SK vs. SK WAYNE vs. SK-TOOLS......

[dimwittedmoose51]

With SK fading in the twilight as a manufacturer of tols these days, Iwas wondering if anyone had a timeline on the various logos of these brands? I know the SK Wayne stuff was 60's to early 70's but not sure where the SK-tools logo fit in. much less all the horizontal diamonds and other configuraitons of th the logos. Also wondering if one logo is considered more collectible than another. I havew actually sorted out my SK collections down to these three basic piles, but will be culling duplicates later on when I get time.

Any help would be a blessing in the shop!!

TIA


DM&FS

 

[stonesfan68]

With SK fading in the twilight as a manufacturer of tools these days...

Ideal Industries bought the remnants of the company several years ago. They are back and stronger than ever.

 

[2oolhound]

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/sherman-klove.html

 

[woody 73]

With SK fading in the twilight as a manufacturer of tols these days, Iwas wondering if anyone had a timeline on the various logos of these brands? I know the SK Wayne stuff was 60's to early 70's but not sure where the SK-tools logo fit in. much less all the horizontal diamonds and other configuraitons of th the logos. Also wondering if one logo is considered more collectible than another. I havew actually sorted out my SK collections down to these three basic piles, but will be culling duplicates later on when I get time.

Any help would be a blessing in the shop!!

TIA


DM&FS

The part about SK fading in the twilight is news to me are you saying they are not coming back anymore?

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I have a ton of sk (Wayne) and sk (ideal). I think they stayed pretty consistent with design with sockets and ratchets. I notice a difference in pliers and screwdrivers, but for the most part the quality is still there.

I order directly thru sk, from my snap on guy, and also grainier sometimes. It is one of the brands that does seem to be fading but I notice amazon and ebay has tons of stuff available as well.

 

[Holt]

Sk just sent out anews letter saying they are now 100 percent USA made. Not sure why you think SK is fading. They where, then Ideal industries puchaced them and are back stronger the ever.

 

[ibedayank]

by the number of online sites selling new SK "ideal" I find it hard to believe they are fading. Most if not all handtools soon to be purchased will be SK as crapsman went to china

 

[ganymede]

Stuff was stamped 'SK Tools' from the early 70's to early 80's. I don't know the exact cut off year.

 

[kc-steve]

Ratchets are stamped with two different patent numbers, 1,981, 526 was made between 1933 and around 1941 (maybe 1937) then patent # 2,103,556 is on the ratchets since then. The basic design hasn't changed.

The diamond logo is the older logo. I'm not sure when they stopped using it though.

Sockets had a crosshatch design early, then went to the short clean sided ones with Dresser Industries in the 1960s. SK Wayne came right before Dresser Ind and after Lectrolite-SK.

Maybe others can offer more info.

Steve

 

[kc-steve]

Here's a couple of pix of my favorites. The ratchets are diamond logos (except for one SK Wayne). The screwdrivers are Dresser Industries 1960s.

Steve

 

[Flatintoone]

Ratchets are stamped with two different patent numbers, 1,981, 526 was made between 1933 and around 1941 (maybe 1937) then patent # 2,103,556 is on the ratchets since then. The basic design hasn't changed.

The diamond logo is the older logo. I'm not sure when they stopped using it though.

Sockets had a crosshatch design early, then went to the short clean sided ones with Dresser Industries in the 1960s. SK Wayne came right before Dresser Ind and after Lectrolite-SK.

Maybe others can offer more info.

Steve

No pics unfortunately, but I have/have seen 1/2" drive knurled-base sockets branded "SK-Wayne". I assume they would be from early in the Dresser days?

 

[kc-steve]

There might have been some production over-lap as Dresser took over but Dresser was "modernizing" the SK tools. I worked in an auto parts store back then. I always liked the Dresser SK tools better than the others. Dresser was an oil drilling tool company primarily.

Steve

 

[d.mcfarland]

I've always wondered if the thickness of the direction selector has any significance.

No homo.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Here's a couple of pix of my favorites. The ratchets are diamond logos (except for one SK Wayne). The screwdrivers are Dresser Industries 1960s.

Steve

I think yours are the early ones. Some differences in the newer ones like screwdrivers. The ratchets look the same still. Just enlarge my thumbnail to see different generation ratchets.

 

[ganymede]

I've always wondered if the thickness of the direction selector has any significance.

No homo.

The switch occurred during the Wayne era .

 

[dimwittedmoose51]

Thanks All!!!


DM&FS

 

[dimwittedmoose51]

Here's most of my SK stash. The SK Tools tool box has a 2/72 stamp inside and likely made in Waterloo Iowa by the Waterloo tool box Co.

BTW, does anyone know when the blue socket boxes existed? This one is the first I've ever sen, much less possessed...

TIA


DM&FS

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Here's most of my SK stash. The SK Tools tool box has a 2/72 stamp inside and likely made in Waterloo Iowa by the Waterloo tool box Co.

BTW, does anyone know when the blue socket boxes existed? This one is the first I've ever sen, much less possessed...

TIA


DM&FS

Is that top box an sk box? I have only seen a few pics of sk boxes, but never one that size or that nice. Can you post a few more pics of it?

 

[ganymede]

I've got a blue box with the diamond logo too and I've seen Wayne logo boxes in blue and green.
I'm gonna guess that the blue boxes were mid 50's to mid 60's .

 

[WWIIjeep]

I've got a blue box with the diamond logo too and I've seen Wayne logo boxes in blue and green.
I'm gonna guess that the blue boxes were mid 50's to mid 60's .

Here's mine:



Original except for one replacement 1/4" drive socket. Don't know if it ever had more pieces.

I assumed it was 50s vintage because of the style of the 1/4" drive sockets and the amber-colored nut driver handle. Kind of a nice kit with both 1/4" and 3/8" sockets.


And here's what I assume is an early S-K Wayne logo on a larger box:




And does anyone know when they changed the 1/2" drive socket styles? Alloy Artifacts doesn't really cover post-50s S-K in any detail. Here's the 4 styles I have:




Older, pre-S-K Wayne on the right, then S-K Wayne, then S-K post-Wayne, all with tapered sides, then what I assume is Facom era straight-sided on the left. I always liked the oldest style--better finished, with the taper, and thinner, which can make the difference between fitting or not fitting in a confined location.

 

[dimwittedmoose51]

Hey WWIIJEEP: Does your amber handled 1/4" driver have "P-49 Made In USA" Stamped on it? My set had that driver in there and I thught it was from someone else'scompany. A Google search for it came away with nothing. A fellow Tool Talk commrade says that Pendelton made it. Thanks

DM&FS

 

[Adohrn]

I would like to know dates on sockets as well. Inherited some from my great uncle and he had some original price tags with dates still attached to some duplicates they were from 1987. Assumed they were all 1987 but after just looking I have SK Wayne, SK Tools and SK USA. Now don't know which were which.

From above looks like SK Tools from early 70's early 80's
Other post S-K Wayne trademark was used from about 1962 through 1969
SK USA ?

 

[dimwittedmoose51]

Here's a few more photos. Turns out I was mistaken on the P-49 tool. The amber driver in the blue socket box does indeed say SK on it.

I also have 2 more portable SK boxes that were too much of a hassle to dig out. One is from way back, as it has the leather handle and the rounded bottom corners riveted on it and the other is maybe from the 60's and more resembles the shape of a metal Craftsman tool box from the same era.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Wow, nice collection of S-K tools and boxes.

My amber 1/4" driver has the same part number as later ones.



It's also got the most comfortable handle, although the bottom one has the best combination of comfort and torque.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Here's a few more photos. Turns out I was mistaken on the P-49 tool. The amber driver in the blue socket box does indeed say SK on it.

I also have 2 more portable SK boxes that were too much of a hassle to dig out. One is from way back, as it has the leather handle and the rounded bottom corners riveted on it and the other is maybe from the 60's and more resembles the shape of a metal Craftsman tool box from the same era.

I love that top box....if I ever see one I am going to grab it.

 

[dimwittedmoose51]

I wanted the top box SO BAD, I gave $225 for it......but it was full of SK tools including one of the SK Wayne spinning head rats. After I unloaded all the duplicates, I prolly had $50 in the box. Never seen another since.

DM&FS

 

[spiker77]

i have come across brand new in sk boxes sets of sockets etc. when i opened them up they were made for gambles by sk. still sealed in plastic just like new, was wondering what i should sell them for as there are many duplicate sets. any ideas would be helpful. thanks

 

[MarkARnold]

My dad's SK socket wrench set is in a blue box just like that, I think he got it about 1965 it has a nut driver handle for 1/4 sockets in green.

Here's most of my SK stash. The SK Tools tool box has a 2/72 stamp inside and likely made in Waterloo Iowa by the Waterloo tool box Co.

BTW, does anyone know when the blue socket boxes existed? This one is the first I've ever sen, much less possessed...

TIA


DM&FS

 

[davethorik]

I like SK quite a bit, especially their 1/4 rats and the roto. I have an unused SK Wayne 40970, and an SK in a diamond roto which i believe predates SK Wayne. I purchased it off the original owner who said he bought it in the early 60s, 61 or 62 iirc. It is the smoothest SK 3/8 ratchet I've ever felt, with my Mac branded X3R a close 2nd. I also have an unused 1/4 spinner which is the 3rd style in pic by wwiijeep, and it is from the SK dresser era as i have the original cardboard box the set came in (in the ubiquitous green hammertone metal box).