Post up your Thorsen tools!

[four.cycle]

79 (3/4" drive) is the anomaly - the others all follow the same pattern with the numbering system.

 

[honza.vosalik]

I know that this is the Thorsen thread but that Craftsman cabinet is awesome!

Thanks! The wrench board on the left is Thorsen

 

[OilyRascal]

Four examples of the 77NR - all marked "77NR". This represents one of the oldest and one of newest of this model. Note one is closed head.

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks! The wrench board on the left is Thorsen

I was pleased to be able to help Honza fill in some some of the empty spots on his nice Thorsen board and beautiful Craftsman cabinet.

Four examples of the 77NR - all marked "77NR". This represents one of the oldest and one of newest of this model. Note one is closed head.

When it comes to old tools, it seems like there is always an exception to any rule especially with early production models. Like four.cycle, I’ve never seen some ratchet examples that have been shown on this thread. Mr X has some other unusual early Thorsen ratchets.
-Don

 

[OilyRascal]

.........

When it comes to old tools, it seems like there is always an exception to any rule especially with early production models. Like four.cycle, I’ve never seen some ratchet examples that have been shown on this thread. Mr X has some other unusual early Thorsen ratchets.
-Don

I enjoy learning here. I have learned things from you both, and the thread as a whole, that I would not otherwise have known. Some of that through tool examples, and some simply from you/all sharing experience/knowledge. I appreciate being here to share what I have learned, and I appreciate all in this thread serving as teachers to me in the matter.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Oily - bear in mind that my own experience with Thorsen is limited to a brief period in the mid-1980s when we were selling it in our stores.
As I recall, we dropped the line almost right after we put it in, because the product we were receiving was offshore-sourced "TAT" (Thorsen Allied Tools) in place of the U.S. made product.
Additionally, I was at that time a young man living in the fast lane in the 1980s - tools were not a matter of great import to me then - I was far more interested in soft warm fuzzy things than American-made steel.

 

[honza.vosalik]

I still need following Thorsen wrenches to fill my toolboard: 2008, 2010, 2036, 2514, 2518, 3018, 3024.
Any help appreciated!

 

[RTM]

I've got a 3024, 3/4 x 7/8" DOE, with a forge date that my notes say is a 4.

Will add a pic later today, once I figure out which box its in. Just a few hours down the hill from you.

 

[four.cycle]

This is a Thorsen 21010 12-piece 3/8" drive 12-point METRIC socket set in a plastic blow-mold case that I just received from ebay seller Whatchamacallittools in Oklahoma City.
He is currently selling this set for $14.95 including shipping. Let the price sink in before you read any further.

I had already confirmed with the seller that the ratchet was indeed a U.S. made model 77JC Thorsen, and that the other components in the set were U.S. made Thorsen, so I went ahead and ordered one. (It's not like I don't have enough Thorsen socket sets here already.)

The sets are still sealed up in the original shrink wrap:

This stuff isn't World-War-Two-vintage-Plomb-military-contract stuff and isn't going to get better with age (and certainly not more valuable), so I went ahead and ripped the packaging off.
The first thing I noticed was that the latch on the plastic box broke, which came as no surprise considering these have been baking in the Oklahoma summer heat for at least 30 years:

I'm not too concerned about it. I always hated these ****** plastic boxes anyway. If the latch doesn't break, the hinge will, and there's no space in them to add more stuff.

And here's all our contents. We've got nice U.S. made Thorsen 12-points in 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 17mm, a 3-inch extension, and what appears to be a model 77JC Thorsen ratchet. (Somewhere on the packaging they claim that little black round thing is supposed to serve some purpose. I have yet to be convinced. Fortunately it won't take up a lot of space in my trash can.)


And now for the SURPRISE!
For reasons I have never understood, at some point Thorsen found it necessary to outsource their ratchets from New Britain Machine Co. of New Britain, Connecticutt. I own more than one copy of an NB-made Thorsen-branded ratchet.
The unit contained in this kit is the Kilness-patent (2981389) RHFT found with any number of different brands stamped on it.
It's a damn nice ratchet, if you've never used one.

The only real difference here is that the ratchet and extension are not polished as they would be in other Thorsen sets. I would imagine that allowed them to reduce the price point when these were originally marketed.

Bottom line: You can't buy a repair kit for your old Husky, and you most certainly can't find this ratchet at this price. The other stuff is just gravy. The box is a throw-away.

He told me he has over 500 of these in stock:

11 piece 3/8" Metric Drive Socket Set, Made in USA | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 11 piece 3/8" Metric Drive Socket Set, Made in USA at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[OilyRascal]

.........
And now for the SURPRISE!
For reasons I have never understood, at some point Thorsen found it necessary to outsource their ratchets from New Britain Machine Co. of New Britain, Connecticutt. I own more than one copy of an NB-made Thorsen-branded ratchet.
The unit contained in this kit is the Kilness-patent (2981389) RHFT found with any number of different brands stamped on it.
It's a damn nice ratchet, if you've never used one.

Good writeup and review. I tend to favor their volume of Thorsen being released all at once and flooding the market. I didn't catch the ratchet being NB made, nor the Kilness-patent. What I did find surprising was this: at some point Thorsen decided to take their markings of the shank of the ratchet and place them on the head (I could understand this logic as they were branding for so many others and it would make that simpler in my mind). In this example, we are back to Thorsen markings being back on the shank again. I assume this is some of the last of Thorsen USA ratchets - Thorsen made or not (NB made).

 

[four.cycle]

^ Actually, from what I have been reading the last several hours, I think that ratchet was manufactured by National Hand Tools of Dallas, Texas (which is where Thorsen moved their facilities late in the game) and not New Britain, Connecticutt.
National Hand Tools was acquired by Stanley in 1986.

 

[81CJ-7]

If I recall correctly, National Hand Tools bought Litton industries, who at that time owned New Britain. National Hand tool acquired all rights to New Britain’s trade marks and patents, and possibly the old tooling as well

 

[Lesserstore]

I remember reading that Thorsen was bought by NHT, but I think that's wrong for a few reasons. First is that Thorsen and NHT had different addresses, and I can't find any evidence that NHT owned them. No "Thorsen Tool div. Of NHT", or the like on old packaging, no old newspaper article, or a record of trademark transfer on TESS.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I just spent several hours researching KAL, Proamerica, Cameron, Emporium Forging, and their relationships to each other and I didn't stir up anything that put any connection between National and Thorsen. 12/21/21 19:00 PST

 

[d42jeep]

I was tempted by that set but decided against buying one. The packaging put me off.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I generally avoid plastic packaging. Occasionally I make an exception.

 

[81CJ-7]

I have often wondered, and tried to find info, about a connection between New Britain and Thorsen. Mainly due to the use of = marks on either side of stampings on sockets. It’s just been a theory of mine, but I have found no evidence to support it. This theoretical connection, would be before NHT acquired NB, as the = marks were in use on Husky sockets when they were under the Litton umbrella

 

[d42jeep]

I spotted a 5/16” combination wrench I had been missing along with a couple others. Even though they have typical Thorsen chrome issues, at least I now have one. I did what I could to improve their looks.
-Don
As received
Cleaned up
5/16” combination wrench pictures

 

[four.cycle]

I have often wondered, and tried to find info, about a connection between New Britain and Thorsen. Mainly due to the use of = marks on either side of stampings on sockets. It’s just been a theory of mine, but I have found no evidence to support it. This theoretical connection, would be before NHT acquired NB, as the = marks were in use on Husky sockets when they were under the Litton umbrella

I am disinclined to think there was some relationship between NB and Thorsen, the outsourcing by Thorsen of that Kilness patent ratchet notwithstanding, as it could well have come from National Hand Tool, which at that time would have had no issues cranking out a widget on which the patents had all expired.

The = marks on each side of the size stampings are present not only on later Thorsen (U.S.) production, but they also appear on several other "brands" - like ProAmerica, KAL, JS Technology, and Granco, all of which were primarily contract suppliers for the military or (in ProAmerica's case) contract suppliers for other tool "manufacturers".
They also appear on Klein branded sockets.
I find it difficult to believe that at least a half a dozen different manufacturers were all stamping out identical sockets - that's just too much coincidence to be acceptable as fact.
I think there were a whole lot of sockets, ratchets, and drive tools being cranked out of a plant somewhere and we're still not exactly sure which one it was.
National Hand Tool and Emporium Forging would be at the top of my list of suspects, though.
It's only taken me five years to find the connection between ProAmerica and KAL and Emporium. It might take another five to figure out who the mystery socket maker is/was.

 

[RTM]

Thanks for that =3/8 USA= clarity. I have several in my to be identified pile, will put them to rest now, and not ask a whozit question.

 

[four.cycle]

No.... put them in the "who made all these sockets with the = marks?" pile!
Seriously... the more stuff I look at, and the more I dig, the more I'm convinced these were all coming from a common source.
The ratchets have very slight variances - as can be seen just from my few sample shots above - but the fit, finish, and appearance of the sockets and other drive accessories is essentially identical among the brands I listed above. (And those are not the only examples of those brands I own - I probably have half a dozen "KAL/Proamerica" sets and at least three or four of the "JS" sets - a seller was whoring them out for about $15 bucks a pop a few years ago.)

 

[d42jeep]

Today the 1/2” deep Thorsen set arrived that Lugz found at his flea and generously passed along to me. Thanks, Lugz!
-Don

 

[OilyRascal]

Today the 1/2” deep Thorsen set arrived that Lugz found at his flea and generously passed along to me. Thanks, Lugz!
-Don

Good looking set. I don't see a lot of the 1/2" drive deep in SETS of any vintage. Lugz is good to you!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Lugz is good to you!

Before anyone starts worrying about my mental state, Don is being a little generous with the word "generous"; I did get some things from him, too.

 

[d42jeep]

No.... put them in the "who made all these sockets with the = marks?" pile!
Seriously... the more stuff I look at, and the more I dig, the more I'm convinced these were all coming from a common source.
The ratchets have very slight variances - as can be seen just from my few sample shots above - but the fit, finish, and appearance of the sockets and other drive accessories is essentially identical among the brands I listed above. (And those are not the only examples of those brands I own - I probably have half a dozen "KAL/Proamerica" sets and at least three or four of the "JS" sets - a seller was whoring them out for about $15 bucks a pop a few years ago.)

Some sockets and some potential suppliers. They all have the = =. I would suspect Thorsen but the chrome is much too good.


Husky and Stanley, take your choice.
-Don

 

[genog]

Got this set a little while ago

 

[d42jeep]

From my June 1, 1956 Flyer.
-Don

 

[stormking]

It's great to see Thorsen getting some well deserved love. I was cleaning up one of my tool boxes and happened across this early 3/4" set and thought I'd post it. I think I posted this many years ago in another dimension. Sockets are half TT and half GT.
TT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr

 

[stormking]

Close ups
TT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr
TT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr

 

[four.cycle]

There are several nice clean 1950's Thorsen catalog sheets and flyers at International Tool Catalog Library

The gentleman who bought the tool store in Oklahoma City apparently has an abundance of NOS 18M Thorsen 1/4" breakers.

Thorsen 1/4 In Drive 5 1/2" Breaker Bar USA Made | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Thorsen 1/4 In Drive 5 1/2" Breaker Bar USA Made at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

he told me he had over 500 of the Thorsen NOS socket sets. I just grabbed another one to give to the kid - he can put it in his car.

 

[stormking]

Early TT ratchet that was in the same box.
T by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr

 

[MR.X]

Close ups
TT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr
TT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr

Do you have a pic of a TT & GT socket side by side?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...happened across this early 3/4" set

Not to diminish the coolness factor of the early tools and early markings, but I'm fascinated by the whole concept of incorporating the offset handle as the handle for the carrier! I typically only associate that with much smaller drive sizes, especially hex sets, and maybe some early square drive sets, and all those typically aimed at the household or home garage market. Indestro, Hinsdale, and New Britain made them, but again, midget and standard drive sizes. I have never seen any mfgr apply it to high-end tools or 3/4-inch drive. Due to its size, it reminds me of the drop head pipe threader sets that Reed made for Craftsman, where the handle of the die stock doubles as the handle for the carrier, a design they patented.

 

[stormking]

Lugz, P&C also offered a similar set early on. And yes it has always reminded me of the crafty pipe threader, I have one of those somewhere. Troy I'll post the GT & TT sockets side by side.

 

[stormking]

Here they are Troy. Kind of a mystery, they are a little different. I've had this set at least 15 years, it came out of a garage in NE Portland. You can tell the patina is exactly the same across the board so they have been together a very long time.
TT-GT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr
TT-GT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

man this set is sweet. good find!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Kind of a mystery, they are a little different.

That logo - what do we call it? Hex-GT? - is a first heard/seen for me. Is it too utterly simplistic of a guess to think that it stands for General Tool in Portland? It's interesting the way the base of the Hex-GT sockets have a blue sheen (from tempering?), but the Circle-TT don't. Wasn't Thorsen known for a trademarked Techniheat process?

 

[MR.X]

That hex might be part of the reason that when I first talked history with the John Derville jr. and his son Bill , the then CEO of General Tool in Portland, they thought the vintage 3/4" drive set in their waiting room was made by P&C. The P&C / General Tool origin story was known to them of course( and by "known to them" I mean they pretty much explained it to me) but they had probably been a little too busy actually running their very successful business to consider that his father John Sr. had switched to his buddy Ned Boyd's Thorsen very early on after Ned had cut his own connection with P&C to start Thorsen. Not sure whose idea it was to use the P&C style hex, General Tool or Thorsen but might not have gone over real great with Peterson & Carlborg.

 

[555]

This is a Thorsen 21010 12-piece 3/8" drive 12-point METRIC socket set in a plastic blow-mold case that I just received from ebay seller Whatchamacallittools in Oklahoma City.
He is currently selling this set for $14.95 including shipping. Let the price sink in before you read any further.

I had already confirmed with the seller that the ratchet was indeed a U.S. made model 77JC Thorsen, and that the other components in the set were U.S. made Thorsen, so I went ahead and ordered one. (It's not like I don't have enough Thorsen socket sets here already.)

The sets are still sealed up in the original shrink wrap:

This stuff isn't World-War-Two-vintage-Plomb-military-contract stuff and isn't going to get better with age (and certainly not more valuable), so I went ahead and ripped the packaging off.
The first thing I noticed was that the latch on the plastic box broke, which came as no surprise considering these have been baking in the Oklahoma summer heat for at least 30 years:

I'm not too concerned about it. I always hated these ****** plastic boxes anyway. If the latch doesn't break, the hinge will, and there's no space in them to add more stuff.

And here's all our contents. We've got nice U.S. made Thorsen 12-points in 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 17mm, a 3-inch extension, and what appears to be a model 77JC Thorsen ratchet. (Somewhere on the packaging they claim that little black round thing is supposed to serve some purpose. I have yet to be convinced. Fortunately it won't take up a lot of space in my trash can.)


And now for the SURPRISE!
For reasons I have never understood, at some point Thorsen found it necessary to outsource their ratchets from New Britain Machine Co. of New Britain, Connecticutt. I own more than one copy of an NB-made Thorsen-branded ratchet.
The unit contained in this kit is the Kilness-patent (2981389) RHFT found with any number of different brands stamped on it.
It's a damn nice ratchet, if you've never used one.

The only real difference here is that the ratchet and extension are not polished as they would be in other Thorsen sets. I would imagine that allowed them to reduce the price point when these were originally marketed.

Bottom line: You can't buy a repair kit for your old Husky, and you most certainly can't find this ratchet at this price. The other stuff is just gravy. The box is a throw-away.

He told me he has over 500 of these in stock:

11 piece 3/8" Metric Drive Socket Set, Made in USA | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 11 piece 3/8" Metric Drive Socket Set, Made in USA at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I bought a set. It was delivered today!

 

[OilyRascal]

Here they are Troy. Kind of a mystery, they are a little different. I've had this set at least 15 years, it came out of a garage in NE Portland. You can tell the patina is exactly the same across the board so they have been together a very long time.
TT-GT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr
TT-GT by https://www.flickr.com/photos/119819727@N06/, on Flickr

That is a very unique set, and Hickory floors to boot