Snap-On **** O Scope MT-615

[Hawkmoon]

Hello all! I have an old family piece I am thinking of parting with due to economic necessities and just having too much stuff. It is a 1958 Snap-On **** O Scope (didn't anyone think when they named these things), MT-615. Along with pictures of the unit, I also have the catalog page and a neat press release story about when it came out. Evidently, this is the first one they made at Snap-On. My father-in-law was still using this in the 80's on his old Caddies. I acquired it after his passing. I've seen a 1959 model on Craig's list currently for a $1200.00 asking price. I have not been able to find any sort of valuation on this model anywhere. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Hawkmoon]

Pics and stuff.

 

[Kevin C]

Sounds like a tool a proctologist would have....

 

[Hawkmoon]

With all the different contacts and clamps it has, you could rig something I'm sure.

 

[ADSR]

I would get a hold of snap on themselves.

 

[Lippyp]

Shouldn't this be in the colonoscopy thread?!

 

[santagary]

reminds me of stuff they used at Mayo, pre-prostatectomy!

 

[Hawkmoon]

I spent several hours researching again and found nothing. I guess contacting Snap-On may be my only option, but I doubt they will be interested in talking with me. They are all about selling new stuff, not talking with people about old stuff.

 

[Kevin C]

I spent several hours researching again and found nothing. I guess contacting Snap-On may be my only option, but I doubt they will be interested in talking with me. They are all about selling new stuff, not talking with people about old stuff.

That's too bad, it looks like a really cool piece of history.

 

[rogsmart]

Couple of current listings on EBay, but no where near what you saw on Craigslist.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-MT6..._Automotive_Tools&hash=item45fb059552&vxp=mtr

 

[danieldd]

You may have a tough sell on your hands. Just my opinion, but this type of test equipment would most likely be wanted by either a collector or someone who wants it for nostalgia reasons.

Reminds me of some old test equipment someone here locally was selling. He had acquired a bunch of test tools from NASA. Alot of 1960s & 1970s oscilloscopes, Simpson meters, spectrum analyzers, etc. While it was fun to browse the equipment and stir up old forgotten memories of using that stuff back in the Air Force - all of the equipment has been superceded by better and more accurate digital equipment. Now that I think of it, I probably should have picked up one of the Simpson meters cause I always thought they were cool...

Anyway, if I were you, I would contact Snap On like someone else has suggested. Maybe they can point you in a better direction as to what its worth or direct you to some possible test equipment collectors.

Best of luck!

 

[Hawkmoon]

In reply to above: Yeah, I saw some on Ebay too, but they were all much newer models and mostly in much worse shape.
....and yeah, this is not of any use today. I think the last thing it worked well on, was my wife's 62 Thunderchicken, but mostly it was used on early 50's Caddies. It is an item for a collector without doubt, but it is really cool when it is on with the blips on the scope. I even considered rigging it up on a DC adapter as a decoration in my barn, but now due to a disability, I have to go in another direction.

I had a wild idea and contacted American Picker's, who are advertising for stops for their show. If anyone is interested, there is a tab on their History Channel site. I only ask that if someone gets on, mention this site. It's deserves a plug. I'm becoming quite a fan of it, after perusing the threads. Good Community!

 

[kilboj]

I actually think that I have purchased this exact same unit from this seller. It was a little dusty (read a lot dusty), but "cleaned up good". with copious Simple Green. I haven't plugged it in yet. I did contact Snap On and they sent me PDFs of what purported to be the manual, but in fact had many missing pages, like, only odd numbered pages after page 11. Of course, the hook up directions I need are on page 18. They have no more information. The unit was apparently manufactured by Sun for Snap On, and Snap On even called Sun, and Sun has no information. I have posted a standing search in eBay. I will also ask older local techs. I am down to needing to identify red, gray and green-ended cables. I will say that "they don't build them that way any more". This is in the brick ____ house category. The thing weighs a ton, all steel. Aluminum knobs. I don't see any plastic anywhere aside from protecting the CRT. Yes, I am a collector, and this is for the '64 Caddy and its pre-historic ignition, little gnomes shoveling coals into the cylinders.

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

I think the title of the machine has a couple hyphens missing. It won't sound quite so bad then.

 

[Kent_B]

www.collectingsnapon.com
You might try Collecting Snap-On's website. Snapmom posts here once in a while and she might know something or know someone who does.

 

[Professur]

Short A folks .. not a long A sound. A as in Analysis ... not A as in *snaps rubber glove*

 

[rkenney]

I bought one of those about 25 years ago from a Snap-On truck for $50.00. It had been traded in by a guy that used it for his race car magnetos. Worked, but found little use for it (cept the lawn mower) as it requires a #1 plug wire, and a coil wire hookup (in-line).

Most equipment I was using even at the time had an inductive pickup. With COP it's even less useable today.

Ignition scopes were most useful with points and mechanical distributors as a way to check mechanical wear of ignition components and cylinder compression. Today, save the spark plug itself, there are very few mechanical ignition components.

 

[930dreamer]

I have the KRA-445 **** o scope rolling cabinet.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I'd buy it for like 25 bucks just to have. There is no real market for them at least I don't think so. I don't believe they can or are used on anything anymore.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Markfothebeast]

I was thinking Snap-On on made an endoscope. I use an endoscope to look in engines. It works very well. Snap-on may as well make an endoscope (free with each purchase).

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Art From De Leon]

Maybe contact some classic car restoration/engine rebuilder shops, or place an ad in Hemmings.

 

[californiaHank]

I think it's cool that it can be powered from 12V car battery as well as from a wall socket.

The picture in the advertising brochure of the guy sitting in the back seat of a convertible with an '****-O-Scope' is pretty funny. Can you imagine going for a test drive with that beast wired to your engine?

I'd be careful of firing it up. There are some really high voltages ( 1000V or more ) inside the box that are needed to drive the display tube, and a bunch of 50 year old electrolytic capacitors. The capacitors deteriorate/leak/dry out with age, and the ones in your 'scope are past their expected lifetime. You may be OK, but it's not unusual for old electrolytics to end their life by exploding or catching fire when you turn on the power switch.

 

[Terre]

Hello from Montana
“Terre’ “ here. I have a excellent 615 and a copy of hand book all pages through no.36.
Page 18 is in front of me at this moment.
How to get this to you?
Or if calls are allowed I am at 406 207 4958
Answer to “Nathan”
Thank You

 

[chrismenke]

Hello from Montana
“Terre’ “ here. I have a excellent 615 and a copy of hand book all pages through no.36.
Page 18 is in front of me at this moment.
How to get this to you?
Or if calls are allowed I am at 406 207 4958
Answer to “Nathan”
Thank You

I would scan it if it is loose leaf, or use a digital camera if bound, and make a PDF for all the internet to enjoy.

I would wager collectingsnapon.com would host if for you.

 

[Helen Dunkel]

I actually think that I have purchased this exact same unit from this seller. It was a little dusty (read a lot dusty), but "cleaned up good". with copious Simple Green. I haven't plugged it in yet. I did contact Snap On and they sent me PDFs of what purported to be the manual, but in fact had many missing pages, like, only odd numbered pages after page 11. Of course, the hook up directions I need are on page 18. They have no more information. The unit was apparently manufactured by Sun for Snap On, and Snap On even called Sun, and Sun has no information. I have posted a standing search in eBay. I will also ask older local techs. I am down to needing to identify red, gray and green-ended cables. I will say that "they don't build them that way any more". This is in the brick ____ house category. The thing weighs a ton, all steel. Aluminum knobs. I don't see any plastic anywhere aside from protecting the CRT. Yes, I am a collector, and this is for the '64 Caddy and its pre-historic ignition, little gnomes shoveling coals into the cylinders.

I spent time looking for the book for my MT-615A to no effect. I did find, and bought, a book for the D revision. Physically, the Mt-615, 615A, and 615B look very similar. The 615D and 615E look different, at least on the outside. Search result by several others gave little info. So I am posting a few key pages that may help someone. I wonder if this material i valid, or close, for earlier models. And how about the MT-615C? Is it like the 615 - 615B? Some of us are still trying to find the equiv Sun Scope of the same era because we are told Sun built the **** Scope for Snap On.

 

[Lou's Garage]

I actually think that I have purchased this exact same unit from this seller. It was a little dusty (read a lot dusty), but "cleaned up good". with copious Simple Green. I haven't plugged it in yet. I did contact Snap On and they sent me PDFs of what purported to be the manual, but in fact had many missing pages, like, only odd numbered pages after page 11. Of course, the hook up directions I need are on page 18. They have no more information. The unit was apparently manufactured by Sun for Snap On, and Snap On even called Sun, and Sun has no information. I have posted a standing search in eBay. I will also ask older local techs. I am down to needing to identify red, gray and green-ended cables. I will say that "they don't build them that way any more". This is in the brick ____ house category. The thing weighs a ton, all steel. Aluminum knobs. I don't see any plastic anywhere aside from protecting the CRT. Yes, I am a collector, and this is for the '64 Caddy and its pre-historic ignition, little gnomes shoveling coals into the cylinders.

I have never used a Snap-On ****-O-Scope but I have a bit of experience on older and newer scopes by AC Spark Plug (yes, they once produced one too!), Sun, and Allen. With regard to hook up: Red to positive battery, green to the negative (points) side of the coil, and I'm not sure about grey. If you haven't identified the ground, grey could be it. This unit was designed for points ignition but, in my experience, will work on early electronic ignition as well. I used my Allen scope (60's vintage) up until computer controlled ignition so it saw Chrysler electronic, Ford Duraspark, and GM HEI (with a homemade inductive pickup for the coil). I was still using my scope into the mid-80's when I sold my shop. You might also look around for information about a Sun 1020 which used a similar scope and might provide the rest of your connection details. Hope that helps a little.


Lou Manglass

 

[tak1313]

Saw the title. Clicked on the title. Disappointment...

 

[PMD1966]

An **** Scope for a SnapOn Customer. Sounds Reasonable.

 

[WWheeler]

Saw the title. Clicked on the title. Disappointment...

I saw the title. Clicked on the title. Huge relief!