long. I'm actually surprised to learn that they'd have two that similar in length.

 

[four.cycle]

I don't have a 77 or 77C immediately at hand, but the model 77NR longer-handled model should have the same dimensions (on the drive head) as the model 77:

 

[outofbounds]

I don't have a 77 or 77C immediately at hand, but the model 77NR longer-handled model should have the same dimensions (on the drive head) as the model 77:

Thanks a cool ratchet!

 

[four.cycle]

It's a beast but it will get the job done.

I know I've got several old model 77 open-head units around here somewhere. My "go to" 1/2" drive is an old Kilness-patent "Husky".

 

[d42jeep]

I'm going to go with either a 1212 or 1215, depending upon how many sockets you want to jam into that box.
As I recall, the model 77 (open gear) ratchet has a relatively small drive head compared to the later 77C (sealed head) RHFT model.





(* I thought Mark already had all this material uploaded at ITCL. *)

Yep, looks like a box for a 1212 set.
-Don

 

[mtgrizzlymn69]

My collection of thorsen!


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[bmwrd0]

I have a later version of that set, ratchet only, no breaker bar.

 

[d42jeep]

My collection of thorsen!


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Nice collection!
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice

 

[d42jeep]

These nice 1/4” drive Thorsen pieces came as extras in a Walden set that arrived last week. The well used 3/8” drive ratchet was at a tool sale last Friday. I just can’t seem to leave them behind.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

My collection of thorsen!


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[BlakeTheCarGuy]

My collection of thorsen!


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Wow nice collection there. That’s more Thorsen than I’ve ever seen in one place.


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[cchamelin]

Got these two boards at a garage sale for $5 each. Been trying to fill the boards without paying more than $1 per piece. I’ve gotten this far, so far, but I think I’m going to have to pay more to finish this up.

 

[four.cycle]

^ The 62J spinners should be a dime a dozen - there are thousands of them in the second-hand market and nobody uses those things any more. I have one that's never had a socket on it.
The 626 SP sockets are the same: overly abundant.
The 77J ratchet sells on Ebay for anywhere from $12. to $20., depending upon how uninformed the buyers are. The 12J breaker for usually about the same, maybe less.
I have a handful of those missing wobblies along the bottom row around here somewhere. Not sure if mine are 6-point or 12-point, or which the board calls for (I can't see the part numbers.)
That long drag link socket (upper right) shows up on Ebay recurrently, but sellers think they're actually worth money (for reasons which defy explanation.)

Minimum flat rate via USPS is about $9 bucks now, so I don't think I can get down to "$1.00 each".

The spinner I sent to another member cost me about $12. bucks to ship. Probably best to find one at a flea market or swap meet or garage sale.

 

[bmwrd0]

4cycle, you don't happen to have the 1/4" inch version of that spinner lying around? The 62m? have a set that happens to need one.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have at least a half a dozen Thorsen 1/4" sets, but no 62M spinner. I had an opportunity to get one as part of a complete pristine late 1950s set, but the seller wouldn't budge on price - they apparently equated Thorsen's value with Snap-on.

I just do not see any Thorsen 1/4" drive set produced after WWII being worth north of $100 bucks in my lifetime.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here's a giller version that's been chillin on my wall. Picked it up for a couple bucks.

 

[Provincial]

I have a 62M in my user set. Chrome has some issues, but it functions just fine, so it works for a living.

 

[bmwrd0]

I have a Proto in my working box, but I have a 1420 box I am trying to fill, and that is the 1/4 master set. I'll get there eventually, but I think it is going to take time.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a nice mix of Thorsen tools at an estate sale this morning. It’s always good to find some metric wrenches.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

I found a nice mix of Thorsen tools at an estate sale this morning. It’s always good to find some metric wrenches.
-Don

Nice little grouping. Metrics are always a welcome addition.

And those green top drivers really stand out in a box loose tools.

 

[Old Radar]

Found this 1955ish 3808U set of 3/8 drive swivel sockets this week. Missing the 3/4" 424J. The universal was found at the same sale but is not part of the set. The box is sturdy but the paint is flaking and there are no decals. Anyone have a 424J they'd like to sell, please contact me.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice swivels

 

[Provincial]

Mr. X identified this DBE as early Thorsen. No markings other than the model number and sizes.

 

[MR.X]

Probably one of, if not The earliest Thorsen 3/4" drive sets. The earliest catalog pictured set that I know of has a metal box which I have, but the socket set in that one which is also pre tool number has beveled working ends while these sockets are both thicker and non beveled. Probably doesn't take too sharp an eye to notice the non period Plomb breaker that came with the set when I bought it. Actually the correct push thru No. 79 ratchet came in the old Forest Service metal box of the other set but I figured I should add it to the pic.

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a few Thorsen finds at sales yesterday. The stubby driver looks pretty new.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Surprisingly intact chrome plating on my Nevada garage sale Thorsen finds yesterday.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Nice finds, Don. That stubby driver looks unused.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Picked up a dayton metric set

 

[four.cycle]

wow.... didn't know Dayton even branded a metric set.
lemme guess: 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 and 19, right?

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It has a 15 but no 16, probably because 16 is same as 5/8.

 

[d42jeep]

When Thorsen was still producing tools in the US, 16mm wasn’t at all a popular size.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It's a pat pending ratchet, decal has a zip code, so later than 64. Maybe from 70s?

 

[four.cycle]

early 89J model maybe?
two black prongs that stick out on the drive side when you push the selector knob?
...but yours doesn't have the thumbwheel.

(* catalog 1008-8 is the 1988 Thorsen catalog - announcing the 89J model as "New" when it was in fact being produced in the early 1970s.)
(patent 3815451 Jun 11 1974 John Penner)

I have at least three or four of those, but all of mine have the thumbwheel.
You got an early-production oddball there re-branded Dayton?

(the inclusion of the 15mm socket adds a bit of weirdness too.. look at the label on Don's set above... )

 

[Oldtuleguy]

It's not the quick release ratchet. I have a powrkraft version of that one. Here they are together.