Hey guys first post here, long time reader. I've found this to be one of the best sites as far as vintage snap-on tools and boxes. But I can't find anything online about snap on date code locations on different handles, types of boxes, etc. So let's see what we can put together. Pics are great but a description is just fine with me. My snap on dealer emailed me this and said its what the logos ended up looking like on the tools. Snap ons molds were not as great as their tools and most online are what they intended them to look like. I'll post pics of some tools tomorrow they look better in natural light ��.
snap on date code locations
- Thread starter mtlyons69
- Start date
woody 73
Well-known member
Wish I could show you many examples but at least I can give you a little help with only a few examples.
The very old (world war ll breaker bar) I had to look at the round handle on the upper half just to locate the date.
The newer sockets the date code was near the top.
The older ratchets had the code under the selection lever.
Hope that at least gives you a start in your worthy search.
The very old (world war ll breaker bar) I had to look at the round handle on the upper half just to locate the date.
The newer sockets the date code was near the top.
The older ratchets had the code under the selection lever.
Hope that at least gives you a start in your worthy search.
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d42jeep
Well-known member
woody 73
Well-known member
Snapmom, is that first pic 1930, 1932, and 1936? How do you suppose that happened? A manufacture, a sale returned, and a resale?
Here's a 1/2dr 6pt 7/8 from 1930, and my real prize of the day, a 3/8dr 12pt 11/16 from 1940. What a difference a decade makes in appearance.
Here's a 1/2dr 6pt 7/8 from 1930, and my real prize of the day, a 3/8dr 12pt 11/16 from 1940. What a difference a decade makes in appearance.
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1945 big help on these is, no chrome. Today I picked up a swivel head ratchet in pretty good condition. I mistakenly thought it was E (1944) so when the vendor said $60 I set it back down. It was actually 1963 held upside down. The difference is that in 1963 the horizontal elements of the character are of equal length. In 1943, they are each a different length, the middle being shortest. I don't have an example of either.
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Mtlyons69,
I hope my replies weren't too annoying or off-purpose of your thread. Most of my SO is 3/8dr sockets, with a few wrenches. In most cases, the date stamp follows the USA stamp. Occasionally it leads the Snap-on logo. I have one wrench where it is on the head, like where it often is found on ratchets. On my extensions and speeder, it's horizontal on the shaft.
I hope my replies weren't too annoying or off-purpose of your thread. Most of my SO is 3/8dr sockets, with a few wrenches. In most cases, the date stamp follows the USA stamp. Occasionally it leads the Snap-on logo. I have one wrench where it is on the head, like where it often is found on ratchets. On my extensions and speeder, it's horizontal on the shaft.
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twertsy
Well-known member
LesserSon, I created a tool on my site to document this data for tool boxes, and have uploaded most of my boxes, although, I have about 8-10 new ones I've been remiss in posting. If everyone uploaded their boxes, we'd have a nice little tool to determine where stamps should be located across the years, identify style changes, etc.
http://toolarchives.com/?q=tool-box-review-compare
http://toolarchives.com/?q=tool-box-review-compare
Alamokid
New member
I have a 1943 ratchet any body wanna buy it its a 1/4 inch drive
Mick56
Well-known member
Pics and a price would help.
Tylermorris
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Tylermorris
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Oldtuleguy
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- Nov 4, 2017
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First one is 44, second one maybe a messed up g (45)
d42jeep
Well-known member
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Tylermorris
Well-known member
PartsGuy
Well-known member
Would that be unsold stock re-stamped with the following year(s) for warranty purposes? The 1929 catalog states 1-year warranty, but the 1931 catalog removes the 1-year limit from the wording. Looks like that socket has 1930 and 1932 stamps (what the hell is the one in the middle?). Is it possible that socket was originally produced in 1930, went unsold and was restamped for 1931, and then again in '32? That would bring a previously 1-year warranty tool under the newer warranty terms. I assume that if you presented a 1-year tool for warranty after they started the lifetime warranty, they would deny it, since you bought it with only a 1-year expectation.
It's a stretch, but maybe?
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Oldtuleguy
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The one in the middle looks like 36. As to why it's there, who knows.
Debcrow
Well-known member
here is a 1929
jgromada
Well-known member
Does anyone know in general about the location of the code on pliers?
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Yes, that is the theory with these, and frankly, there really isn't another more rational explanation. As I have said before on the main Snap-on thread, take note that most of these double- and triple-stamps occur just before and after the stock market crash of 1929 and at the beginning of the Great Depression. Backing my explanation up is a small reference in The Snap-on Story, dated 1950, written and published for their 25th Anniversary Shareholders Meeting, about how it was a particularly perilous time for the company. I have a few double-stamps and one triple-stamp. They are all from the same time frame.
Theoretically, yes. If I was a Snap-on truck owner, and you presented me with a 1930 tool, I would take the loss, give you the replacement, and tell you to keep the original in a high, dry, and well-lit place as a keepsake of history and a token of our appreciation.
