Survey: Oval Sockets

[Private Lugnutz]

Vintage sockets with oval service openings are one of those subjects that come up occasionally, raise brief interest, various theories about their application, and few actual facts, and there isn't a lot of information about them available (or if I'm wrong, and there is, it's hard to find...).

Pic 1 is an excerpt from the 1926 Snap-on catalog showing a pair of 1/2-inch drive oval sockets and their application (Ford cam shaft spindle nut and adjusting cone).

Pic 2 and 3 are a couple of oval sockets I have.

- The "A27" socket was made by Chicago Manufacturing & Distributing Company in the early 1920's. It is 5/8-inch external drive and the oval opening measures a hair over 3/8 (AF) x 1/2 (oval to oval).

- The other socket is from a Bay State set, but it was made by Mossberg, also from the early 1920's. It is 1/2-inch external drive. The opening measures 3/8 x 1/2.

I'm guessing they may have been for the same application as the larger Snap-on oval socket, but I don't know.

If you have those Snap-on oval sockets, please post photos and measure and report the opening size.

If you have any pre-war (1920's-1930's) vintage sockets with an oval service opening, please post a photo and the following information: Mfgrs Name, Part Number (if it has one), Drive Size, Opening Size (if it has one), and Measured Opening Size (which is more likely).

Note: I am not inquiring about sockets and drive tools with an oval drive opening, patented by Walden. Only sockets with oval service openings, please.

If you have any substantiated, documented information on vintage sockets with oval service openings, please post it.

I am trying to find out who made them, when, and what for and this will be quicker than looking through dozens of vintage catalogs.

THANKS

 

[snapmom]

windshield wiper socks.

Ford Socks

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, snapmom. If you get a chance, can you please measure the openings of the ovals on the Ford sockets? My rationale here goes like this. In the absence of catalogs for the likes of Bay State, Chicago Mfg & Distr Co, etc as descriptive of their use as some of Snap-on's early catalogs thankfully were, we're left guessing what they were for. If the openings are the same, hover, I think it's reasonable to conclude they may have been for the same purpose.

 

[humber2]

Similar but bigger to the Trico windshield wiper socks is the one to remove/install Stromberg carby jets.

 

[snapmom]

width 7/8. length (middle, a smidge more than 1-3/8) short non rounded length 7/8

 

[snapmom]

There are some ovals for shocks too.

 

[Musicinabottle]

I've never encountered a need for them, but I better get a set now because you know how it works.........................................

 

[snapmom]

The Stromberg Carb socks,

 

[ssdave]

Newer than you're talking about, but I have an assortment of SO ones that fit the top of shock absorbers. Lots better than using a crescent wrench on them.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, snapmom.

Thanks, humber - I am aware of the carb jet sockets, but they're much smaller. I am trying to figure out what these very early 1/2-inch drive ovals were for.

Thanks, ssdave. Yeah, I've seen them in more modern motorcycle kits, too, but I am trying to figure out what these oldtimers were for.

 

[Gmonkee]

Front axle hub nuts on the Ford T were a common use. Not sure the exact size.

Probably one of the more common uses back then.

 

[snapmom]

Front axle hub nuts on the Ford T were a common use. Not sure the exact size.

Probably one of the more common uses back then.

Yes: that's it.

 

[d42jeep]

Are you only interested in 1/2” drive? I have smaller drive sockets for windshield wiper hardware and carb jets, I guess.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's not so much that I don't care about the smaller drive sizes, Don, but I am trying to figure out what these larger oval sockets were for. They're not as big as spindle or axle hub nut sockets, but they're bigger than wiper and carb jet sockets. I've seen them before and now I have two and they're about 3/8 x 1/2.

 

[DadsTools]

I've on very rare occasion found items with fasteners that were shaped for these kinds of sockets. You'll forgive me, but it's been so long ago I can't remember any specifics other than using a standard open end or adjustable wrench on them. I can only say that, indeed, such fasteners in the sought after size range do exist. I'll have to search through all my weird salvaged fasteners to see if I can find one for a photo.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That might be helpful - if the fasteners are antique era. I'll re-emphasize that I know there are all kinds of applications for special oval sockets in later and even more eras. The oval sockets I am talking about were in pressed steel and early heavy walled forged socket sets. For them to be in these classic early 'auto-kit' and 'home garage' type sets like Bay State and Chicago Mfg they had to have some common application. I could be wrong, but I don't think it was axle nuts. The sockets are too small. I think the Snap-on sockets were for axle and spindle work, as described in the catalogs, but (thanks to snapmom) I now know they're twice as big. Not frustrated with the replies. Just clarifying.

 

[Provincial]

Nuts for arbors on older milling machines are often just a piece of round bored and threaded, with two flats milled on opposite sides. The bare minimum of work to make a nut that can be turned with an open-end wrench. I can see that design being used for simple nuts back into the dim reaches of the industrial age because it is so simple to make.

I was always amazed at how tight these nut could be cinched down by adjustable wrenches. One would think that with only two contact surfaces, they would rounc out easily, but they didn't.

These are much larger than the ones you seek.

 

[MR.X]

width 7/8. length (middle, a smidge more than 1-3/8) short non rounded length 7/8

Hi. I'm confused now. Across the flats, what is the measurement? I thought the cam shaft nut was 1 1/8" AF.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Brake anchor nut

 

[snapmom]

Well, I posted the wrong measurements

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Brake anchor nut

Do you mean for the Bay State pressed steel and Chicago Mfg malleable iron oval sockets (3/8" x 1/2") I posted?

Well, I posted the wrong measurements

Thanks for the update, snapmom.

Does the 35-F for the Ford fan pulley have the same opening size as the 36-F for the Ford cam shaft spindle nut?!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Well that is a good question, but I have seen brake anchor nut sockets about that size. Not sure about 20s though.

 

[Leviton]

Not sure what I found here? It is two interchangeable sockets on a double-L handle. Both ends are square drive - the handle ends are 0.69" square. and the inside of the sockets are 0.72" square. The service openings on the sockets are a 31/32" hex on one and an oval socket with 5/8" and just under 7/8" dimensions as shown in the drawing photo below. The black painted handle has about a 11/16" round cross section. The are unfortunately no markings on anything except the hex socket is marked "31/32".

The square ends of the handle each have a single spring-loaded detent ball and they use pinched tabs as stops.

 

[Wrench97]

Brake anchor pins like this used a oval socket.

 

[3baygarage]

Nice! I have the same or similar drive tool but without the sockets. Seeing yours with the sockets makes much more sense. At Alloy Artifacts there’s a Mossberg wrench with what are probably the same two size ends, oval and square. The article says they are for Model T main bearings.

I’ve gone in circles on what brand the tool could be. Seeing your sockets really helps because only so many brands did pressed steel.

.69, close to 11/16, which I associate with Mossberg’s female ratchet. Would love to hear input from others.

 

[MR.X]

For scale the hex socket size is shown

 

[Wrench97]

For scale the hex socket size is shown

Does it fit the hub cap?

 

[Ricky Joe]

.

 

[3baygarage]

Do you know the brand Mr.X?

Here is my handle, like Leviton’s, but not nearly as nice.

A while back I must have been comparing it to the 1/2” Blackhawk handle pinch stops, because they were found drawer spooning together! I’ll admit, it’s purpose was a mystery until now.

 

[MR.X]

Do you know the brand Mr.X?

Here is my handle, like Leviton’s, but not nearly as nice.

A while back I must have been comparing it to the 1/2” Blackhawk handle pinch stops, because they were found drawer spooning together! I’ll admit, it’s purpose was a mystery until now.

No. Was expecting to see a Mossberg mark. Did have this tool #. The other wrench pictured also had a 6 digit 8xxxxx tool no.

 

[WisJim]

I thought I had an oval socket somewhere and I finally remembered to look when I was out in the garage. I found two of them. The one with the smaller opening is 3/8 drive and is marked "B.P.DIV. T-24924". The other is 1/4"drive , Snap-On, marked "C-46" There might be another letter before the "C" but I'm not sure.

 

[ecotec]

I have a deep Snap- on one like WisJim’s 1/4”.

I also have a carb nutdriver with a very similar double d opening on the business end.

I have yet to use either.

 

[Patrick Eubanks]

Not sure what I found here? It is two interchangeable sockets on a double-L handle. Both ends are square drive - the handle ends are 0.69" square. and the inside of the sockets are 0.72" square. The service openings on the sockets are a 31/32" hex on one and an oval socket with 5/8" and just under 7/8" dimensions as shown in the drawing photo below. The black painted handle has about a 11/16" round cross section. The are unfortunately no markings on anything except the hex socket is marked "31/32".

The square ends of the handle each have a single spring-loaded detent ball and they use pinched tabs as stops.

I’m going to have to check my sets. I know mossberg made a set that is double offset like yours where the sockets are pinch attached. You don’t think the above-mentioned sockets could be where tsimilarnwrenches have detached. I’ll post a pic of my set tomorrow