The Amazing Shelton Socketool, c.1961

[Private Lugnutz]

Uncharacteristically, I picked up this 60's era mass marketed tool set in a plastic case at the flea market this morning for peanuts.

These midget hex drive multi-tool ratcheting bit sets are not particular high-quality (compared to, oh, say, Chapman’s offerings, just to name one, and my legitimate favorite bit set mfgr), and they aren’t particularly rare, either (with eBay and others sales showing up quite often – annoyingly, in my research results for older, antique wooden handled multi-tool bit sets). But, much like the “Deluxe Toolkit” I picked up earlier this year with the cheap, brightly handled, mass marketed tools in a faux leather-clad case, thread linked here, it’s complete, it has the original paperwork, it’s Made in the Good Ol’, it’s a little higher quality than Oxwall or G.M. Co. class, and something about it is just too classic – despite the slight gimmickiness, to leave behind.

The fundamental mechanism was patented (2,989,881) in 1961.

Somewhat uniquely, the socket service opening sizes are stamped on the drive end.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here is the paperwork, the patent, and a Popular Mechanics ad for this exact set in this exact case for more context.

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve been looking for somebody to unload this on! Is free too much if I pay the shipping? You might need a spare. I’ll throw in the items in the second picture too.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Hey now! That's not very nice assessing its value to you as < $0!

Seriously, thanks, but no thanks. One complete kit with paperwork is good for me.

Shelton actually made a lot of hay off the same basic patent, turning out all kinds of combination socket and driver bits sets in various sizes under the Socketool name. And they also marketed the heck out of a variant called the Versatool. Those are actually a little more robust. I have one made for J.A. Sexauer (see thumbnail), and XJSuperman has one marked Shelton and John Deere in a NOS Shelton box, linked here.

 

[Shiftless]

I’ve been looking for somebody to unload this on! Is free too much if I pay the shipping? You might need a spare. I’ll throw in the items in the second picture too.
-Don

Very funny, Don!

 

[d42jeep]

Don’t worry. I’ll let you send something of no value back to me.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Haha!

 

[RTM]

Nice find, document the heck out of it for twertsy’s site, and those who have asked at least three times since I’ve been here, then pass it on to some new sucker.

 

[RTM]

Here is my addition to the Shelton Socketool haul of fame. Found it at a GS for $1, couldn't leave it behind. It will sit well with my Versatool, which is actually getting some use in my shop. Not that I ever expect to use this one. 5x hex sockets, 3x double square, only the 1/4" hex is not marked, the correct? extension, and the driver, all packed in a red vinyl pouch, which may or may not be original. I think between the two, I find the translucent red much nicer than the opaque red handle.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I think between the two, I find the translucent red much nicer than the opaque red handle.

Agreed!

 

[misterbill]

I really think there needs to be a separate corner for these Versatools in the Lugzonian. I was going through some stuff I picked up recently and came across this "Live Better Electrically" (that was a GE slogan, right?) version (patent 2,662,568).



Bill

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I really think there needs to be a separate corner for these Versatools in the Lugzonian.

You know my rule. One is just one, two is a pair, but three is a collection. I only have two. The set and the Sexauer branded jobbie.

Nice find!

 

[RTM]

OK, we all gang up and ship our Versatools to NJ, they will find their own way to the Lugzonian. The zombie horde descending on his house will terrify the neighbors.

 

[Outlawmws]

Haha! (RTM...) Late to the game but finding yet another today with (most of?) the sockets, adn the drive, adn RTM mentioniang this thread got me here,

I'm up to at least 7 (so a "collection' according to Lugz rule...)

I like 'em; I think they get past gimmick, especially if you get a little MMO inside to the ratchet mechanism.; I have used them a number of times, and I have one in my lantern/Stove tool kit I made up five years back:



These are the others I could round up for a gang shot in a hurry, I don't doubt I have at least one more stashed somewhere:


The bottom set is from today and branded for Tung-Sol a noteworthy electronic tube mfg.

The black one is branded for "Lewis Motor Supply Co. 2nd and Joplin, MO

The Hex drives seem to be "Ratchet Socketool", and the folding drivers "Versatool"

None are directly marked Shelton?

The set from today has mostly knurled and on like Lugz set, marked on the end?

 

[RTM]

OK, so here's a weird one for you all. I was looking into defining what was a complete set of sockets for my Ratchet Socketool, as I have 5 6pt and 3 8pt sockets, and other sets shown above have more. So I begin to dig around the web, as we do, and found a listing for a Companies and Their Brands.

https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780810302129/page/2332/mode/2up?q=versatool (gotta be a member to borrow it, its free)

It says that Versatool is a brand of the Green Duck Company, while other issues include Super Versatool as being from them.



The only hit I got the two of them together on was this magazine, column 2 under Headquarters for... And Column 5 for Krazy Kwips. Were they selling them pre-patent? They applied in 1959.

Billboard

In its 114th year, Billboard remains the world's premier weekly music publication and a diverse digital, events, brand, content and data licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video, gaming, media, digital and mobile...

books.google.com

The More modern Doc Allen's Versatool TM was filed around 2000, so there could be a tie in, but the first books I found these in are from 1991.

Any clues?

 

[RTM]

Here's another set, popped up on my local CL. I can grab it for anyone interested. $5 their price

Ratchet set, 2 head hammer, Pliers and 6' Tape measure.

 

[Thunderdaddy]

I have a bunch too, the screwdrivers and the socket sets. One is branded AAA.

 

[Outlawmws]

. I can grab it for anyone interested

I am! I don't have one cased yet.

 

[RTM]

I am! I don't have one cased yet.

Will see what I arrange for tomorrow

 

[Outlawmws]

Thx RTM!

 

[elidas]

Here is the paperwork, the patent, and a Popular Mechanics ad for this exact set in this exact case for more context.

Thx RTM!

Here's another one. Had to have it.Shelton is only a few miles from here.

 

[RTM]

Here is a pickup from a recent GS, this is close to the set that Lugz opened the thread with, but a clear top, and space for more goodies.

Super Socketool by Shelton Need to find the Table of Contents, swore there was something at ITCL that listed the contents. Back up the thread to see what the paper work enclosed says.



This ebay pic looks a bit more complete than mine, tho they too appear to have one extra socket. I seem to be missing a Philips bit, and an Awl bit, and still not the right sockets, but I have a bunch of loose ones to steal from (net +1, but - several for duplicates.) Missing the two big" square bits (3/8 & 7/16), and two smallest hex (3/16" & 1/4") based on Lugz' list.

 

[four.cycle]

It would appear there is a dearth of information about this company. AA doesn't even have an entry for it. It's possible they did their marketing in classifieds and advertisements in "Popular Mechanics" and other publications.

Shelton / Shelton Products Inc., Shelton, CT / patent 2989881 Jun 27 1961 & 3799226 Mar 26 1974 Raymond P. Lavietes / Shelton "Socketool" / http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2012/11/socketool-me.html / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/the-amazing-shelton-socketool-c-1961.464026/ /

Shelton at International Tool Catalog Library

 

[RTM]

The fundamental mechanism was patented (2,989,881) in 1961

Well, this was an interesting find, another Shelton patent, for a multi blade screwdriver. Did not see this in a quick search of the thread. Only one page, so two passes thru to be more certain.*

I was looking for info on the Stevens adjuster tool posted by Provincial, and saw this in the Pictures view.



Caught my eye, clicked thru, and saw Shelton. But look at the company name, could be why @four.cycle isn’t finding much.

Patent 2662568

US Patent: 2,662,568 - Multiple Blade Screw Driver

US patent 2,662,568 Multiple Blade Screw Driver was issued to Raymond P. Lavietes of Shelton, CT. It was granted on 12/15/1953. Four blades, each of which can be extended straight or set at right angle to the handle. The FOUR-IN-ONE screwdriver was described and pictured in Apr

datamp.org

* also watching women’s indoor VB, so excitement is high.

 

[RTM]

Well heck, decided to click on the inventor, and found this patent too.

Patent 3,779,226

US Patent: 3,799,226 - Magazine screwdriver

US patent 3,799,226 Magazine screwdriver was issued to Raymond P. Lavietes of Woodbridge, CT. It was granted on 03/26/1974. This was a an improvement to {2662568} an earlier Patent by Lavietes. Also maybe a move to protect this earlier Patent. Marked 'Ratchet Versa Tool. 3

datamp.org

 

[Outlawmws]

I have several of those folding driver blade sets in the Shelton ratchetool family. One of those was the first I found.

 

[Outlawmws]

For posterity:

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's possible they did their marketing in classifieds and advertisements in "Popular Mechanics" and other publications.

What do you mean by "It's possible"? They clearly did. I posted a Popular Mechanics ad in post #4.

Did not see this in a quick search of the thread.

@misterbill posted the patent number, but not a picture of the patent diagram, in post #11.

But look at the company name, could be why @four.cycle isn’t finding much.

I don't know what this means. Many ads in trade mags bear the Shelton Plane and Tool Mfg Co name. He posted some in post #23, and you can see more of them on IA/ITCL. All those ads include the multi-blade screwdriver (Versatool). The Versatool patent and production preceded the Socketool patent and production. I don't know when they changed their name to the more generic Shelton Products, Inc.,but it was some time before 1965.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

For posterity:

That's a much later (March 26, 1974) patent for the Versatool. DATAMP implies they tweaked it to protect the expired first patent.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Well heck, decided to click on the inventor, and found this patent too.

Patent 3,779,226

Missed this. See note above to Outlaw.

 

[RTM]

Did not see this in a quick search of the thread. Only one page, so two passes thru to be more certain *

@misterbill posted the patent number, but not a picture of the patent diagram, in post #11

Like I said, it was a great VB game. Not sure why a ctl F search on the number failed.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Like I said, it was a great VB game

Snerk. No worries. I wasn't criticizing, just letting you know (and giving Bill credit).

Not sure why a ctl F search on the number failed.

Idk. I remembered he posted it. But now that you mention it, the search function isn't returning it either. It could be the commas. I have never noticed that before. If you search on the same patent number without the commas, it picks yours up, because that's how you expressed it. You expressed the later patent with them, and the search engine doesn't pick that up, either. If that's some kind of global search syntax issue, it's going to be a massive pervasive forensic issue, because I always include the commas to express patent numbers, all of which are apparently now unsearchable, but will refrain from using them from now on.

 

[four.cycle]

What do you mean by "It's possible"? They clearly did. I posted a Popular Mechanics ad in post #4.

I probably could have phrased that better.
I think they did ALL their marketing through tiny ads in the backs of "Popular Mechanics" and other publications.
Thus far we've seen nothing in the way of "catalog", and I don't recall seeing any full-page ads anywhere.
I was gone over the weekend and missed the last part of this conversation, but:

I remove ALL commas from the patent numbers in my list. Also trademark numbers.
I eliminate (when at all reasonably possible) the use of dashes in my list ( - )
I have truncated ALL dates in the list to MMM DD YYYY

I had to come up with something consistent, and that seemed to make the most sense.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Happy to have found a near mint-y NIB example of the Ratchet Head Versatool at the flea market this morning. Happy father's day to me!

Marked "RATCHET VERSATOOL" and "U.S. PAT. NO. 3,779,226".

Given the fact that the patent was granted on March 26, 1974, and the box proclaims it "New!," as opposed to the 1953 non-ratcheting version and the 1961 ratcheting nutdriver (SOCKETOOL), I'm thinking mid to late 70's.

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool find Lugz! I've never seen one NIB or even just in its box other than a kit box (not in the cardboard /packaging)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Cool find Lugz!

Thanks. Flea market dynamics are funny sometimes. This seller is known mainly for antique metal toy cars, old magazines, and WWII stuff, including memorabilia, knives, helmets, and such, often Nazi, and exorbitant, auction, or retail like prices. He's a transplant from my shuttered Wednesday flea market stop in Lakewood, now a half-finished and shuttered condo complex that ran into legal issues with ground water contamination. (You may remember me talking about it from back in the day on the GS thread.) But every once in awhile he'll have some miscellaneous stuff outside his oeuvre that he let's go with disinterest for peanuts and I was right in hoping this would be an example.

I've never seen one NIB or even just in its box other than a kit box (not in the cardboard /packaging)

I was trying to remember where I had seen one before.

...XJSuperman has one marked Shelton and John Deere in a NOS Shelton box, linked here.

 

[Outlawmws]

...XJSuperman has one marked Shelton and John Deere in a NOS Shelton box, linked here.

Cool had not seen that post.