Questions: SO? Prybar and SO Sockets

[Bull]

Folks, I know you will know the answers to these lame questons of mine.

The first is who made the prybar pictured below. Is it Snap-on? I cleaned the handle and shaft and looked it all over closely under different lighting, and I cannot see any marks or numbers of any kind, except for a guy's initials down towards the tip.

On the sockets: what is the original finish on these? Were they shiny when new, or dull like they are now? I was scrubbing them with a wet Scoth Brite pad when I thought that maybe they are cadmium, and got nervous, backing away slowly.

 

[wreckercologist]

The prybar is most likely a Matco from before 2002? maybe? They haven't used that handle for a while.

I can't say on the sockets. Every old Snappy like those I've ever seen has been used and abused, so I can't say for sure. Chad or snapmom, maybe krusty would maybe know.

 

[Goinlow]

Those sockets look like older indestro. Not 100% but that's my guess

 

[Bull]

Those sockets look like older indestro. Not 100% but that's my guess

The sockets are stamped with the Snap-on name, date code etc. I just don't know what that finish is on them. They don't look live they've lived a very hard life, other than being dull.

If the bar is a Matco, would it be stamped with anything at all? I am not used to USA tool makers not putting their name or a code somewhere. Whatever it is, I don't have another one like it so for $3 at the flea I could not leave it there.

 

[wreckercologist]

The color and shape of the handle say older Matco to me, but that's just a guess. I believe of those I've seen in the past, the only ID's were on the handle and wore off fairly quickly. It may also have something stamped on the shank inside the handle (like if you were to slide the handle off).

Did you already use your fancy ultrasonic cleaner on the sockets?

 

[Merkava_4]

The pry bar looks to be an earlier Matco and the SO sockets are always a matte brown color when new. In comparison, Matco impact sockets are a semi-gloss black color and are quite attractive. I'm not saying SO impact sockets are ugly, I'm just sayin' ...

 

[Bull]

Did you already use your fancy ultrasonic cleaner on the sockets?

I had them in there for a brief time, ran maybe one or two 8 minute cycles on them and scrubbed a bit in the sink with a Scotch Brite. I need a cone-shaped wire brush for the insides, but don't own one.

The pry bar looks to be an earlier Matco and the SO sockets are always a matte brown color when new. In comparison, Matco impact sockets are a semi-gloss black color and are quite attractive. I'm not saying SO impact sockets are ugly, I'm just sayin' ...

Merk, do you mean to say that these are impact sockets? (Dumb question maybe, but I don't know!)

 

[plinker]

I've got some 1/4 drive S-O sockets like those '44,& '45 dated.
They almost dont seem plated to me, but I dont know.

My Dad has a set of these that are 1/2 drive and they are not impact sockets.


Thinking about it it could be a industrial finish of some type

 

[TheGrooveking]

I've never seen that type of prybar with plating, they've always been black oxided.

TheGrooveking

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I've never seen that type of prybar with plating, they've always been black oxided.

TheGrooveking

It looks like the oxide has worn off. One of mine is like that, a dark gunmetal colour.

 

[Elroy]

On the sockets: what is the original finish on these?

Those SO sockets appear to be plain steel as was common during the war years as chrome was considered a strategic material. Not to be flitted away on tools or bumpers.

It they were Cadmium they would be very dark, almost black:

Before

After:

 

[Elroy]

I'm afraid Elroy is thinking of something else. No cadmium coating is nearly black, it's usually a dull grey color, just as shown.

True, Cad is dull gray when clean and almost shiny when polished. The Barcalo shown is Cad plated and it was damn near black from 65 odd years.

The snappy sockets shown are almost surely plain steel

You also make a valid point about the path of transmission. Sure Cadmium is toxic but come on you need to ingest it first. It's like asbestos to a certain extent. You're not going to die from simply touching it.

 

[otis66]

Go to the "Alloy Artifacts" home page. there is a history of SO sockets there and date codes.

 

[toolnut]

That pry bar appears to be an early Matco or some kind of knock-off.

 

[billymade]

AFAIK, those are Matco's... we have some in the shop but they are orange!

 

[wrenchr]

The sockets were or are cadium finished and I agree the BB is matco.

 

[Merkava_4]

Merk, do you mean to say that these are impact sockets? (Dumb question maybe, but I don't know!)

I looked up the numbers, they are indeed chrome sockets.

I immediately assumed they were impacts because of the finish wear and the side lock hole.

 

[Goinlow]

Oh sorry. I've seen some older indestros that look just like those sockets. Didn't see you knew they were snap on

 

[Bull]

Sooo...what I am getting here is that the bar might or might not be Matco, Cal-Hawk, or a knockoff, and the sockets might or might not be cadmium, plain steel, or chrome

Merk, chrome as in they were once shiny? They sure don't look like chrome now.

If they are plain steel, what keeps them from rusting?

 

[Merkava_4]

Merk, chrome as in they were once shiny? They sure don't look like chrome now.

If they are plain steel, what keeps them from rusting?

That SW260 is in my 1990 catalog as a shiny new chrome socket.

There's some chromium in the steel for added strength that keeps it from rusting all the way.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Merk, chrome as in they were once shiny? They sure don't look like chrome now.

He means not impact sockets. For manual use.

 

[woody 73]

I have a handful of maybe 5 or 6 of those same sockets and I thought they came from the wwll era; I never thought they had any chrome to begin with. We need to ask snap-mom or chad S these questions...

 

[wrenchr]

They are cadium..................

 

[wrenchr]

I have plenty of that stuff plated with cadium from WWII and know what it looks like.

 

[Merkava_4]

They are cadium..................

That be cadmium... you forgot the 'M'.

Snap-on doesn't put cadmium on their tools.

 

[Bull]

That be cadmium... you forgot the 'M'.

Snap-on doesn't put cadmium on their tools.

Never? Not even during the war years as other companies did?

I believe the date codes on these are a "G" and a "C" though I'd need to look again to be positive.

 

[Merkava_4]

This is cadmium plating right here...

 

[Merkava_4]

And here's a cadmium plated brake caliper...

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Oooooh.. what's Merk building?

 

[Bull]

Hmm...but cadmium tools are always grayish!

 

[Merkava_4]

Zinc Chromate is a paint as shown here...

 

[Bull]

This is sort of interesting; I look forward to the final resolution!

 

[mn_commander]

+1 on the pry bar being a MATCO

 

[eyeboltman]

Thanks guys Il ove these old tools, ??? eyeboltman

 

[bgott]

That prybar is chrome, I've never seen a Matco prybar like that that wasn't black oxide. I have, however, seen a bunch of knock-offs that looked exactly like the one pictured.

 

[Bull]

That prybar is chrome, I've never seen a Matco prybar like that that wasn't black oxide. I have, however, seen a bunch of knock-offs that looked exactly like the one pictured.

I'm pretty sure it actually is black oxide. It isn't shiny at all.

I am also embarrassed to think I ever wondered if it was a SO piece. All I can plead is ignorance!