Speaking of Snap-On

[Runner94]

I have 3 pieces of Snap-on. I got these from my father many years ago. He used to work at M.I.T. in Boston and at Hanscom AFB back in the 50's, 60's and 70's. These pieces are military or government and as he put it, on lifetime loan from MIT. I have the chart to tell what years the tools are but I can't figure them out.

Anyway, they are a 1/2 drive ratchet, a 1/2" drive torque wrench, and a 3"8" breaker bar/extension.

The 1/2" ratchet has the number "No.-71-N on it. I cannot find a number on the chart that matches it. The breaker bar has the number F-10 -HG on it under the Snap-on name. It also has a G stamped on the back or the bar behind the Snap-on name. And the torque wrench is a Torque Master TQ-150. I have found the parts breakdown chart for the TQ-150 and parts are available for that but I would like to know the years of all the units.

I'm sorry about the picture quality but downsizing them to fit here on the site makes them a little fuzzy. Any ideas????

Just food for discussion.
Thanks

 

[Uncle Buck]

No idea as to years of manufacture. I have that flathandle job in both 1/2 size and 3/8. They disappeared from the catalog sometime in the last 10-15yrs. I have that torque wrench in 3/8 and 1" sizes and I do not think either one is very old. That breakover on the other hand looks like it came over on the ark!

 

[kartracer55]

The "G" signifies that it was sold to the government. No life time warranty. Check out the 2nd or 3rd row of the age chart.

Im guessing those tools are form the 40s, or maybe earlier, because My ratchet was from 64... they wernt making the flat handles in 64. Also I know in the late 50s, and maybe earlier, they were using a handle style similar to that of todays. Those are definetly old school. IF you catch a driver in a good mood MAYBE he will warrantee them, assuming he doesnt know about the whole "G" for government thing.

Jim

 

[Uncle Buck]

Kartracer: The flathandles were advertised in their catalog at least as recently as the last 10-15 years? Does anyone else have any early 1990's catalogs, they were shown as available!

 

[kartracer55]

Being Made or Sold NOS? You can still get New Bonney tools but they havent been made in 15-20+ years, and I dont know why they would still be manufacturing tools with such a primitive design. Interesting... Im gunna ask around

Jim

 

[Uncle Buck]

I do not know if they were being made, but they were shown with the regular tool lineup in the catalogs of the early 1990's, with no references made to NOS, they were just shown as a regular tool in the catalogs. I will agree however that I always thought they looked a bit old school. I have two 1/2" and a 3/8" in the flathandle design, bought all of em used. I will say the gear drive in them is a little coarse though.

 

[kartracer55]

Check the date codes on them! Probably the 20 tooth design, just like the one I broke (whod a thought you could break a 20t ratchet?????)

Be interesting to see how many teeth they use on them now, I know the current runs are 32 tooth, and they have been for a little while.

Jim

 

[Uncle Buck]

Ironic you should mention that date code sheet, I think I did check it when I first got my sheet and found no dates on any one of the three, but I will check it again tonight and post my answer tomorrow. BTW my oldest snappy tool is a 1931 box end, Top that!

 

[Thumper]

I had a flathandle 3/8 drive rachet repaired right on the truck as late as 1998. It was my father in laws. They were availible long after 64.

 

[Runner94]

Thanks for all the replies. All these units work fine. I wasn't looking to repair or replace, just wanted to know what year they were from. Is there a certain spot on the tool that the letter or number code would show up to signify the year? Or is it in the model number? I knew the breaker bar was a governmental unit and I didn't have a problem with that. I just wanted to know the years of the wrenches.

 

[kartracer55]

look between the on and off on the ratchet for a number, or a few spaces away from the part number

Jim

 

[pl_silverado]

The "G" signifies that it was sold to the government. No life time warranty. Check out the 2nd or 3rd row of the age chart.

Im guessing those tools are form the 40s, or maybe earlier, because My ratchet was from 64... they wernt making the flat handles in 64. Also I know in the late 50s, and maybe earlier, they were using a handle style similar to that of todays. Those are definetly old school. IF you catch a driver in a good mood MAYBE he will warrantee them, assuming he doesnt know about the whole "G" for government thing.

Jim

You are right, they have G which signifies that they were sold to the gov't and they are not under warranty through regular snap-on dealers, although one that services the govt may be able to warranty it.

It is the same with the Snap-on items sold to the military, they are all branded M and regular dealers wlll not warranty them. i tried.....

 

[wythors]

I just sold an identical torque wrench to that one on eBay last week. I'd kind of like to know how old it is, too. There was no markings on it anywhere like there are on the wrenches and such.

 

[Craig Balzer]

Little late in posting this -- took a while to find where I hid it
Hope it provids the answers sought:

http://www.swedishwrench.com/snap-on_chart.htm